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I have the same KLR. I live in an area where there are alot of trails to ride. I am getting more comfortable riding it for everyday use an then I will hit the woods for sure. Other than the 400 miles I have on the KLR my only other 2 wheel experience is 4300 miles on a Ninja 400. So the riding style has taken me some time to get used to but definitely no regrets. I am new to the channel because of my KLR purchase an this definitely gives me a better idea of what the bike was made for. Keep making the amazing content.

I have owned my KLR650 2012, since 2013, a left over brand new at a dealer in Littleton NH. I always wanted a KLR, so with permission from my better half, I purchased this bike as a retirement gift to myself, as I was scheduled to retire shortly. Best decision I ever made for myself regarding a motorcycle. Yep, the new KLR, is sweet, but really I have a bike that I really fell in love with. I even made an impression on a friend of mine, that only rides Harleys. So now he has a brand new DR650 2023 he bought to go riding with me. I think I will show him, how much fun you can have with a dual purpose bike on the trails and back roads we live around, should be sweet!

Great review! Keep them coming.

So much great info and those beautiful fall colors! Thanks Dork.

I am greatly appreciate your posting of this new Kawasaki machine! I love this bike! The video is crystal clear and very enjoyable to watch your ride through the wilderness! Very Cool ! Adventures with friends or a solo jaunt, is always fun to see and enjoy! The bike looks, sounds and rides solid. This looks like a great place to ride, and with this bike, it will take you from highway to the trails. Thanks again for this ride/review! You sound pleased with the bike and are enjoying the ride! And that is what this is all about! Ride far and wide with safety in mind! Thanks again !

Excellent video!

A man, his bike and a adventure in the beautiful nature 👍 Perfect day

You do an awesome job conveying information about this type of riding , I'm hoping you do some more videos like this

Thanks for the ride and review. This is exactly the type of riding I would like to be able to do on my next bike. Not looking to get more technical, but want something better then my FZ6 to take into those riding situations that is also capable of some highway touring and commute riding.

Great mountain views there, you are so lucky to live in an area like that. Also, lots of good info- and I think you may have found "your bike" the way you speak about it, you can hear the excitement, maybe a keeper for you. :) Cheers, Ronny

I lived in Bend Oregon for 12 yrs. Such great riding in Central Oregon. Great video

Great video! Love my KLR!

As always enjoyed watching thanks for sharing 👍

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

Another great rerun by the Dork 😝 Took my KLR out last Sunday in the rain and mud. So much fun and yes, laid the Pig down for a nap. This route would be an awesome route for a meet & greet for your channel in the spring. Beautiful views up there

Did the 1100 miles of the OR discovery route on a KTM 450 with 5 buddies many years ago. Luggage was a back pack. Great memories. Thanks for posting this.

I am still riding my old gen 1 klr650, and thrive on showing what the KLR650 is capable of.

Im just north of you in Canada, have a gen2. Sometimes I think about "upgrading" to something better, then I watch a video like yours and realize that I don't need anything else. She's paid for and I'll have just as much fun or maybe more because im not worried about dropping a $20k bike.

Awesome video on the klr again. I'm thinking I'm going to purchased the traveler model myself in like june of 2023 . I'm really waiting on the aftermarket parts to make items for it now.

Welcome to the KLR family nothing like a tractor when it comes to the trails "enjoy"😀😀

Big "D" thanks for the video. You are quite an accomplished rider. I use to raise heck on my 2 strokes back in the 70's . Now that I'm in my 60's , I suffer from butt pucker on my bikes. Call it wisdom or fear. I'm getting use to it again. What I want to do is commend you on being an awesome collective of information. I was on the fence between an Africa Twin and a KLR. When I saw that you bought the KLR and were selling the AT, it got me thinking. Besides being able to buy 2 KLR's for the price of one AT, I saw the videos of your new purchase. This bike does everything that I want to do at half the price. Needless to say, I have the same KLR in the stable along with my DR, 1200xe and my vintage CL450. Thanks for all you do.

KLR for the win, love it! 😃

Really enjoyed the unscripted riding vlog, you made me miss my KLR!

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Sure sounds like someone has a thing for the KLR 😜👍🏻 Stoked that you’ve potentially found “the bike” for you!

hey I want to put out 45 min epics....actually I haven't done the work....I appreciate all of the work you do and have done....Thank you for the KLR off road

Awesome, great views. A++

Awesome roads that you have around there! Glad you're liking the KLR!

