This conversation was a dim thought of mine from the beginning. I bought my KLR 650 over a year ago. To hear a 70k mile conversation from a guy who actually put the time in has sold me on the platform. I have a Gen 1 that I am putting a Lectron Carb on so I don’t need to worry about bad gas and tuning on long trips, and I will be putting premium upgrades on this beast over the course of its life. She has usb-c and a 10 gallon tank. This bike will be reincarnated forever onto new donor bikes. I can buy a donor bike for $300-500. -I will be building a fleet of KLR’s so my friends and family can go with me. -I only need to study 1 platform, and memorize its specific specifications. -all my spare parts will fit all my bikes. For sure I will ride other bikes and marvel at their features, and laugh at their price tags. Because I know what I want, I am free. I don’t want to drop cash and gear to ride at a track, and I’m not trying to pick up chicks that can’t skin a chicken over a fire. I drove across India on a 150cc enduro, and did what ever I wanted when ever I chose too. If my bike dies on the Baja 1500 on some forgotten beach, I will strip what I want to carry, sign the title and tape it to the beast, then walk away. Then buy a “new” one for less money then I would take to drag it off some forgotten beach and bring it back to life. You mention Santa Cruz, if you make it back to town then hit me up!
@hvymax
23 күн бұрын
It's the 4 cylinder CJ5 of motorcycles!!!
@lrdf4749
24 күн бұрын
I have a 06 klr650 and an 01 r1150gs. They cost the same. I can't really think of anything good to say about the klr compared to the bmw
@SurvivalNomad
24 күн бұрын
I bet they didn't cost the same when new and I also bet the maintenence costs have been less with the KLR. You are correct about comfort on road though.
@lrdf4749
23 күн бұрын
New prices aren't even a question, but I don't buy anything new. Maintenance isn't what you think. The BMW doesn't wear out as fast. Some people have gotten 400k miles out of these engines. All 650 dual sports engines need overhauled well under 100k. Price both engines used on Ebay, surprisingly the bmw wins by alot. Tubeless tires are pretty expensive so I'll give that to the klr. Cheaper tires. Both are comfortable, klr is highway slow obviously. I can run car motor oil in the bmw because it has a dry clutch, that saves money. I hate carbs, I change altitude drastically everyday, that cost $1k to overcome on the klr (lectron) but the bmw is fuel injected from the get go. I could go on and on but my klr has cost me more personally. They require alot of mods
@rustytanks
Ай бұрын
Im busy bulletproofing my 08', sofar ive done a wossner 102mm piston upgrade, EM Doo, manual petcock, AIS delete, kickstand switch delete, I'm just busy with the cylinder head now, already got the right shims, just waiting for the gasket set to arrive, the carb was rebuild with a dyno jet kit a friend gave me, and a Uni air filter, soon a 16T front sprocket will be added. Love these bikes, specially the thumper sound, i want to see atleast 150,000 kms on the clock 😊
@hillbilly4christ638
Ай бұрын
I drove tractor trailer for a living. Safety is all about awareness. On a motorcycle you must be ultra aware of your position on the road. It is imperative that you leave options open to you. You must ride like you have sense. Yes, I do ride motorcycle and yes it is dangerous, but so is acting like a fool while riding one. I have seen plenty of videos and it is little wonder that so many riders are injured or killed. The power that modern bikes have is tempting and many succumb to that temptation and pay the ultimate price. If you have the mindset that you know everything about bikes, get off and sell your bike because you are going to die. For everybody else, pay attention and I hope what I said is of some help.
@brettw1518
Ай бұрын
Love my KLR. I wonder how long I will keep mine, probably forever. I dented the frame a few years ago, it hasn’t caused any issues. Doubt someone would buy it like that, so I will continue to ride it until it quits. Can’t beat a motorcycle that is paid off a modded to your liking.
@SurvivalNomad
Ай бұрын
After more than a few on road and off road "offs" and 75k miles, running original wheels and bearings. Amazing tank!
@davidcoleman4941
Ай бұрын
I've owned 2 KLR650, and i can't change the tyre. My next bike may be a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450cc with tubeless tires and a plug kit. But i love long-range fuel tanks, im loving your honesty. Love from Australia
@SurvivalNomad
Ай бұрын
Thanks mate! Visited Sydney and Towoomba years ago. Love that bundaberg!
