Hello travellers,

still in doubt whether to buy a KLR :
I heard stories about it being very hard to get a decent look on the Engine oil-level of the KLX. Is this the same for a KLR (exactly same engine...?) ??
Maybe there is a modification available ?

Would be nice to hear your comments.
Happy travels,
Gijs

I'm not sure if you are asking about just checking the oil "level" or oil "quality" on the KLR but the KLR does have the window on the side of case to see your oil level.

You can get an idea of quality by that window also but if you change your oil every 1500 miles, your oil should be fine quality wise.

The KLR and KLX don't share anything expect maybe the letters K-a-w-a-s-a-k-i.

Checking the oil on the KLR is very simple indeed. There is an oil level window on the right side of engine making process quite easy.

As far as seeing the quality of the oil, no I don't think you can use the window to verify that. For the record, oil should turn black, especially on a bike with a wet clutch. This means the detergents are doing their job. An oil that stays gold for a long time isn't working as well.

BTW the US model KLR is quite different from the European model. The euro one looks more like a KLX than the us one does.

Don't know if that means the sight glass is different, though.

Have a look HERE:

http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html#top

Most of your questions will be answered regarding the KLR!

German KLR 650:



U.S. KLR 650:



German KX 500 (no L - Sorry)



German only KLX 110 (Kids Bike ;-) )



German KLE 500


U.S. KLX 300 R



I reckon the closest you get with a KLX is the KX Series in Germany...

The KLR ist the same - never found in any country anything differing apart from the plasitcs a little - the TENGAI for example - my favourite KLR is ONLY in plastics different...

If you need info on the KLR 650 I'd be happy to help out with what I know!

The KLR 650 has a view-window for oil on the right bottom side of the engine!
The only tricky thing to do is check the oil while leaving the bike horizontal as it doesn't have a main stand...

Don't know nothing about the KX though ;-)

Greetings Mel...

Ah Sorry - forgot about that - Braunschwei isn't too far from here - if you want you can have a decent look on mine, talk it over, stay over night, take it for a ride (if weather conditions are OK) and the decide to buy one - I WOULDN'T buy anything else after my experiences, but everyone has his/her preferences...

My KLR (from US) looks a lot more like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1872614979

Are the differences only cosmetic - tail, tank, front-end, seat?

The question above is an interesting one:
can I mount the US-Marine KLR fuel tank (6.6 gal) on the european KLR ??
any comments welcome,
Gijs

I went looking to buy a french klr the other day, thinking I could use my beatup one for a parts bike.

the whole bike felt smaller. pretty sure the tanks wouldn't swap. certain my corbin seat wouldn't. apart from the engine, it looked like a totally different bike. and far too short for me!

Checking the oil level on the KLR 650 couldn't be easier. Place it in gear so it won't roll, even if it is on level ground as it should be, stand to the right side of the motorcycle and then balance it so that you are hardly having to hold the throttle grip. Have a look at the sight glass, and voila!

The KLR 650 takes 2.5 liters of oil with an oil filter change. That takes the oil level to the top of the sight glass.

The KLR has been around for about 15 years, and all the bugs have been ironed out over the years. It cruises nicely at 100-120 km/h and it gets great gas mileage. The 23 liter tank is good for over 500 kms; I filled up at 475 kms with 19.2 liters of regular.

Have a look ay my web site under "My BMWs" in the contents column. The last photo is a Canadian 2002 KLR 650A model. The C model has a smaller gas tank, narrower seat and is more of a dirt bike.

I would recommend this model to anyone that wants basic transportation at a bargain. A fun bike! This coming from a rider that has four BMWs, two of which are GSes.

------------------
Alex

Alex's BMW Motorcycle & Global Touring Page http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace

@ t0by

Hmm... - I haven't quite put the KLR 650 side by side to the US-Modell, but on the pics (YOUR KLR 650) looks like the last 2002 model of the german one - EVEN with the cosmetics - but another colour (just noticed that the rear frame seems to have changed a little since the last model I have in mind - and the tank, too...)



Sorry it's that big, but it was very detailed, so I put it in...

See here:

http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=19818

If it "feels" a little smaller it might have gotten another suspension???
There have been small changes in the looks, but I'm very confident, that the tank, the seat, the plastics and some other cosmetic stuff (maybe the lights???) have changed - not the basics - and if you have all the cosmetic things you could probably swap it to another bike!

If you need 100% information contact Kawasaki United States and ask your questions - I'm sure they'll help you out - if not drop me a mail and I will try to contact Kawasaki Germany which has been absolutely helpful and has helped me with an Australian Tengai already (the KLR with a little more plastics...)

This was my one in Oz - and it's the same bike here typewise (but I had to leave my girl down there...)


Basically it is the same model as the KLR 650

As they do build a Diesel Engine in England now for the U.S. Military KLR 650 which is said to be sold in Europe either I cannot imagine that there are major differences in the same year, but ask Kawasaki for details...

[This message has been edited by onlycookie (edited 20 November 2002).]

I found you some German offers of the KLR 650 - I trust you will find "your" bike there somehow...

http://www.mobile.de/cgi-bin/search....11111114465722

http://www.mobile.de/cgi-bin/search....etail=27866659

http://www.mobile.de/cgi-bin/search....11111114462305

http://www.mobile.de/cgi-bin/search....11111112711613

If you click on the image usually a new image will open with more detail pics

EZ means first year of usage and will give you an impression of the age ;-)
I'm sure the differences will be found in the exact description in the papers like:

KL 650 A
KLR 650 A
KLR 650 B
and so on...

The American and Canadian version of the KLR650:
<img src=http://www.klr650.net/content/Klr650.jpg>

[This message has been edited by Glenn_M (edited 02 January 2003).]