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

I'm lucky to have so many great places to ride

@GreaseAndGravel

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad Very lucky! Thanks for sharing ;)

I'm so jealous of your never ending choices for riding. I'm pretty limited where I live but I like watching the seemingly limitless miles you're able to put on!

@jakaberdajs4378

2 жыл бұрын

Where you from? Youd be suprised how many stuff there are to ride, you just have to ask the right people ;)

@heynow3788

2 жыл бұрын

@@jakaberdajs4378 N.H.

“If you wonder what the KLR can do…it can get you here.” That view!

Very nice ride

For some reason you’re bike looks better than the 3 I had (2 G1 and 1 of the G2). Or is it you that makes it look better. lol. Anyway you sure have some beautiful country in the north west. I have got to get up there and do some riding. Good job Ben.

Thank you for this, and other, videos. I used to have a Gen 2 KLR. I am a retired forester and am thinking about getting a new KLR next year or so. I went initially from "KLR thinking" to Honda CRF 300 rally thinking, but overall I am solidly back into the KLR 650 thinking. It would be fun to also be able to take my wife as a passenger up into the woods from time to time or for short road trips. I am looking forward to more of your mods videos. I live in eastern Oregon.

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

KLR is a great bike for what you want to do.

@markcollins5026

2 жыл бұрын

Man, I'm 67 and got the new KLR, it's a hoot to ride, I thought about the 300 Rally but they don't have enough power !

@michaeltownsend2376

2 жыл бұрын

@@markcollins5026 I agree. I want to be able to take my wife for rides, to see country that she never gets to see. Even though I retired 11 years ago (I am now 65 and in great physical shape), I still do wildfire investigations in the summers. I get out to the woods still in that respect and still have the wildfire experience. My wife has none of that. She is now a retired school teacher.

@markcollins5026

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaeltownsend2376 man, right on, I'm 67 retired and disability, I had colon cancer so I have a colonoscopy, but doesn't stop me from riding my new KLR !

@michaeltownsend2376

2 жыл бұрын

@@markcollins5026 I had a 2008 Gen 2 KLR for a number of years. I liked it, but this 2020 looks fantastic. I am looking forward to getting one. I appreciate the positive videos and the feedback. Thank you.

Great video on the KLR in its natural habitat, I love hearing that tractor factor. StrykerADV

I thought the suspension on my KLR was fine until I had to service the forks and decided to upgrade to a full Cogent setup on a whim. It is night and day. 100% worth the cost of admission. It makes it a whole new bike.

Good to see you using it for its intended purpose.

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

That's what I bought it for!

I’ve ridden the triumph 1200 scrambler(505 lb wet) through some sandy/rocky/hilly trails and been fine. I just know that thing would be just as capable but way more fun with that price. I’d probably get one if I hadn’t just put way too much money into my xsr700 to make it “adventure ready”.

Beautiful scenery up there with the undefiled forests. You're right, the camera doesn't do justice to the steepness of the trails - ever. On the weight, do you think the confidence you have is due to it's being a thumper rather than a twin (and the obvious hp difference) is why you feel the difference?

Have you thought about Cogent suspension for the KLR? Also what are your current setting for the forks and shock ? Thank for the content!

I've been split between a KLR650 or KLX300. I'm leaning towards the KLR650. It gives you that freeway jaunt if needed instead of winding out at 9,000 on your KLX300 @70 mph. It's very loud on the highway cruising @70 mph. Same with a Versys-X 300. The KLR650 is more perfect for me being 60 yrs old. I won't be doing any single track trails at a 20 degree angle anymore. More of an Adventure Tourer but with a Dual Sport. The KLR650 fits the bill.

If you had to do the same ride again tomorrow would you want rather do it on the Africa twin or the klr?

I'm 6ft4 and 225, this bike is going to be my first true full time rider. Only one I could fine that was tall enough in the beginner range. I'm changing the pegs first and foremost.

Oh! No views! Man 31.3 already! Come on silver button! I wish i had video of the rocky 5ft deep bowl i climbed out of the other weekend. She's a beast! More capable than i ever will be 😄 It's just a great bike. The haters don't need to understand it. It's had a 35 year run for a reason

@markcollins5026

2 жыл бұрын

Man. I got the new KLR because it's still a big thumper !

@unclebadger597

2 жыл бұрын

@@markcollins5026 the more i ride it the more i love it! Haven't ridden my V-Strom since i got the KLR 😆

@markcollins5026

2 жыл бұрын

@@unclebadger597 man, I had a 2020 versys x300 but I didn't care for the buzzy twin, so got the new KLR !

