1996 KLR 650?

[rbates9]

I just heard about one that might be going cheap. Anyone know anything about them? From what I have found so far they look to be pretty good.

[zepplin153]

Heavy bike... but unstoppable. Great for wheelies

[cragwl]

I have a 2009 KLR650 and I like it. Sort of the "meat and potatoes" of adventure bikes. Kind of like how the KDX is to the woods, the KLR is to the gravel road IMHO. I have a plated KDX for trails and forest roads and the KLR for forest roads and road/highways. Perfect set up for my "meat and potato" world. Friends have GS BMW's and there awesome, but I'm not a "caviar and cracker" kind of guy. I'm not the best and I don't need the best. Just want to have fun on a couple of reliable machines.

[rbates9]

I am not looking to do week long tours. Maybe back and forth to work on occasion and around town. there is a bunch of seasonal roads around to go play on to.

[Goofaroo]

I've never owned one but a friend of mine had one and I rode it a few times and I really liked it. It was much more comfortable than my KTM 640 Adventure.

I don't recall waht it is but make sure that the "dohicky" mod has been done or take care of that after you buy it. A search online will explain in detail.

[cragwl]

I am not looking to do week long tours. Maybe back and forth to work on occasion and around town. there is a bunch of seasonal roads around to go play on to.

That's pretty close to the same story I told my wife 2 years ago. This year we are doing a 5 day trip across Washington State using forest service roads. Your a dirt biker. Don't kid yourself. It's in the blood.

[rbates9]

I don't recall waht it is but make sure that the "dohicky" mod has been done or take care of that after you buy it. A search online will explain in detail.

Yes. I read about the "doohickey" many times. BUT NO ONE SEEMED WILLING TO SAY JUST WHAT IT WAS... But an online search did find it and yes I think that would be something to do if it comes home with me. Thanks for the reply.

[rbates9]

I am not looking to do week long tours. Maybe back and forth to work on occasion and around town. there is a bunch of seasonal roads around to go play on to.

That's pretty close to the same story I told my wife 2 years ago. This year we are doing a 5 day trip across Washington State using forest service roads. Your a dirt biker. Don't kid yourself. It's in the blood.

We don't have much in the lines of service roads around here or I would love to! But there is plenty of day trips to go on!

Just hope the deal goes thru. The bike is a few hours away and I have to wait for the people to bring the bike back up from the camp it has lived at. Long storey. But hopefully in a few weeks something will happen.

[bufftester]

Kind of like how the KDX is to the woods, the KLR is to the gravel road IMHO.

+1

Just another bike that had minimal changes done over its very long (20+ years) production run, and basically created the adventure bike market. Tons of them out there, aftermarket parts availability up the yoo-hoo...and you don't often see them up for sale (that should be the biggest clue right there). The military even uses them for scout vehicles (albeit heavily modified to burn diesel).
Dirt Bike magazine did an article on them in the April 2013 edition, favorite quote "The hardest thing about equipping the KLR is knowing when to stop. There are a million items tested and ready to go. In truth, most KLR's are a work in progress, being built slowly from year to year. Somewhere out there, there's probably a 1987 model that's almost finished by now."

[rbates9]

Kind of like how the KDX is to the woods, the KLR is to the gravel road IMHO.

+1

Just another bike that had minimal changes done over its very long (20+ years) production run, and basically created the adventure bike market. Tons of them out there, aftermarket parts availability up the yoo-hoo...and you don't often see them up for sale (that should be the biggest clue right there). The military even uses them for scout vehicles (albeit heavily modified to burn diesel).
Dirt Bike magazine did an article on them in the April 2013 edition, favorite quote "The hardest thing about equipping the KLR is knowing when to stop. There are a million items tested and ready to go. In truth, most KLR's are a work in progress, being built slowly from year to year. Somewhere out there, there's probably a 1987 model that's almost finished by now."

Good to hear!

[rbates9]

Well, Friday I am going to go down with the guy selling it to pick it up and see if it is what I need. So most likely I will own it then.

Anyone have a good KLR forum to recommend? I would like to find a site like this one for the KLR but it looks like that isn't an option..

