I'm also still riding my 2008 KLR650 I bought new in October 2007 for $4200. I changed the seat out with a Seat Concepts seat, rejetted the carb, the .02 cent mod. Have a Super Trap muffler on her, highway cruising footpegs, a higher windshield. Mine does NOT use any oil in between oil changes, I change the oil and filter every 2000 miles. The brakes are fine, I've never even had to change pads yet.

Absolutely love mine. Bee. On tarmac, gravel big and small in mud and dirt. Trail riding is a blast on it. Never really needed more power.

That's why I got mine, simplicity... oh but there is the kickstand-defeat-switch, hi tech!😁👍

Good video. I just picked up a 2008 with 21,000kms. it was smoking on trade in, dealer put the 685 kit in, jet kit, airbox mod, new cam chain and cam chain balancer... its already got d606 on it, shes gonna be a fun summer!

Great honest review 🤠 thanks for sharing 🤝

Simply a go anywhere machine . And it's going to get you back . Most videos done by mommas boys. Dougnut boys. Finally a true experience video.

@escapeartist7900

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. That's quite a compliment.

I have had my KLR 650 for 12 years. It is the 2008 model, but it was manufactured in August 2007. It is a oil burner, if you ride above 5,000 RPM. I have no problem with the windscreen and I am also 5’ 10”. I have ridden it from Sydney to Perth (4,000 kms). It is a reliable, comfortable bike that can do everything.

Loved your commentary regarding the screen. 😁

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

I passionately hate the stock screen Arthur. Not sure if you noticed..

I bought a 2014 New Edition (aka: 2014.5) two years ago, and I've had a blast with it. I'm eagerly waiting for the snow to go away here in Canada so I can get out and explore. I agree with every one of your pros and cons, and I honestly can't see myself riding anything else for the foreseeable future. It does everything I want it to do, and is so customizable and upgradable. I've already done a lot of upgrades/farkles and I have a list of things I want to do that's much larger than my budget, lol. Thanks for sharing, I'm kinda addicted to watching KLR videos, especially in the winter when the bike is in the shed and I have to live vicariously through others.

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comments Mike. Glad to hear you've found the right bike in your KLR. We're pretty lucky here in Oz to be able to ride all year round in fact, winter is the preferred season as summer is roasting. Hopefully spring comes around soon for you, Canada is a beautiful place.

Great review

The oil burning in the 2008s are what's keeping me from buying an older one. Albeit the same issues can be seen with newer models right up until 2018 when they discontinued it, but the cost of an 08 is very close to the cost of a 2014-2015. Very close to buying a 2015 and doing some work on it before I ride it too far from home.

5:30 good point on that, for the reliability you got to be able to recover 50% after 8 years is pretty decent. buying used you'd probably get your money back

I love the sound of it.

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

Me too Brian. Me too.

Nice review. First time on your channel. I ride an '07... Upgraded the suspension with a RICOR Duel Sport shock and their Intimidator fork valves; and, it has made a big difference. There are other options, of course, but they worked out great for me. You didn't mention what your suspension upgrade was... Or, I missed it. I had minor oil consumption issues, but noticed I didn't have a o-ring seal on my oil cap. Replacing that halved helped a lot. And since I did a carb rebuild... No issues, at all, so far. Yeah, the brakes aren't great, but I ride it more like a cruiser than a sport bike... Usually :-) ✌️

Those look like great soft saddle bags. I'm buying a 2004 model from a friend with 22,000 km on it for $1700. so I can do a couple year long tour in the U.S., Canada, and Alaska. I'm a little concerned about the heavy weight, but the huge fuel tank will come in handy on those long, remote stretches of gravel road in Canada and Alaska. I've never ridden a bike with a wind screen so I may just chop it off (I'll rarely exceed 80 km/hr). Side note - back in the day, I spent a great six months bicycle touring in your wonderful country. Thanks for the review.

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

That'll be a great trip no doubt. I think you'll find the weight great for the long distances and the screen good for that too as long as the buffeting is sorted. The weight only really becomes a problem with slower technical riding and even then only if you're unfamiliar with off road technique. My advice would be to practice slow riding around obstacles, unladen first and then loaded up. Have a great trip! Jealous..

