The Bike

2005 KLR650

The other bike I was heavily considering and even purchased to “test” was a 2007 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom. I immediately liked this bike and it did almost everything better than the ‘05 KLR. It was much faster with 50% more horsepower, smoother running, much more comfortable, had better brakes, better weather protection, better gas mileage and was an absolute joy to ride long distances(unlike the KLR).      

2007 DL650 V-Strom

In the end though, I decided on a 2009 KLR650, which of course begs the question…why choose the KLR over the V-Strom?  Well, there were many reasons, but if I were to sum it up in two words….they would be “rugged simplicity”. If the KLR650 were reincarnated as a 4 wheeled vehicle, it would be an old open top Jeep CJ5 with a lift kit and 35” mud tires. The KLR’s engine design has not changed much since the Regan administration and was far from state of the art even then. It is built on good old fashioned enduro technology….a gravity fed mechanical carburetor, one spark plug and one cylinder. In other words, easy to maintain and repair, especially in West Nowheresville by a mechanical simpleton like me. It is also lighter than the V-Strom, and being an off-road bike at heart it is much more capable off-road with a longer travel suspension and more ground clearance. Parts new and used are also plentiful and the KLR is supported by a very large and loyal on-line community with a vast knowledge base covering every aspect of the bike.      

2009 KLR650

The single biggest drawback, to me anyway, is that the KLR is not at all comfortable to ride at highway speeds for any length of time. Being a single cylinder motorcycle, there is but one massive piston being driven up and down and were it not for the counter balancers within the engine, it might just shake itself to pieces. I’ve been asked what it’s like to ride a KLR650 at speed on the highway, to which I say…take a very thin and uncomfortable English riding saddle and strap it over a portable cement mixer filled with bowling balls.      

List of modifications:       

SW-Motech engine guards
SW-Motech center stand
Barkbuster VPS hand guards
Renthal desert handlebars
Zero Gravity touring windscreen
Dual-Star heavy-duty shifter
Eagle Manufacturing drill trough sub-frame bolt upgrade.
Eagle Manufacturing engine balancer adjuster upgrade. (The Doohickey!)
Eagle Manufacturing rear brake/master cylinder bracket
Happy Trails rear master cylinder guard.
Happy Trails SU side racks with 7.5” Teton aluminum side panniers
Sylvania SilverStar headlight bulbs
LED rear brake/taillight bulb
FIAAM Freeway Blaster horn w/relay
Sawed off brake and clutch levers. (Who uses 4 fingers?)       

Other Accessories:
Touratech locking GPS mount for Garmin Zumo 660
Wolfman Expedition dry duffle bag
Wolfman Enduro tankbag      

2009 KLR650

2009 KLR650

2009 KLR650