@raymondwright2985
2 ай бұрын
5 gals !! Real gallons . Not US gallons . That's why you get 6 US gal in your 5 gal tank
@rajanrai-qf2vz
3 ай бұрын
getin a low mile 02 3500 mil doohickey pipe plates, led, thermobob gud tures mint
@rajanrai-qf2vz
3 ай бұрын
can stil go on a flattube
@rajanrai-qf2vz
3 ай бұрын
ktm 950 is heavy, klr is lite 340 lbs offrd
@rajanrai-qf2vz
3 ай бұрын
getin a 02 w 3500 miles new oil n all. modified w pipe jetkick doohiky and prog springs. plates n all thermobob led, green very low mile 3500 3kish im goin tomr
@SurvivalNomad
3 ай бұрын
You'll like it me thinks
@bearjo11
3 ай бұрын
I too had a 1982 Yamaha Seca 550 in bright red. I now have a 2022 KLR650. Both bikes were/are great.
@HIFRENDITSJAVI
4 ай бұрын
one of the best KLR videos out there!!! thanks 😁
@SurvivalNomad
4 ай бұрын
Wow, thanks!
@ФениксФениксович-з5ц
4 ай бұрын
There are a lot of unnecessary things that have nothing to do with the title, pure clickbait. Considering the mention of the chain and caliper breaking, you are lucky to appreciate your guardian angel because each of these episodes could have been fatal.
@SurvivalNomad
4 ай бұрын
Thank you for your kind review.
@nick4506
5 ай бұрын
those gs bikes are amazing, dont knock it till you try it. handling is effortless. and there are gs out there crossing the world with double the miles of your klr while you complain about complexity.
@SurvivalNomad
5 ай бұрын
My budget will never justify the GS.... so with my lottery winnings, I might start appreciating them. I see the euro and Harley bikes as mechanical money pits. I can buy 4 asian bikes with superior affordability that can take me around the world for less headache and repair costs ( let alone insurance and carnet costs) than the GS.
@nick4506
4 ай бұрын
@@SurvivalNomad old 1100 gs or 1150s in good low mile condition are like 3 grand. and BMW nailed the geometry on those bikes. 1200 oil head 09-13 is a good deal too. yea harleys blow up after 50k miles. something Italian those grand valve clearance checks make it not worth it.
@lassassin2239
5 ай бұрын
Honestly I was hoping to Binge-watch. More of your videos. But sadly there hasn't been any more posts😢😢😢 I really Enjoyed your videos man
@SurvivalNomad
5 ай бұрын
No excuse but ended up breaking my fibula shortly after my last video and ended up taking some time off. Thanks for the comment!
@lassassin2239
5 ай бұрын
Honestly I love this video it was just to good
@SurvivalNomad
5 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for the kind words
@adventurevin7600
5 ай бұрын
I have been all over on my 2007 KLR. Route 66 round trip, PCH-Hwy 1 and 101, California BDR. I have no desire to ride anything else.
@SurvivalNomad
5 ай бұрын
Agree!
@MattPerry
6 ай бұрын
I think the Suzuki dr650 is more simple less heavier and has more power, I think it is a better bike, however I do own a KLR 650 C from 2002 and I don't intend to sell it.
@gravytrainoutdoors
6 ай бұрын
I love my 2006. I’ve done a few upgrades to it, tall windshield, seat concepts seat, doohickey, thermobob, progressive springs and cartridge emulators, jetted. You can’t beat the fun for the money. I have done lots of 500 plus mile days on the bike. I have other bikes but I’ll never let the old klr go.
@wildboby1
6 ай бұрын
Thank you very much for an awesome video brother! What screen is that on your bike? Thank you.
@SurvivalNomad
6 ай бұрын
It's a very old aftermarket screen. Company had 3 sizes and I went with the mid size. Cannot remember the manufacturer. Thanks for the comment.
@wildboby1
6 ай бұрын
aww man, it is the first screen that actually looks right on the Gen1! Awww if you see any part numbers on there that would be awesome! Thank you brother! @@SurvivalNomad
@jeffferguson899
6 ай бұрын
i had a new 06 klr . although the bike has its charms and I enjoyed my time owning it , it is far from the best bike ever. they are like owning a farm impliment. its a very crude bike. they vibrate terribly , burn oil, you have to change the doohickey, they dont regulate heat well at all, all the bolts vibrate loose, the plastics fade horribly and they are underpowed for a 650. once you graduate to a modern bike you wont go back. I went from a klr to a vstrom 650 , the vstrom was not as good off road but literally does everything else better
@SurvivalNomad
6 ай бұрын
I also have a vstrom and love it for more on-road use. Unfortunately, it's just too big for offroad and seems to have been eclipsed by new online twins vs. The charming V twin. Thanks for the comment and view!
