Hi all,

I have been mulling bike choice and reading this great site ad nauseum so I am posting my thoughts for you to pull apart. I have been researching what bike to ride and all roads seem to lead here- the KLR.


The trip is LA-Rio over 4 and a bit months. I envisage riding on tarmac where possible except I will be going through Copper Canyon and I expect a fair number of the roads in Baja to be gravel. Requirements of a bike are that it is mechanically sound, fit to a budget as NZ dollars don’t go far, be accessible to a relatively novice rider, have good second-hand supply in West Coast, lowest priority being comfort on tarmac. I will be travelling with a friend and I see buying the same bike to make it easier for carrying spares etc.

The ideal seems to be the V-Strom but there seems to be a short supply for purchase – looking at Ebay for the entire USA showed 13 the other day. Also the bike is more expensive than a KLR.

The KLR looks a bit more trail orientated than necessary but at least we know it will handle the rough stuff. With allowance made to kit it out with panniers there doesn’t seem much need for modification to travel. They are in plentiful supply and many people seem to buy them and find they only use them for the highway to work anyway. Mechanically they are simple. This is great. I have no mechanical experience on bikes. I can work out electrical problems or work out obvious motor difficulties – a carburettor I can understand if not strip. I will be doing a bike maintenance course before the trip but assume this will be things like chain adjustment, oil change etc.
I envisage taking just a few spares as it is a Japanese bike – spare sparkplugs etc. In the event of breakdown I am travelling with a companion so we can in case of dire melt-down ride two-up to the next town and try to sort something out.
In terms of vibration I will bring a sheepskin seat, I am sure if others can tolerate numb butt I can too.

One point, I note that the famous ‘doohickey’ will break apparently. Should a replacement be done before the trip? Should I carry a fix, just hope for the best?

Alternative bikes seem to be the Suzuki DR 650 or the Yamaha XT range, to look around and buy based on the best deal. Your opinions are appreciated.
I know this thread is maybe a bit open-ended so to get to what I want to know:
- do I seem on the right track? Good bike, simple mechanics.
- Are there further specific mechanical issues to look out for?
Thanks
Josh

Good choice mate, I myslef own a klr 650 and did some long travel with it .
Make sure that you are changing the sub frame axe and that you upgrade the electrical, regarding tires I run different brand and so far the best on and off road was the TKC80 (6000miles for the back 12000 for he front)the brake are a bit week so if you can afford it a larger front disk is great , the suspension can also be upgraded for some money . I did most of the upgrade and the price was very fair compare to other bikes, I drove the KLR accross many rivers and ride deep sand ,mud and other rough terrain without problem, the bike bike is great but not fast I usualy cruse at 70 to 75 miles per hours but that is a good speed for travelling, on the road you will love how easy it is to maintain.For more info go the the KLR650 webs .

Good luck.

__________________
Hendi Kaf

www.HendiKaf.com

Hey Josh,
I think you've got it about right with the KLR.
If you come to the west coast....can I assume you mean California?
Then you should have little trouble locating a nice, cheap, used KLR.
You may even find one all set up with bags, sheild, aftermarket seat,
wide pegs, pipe, Doohickey already done, et al. Get one with under
5000 miles if possible. Plenty out there if you know where to look.
Plan to spend from $3000 USD to about $4000. None should be
more than 3 or four years old or newer. (used DL650 Vstroms
go for between $4500 to $5000)

Join all the KLR owners' lists and boards you can. Find Eldon Carl at
Multi-surface motorcycling. Great resource in SoCal. He may even be
willing to do the DooHickey operation for you, or know someone who
can. Its not hard. There are hundreds of die hard KLR riders all through
California. Find them.

I am a Vstrom guy now but owned a KLR some years ago and, in fact, rode it
down Baja and ferried over to the mainland and onto Copper Canyon. This
was in 1998. The KLR did fine. I prefer to travel a bit faster, smoother and in
more comfort. (Vstrom DL1000) But with a few mods the KLR can be improved.

Lack of a good front brake was an issue and seat comfort was not really bad,
but when you LIVE on your bike, all day, everyday, then it DOES become important. Many companies make seats in California. Cruising speed is
limited IMO. I never felt comfortable going much over 70 mph.

My KLR was totally stock as it was a press bike owned by Kawi. It is tougher
than a Vstrom in dirt and better off road for sure. But on the highway, it is no contest in serious favor of the Vstrom.

But stick with the KLR. They are cheaper, reliable and the aftermarket is
terrific.

I am NOT a fan of Ebay for bike shopping.
Go to: http://www.craigslist.org/mcy/

This is a great free site. Every major city now has Craig's list.
The link above is San Fran Bay Area. Make it a favorite. The LA
Craig's list is OK too but LA is a huge place and tough to get around.
San Fran much easier to shop for a bike and has more bikes for sale.

You will learn more about the KLR once you get onto some of the lists and
owners groups. See Yahoo groups for a few. There are quite a few good
aftermarket outfits but if I were you I'd try to find a bike all set up rather than wasting your vacation time working on the bike.

Have a great trip.....(you do know Spanish...right? .....do you like
our Mexican jail senor? )

Que le via bien,

Patrick

thanks for the comments.
It's nice to know I'm thinking along sane lines... with the bike at least.

Yeah, Ebay is just an example - thanks for the recommendation of Craigslist, I understand San Fran is easier and more KLRs. Patrick you seem to echo this comment.

What I meant by the West Coast is yes, California but I will have a week to look at bikes before my friend comes over. If a great deal was up in Washington, it could be a nice way to see a few states, do some ks... but that's just an option. LA and San Fran are the most likely targets.

