Continental TKC 80...
My favourite tire for my old ’97 KLR was the Continental TKC 80. When the stock Dunlops wear out on my new KLR650 I’ll be spooning on a set of these bad boys.
Archive for June, 2011
- Black 2011 KLR650…
When I decided to buy a new bike my first reaction was to get my dream bike – a BMW GS. So I started to check out the BMW F800GS. I’m in my 40’s and I’m not going to buy too many more bikes so I figured why not get my ultimate bike now?
- BMW F800GS…
I was a bit disappointed to find out that the F800GS had suspension issues that needed fixing out of the box, a narrow range gear box and a complex computer controlled engine. So not only was I going to have to spend $16K+ out the door [in Canada] I would have to dump $4K+ into getting the bike setup for me and even with $20K+ invested it still would have some issues I couldn’t fix [the transmission]. It’s funny how your dream bike looks so great until you spend some time doing some research about it.
So I went back to the drawing board checking out my out options:
- BMW F650GS [less $$ than the F800GS]
- KTM Adventure 990 [more $$ than F800GS, but everything was sorted from factory]
- Kawasaki Versys 650 [great price, fun bike and might just be the ticket if I didn’t want to hit the dirt]
- KLR650 [best price, known quantity for me and does everything I need]
KTM Adventure...
If money was no option the KTM Adventure 990 is an amazing bike that comes fully sorted out from the factory. I’m sure I would love it, but I’d be in well over $20K once I had it outfitted with accessories and luggage.
Kawasaki Versys
I was leaning pretty heavily towards the Versys. For 80% of my riding it would be perfect, but I want to ride dirt here on Vancouver Island and Baja to let me explore cool spots. I figured I’d avoid straying too far offroad with this bike due to its limited off pavement abilities. It’s possible I could have made a Versys work, but I know I can do everything with a KLR that I can do with a Versys [albeit not having as much fun on the street].
- Kort Duce Photography – click on image to jump to original site…
After looking at all the options I gave the lastest generation KLR650 some more consideration:
- low cost [~$7.4K out the door in Canada] for a new 2010
- ~$10K fully equipped for my needs
- having owned a ’97 KLR I understand what I am in for
- KLR650 issues are well known and easily fixed without major $$$
- easy for me to work on
- will do everything I need to do – just not as well as some of the other bikes
- not a high theft risk
- not a bike I’ll feel bad getting dirty or banging up a bit
At the end of the day I’m not pretending that a KLR650 is the same bike as BMW F800GS or KTM Adventure 990. The KLR is a budget dualsport and it shows. Having said that there is nowhere I’d go on either of the more expensive dualsports that I wouldn’t go with the KLR and I have an extra $10K+ in my pocket to spend on gas/food/maintenance so I can take off on some adventures instead of working like crazy to pay for my motorcycle. I think when you look at it from a smiles/$ perspective the KLR650 is the best all around dualsport machine available today.
I'm supposed to be working, but I keep some KLR porn handy...=-)
My Previous KLR650 Life…
Posted: June 10, 2011 in Baja, KLR Culture, KLR650 2008+, Vancouver IslandTags: baja
Salt flats south of Guerro Nergo, Baja Mexico...
I had a 1997 KLR650 that I loved. It was versatile and inexpensive. It took me all over Canada, USA and Mexico without complaint. Then a bunch of changes happened in my life and I got away from motorcycles so I sold my KLR to a friend. Now that I am settled in Victoria, British Columbia on the beautiful and underpopulated Vancouver Island it seems like the right time to get a KLR650 and get back on the road…=-)
Why not spend Y2K in Baja on my KLR?
These photos are from my Y2K KLR tour of Baja Mexico. Not only did I have a blast riding my bike around Baja, but I discovered a ton of cool spots that I have continued to visit just about every winter since then. It seems only fitting that I come full circle and get back on a KLR for more adventures in Mexico.
Why I love Baja..so many unpaved roads...
I was a bit torn between the KLR and my dream bike, a BMW F800GS, but once I got down to the nitty gritty it became obvious that the KLR was a better choice for me. I’ll explain why that was in future posts and I’ll also explain why decided on a new 2011 KLR rather than a used pre-’07 KLR.
I found this sweet customized KLR @ ADV rider...
Click on either picture to jump to the thread on ADV rider where I found this great KLR650.
Another angle...
2011 KLR650
My '97 KLR looked like this, but in dark green...
I'm liking the black...=-)
Not a KLR, but it's got some Touratech bling...
Back when I had a ’97 KLR650 I wrote some Touratech product reviews that have somehow survived the passage of time:
Let’s face it these aren’t much use to anyone these days, but I think they are hilariously old school looking back when the web was young…=-)
Loaded up and on the road...
Top Speed has a great review of the KLR650 [click on the image above to read it] and some sweet photos [click image below to see them].
Cruising around town...
Touratech V-Strom Headlight Guard...
One of the projects I think I’ll try with my 2011 KLR650 is to mount the Touratech V-Strom headlight guard. I have lots of gravel roads on Vancouver Island and it won’t be long before I take a rock in the headlights. I’ve seen a photo online of someone else who got one mounted on their KLR so it will work, but it may take some DIY love.
- 2011 KLR650 front fairing…
There is also the clear plastic guard shown below if the Touratech unit doesn’t work, but the plastic guard will need to be replaced after it takes a few hits whereas the metal guard is good for the life of the bike.
- Plastic guard from Cee and Baileys…
The KLR650 Blog 