as previously stated by someone else very reliable apart from the balancer system, mine cut out when off road and would not start turned out the spring for the balancer broke which knocked out the cam timing new upgraded parts were bought form the states(only place to buy them http://www.arrowhead motorsports) and were only abou £50 ish, dont let that put you off as im no mechanic but with workshop manual in hand took off balancer weights/chain/sprockets and retimed them and the cams no bother just patience reqiured, id never even took off a side casing before this but there is lots on the web to help pictures included+step by step guides free of charge,bike running well and will do for years to come used off road regular once you are used to the weight its all good and though not fast will pull you through most situations.
great on mpg,A1 for spares,massive web help and advice
tad heavy,poor balancer setup(doohickey for info on web)
Reviewing a 1988 model.
e plate A2 model 46,000 mls and still lots of life left
Owned for 2 years.
A cult bike like you said, Happy-Trails.com, Arrow Head (angelfire.com), Dual-Star.com and KLR650.com all sell lots of aftermarket goodies for this bike. It will take you round the world off road or down to the shops. It will bush bash, do hill climbs, tour on roads but non excellently. This bike is the ultimate all rounder. There is a huge fan base here: http://www.klrworld.com
The stock suspension is very poor but progressive springs on the front and winding rebound to maximum on the rear will stop it burning out and give you a much better ride. The seat is also poor, after about an hour and a half on the highway you will have no choice but to stop. You cannot get the seat off without taking the sidepanels off! Drill two small holes with a 25mm hole saw where the seat bolts are through the side covers to be able to access the seat.
This is the most important and seriouse problem with the KLR650 in my opinion: The balancer system is faulty on nearly EVERY KLR even the new 2008 models have not been addressed as I see it. Open the clutch side up and inspect the oil screen, it will almost certainly have bits of chain guid in there from the balancer chain. Buy some 'specialist' tools from Kawasaki and open up the other side, you will see the balancer chain adjuster (like a cam chain adjuster) is too weak and probably broken. Any of the sites above will sell an advanced system.
I find it interesting that one of the worlds most popular all round tourers has no modifications available from touratech. But having said that I have noticed that there is very much a do-it-yourself way of thinking with most KLR owners.
The motor aside from the weakness within the balancer system is well constructed and easy to work on. It is predictable and very unexciting to ride with technology almost two decades old. The main lights are poor and do not light up much area. The stock handle bars break easily. The front fender and cowling on the A-Model catch the wind too easily. The radiator although evening out temperature and allowing bike to run smoother could break off road in a fall and leave you stranded.
Aside form all of this the KLR650 has a modification to suit every weak point and every obstacle you could throw in it's way. What a company cannot produce to counter a problem a 'klrworld' member certainly can and most likely has. From old amunition cans as panniers to one off racks, PVC toolkit starage, power increases, suspension upgrades...it's all there.
bought a 1988 klr650 mot failure cheaply as it had a dodgy rear shock, 45,000 mls and not bad nick for an old bike never realised its a bit of a cult dual purpose bike with good info on web, so far have upgraded the fusebox and replaced the rear shock replaced the choke lever/cable and will improve the brakes as they are very poor but starts very well pulls like a train but a tad heavy for serious offroad work, its wore its years well and will still be going for a good while yet and will bo on the road in the winter but ofroad in the good weather.
spares good/ reliable/ big bike
bit heavy for serious off road
Reviewing a 1988 model.
klr 650 a2
Owned for 1 year.
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