Never get this fixation with 6 gears as if more must be better, like 5-bladed razors.
On a peaky or performance machine – road or dirt – it might make sense.
On a torquey, low-revving 'Himalayan-like' plonker, not needed.
I've owned or ridden 6-speed bikes and can't ever recall thinking: 'gee, these 6 gears are just great' or 'darn, I wish I had another gear'.
I admit an extra gear
ought to mean 1st could be lower for easier control and less clutch slipping on a rocky climb – a common failing on all travel bikes which tick-over at 6-8mph in 1st.
Can't say I noticed on my 6-speeders but anyway, how much of that can you sustain on a 200+ kilo machine?
If you have
days of such terrain ahead, fit a smaller front sprocket.
Plus I've been told 5 gears are marginally wider and therefore more durable than six. Sounds plausible.
It may look little changed, but whether they meant to or not, I agree Kawa did the right thing.
Few of us have become better off over the last year.
In North America, the KLR will carry on where it left off.
As said, let's see the DR-Z, DR-S and XR-L follow suit (and bring them all over here).
My KLR PoV:
https://adventure-motorcycling.com/2...e-2021-klr650/