KLR gets a makeover for 2008 model year

[SittingDuck]

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two types of riders? those that dropped and those about to? hmmm... are you saying that everyone will also crash a car, that everyone will electrocute themselves when changing a lightbulb in the kitchen or set their heir on fire while lighting a cigarette????

your logic is lacking sir jason.

me, surprised by the roads here? you bet i was: yeah! finally some twisties!!! what do you mean a speed limit of 60????

read posts fully before you make silly statements like you did about dropping bikes (probably the kind that people make to justify the fact that they dis something dumb and laid it down, they think everyone's got it coming). you'll notice i rode the alps on a xjr1300. i also raced in gt sedan for 5 years, and drove more ferrarris through european backroads than you can dream of. i also teach advanced vehicle control. the paved roads i see here are flat and straight. which is why i want to change bikes. i have to go 220+kph on my zook to notice that the road is turning. might as well get a adventure touring bike and enjoy the scenery.

but maybe im in the wrong place here. i was thinking that dualsport and adventure touring were the same. maybe they're not, and instead of being backroad explorers you're hard-core motocross jumpers. in that case, i got news for ya, the new klr isnt the bike for it. never was. look at a honda xr650 maybe or somethign smaller and lighter like a 2 stroke.

i just wanna be able toride comfortably from alaska to tierra del fuego (yeah, i started planning that with some buddies and family. it'll be a couple of years though), and the new klr650 is the machine that will do it for me. cheaper and better than a vstrom.

while before it might have been a street legal dirtbike, its purpose is now changed.

evolution of the off-road touring bike:

bmw 1100-1150-1200 GS -> suzuki v strom -> suzuki wee strom -> kawasaki pee-wee strom...

face it. you may not like it but some people will and do. look at what they're saying about it on advrider. different crowd i guess, with a different purpose.

 

[joker650]

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two types of riders? those that dropped and those about to? hmmm... are you saying that everyone will also crash a car, that everyone will electrocute themselves when changing a lightbulb in the kitchen or set their heir on fire while lighting a cigarette????

your logic is lacking sir jason.

If you buy your new KLR and take it out in the dirt or ride it on gravel roads as much as 80% of the riders on this site do......then YOU WILL TIP YOUR BIKE OVER:ted:

You may not even be sitting on the bike...it mayjust fall over because where you stopped to admire that $1,000,000,000 view that cars and trucks can not get to , the ground was too soft to hold up that kick stand. These bikes even fall over in parking lots!

 

[Pee Wee]

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Sorry "Sitting Duck"....your delusional if you think you'll never be dropping a 400lbs dirt bike.

It's inevitable...be prepaired for it.:dr:

 

[joker650]

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Pee Wee wrote:

Sorry "Sitting Duck"....your delusional if you think you'll never be dropping a 400lbs dirt bike.

It's inevitable...be prepaired for it.:dr:

Yes....it will happen.









I would like to see that new KLR after a spill like this!

This would cost ya about $100....min!

 

[dooveman]

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Having dropped mine I definately have to say, prepare for it. The odds always catch up. And usually they catch up in the first week when you aren't used to a 400lb dirt bike. Or the tall seat hieght. Or a steep grade and stalling it. Stalling on a steep hill on a KLR is, pretty well, jump time. Cause thats when you realise the ground isn't there at that angle. Or how about that first time you grab the front brake in loose gravel. I saw this poor woman hit dirt faster than a pig in a pig pen:tup:
Better to just get it over with.:clap:
Brian

 

[SittingDuck]

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yeah, i guess you might be right somewhere and i would like to apologise for my previous comments. it is after all a 400 lb dirt bike....

what are you guys thinking??? a 400 dirtbike????

are you nuts? my race-bike wasnt 400 lbs, and it's strictly paved track....

you must be thinking about a gravel-capable 400 lb touring bike... of course youll drop it if you ride it like a dirt bike...

no self-respecting dirt-bike would dream about weighing 400 lbs....

top 3 reasons why i won't drop my 08 klr:

1) i dont ride like an idiot

2) i know its not a dirtbike

3) ok, the sidestand on quicksand, i can see myself doing... you win

anyhow. we dont know yet if the new model is less dirt capable than the old.

we are agreed that if dropped, the bike is more breakable

the 08 klr will draw crowds to the klr family, just because they want more than a wee strom, and the pee-wee-strom(08 klr-650)is just the ticket...

i do understand your frustration at the change of basic philosophy in the new klr, but i believe its for the better... it introduces the klr to a new crowd and vice versa. there'll be plenty of old klrs left over dont worry. its not like theyre about to cease functioning because the warranty expired. we all know the klr 650 is one of the best bikes ever built. and they'll last a lot longer than this planet's fuel reserves...