@beaunaro
7 ай бұрын
And blah blah blah If you’re near broke but just gotta have 2 wheels, and you like dinosaur, top heavy, vibration…. Already sold mine.
@SurvivalNomad
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for the comment. I must like 🦕 I can afford.
@kennethbmcglaughn1458
6 ай бұрын
@@SurvivalNomad I’m at a point in my life that I can afford pretty much any bike I want. I love my KLR for its simplicity and it reminds me of my 3 1/2hp mini bike my dad bought me from Western Auto back in 1970?. Over all the other much faster and also much more advanced (read more complicated) bikes I’ve owned and ridden, my KLR takes me back to my childhood and I grin every time I ride it. To say people only buy it because they cannot afford anything else may be true for some people but not everyone. To buy a “toy”, ride it for a few years and then get most if not all of your money back is a no brainer. ZERO DEBT is the place to be. The KLR is great wind therapy as well. I agree with you sir, quite possibly the best overall package of any bike ever. I greatly enjoyed your video. Blessings. Brian P.S. Not to mention it is an Excellent Bug Out Vehicle!😁
@danielheeney444
7 ай бұрын
Keeping it simple love it.
@isaacwhull
7 ай бұрын
I'm in a motel right now awaiting for a sidecar to be fabricated and installed on my 99', I'm excited. I installed Progressive front springs and a Race-Tech rear shock spring, I wish I had used Race-Tech fork springs, I think it'd work better in desert conditions. thanks for video, it really is a fantastic reliable bike.
@soaringbumnm8374
6 ай бұрын
What rig are you getting? I have an 03 with a dauntless enduro.
@isaacwhull
6 ай бұрын
@@soaringbumnm8374 it didn't work, the original design was flimsy and the project was abandoned, what a shame, for myself it became too costly to pursue (motel bills and everything). I've got the KLR back and it's of course working perfect.
@soaringbumnm8374
6 ай бұрын
@@isaacwhull look at dmc in Texas....I think they make the Enduro now...I heard Dauntless is no longer in business.
@Adventure_Bum
7 ай бұрын
Nice review. Always good to hear the issues arent just mine. Have a load of fun on my Gen 2 and its very well suuted to my life in the Australian Outback. Handles lits of abuse and goes anywhere loaded up. Find my biggest issues are getting tyres and the back one wears out quick.
@spacetruckin6555
7 ай бұрын
The best part of the GENIII KLR's is that they tanked the prices of the GENI and II's!
@jactilm8687
7 ай бұрын
The gen 1 is my favorite,they trashed out the gen 3 with fuel injection,so i will never buy a new one.
@SurvivalNomad
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for commenting!
@Jimmy-s9h9x
8 ай бұрын
wish I never sold mine😢
@SurvivalNomad
8 ай бұрын
The only good news is they're still available!
@Jamesmatthew44
10 ай бұрын
Dang you are KLR “O.G” owing it for over 20 years . 👍
@SurvivalNomad
10 ай бұрын
All it takes is time!
@getlostbrandon
11 ай бұрын
💚 Love my KLR 💚
@tampz0nz
Жыл бұрын
my '01 is around 50k miles now, 44k of which was done by me. Doohickey breakage at 11k miles, shifter return spring breakage at 40k. One valve adjustment. it does burn oil at high rpm's and I have let it go low more than a couple of times but she keeps on chuggin.
@eduardomonteclar392
Жыл бұрын
I love my KLR dude
@tedmckey6914
Жыл бұрын
Really great review! Thanks!
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Thank you Sir!
@bobdog4379
Жыл бұрын
I've got an 87' Tengai and, it's brilliant , I expected to blow its brains out but it's still going 5 years later..thumping and scaring wildlife out the way as you go....
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
These bikes just keep on giving! How many miles on it?
@bobdog4379
Жыл бұрын
@SurvivalNomad ha ha, not many miles at all, 14k but had just 9k when I got it.. I do ride it hard though, after caning inline fours I expected to kill it within a year but my knees packed in so I was forced to have a year or two off riding..I'm back on it now though, riding with my 16 Yr old son on a ts50x I've just restored for him.. he's 16, his bike is 33 lol. It gets all the attention cos' there's only 3 on the road in the u.k. and it's bright yellow. My klr is to be restored this winter back to original red/ white. At the moment it's pure unmarked black cos that's how I wanted it... incognito lol.
@advhawk6455
Жыл бұрын
N A I L E D I T !
@WoodrowfolloweroftheMessiah
Жыл бұрын
👍🏻🙏🏻😀
@onerider808
Жыл бұрын
The 27X thing is a good idea. I’d buy a sticker through you, if you get a printer to make some which fit Gen1, 2, and 3 “dashboards”. You could probably sell me a 27X t-shirt or riding jersey, too. And I’m just a poor, exploring grandpa.