More videos like this one, please, please, please.

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

Really? You guys like this stuff? I used to make these all the time but stopped because nobody watched them

@markflaugh2293

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad Yes i love the riding and talking and showing the different scenery and how the bike does. You can even take it on an on road ride and show how it would commute and run errands. Sorta like Every Single Sunday does but for “normal” people just riding their bike the way it was meant. I think you nailed it when you said this is normal KLR stuff.

Hello Dork, yes there are a lot of KLR owners that think they are just a commuter. But just to let you know there are guys like me that take them in really bad conditions. Mine is a gen 1 with D606 on the rear and Mt21 on front. So to all that use it as a commuter, go out and get it dirty! It likes the mud! It will handle just about everything. Enjoy 😎

I would really love to see you take it on some rougher tracks where you would normally bring the DRZ. If nothing else, it would be good content...

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure we'll get there eventually. Gotta get through the first oil change first, at least.

@johncoleman1935

2 жыл бұрын

Check out "onthebackwheel" takes it out on some single track, interesting.

Looking at the angle of the trees in a relationship to the ground, I can tell that’s very steep

How do you like the klr compared to the Africa twin? I mean overall not just on dirt. I tried an Africa twin today and it was a nice bike but other than being more powerful than my 2014 vstrom 650 I didn't like it any better

Is "Dork Mtn" your designation? Not that there is any shortage of great places to ride with a view. That area is one of our favorites.

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure it's actually called "Twin Buttes" but I started calling it Dork Mountain before I knew that ;)

Man, nice I recently got the new KLR, what tire pressure do you run on your KLR !

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

Whatever the stock recommendation is. It's like 22 I think.

When I found my way to your channel we were both new to dual sport motorcycles. I had a 250 Rally, with a goal of a 450RL and then an AT. I jumped the 450 and got a 2020 Africa Twin DCT. I still have the Rally and intend to double back and get a 450. The AT has made me a much more confident off road rider on the 250. My goal is to get good enough to take the AT anywhere I would take the 250. Would you take your AT on this trail? (Maybe you did and I missed it)

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

I would. I never got around to it when I had it, but I'd totally ride the AT up there. I also took the Grom up to this spot ;)

Now that you've ridden the WA BDR would you take this bike on it?

There's a reason some call it a mule or tractor good at everything .

Looks like Washington?...or Oregon.

Would you take the KLR places you wouldn’t go on the Africa Twin?

Ahh...it's not that heavy. Picked my gen2 up 5 times this weekend😆 Wet, leafy hardwoods, with tires near the end of their life.

I have a question. There are 3 different models. Originally I was thinking about getting the Adventure, but now I am gravitating to the basic model. You mentioned in one of your videos that you do not like the fog lights. I am not sure if I would really like the hard travel cases also. I can always install a bash plate and crash bars with the modification. I was thinking about getting soft travel cases of sorts. I was just thinking that the hard travel cases might be cumbersome and if there was a "tip over" on a gravel road, they may get messed up, as well as the fog lights. What is your opinion?

@rameylewis7730

2 жыл бұрын

The adventure has the best color scheme IMO. the extras make it nice. You can add all of the same stuff to the basic model, but the cost might only be a bit less. Having everything look factory and also is under warranty is nice. So if you're on a tighter budget then buy the basic model and and the goodies as time and money permits. If not, buy the adventure model and have a vehicle that is mostly set up for your needs. I probably wouldn't get abs if you like riding off road. Good luck I got the adventure set up and I'm glad I did so far.

@michaeltownsend2376

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your input, Ramey Lewis.

I was doing similar riding on my 2015 in Montana just North of Yellowstone last summer. The KLR just eats it up. And it will galdly haul your camping gear. What the KLR doesn't do is single track.

@WAITEY97

Жыл бұрын

Onthebackwheel takes his Klr through single track, it can be done

What are the stock tires?

Are you out in the entiat?

You probably mentioned this before, but what did you think of the stock tires? Are you going to change them out for something a bit more aggressive? Thanks for the video

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

Better than expected so far. I'm gonna run them for a bit and see how I feel. I suspect my opinion might change after I find some mud.

@rameylewis7730

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad Good to see you on the opposite side of the state. I'm 1 1/2 hours north of Spokane up in the Selkirk Mountain Range on the WA/ID border just south of Canada. Let me know when you get out this way and we can hit the trails our new KLR's.