I'll have a look at KLR groups. Probably not a bad idea to specialise the search at this time given the number of them out there.

haha yeah I speak Spanish. Haven't been to South America since 4 years ago so a bit rusty but I keep up the odd conversation.
But my travelling buddy speaks nada and I'm looking forward to him telling the locals 'estoy caliente, por adonde esta el bar...'

Take a look at the Yahoo KLR forum, and AdvRider for all kinds of bikes.

KLR6560.net is specific to the KLR and lots of expertise there.

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Doing Prudoe Bay to Ushuaia in 2008!



KLR650 A19 - ready for the world
KLR650 A13
1998 Valkyrie Tourer
2001 DRZ400e

KLR 650 is generaly OK bike, but count that a lot of expiriences
came from North America where there are NO leading Honda and
Yamaha bikes ( all sorts of XT/Tenere, XTZ, Dommie, Africa Twin,
Transalp ). Here in Europe KLR is also present on market but we
prefer Honda/Yamaha enduro models in front of KLR because most
of them are realy better than KLR.
Regards,
AnteK, XTZ 660 Tenere

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AnteK

Actually in the US you can get some Honda dual sports as well as Suzuki.
We have the DR650 Suzuki and the Honda XR650-L (similar to Domi, more dirt
oriented)

We don't have any new XT's but you can buy a MZ Baghira with the
Yamaha 660 motor. Very heavy motor actually. Weighs as much as
a twin. Skip it.

We also have the XR650R Honda which can be found converted for
world travel. This is the liquid cooled one. And of course we have the
fabulous DRZ400 and XR400's, both excellent RTW bikes. Tough and
reliable. I've owned them both!

Any of course we have all the KTM models.

My favorite 650 class bike is the DR650 Suzuki. But having said that, I must
admit KLR has more support in the aftermarket. Lots of cool stuff for KLR's
here. And now look at the price in the US!! KLR's are a very good
deal!

Patrick

Kelly and Della Graham, whom some of you may know from HU meetings in Western Canada are 1 month into their RTW on 2 - 2005 KLRs. They've done quite a few upgrades which they've highglighted at www.kellarwt.com. There's also a journal of their trip. They expect to be in Creel for the HU mtg in October.

Just some additional info to look at.

Well, I know what you have in USA, but here we have on choose absolutely
everything. You do not have XT 600E, XT 660R, XTZ 660 Tenere, XTZ 750 Supertenere, TT600E/R, Dommie 650, Transalp 600/650 and Africa Twin. All mentioned bikes ( except maybe XT 600E ) are better and more reliable bikes than KLR 650. Of course, more overpriced, but they worth it. Do not mind me wrong, I am not KLR killer, rode it several times and could say that among Honda/Yamaha offers, KLR is last on the list.
Best regards,
AnteK, XTZ 660 Tenere

__________________
AnteK

You are wrong on several counts. You have "absolutely everything"? Don't think so. You don't have XR400's, XR250's or XR600's, or XR650-L's. The XR-L, as I said in my first post, is the S A M E bike as the Domi, but more dirt oriented in its looks.

We had the Transalp for three years here....it was .....and IS... a disaster.
A nothing bike. Unimportant and uninspiring IMHO.

We had XT's here for twenty years, so I know exactly what they are and I
can tell you the KLR and Suzuki are just as reliable.

Keep in mind the point of this thread, the poster is coming to the USA to buy
a bike, so the idea of getting unavailable bikes is absurd. Why bring it up?
If you don't have something positive.....and relevant.....why post?

Patrick

Don't want to wade into the argument!

DR650 is also on the list. Patrick you like the DRZ400 but is that maybe getting a bit too dirt oriented for me when I haven't really got experience/don't really need to go off road except in Baja/Copper canyon?

Josh

Sorry for the temporary hi-jack Josh.

From re-reading your first post, I agree. The DRZ would be too dirt oriented. Since you really need the long distance comfort and highway ability then the DRZ is out. Lots of young guys on HU love them as a RTW bike though. In my 20's I could have done it...not now.

If you wanted to really to go on walk about, then the DRZ would be good. But any place you can find even a semblance of a road, the KLR will make it.

Given you're on a budget the KLR is about perfect far as I can tell.

If you really are on a budget then the US is going to eat up quite a bit of
your savings. The sooner you can get the bike sorted and get south into Mexico the sooner your costs will drop from $75 a day to $25 a day. (give or take)

Good luck, keep us posted on your trip.

Patrick

KLR 650, DR 650, or XL 650, or V-Strom are the only choices in this class for your requirements. As you mentioned, the V-Strom is in short supply, the Honda is probably more expensive, so your choices are the DR or KLR--and that is pretty much it as to what's available in the US. There is the DR200 and XT225, and a new KLX 250 (the three street-legal enduros with smaller engines) but it seems that the bigger engine is for you, and the cost difference new or used between the big bikes and little ones is negligible.

I think, barring importing a "better" bike from out of the US for a total that is equivalent to the cost of a KLR or DR, you will not regret going with the KLR 650, or if you find a better deal on one, the DR 650.

Try www.craigslist.org or www.cycletrader.com to help broaden your search

I just found this group...they have KLR's for sale on their classified

http://www.klr650.net/

Yes, we have XR 400/600/650. Some of my friends ride XR600. Those bikes are not so common on roads as Honda Dommie/Transalp/Africa, but they are present here.
Best regards,
AnteK, XTZ 660 Tenere

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AnteK