KLR Longevity?
 

I've got a 2000 KLR and really love it. It's been all around the backroads of Alberta and BC, and up to Inuvik. I've got heated grips, a Corbin seat, Progressive Suspension fork springs, Progressive shock, rad guard, a Dual Star rack and Givi cases. The subframe has been upgraded and safety switches bypassed. The doohickey upgrade will be this winter. It's a great bike really. The thing is, I'm planning on going through Central and South America beginning in the fall of 2006. My KLR will be great for that, but I'm thinking that I just might be able to scrape up enough money for a round the world trip. But I don't know if a KLR can do that type of mileage. (100,000km or so).

Mine's got about 20,000 so far, so if I do that trip I'll either buy an F650GS or 1200GS, OR buy a new KLR and swap all my aftermarket bits over.

Anyway, the long and short of it is I'd like to hear from fellow KLR owners on how their experiences with the bike's service life.

If I do a RTW trip, I'll have to stay here in Fort McMurray for a whole extra year to pay for it.... might be worth it though.

have fun. gord

why shouldn't your klr make it all the way? treat it well and it will treat you well.

an aside: don't assume that just because it's got bmw stamped on the chassis/engine that it is in some way superior to everything else. that's what the german marketing men will have you believe. they are just as susseptible to breakdowns as any other, IMHO much more so.
enjoy
ChrisB

Remember that one of the biggest money suckers is the carnet - you have to post a bond for up to 3 x the value of the bike - a five year old KLR will be exponentially cheaper than a new R1200GS for the carnet, not to mention the price differential of the bike. The price difference alone is several months of travelling. And I wouldn't recommend a 1200 for solo travel anyway, the 650 (either one) is a much better choice.

If the KLR breaks or wears out en route - rebuild it. It's cheap and easy to redo. And I'd go with your current bike - 20,000km is peanuts, it's been good and reliable and you know it.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I also have the KLR and have already done all you have listed. Just completed a run up to Alaskas (Deadhorse and back) as a shake down run. I currently have about 15K on mine and plan on using the KLR for the same trip you're planning in 2006. A group of us are going from Prudhoe Bay to the tip of South America. A durable and simly bike to work on were things I looked for and that is why I went with the KLR. I expect it to be around long after the 2006 trip, with proper maintenance of course.<G> Just be sure to take the tools needed for repairs along the way, hammer, screwdriver, and pliers.<G>

John

I've got heated grips, a Corbin seat, Progressive Suspension fork springs, Progressive shock, rad guard, a Dual Star rack and Givi cases. The subframe has been upgraded and safety switches bypassed. The doohickey upgrade will be this winter. It's a great bike really. The thing is, I'm planning on going through Central and South America beginning in the fall of 2006.
Mine's got about 20,000 so far

i have a 99% stock '89 klr 650, over the years that i have ridden her, i have never touched the engine except i have always changed the oil and filter every 5000km (which some times have been every week http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif) and once it was stolen and i put a new clutch in afterwards, and still she is sweet as new 105,000km all these klik's were accumilated from 90-95, the only problem i see with the klr is suspension and brakes, not the engine.

From my experience riding through the Americas the KLR lasts about 50,000km before major trouble starts. Hiring a mechanic is very cheap in Latin America but parts are not - anything that isn't a consumable will probably come from the US or Japan, so you must pay the list price & have to deal with customs and waiting. Engine parts are expensive. The balancer chain, for instance, will cost $260 when it goes.

That said, on a long trip you have to expect problems with any bike, but might get lucky. While my next bike won't be a KLR, it's a very solid pick, and easily the best of the three you mentioned for either the Americas or the world. The F650 isn't objectively worth the $3,000 price difference, and the R1200 is far too much bike for a solo rider, so I'd advise sticking with your current KLR.

By the way, even though my KLR is dying it has never failed to start and never left me stranded; something worth a lot that compensates for most of it's failings.

Good luck,
James

I would go along with what the others have said before.

I owned and KLR650 a few years ago when living in the UK. It was a handful off road but on road it took me all over Europe. It never let me down except when the battery fried ( it was about four years old and up to 40 000 klms) and was easy enough to bump start anyway.

The rear shock went not long after. I used to tour mainly two up with huge amounts of luggage stacked nearly as high as the pillions head. I rode on it for months - just bouncing along. I finally got around to sticking a replacement on it and it was stolen in Leeds, England. Revenge was mine when their soccer team was relegated last year.

The only maintenance I did was replace tyres every 15 000 klms, oil every 2000 to 3000 ks and filter every other change.

I would have one now except the KLR250 suits me just fine for my needs.
All the best mate.
Rob

I made a trip to Bishkek from Turkey with a '97 KLR...14,000 km.s with no problem whatsoever.

The only spare i used on the road was oil filter and spark plug.. uhh! and cleaned the air filter a couple of times ( Bishkek-Aktau route was terrible ).

I wouldnt worry a bit.