@busyjustbusy7992

2 жыл бұрын

I've got a hair more than 1600 miles on my KLR and the rear tire is worn badly and in need of replacing. To be fair though about 1000 of those miles I had my wife behind me, so I'm sure that eat it up faster. It was breaking out a couple days ago in the rain on nearly every downshift. Still grips offroad good though and the front still looks new.

I'd love to ride this trail with my KLR, where is it?

Where is tr that? Molalla area?

The torque is very usable, doesn’t spin the wheel.

What GPS do you use?

You’re a very lucky man…

Not considering the price difference, the KLR or the Triumph Rally Pro you recently test rode for that type of trail?

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

I don't have enough experience on the Triumph to really say but based on my time with it I think it would handle it just fine. Probably pretty even, with a slight edge to the KLR just because being so much cheaper I'm a lot less worried about dropping it

@jasonkendrick1974

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad Thanks. Those are probably my top 2 contenders for a second bike. Offroad-focesed ADV with the ability to knock out highway miles. I'm in the same boat as you on the T7. My dealer said "don't even ask." That KLR is a great value at a great price point. Been shopping later model used Tiger XCA too. Your channel is great for newer Adventure riders too, and congrats on the newish Kawi!!!!

I feel sure you know we'd be able to see those rocks in the road you're telling us we can't see if you shot in 4K 😁

So, what happened to the XT? I saw it went into usb mode. Do you have it powered by usb or direct/switched power?

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

It just got confused with me switching the bike on and off to stop and film and stuff. I just didn't press the button to stop it because I was doing other things.

@WWADV

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad Thanks for the quick reply. I own both the XT and a 396. I decided to run the 396 on my 22 and ran it to switched power. I also have it mounted to the top bar. I'm hoping the vibes don't kill it or cause it to do weird things.

KLR's are great at lugging, also if you like the stock suspension, I wouldn't ride one with an upgraded suspension, you will be mad :), night and day difference. Also, you'd be very surprised where KLR owners will take them :) !

@AT2021Rocker

2 жыл бұрын

Upgraded the suspension on my 2013. Awesome performance. I went places that the big gsa’s wont.

You named your own mountain? 😝 Did you think of what to do about the Do-hickey in the future?

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

I'm not gonna do anything until the warranty expires

@kevinnashskitchen3517

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad yes.. 👍

Question: so it looks great on the dirt and gravel roads but how about highway speeds?

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

Fine so far

@BugTheRoot

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad Thanks. I am in central Florida, and I've been looking for a bike that will need to be part commuter on a 50 mile ride to work at highway speed (70 MPH), so at first I was thinking of going with something like a Goldwing (I have owned two in the past). But I really want the ability to use the bike on the many dirt trails in the state that are off limits to a heavy street beast like the Goldwing. So I had looked at the Africa Twin, or the Tenere 700, but I also think this KLR or the Honda NC750X as a mid-weight bike that can handle both highway speeds and some trails. So I am curious if this 650 would be able to cruise on highway stretches to where I want to tour, or I should go with a larger bike. I might want to drive up to Georgia or the Carolinas as well.

How do these do on speed bumps and curbs?

@DorkintheRoad

Жыл бұрын

Fine? It's a dual sport. If it can't do a curb then you have problems.

How does it compare to the suzuki drz!?

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

I'm getting that question a lot. I'm thinking it'll take a whole video to explain.

Many a KLR have conquered the TAT.

out of curiosity why not a Tenere' 700 ?

@fastdude2002

2 жыл бұрын

Price?

@justsomedude445

2 жыл бұрын

@@fastdude2002 yeah i suppose they are at different price points , i see them both as budget options , well compared to his Africa twin , my 1090r or anything else in that multi cyl class

@justsomedude445

2 жыл бұрын

@@morgan98801 ahh now that i understand , same as here in WA

@justsomedude445

2 жыл бұрын

@@morgan98801 ive gotta trade my 1090r on something lighter and simpler easier to maintain cheaper to run overall , not sure im ready to go all the way back to a 1cyl bike just yet though but i have been reading and watching all i find on this new KLR , for the $ its the best deal goin for sure

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

and unlikely to be available anytime soon. So, I'll have fun on the KLR in the interim.

Where is the drz?

@DorkintheRoad

2 жыл бұрын

At home. I can only ride one bike at a time

@fortheloveofknobs

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad Nuh uh! You could totally ride one 100 feet, stop, walk, ride the other 100 feet, stop, walk...etc... =D

@sumokid

2 жыл бұрын

@@DorkintheRoad thank god I thought you sold it haha