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Congrats grandpa! I called the 27x sticker a "mod", buts its really a call to sanity. No charge and a silver marker works as well!
@onerider808
Жыл бұрын
With bark busters, crash bars, a skid plate, flush-mount magnetic oil drain plug, thermo-bob and doohickey upgrade, my 23 Adventure will be a tank. KLX300 for wherever the KLR won’t go.
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
All those mods weigh less than 6 gallons of gas in a full tank. I agree with the KLX as a better offroad choice. I'm actually looking at downsizing myself.
@Ebbonified
Жыл бұрын
KLR owner myself. Getting mine back to running shape after a spill a couple years ago (new forks, etc). I liked your 30min treatise on how the gen 1 is the best bike of all time. Eastern NC, and itchin for another adv journey later this summer.
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Have a great journey this summer. Thanks for the comment!
@JasonCleare-s9n
Жыл бұрын
Love mine because it’s what a motorcycle should be. Have owned many bikes to know.
@elcheekoful
Жыл бұрын
I see alot of these KAWASAKI KLR 650's , late 90s to early 00's models for about 3 grand. With 10k miles on them here in my area. Do you think that's a decent deal?
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Depends... if they've been well cared for, good deal. Its not the mileage, its the maintenence. Fir most riders, the engine is way over engineered... which is to say it can handle alot of abuse. If the owner has maintenence records, its probably a good bike.
@elcheekoful
6 ай бұрын
@@SurvivalNomadAwesome thank you. I ended up buying a Kawasaki KLX250S. It's Amazing for backroads and off-road. Not the best on highway. Still considering getting a KLR 650 in the future.
@Bruski68.
Жыл бұрын
Perfection is the enemy of good enough, and the KLR650 is good enough to do everything, even if it's not really great at any one thing.
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Well said Bruce!
@MOTOZILIANS
Жыл бұрын
i have a 1988 klr 650 rides like a champ...besides the abuse lack of maintaniece and etc like you said....great video man i am a new subscriber to your channel
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for being part of the team!
@digbypowell6208
11 ай бұрын
Do yah bikes use much or any coolant ? Have to top it up much ?
@MOTOZILIANS
11 ай бұрын
mine does not leak or consume any coolant i never have to top it off @@digbypowell6208
@unclequack5445
Жыл бұрын
Ive had my share of flats but Ive rode many miles i'm still riding my 03 KLR 650 it takes a lot of maintenance to keep any bike running ive had mine since 05 it was down since covid 2019 I just got it running again I did an E-Mike 692cc kit I ported/polished the head myself the vibration is gone with the lighter piston kit.
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
I've thought about the EM 685 kit as an upgrade to address the oil burning but I think I have another couple thousand miles left on the piston/rings.
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Good to know... been looking at a big bore kit for mine.
@amerigo88
6 ай бұрын
Bought mine used with the 692 cc upgrade, Eagle Mike doohickey, and Watt Man Thermobob. Swapped F sprocket to 16 teeth and it is just great.
@tomkuhl4770
Жыл бұрын
This is an excellent video, sir, ya did good. 71,000 is a lot of miles, indeed. I love my 06 KLR, likely keep it the rest of my life. They are what they are, but they're good motorcycles and a plethora of aftermarket parts available.
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment!
@roz7180
Жыл бұрын
Wiser words have never been spoken..... salute!
@SurvivalNomad
Жыл бұрын
Thank you Sir!
@tomvana4270
Жыл бұрын
It’s slow, heavy, terrible off road sounds like a Volkswagen Beetle has weak brakes numbs you fingers and butt after 100 miles but I wouldn’t sell you mine.
@bobsullivan5714
Жыл бұрын
Exactly! Hey, my bike is MY BIKE and it doesn't need to make sense to anyone else!
@eduardomonteclar392
Жыл бұрын
Righttttttt
@tomvana4270
Жыл бұрын
53,000 miles on mine. One owner and the motor is completely factory and still have the doohickey in place. Regular oil changes and reset the doohickey each time. Also check and adjust my valve shims. Take care of it and it’ll take care of you.@@eduardomonteclar392
@DonaldLasik
10 ай бұрын
Love that reply Tomvana
@Michael-qo8bs
10 ай бұрын
I agree....hell it looks natural when it's dirty!
@malikjs
Жыл бұрын
Hey bud i just found your channel i just bought a 2023 klr adventure cant go wrong with a bike. Kawi has been making for over 35 years
Пікірлер