 

[Yak_KLR650]

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I'm glad Joker made me the poster child for dropped KLRs!:clap:

And I don't ride like an idiot, I know its not a dirt bike, but I like to try and improve so I push sometimes. When I taught climbing I always said "if you aren't falling off, you aren't learning". Dropping the bike isn't the same as crashing - its agressive learning!:dr:

 

[joker650]

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Yak_KLR650 wrote:

I'm glad Joker made me the poster child for dropped KLRs!:clap:

And I don't ride like an idiot, I know its not a dirt bike, but I like to try and improve so I push sometimes. When I taught climbing I always said "if you aren't falling off, you aren't learning". Dropping the bike isn't the same as crashing - its agressive learning!:dr:

Say it loud and say it proud:clap:

 

[flip-flop]

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I have to agree, you can be the best rider out there and drop your bike. The first time mine went down it was parked and I was getting on off some un even ground. I love my 06 and welcome those new prospective riders to the 08's, but be warned when you see an older model coming at you get your ass off the trail.

 

[Pee Wee]

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For sure there's a big difference between Crashing and Dropping a bike....either way..the 2008 gonna shatter it's ABS plactics, were the 2007 and previous will just discolor it where it bends. Have fun with it either way, buy some crash cages or make them yourself !!

 

[IanB]

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Well guy's, for those who don't like the '08 and are tired of looking at the old one, I will be producing the 'XS' fairing (as per the the KLR at the DSBC stand at the show) shortly. Unlike Kawasaki, I am doing some extensive testing regarding strength/ dropability off road and examining the fibreglass vs plastic material choice as well.

Keep an eye out on the site for cost and availability:tup:

Ian:hb:

 

[dooveman]

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Hey Ian, your fairing is only a piece of the puzzle for your bike. You modified your whole instrument cluster as well. I think I remember you said that was because you got the KTM forks but will the new fairing support the old instrument setup or does it require a shift to fairing mounted instruments? I guess a more general question would be, are there any side effect mods that need to be concidered before installing?

Brian

 

[IanB]

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dooveman wrote:

Hey Ian, your fairing is only a piece of the puzzle for your bike. You modified your whole instrument cluster as well. I think I remember you said that was because you got the KTM forks but will the new fairing support the old instrument setup or does it require a shift to fairing mounted instruments? I guess a more general question would be, are there any side effect mods that need to be concidered before installing?

Brian

Not really Brian. The new fairing easily accepts the stock clocks and is really a 3 bolt attatchment to the same locations as the stock one. However, there are a couple of things that I want to modify to make the fairing more practical and provide better value than the stock one, before going into production.

First off, I want to try to modify the recess in front of the headlight to accomodate a spare tube bag along with a retaining system. Secondly, the new fairing will accomodate an additional dash above the stock clocks, so I'll be working on this as an option for those wishing to accomodate more instruments:tup:.

It's my intention to make sure that the whole thing is easy to fit and accomodates as many of the existing aftermarket upgrades (bags etc) as possible to avoid people having to waste money replacing stuff.

Ian

 

[FixerDave]

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SittingDuck wrote:

...

what are you guys thinking??? a 400 dirtbike????

are you nuts? my race-bike wasnt 400 lbs, and it's strictly paved track....

you must be thinking about a gravel-capable 400 lb touring bike... of course youll drop it if you ride it like a dirt bike...

no self-respecting dirt-bike would dream about weighing 400 lbs....

I suspect this SittingDuck post is just flame bait, but I can't help myself.

You will note, in the attached picture, a series of RACING trophies - most of which are for the March Hare OFF ROAD enduro. All but one, the smallest one, were won by me on a KLR650. Oh, there's another trophy for 3rd in the last March Hare that I've not yet picked up.

The ride report is here:
http://bikerdave.blogspot.com/2007/01/ride-report-for-2006-victoria.html

So, yes, the pre '08 KLRs are a little more than gravel capable.

The point people are making here is that while the '08 may be more attractive to the streetweenie crowd, the bike is losing something special. It IS a 400lb bike that IS competent on the road AND the dirt. Or, at least it was.

Maybe the Kawasaki marketeers know something I don't. Maybe there's another manufacturer planning on moving into the niche that the KLR filled so well. I don't know. I just think they made a mistake.

David...

 

[dooveman]

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Dave, it's time you got one of these....


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...tToStoreCat&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

Brian

 

[FixerDave]

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dooveman wrote:

Dave, it's time you got one of these....

