2008 KLR650
2008 KLR650
Many of you have heard about this, but the KLR650 that went basically unchanged for 20 years has finally been revamped. One article I read argued that not much had really changed other than fairings, but this article seems to think the changes are widespread and a big improvement.
I put a lot of miles on my 03 KLR650 during the short time I owned it. I like the changes on the new machine except I can't help but think how badly I would have damaged the new, fancy fairings in all the drops I had flogging that top-heavy beast through Arkansas' ATV trails. Still, at under $5,400, it's a real value.
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/30april0 ... lr650.html
I put a lot of miles on my 03 KLR650 during the short time I owned it. I like the changes on the new machine except I can't help but think how badly I would have damaged the new, fancy fairings in all the drops I had flogging that top-heavy beast through Arkansas' ATV trails. Still, at under $5,400, it's a real value.
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/30april0 ... lr650.html
- KansasKawboy
- Posts: 11
- Joined: 26 Mar 2007 17:38
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- Location: Roeland Park, Kansas
This shows that Kawasaki really, really is not doing their homework.
I thought the weight was a typo...nope, they ADDED 50 POUNDS! Wow...she was no ballerina to begin with, but 50 pounds more would make picking that big girl up next to impossible in certain situations.
Now if they would have been on the ball...Kawasaki could have really played a smart hand by marketing this bike to the adventure crowd and this bike:
http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=207
to the dual-sport crowd. But...looks as if the 450 will not come in street spec.
I thought the weight was a typo...nope, they ADDED 50 POUNDS! Wow...she was no ballerina to begin with, but 50 pounds more would make picking that big girl up next to impossible in certain situations.
Now if they would have been on the ball...Kawasaki could have really played a smart hand by marketing this bike to the adventure crowd and this bike:
http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=207
to the dual-sport crowd. But...looks as if the 450 will not come in street spec.
"The stone that builders rejected - has become the Cornerstone!"
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2013 Husqvarna TE 449
2009 BMW G650X Country
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2013 Husqvarna TE 449
2009 BMW G650X Country
Hmmm,
337 lbs becomes 386 lbs. Doh!
Fork travel goes from 9.1 to 7.9" (yeah, they reduced the static sag ... but why not reduce the sag and keep the travel?)
Ground clearance appears to be much lower. Really low.
The fairing appears to be more fragile and expensive.
Seems the BMW engineers got into this project.
337 lbs becomes 386 lbs. Doh!
Fork travel goes from 9.1 to 7.9" (yeah, they reduced the static sag ... but why not reduce the sag and keep the travel?)
Ground clearance appears to be much lower. Really low.
The fairing appears to be more fragile and expensive.
Seems the BMW engineers got into this project.
Safiri Mike
Current: 01 F650-GSDakar-RWB; 02 EXC-453 (orig. MXC 400); 05 EXC-450 ; 13 CRF-250L; 17 CRF-125FB; 06 KLX-110 (132); 02 TTR-125L
Gone and missed (but no regrets): 01 LC4E-400-Grey
Gone and not missed: 73 AT3, 85 K100RS
Current: 01 F650-GSDakar-RWB; 02 EXC-453 (orig. MXC 400); 05 EXC-450 ; 13 CRF-250L; 17 CRF-125FB; 06 KLX-110 (132); 02 TTR-125L
Gone and missed (but no regrets): 01 LC4E-400-Grey
Gone and not missed: 73 AT3, 85 K100RS
Keep fishin', I might bite.tim wrote:or you could get a sweetly set up DRZ that does almost as good in the dirt and without the high strung valves for less than half that
You know the wife's gone next week, perfect for making stupid decisions. I'll be sleeping alone anyway.
Ian
-04 Weeeee-Strom - It's orange and a V-Twin, what more could you want???
Gone but not forgotten...
-05 636
-85 XR600
Gone but not forgotten...
-05 636
-85 XR600
- Hank Moody
- Posts: 652
- Joined: 30 Nov 2006 21:22
- Photo URL: http://
- Location: Shawnee, KS
As soon as Kawi gets off their lazy butts and ships it.
Deal on the trade.
Man, I wish I would of had something smaller and four stroke today at my uncle in laws land. I forgot how much pipey two strokes suck in the slime down around Sedalia. But we had fun anyway.
Ian
Deal on the trade.
Man, I wish I would of had something smaller and four stroke today at my uncle in laws land. I forgot how much pipey two strokes suck in the slime down around Sedalia. But we had fun anyway.
Ian
-04 Weeeee-Strom - It's orange and a V-Twin, what more could you want???
Gone but not forgotten...
-05 636
-85 XR600
Gone but not forgotten...
-05 636
-85 XR600
Let it go, Tim...let it go.tim wrote:how come you're not slinging tires and predicting the weather in Hastings?
So Tim, was the blue DRZ I passed twice around Smithville today yours? And if so, you'd better stop to say HI next time I try to wave you down! (See the Head2Holt thread. http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=196)
You didn't hear? You'll be dealing with a new face at the Bridgestone tent.tim wrote:how come you're not slinging tires and predicting the weather in Hastings?
I was so broken up by the fact that my poor tire choice decision made you crash, that I chucked in the towel and up and quit.
Actually, I did quit, but your poor rain riding skills had nothing to do with it I'm focusing more on dirt this year. And, as you saw on the squid board, I am planning on competing in the last half of the Forward Motion HS season which means no time to slang tires. Although I will be running Bridgestones at the hare scrambles.
Ian
-04 Weeeee-Strom - It's orange and a V-Twin, what more could you want???
Gone but not forgotten...
-05 636
-85 XR600
Gone but not forgotten...
-05 636
-85 XR600
-
- Posts: 107
- Joined: 01 Dec 2006 21:02
- Photo URL: http://
- Location: Liberty (Center of the DS universe)
no it wasnt me - I was laying around all day today and then went to the bike show this afternoon on the spur of the moment on a blue bike, but not the DRZ I bet there's someone out there who thinks you a re some sort of 2 wheeled stalkertroy wrote:Let it go, Tim...let it go.tim wrote:how come you're not slinging tires and predicting the weather in Hastings?
So Tim, was the blue DRZ I passed twice around Smithville today yours? And if so, you'd better stop to say HI next time I try to wave you down! (See the Head2Holt thread. http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=196)
Last edited by tim on 10 Jun 2007 18:42, edited 1 time in total.
05 KTM 300
06 R6 RACE n=2
89 TRANSALP
06 CRF230
06 R6 RACE n=2
89 TRANSALP
06 CRF230
-
- Posts: 107
- Joined: 01 Dec 2006 21:02
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- Location: Liberty (Center of the DS universe)
that's too bad I was looking forward to continuing to harass you. I still want that podium hat BTW. Me and Stoner bear such a striking resemblence in it, dont you think?iyeager wrote:You didn't hear? You'll be dealing with a new face at the Bridgestone tent.tim wrote:how come you're not slinging tires and predicting the weather in Hastings?
I was so broken up by the fact that my poor tire choice decision made you crash, that I chucked in the towel and up and quit.
Actually, I did quit, but your poor rain riding skills had nothing to do with it I'm focusing more on dirt this year. And, as you saw on the squid board, I am planning on competing in the last half of the Forward Motion HS season which means no time to slang tires. Although I will be running Bridgestones at the hare scrambles.
Ian
as for the HS, good luck and god speed.. maybe I'll screw up the courage to submit to that torture this fall once the season is over. If you make it through with all your limbs intact, that will be a good sign.
05 KTM 300
06 R6 RACE n=2
89 TRANSALP
06 CRF230
06 R6 RACE n=2
89 TRANSALP
06 CRF230