My orange 2011 has 105000km now. Seen the west and east coast of Canada. Made it Yellowstone. It now burns more oil than I'm comfortable with so I got a like new 2009 to start over with, until some parts come for the 2011. Check your rad guard lads. Mine made it's own pin hole in the rad. Put Progressive springs in the forks and Ricor valves, made a huge difference. Now it sits on yz250 fork conversion and a stiffer rear spring with factory shock😙👌 The conversion is awesome but not much difference from the factory forks with better guts. Bigger front rotor and factory Nissin pads seam to last longer than after market in the dirty stuff. Since I have 2 klr, I got to ride with my bro last summer. He's thinking of getting one or a DR or DRZ. Who knows maybe we'll both have 3rd gen klr next year😆

@martinpolach1330

5 ай бұрын

Got just over 100,000 km on my 1997…does not burn oil ..been to the Pacific, the Arctic and the Mexican border .. Good fun, when I drop it ….I don’t call my banker, or the insurance company..just pick it up and keep riding . Did an iron butt…on the original seat ?

@KLRmurdercycle

5 ай бұрын

@@martinpolach1330 😭 the original seat😆 when I started my way back from the east coast, a trip that takes roughly 14 hours, took me 27 straight riding. Had nowhere to be and was done setting up the tent again. Two monsters and a bunch of snacks, pacing myself. I felt pretty good getting home. 2017 seat that time on the 2011. The 2015 seat and up is a great alternative to aftermarket. Did a semi hard enduro event this year. Parts of the Silver routes, but later got on Bronze routes with the owner of Waypoint Adventures rally fairing for the gen. His two buddies on a other gen1 and a KTM 500exc. Mixing with the dirt bikes was fun and hilarious and while it was eet over night and struggled in the morning..it was worth it. Hard enduro in Ontario is like a brotherhood. Baja, Moab, and Alaska are now my goals. Everything and everyone in between will be the bonus✌

Great video 👌👍

Thanks for sharing. I, too, have an ‘08 with the same (orig) plastic as I believe yours had. As you mentioned, it’s the simplicity, reliability and wrench-abilty that drew me to the KLR. I’m a bike lover of most machines out there. Love to watch and read about all the new tech that we see but the $$ you have to pay and some of the issues that some have and the unexpected riding costs associated with some .. it’s just not worth it to me. Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts !

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

I completely agree with you. I've been riding my KLR for over a decade now and I see the newer bikes which look brilliant and have fantastic technology attached to them and I can't help but think how nice they must be to ride. Then you hear the stories of the tech failures and weigh it up against the high cost of the bikes and I find it hard to justify buying one.

Great video. Just got myself a 2016 KLR a few weeks back. Got out on it the other day for the first time and had a ball. Plenty of water lying around up here in Darwin at the moment and managed to get it bogged on it’s first outing. Luckily had a couple of mates with me cos I would never of gotten it out of the mud on my own, felt like it weighed a tonne. Can’t wait for the dry season up here to go explore on it.

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Benny, I'd love to get up that way to go exploring. Kakadu is high on my list of places to ride. Sort the screen mate trust me on that one. Check out klrdash and either buy one or make something similar.

@BennyK777

3 жыл бұрын

@@escapeartist7900 KLRdash is definitely on my list of mods to do.

@tbeninjatiger

2 жыл бұрын

In Darwin myself, just about to grab a KLR. Super keen.

Great video the best i have seen. Thanks

@escapeartist7900

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Terry

Very good video. Greetings from Austria. 🖐

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Much appreciated!

Great video, answered all my questions for sure. I originally thought the 4:00 mark was a pearl of beauty, your photos of your travels, but the 8:30 minute mark where you described the windshield was gold! Looks a great bike. Now, 10 years on this one, what's the next bike going to be?

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

I honestly don't know. Everything these days has so many electronic gadgets and massive price tags to boot. I really like the simplicity of this bike. The KTM990 appealed to me for the same reason + it was an absolute beast. I'm hoping Kawasaki bring out a new ADV bike similar to the KLR but better. I won't be holding my breath though..

@pinkiewerewolf

3 жыл бұрын

@@escapeartist7900 Kawasaki announced the new KLR 650 a few weeks ago. It does have a digital dash, but very basic. EFI for emissions. Great price tag. Give it a look!

my klr 100k love it

Never had oil issues either . Synthetic never an issue. Long runs hot runs no oil issues.

Thanks again for another great video. Are you still filming ? Mark from Maryland

@escapeartist7900

9 ай бұрын

Thanks Mark. No I haven't filmed for a while now. Life got busy and priorities took over.

Yes the stock screen sucks, but maybe it was designed for a rider who is sitting in a fully tucked down postion. 👍

Hello mate great video, sounds like you have had lots of fun. Ehat do you think of 2022 klr Thanks

@Thomas-wk5ll

2 жыл бұрын

Sorry I forgot to ask about the 2022 windscreen.