[cragwl]

I joined klrworld. It has some good info. Nothing like kdxrider though. If you find a better site, let me know.

[rbates9]

I joined klrworld. It has some good info. Nothing like kdxrider though. If you find a better site, let me know.

So I take it you are a KLR owner? What do you think of them?

[cragwl]

I have a 2009 KLR650. I like it. It's not as fancy as the KTM's or BMW's but I'm good with that. There reputation for reliability is quite good. There not known for being powerful, or agile, but it's still better on the roads then my kdx. When I jump on the kdx after riding the klr it makes the kdx feel like a super light rocket ship. Kind of a rush.

I have panniers, tank bag, and a klr trunk box. We do multi day trips in the mountains. I tried to make the kdx work for the rides but mixing fuel and lack of luggage space made it a hassle. The klr is designed for such trips.

Keep me posted if it all works out for you.

[rbates9]

Well, it followed me home. The poor thing had been sitting in a shed for about 3 years. No battery. Seat and side panels were off it. A healthy layer of aged dust. But it seemed to be calling my name.

I got it back up to my buddys house. (He was the one selling it for the lady that had it). And I realized that my already not thrilled wife would probably think a little more of it with out the protective layer of dust on it so it was bath time. It cleaned up very well. I was impressed! Then we jump started it just to see if it would run. And it did. With at least 3 year old gas in it. By this point I really wanted to ride it but had to get home to go to a graduation and my buddy lives in a heavily populated town with next to no yard to ride it in. But since it was running and I had to get the trailer hooked back up to the truck he figured he might as well take a quick spin on it. Before it had moved 10 feet under it's own power for the first time in three years he had the front wheel in the air and down the street he went. I still have yet to ride it.

I will try to get some pictures of it up tomorrow.

[ICRage42]

Thats awesome can you buy another one here so I can ride it

Been looking like you wouldnt believe for one myself. Yea hard to get a hold of one most keep em. Found one on copart and almost had it and in decent wrecked front condition. Figured I would just get the parts and rebuild it. Even went to downtown cleveland and paid money to see it before auction. Some cwazy chinese guy threw out a 3000 dollar bid on it at last second and I didnt see any reason to bid farther then that considering its condition and cost wise to parts.

Good deal yea throw some pics up when you can would like to check it out!

[diymirage]

there is usually some on craigslist near my place (I counted 16 of em, ranging from $1000 for an "89 to $4699 for an '01)
so if your ever looking for a good excuse to ride in MI let me know ;)

I guess one of the office guys at my job has one
I was getting ready to go home after work the other day and I noticed my KDX had made a new buddy, there it was parked right next to it

at first I was a little worried about the whole deal since it was bleu and im not sure I want my bike hanging with that crowd but when I got closer it turned out to be a KLR 650

[rbates9]

I spent the morning Saturday getting her back into running condition. The front brakes were very soft so I bled them out and flushed the fluid. Now the front brakes are great. The battery was junk so I went down to the parts store and picked up a new one. Now she starts right up. The air filter was in need of a cleaning so that got cleaned and re oiled.

Then came the first ride. I still don't have plates on it so I was limited to the driveway but I like it so far. The ride is smooth but it seems to have pretty good pull. It can lift the front wheel a little easier then I thought it would but not too easy. It will sit and idle as long as needed so I think the carb is good enough for now. The woods part of the test ride made me really miss a knobby front tire and the gearing is a bit high for much woods playing. I will have to see what I really end up doing with it but a gear change might be in the future. The steering is also a limiting factor for tighter spaces but that is to be expected with a dual sport I guess.

I was able to get it up to about 55 in the driveway in third not wound out so I will have to see what the other gears do for it. Seemed a little bit fast to me but time will tell. I NEED to get it on the road and see what it is really like.

But here is some before pictures of it. (Before as in I haven't smashed it through the woods to round off the corners yet )

[Postigo]

Wow she is a beauty and in pretty good condition too. Congratulations on your new bike.

[B737driver]

"Before as in I haven't smashed it through the woods to round off the corners yet"

Best I've seen in a while.

Break it in right!!