Na... I'm old-school. A new trophy is just an excuse to buy a bigger TV :tup:

David...

 

[SittingDuck]

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well, my wife rented me a klr650 as my birthday gift. so ill finally get to try one out.

(the only off road bike ive ever ridden was my 76 honda xl-250, and no, i never dropped it).

i'll have to see if it's not too high for me and if the powerband satisfies (im used to liter-bikes).

im also going to take a 2008 out for a spin when the dealer has it and ill be able to compare. you might be perfectly right when you say the new one is crap, but noone's ridden one yet...

so lets wait and see. as it is now, i might end up with an old klr if someone trades me for my zook, else, ill just wait till wifeys done with skool and buy the new one. (the power wont matter then cuz ill keep the torque-monster zook)

 

[dirtdoug]

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Any product that sells well does so because it has a distinct edge in the marketplace. What's the KLR's. Cheap, accessible, no frills, real world power, decent suspension, touring amenities, cheap, reliable, dependable,comfortable, easy to work onand of course cheap. I think 99% of the KLR owners I have ever met have kids, mortages and othe realities tha make them a little more honest about what they really need.

So how to keep that distinct advantage? I like BMW's right up to the point I have to pay for them.:hr:

Want more power buy an XR 650R.. Want lighter weight buy a DRZ, Want super light weight buy a 250, want tons of power buy a KTM 900, Want something weird buy an HP2. Want something more for street riding buy a V-Strom, Want something you can call the wifes bike but it's really yours buy a XT225. Want something different buy a Husky or TM or Huseaburg. Want something simple buy a DR 650 or XRL (air cooling yeah!). Want something barely street legal convert your WR.

I think working to the strengths of the current bike is a safer call then working to the strengths of the other bikes I've listed. Somebody on this board will buy an 08 KLR and do things on it we all wouldn't believe possible. Then load it up with 50lbs of camping gear and head to Alaska.:tup:

 

[SittingDuck]

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dirtdoug wrote:

Somebody on this board will buy an 08 KLR and do things on it we all wouldn't believe possible. Then load it up with 50lbs of camping gear and head to Alaska.:tup:

yeah. ME! that's what i want the klr for. first alaska then tierra del fuego. that's why i need the new one, i need a bike that's all-day comfortable (lower, bigger windshield, better lighting, more power for the gps, better seat). i planned my test-drive for the rental klr: vancouver-whistler-lilooet-chilliwack-vancouver straight across or road i dont know yet, prolly a combination of both. that should be a good 10-12 hour ride and let me know if the bike is comfy enough, and useable for my purpose. my next rides will probably be from vancouver to alaska, then from alaska to gaspe through the n-w territories, then gaspe to tierra del fuego down the atlantic coast, then back up to vancouver along the pacific coast.

what i decided on the klr for was the size of the gas tank (the bmw dakar has a much smaller tank), the cargo carrying capability (btw: doug, 50 lbs of camping gear doesnt get you very far, i will likely load it with 200lbs of food, camping gear, spare parts, etc), rough terrain ability, reliability and ease of maintanance. i need a go-around-the-world bike, not a jump-from-log-to-log-in-the-woods bike.

in my mind the klr is a long-distance all-terrain motorcycle. if there are people out there that think a 200 kg motorcycle should be treated as a trials bike, they need to call up their shrink right now. the klr was intended by kwakias an adventure-touring bike. the changes they made to it improve it in that respect.

true the old version is the most dirt-capable bike in that category, but it still never was a competent dirt bike; the yz-250 on the other hand is, but compared to the klr, it's 1/2 the weight, got way better suspension, makestwice the powerand is a 2 stroke, but why didnt those idiots at yamaha not give it a bigger gas-tank??? 8 liters??? oh wait, i know why, cuz its a dirt bike!

reality check:

the klr is a dirt-capable long distance touring bike, not a street legal dirt bike. why else yould it have the same size gas-tank as a goldwing? the 08 klr is a better bike than the previous versions. lets just hope it never gets an airbag...:mad2:

 

[Yak_KLR650]

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SittingDuck wrote:

50 lbs of camping gear doesnt get you very far, i will likely load it with 200lbs of food, camping gear, spare parts, etc.

If you have good gear, and know how to do it, 50 pounds will get you a long way. I came to bike camping from alpine climbing so I have good lightweight gear. 5o lbs will give me all I need for a week or a month or 2. I just need to refuel and refood. I went on a 2 week camp and cook every night trip this summer (including packing a chair for camp) and all the stuff (tools, spare parts, tubes, etc) was under 50 lbs.