KLR gets a makeover for 2008 model year

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TLGREEN

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Wow, this is a fun topic to watch!!! I personally can't wait to see the 08 KLR on the off road. I had an 87 which I learned to ride off road with & I only dropped it about 7 times & 5 of those time were yes, on the road or parked with the crappy kickstand down. The reason the Killer did so well is the ease of ordering parts & cost of those parts & ease with which it took to change those parts.

Sitting duck has a valid point in that it is a dirt worthy street bike but for any of us that have really driven them off road, they are mostly a slow street worthy dirt bike.

I will always have a soft spot for my 87 but alas, I have opted out of the KLR market & am very happily riding orange.

BTW, just in case your wondering, YES, I HAVE DROPPED MY KTM TOO!!! :clap:

The only difference is that nothing seems to break on it!!!:tup:
 

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SittingDuck

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the kawasaki canada website finally has specs for the 2008 klr...

the fuel tank is listed as 21 liters, and power figures are lower than for 2007. what gives??? can anyone confirm these aren't typos?

i might be looking for an older model after all...
 
Taxguy

Taxguy

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SittingDuck wrote:
the kawasaki canada website finally has specs for the 2008 klr...

the fuel tank is listed as 21 liters, and power figures are lower than for 2007. what gives??? can anyone confirm these aren't typos?

i might be looking for an older model after all...
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I see it has also gained 22kgs!!!
 
joker650

joker650

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WOW...

5000 views to this post.

Guess maybe the KLR doesn't suk...........nnnaaaaa:D
 
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Kuzzy

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SittingDuck wrote:
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).
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There are a few of us on the islandthat ride older KLR's that would be more than happy to show you some of the areas we like to take our 400 lb. dirtbikes. If you can get close to Nanoose Bay with your rented KLR let me know. I'll make it a good afternoon so you can test both the bike and yourself.
 
spc

spc

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I like the luggage on the new KLR! I wonder if it will fit my 05. I also wonder if the price will fit my wife’s wallet!
 
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eutychus

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as a feller who just purchased an 07, i have to say that i would not have purchased an 08. i think it looks just tragic. the comment about japanese cartoons is right on. can anyone say "hello kitty"? and those pansy squiggles looks like a suzuki "S"...

i bought my 07 for touring, commuting, and i can ride it straight onto the back on my boat and take it to the small island i live on... so, dirt, mud and rock. i needed the all round capability. and i love the way it looks. it is simple enough that i can work on it and continue to build my mechanical skillset that began working on my old XL 100. already i am in love.

i can't vouch for how the 08 performs, but what something looks like? yeah, it matters. i want a woman that's a nice ride, sure, but i have to like how she looks too. i think part of the reason the old KLR was so popular was because not only was it a swiss army knife, but it looked like one too. and so it drew a lot of interest from city guys for the same reason city people love SUV's... it gives them an image of the kind of person who just might head into the hills and do some manly offroading, although they never leave the highway on their way to their whistler chalet.

the new look won't appeal to japanese steetsters because it ain't no streetbike, and it will no longer appeal to people who want to look like backroads warriors... which leaves... touring folk who have no aesthetic taste and commuters. which is all fine and dandy, but where is the aforementioned soul??

thumbs down on what i see from the 08 so far...
 
Rydr

Rydr

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If anyone is wondering about the horsepower and torque for the new 2008, KLR650 here they are after conversion from metric equivalents as taken from the Canadian Kawasaki site;

Horsepower 43.4 at 6500 RPM

Torque 36.9 FT. LBS. at 5500 RPM


:tup:
 
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SittingDuck

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Horsepower 43.4 at 6500 RPM

Torque 36.9 FT. LBS. at 5500 RPM
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isn't that less that the previous year?

argh? i guess i'll have to go try one, i might be back to considering the vstrom 650...

or maybe ill go completely nuts and get the gs 1200 adventure (i wonder why it has a 34 liter gas tank though?)

maybe everyone is just rightand i need an older klr to beat around the bush a bit and get used to offroading a big bike then get the beemer

i still like the looks of the 08 klr, more weather protection= more comfort. but i'd buy it in green for the black parts and repaint the rest in the same black. i'd also lose the license plate holder thingy and relocate the plate by the brake light
 
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dooveman

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Hey SittingDuck,
You mentioned the vstrom 650. I thought I would let you know that zeegy will be selling his. It is fully loaded for off road. I will mention though that he is moving to a klr because although the vstrom is nice it does have some draw backs that are not a big deal for some but was for him.

It's biggest issue is the gearing. He couldn't go up steep inclines like the klr. The klr has a great 1st gear for going up steep inclines at walking speeds. And it slows you down going down steep hills. The vstrom is geared for street. Has a 6th gear for easy highway but the 1st gear is not low enough. He had to take runs at the hills and rely on the brakes going down. He could have played with the sprockets but decided to go klr.

The vstrom a bit heavier too and nicer too. So you end up having a harder time keeping up with the klr's and your a little more worried about thrashing it. But if your are mostly doing street and basic gravel roads, it's a great smooth bike. Drop him a PM if your interested in looking at it. He is very anal too when it comes to maintenance.
Brian
 
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Kawasakied

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I just took delivery of a 2008 KLR yesterday. Traded in a 2002 KLR. First impression after a few miles: feels more like a street bike; a bit more weight on the front end; seems to track well and feels more solid; brakes are a great improvement; suspension seems stiffer; good wind protection around legs; like the turn signal cancellation (push button); seat quite firm; motor seems quieter; exhaust sounds same; side stand foot is bigger; Kawi factory tank bag fits fine even though the fairing attaches to the tank; still a relatively tall bike. I had the taller windshield on the 2002. Would also like to do the same for the 2008. Hopefully this accessory will be available soon.

Once I pass the break-in period, I will be able to test the high speed handling on pavement. With the larger spokes, I anticipate that the bike should feel fairly solid. I will also try a few packed dirt roads, nothing too rough.

I once demoed a BMW650. The feel of the 2008 KLR bike reminds me of this demo.

I use my bike mainly for commuting. So far, I like the 2008. It seems to fit the bill.

-Ed:tup:
 
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flip-flop

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Congrats Ed, was yours the green one I saw at Bby Kawasaki with the sold sticker on it. They wouldn't let me ride it. Hope you enjoy it as much as your 2002.
 
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Kawasakied

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Eric, to be honest, I'm not sure yet. I need to get some easy off road miles under the new bike and then I'll make an assessment as to whether or not I can handle more challenging roads. From past experience, even C trails can be a bit hairy for the larger bikes. I'm sure a competent KLR rider could take the 2008 over the C and some B portions of the Deadzone with no problems. Me, I'm getting a bit soft in my old age and may not have the confidence and ballsto ride the new bike asagressively as I should for off road. As I saidin my posting,I use the bike mainly as a commuter vehicle and would like to keep this one in better condition than I did the previous KLR. Besides, the plastic on the 2008 looks a bit more expensive to replace.

Cheers, Ed
 
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eric-klr

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Well perhaps, Ed, one weekend, we could do the KVR and / or a Victoria -Port Renfrew - Nanaimo ride. The Island guys seem to enjoy that route.

Eric
 
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eric-klr

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Well perhaps, Ed, one weekend, we could do the KVR and / or a Victoria -Port Renfrew - Nanaimo ride. The Island guys seem to enjoy that route.

Eric
 
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