@escapeartist7900

2 жыл бұрын

I haven't ridden one yet. I like the look of them and I like the additions they've made. They're heavier but I'm not sure how much of a difference that will make if the bike is well balanced. I'm sure they'll sell well and continue to be the iconic workhorse they are.

My 2018 KLR 650 produced 48hp (dyno) after running in and derestriction. The DR650 guys thought it was a torque machine. I enjoyed mostly riding dirt roads but it was cut short with an endo at 95k/h. The insurance wrote it off and paid me the list price. I do not miss it's weight but do miss its power. I now ride a 2020 DR650 which handles better in the dirt due to it being more manoeuvrable and lighter.

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

That's a considerable difference in power for sure. Glad you made it through your high speed front flip to tell the story. How do you find the DR650 on long trips compared to the klr?

@arnohag1

3 жыл бұрын

@@escapeartist7900 The DR650 is OK but needed an after market seat, lowered foot pegs, raised handle bars and a 20L poly tank to give near the fuel range or comfort the KLR did and has worse fuel economy after de-restrictions.

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

Interesting info, cheers. Happy riding mate.

@Bruce-Wayne717

2 жыл бұрын

Hello, I own a 2017 KLR 650, with fmf q4 exhaust and the airbox w/o snorkel. Do you remember you jetting sizes? Trying to fine tune mine at the moment.

spot on review mate.i put a Baja Works screen on mine huge improvement,and yes shit brakes,got me in trouble ,but iwas my fault ultimately.. not the bike.But a wonderful hard working bike.Great job mate cheers.

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Andy

Thx im pickking one up for 1700

What did you change the suspension to.Did you do front and back.

@escapeartist7900

Жыл бұрын

Sorry Garry, not able to tell you. I did it quite a while ago under the suggestion of my mechanic. All I know is that he ordered the rear suspension out of Germany. Couldn't tell you the brand. Yes, did the front too. Mostly just new parts and oil inside rather than an "upgrade". The whole package made a massive difference to the handling mostly because I'd ridden the stock suspension to death.

Spot on mate..cheers 🍻

I'm looking at an 06 klr with 14k miles for 2000$ is it worth it??

@escapeartist7900

Жыл бұрын

I'm not familiar with the 2006 models as they are different in a few ways from the 2008 and onwards bikes. Not sure if 2 grand USD is too much or not but 14k miles is not very far since 2006. Definitely worth taking for a ride IMO.

I ride with 2 blokes who ride the bush pig. To heavy for me but capable beasts.

@escapeartist7900

2 жыл бұрын

Definitely capable, definitely heavy. After a decade of riding it you don't notice I guess. What are you on? DR?

@kevrenshaw6177

2 жыл бұрын

Hey bud. Nah. I have a BMW F650GS which I cut my teeth on but heavier than a bush pig lol. I have a WR450F with Safari tank and a few light bits. REalised lifting the GS that it spoiled my adventure. Admittedly, it was too low really for the Razorback but did it lol.

@escapeartist7900

2 жыл бұрын

@@kevrenshaw6177 the f650gs is a cracking bike but a little low like you said. How do you find the 450 carrying gear and on the longer flat roads?

@kevrenshaw6177

2 жыл бұрын

Honestly ?, I have a L1/L2 fusion titanium in place and can ride the bike for hours whereas the BM just made me ache. As odd as it seems I can only conclude that suspension is the only leveller. In fact, if you wanted to do a review of the WR, let me know. Just be warned, use tape to keep your eyebrows on :-)

@escapeartist7900

2 жыл бұрын

@@kevrenshaw6177 ha! Cheers, I might take you up on that sometime.

dude I am 5 7" and is not to much of a bike like you mentioned if you know how to ride.

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

I have a mate that's maybe 5'5" at a push and he rides like a champion on any bike he gets his hands on by mastering a rolling mount and dismount. Riding tall bikes is definitely a confidence thing

kawa klr 650 is de slechtste motor die er bestaat .fabricage fout met de kettingspanner van de balansas.aan de linkerkantv d motor .

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

De kettingspanner is een algemeen bekend en erkend probleem met de motor en een goed punt om naar voren te brengen met betrekking tot deze fiets. Het is geen gegarandeerd probleem, maar iets waarvan de meeste kopers zich bewust zullen zijn en waarvan verwacht wordt dat het op een gegeven moment zal mislukken. Ik weet niet zeker of dit de motor de ergste maakt die er bestaat, aangezien KLR650's bekend staan om hun betrouwbaarheid. Ik kan het echter mis hebben. Bedankt voor je reactie, de kettingspanner verdiende een vermelding.

More swearing is good

@escapeartist7900

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you approve Hewy. I was worried you'd be reporting this one as inappropriate and offensive.