Need Help with bike purchase

J

jeep monkey

Guest
Hello everyone.

I am new to this board and I am in the process of buying a bike and I'd like to ask your opinions on two that I have found for sale. :talk: Which one would you buy?

I am looking at the following bikes:

2004 KLR 650 $5,000

2004 XL 650 $4,500

The klr has 9000 kms, and the xl the ad says low km

I know everyone has their favorite brand name but please try to be as objective as you can and tell me why you picked the one you did.

I plan tousethe bikefor offroad exploring/camping and also some longer expedition trips on roadas well. I don't want to be limited to the pavement so a street bike is out of the question!

Thanksin advance :tup:

Jeff
 
L

lmcdonald

New member
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Basically I'd say it comes down to this:

The XL650 will be much better in dirt and less capable on the road (less comfortable). It has much better suspension than the KLR and makes more power.

The KLR can do long stints on the road and still handle lots of off road stuff. Suspension can be upgraded if needed. You'd want to make sure the doohicky fix has been done http://www.klr650.marknet.us/doohickey.html. There's a ton of aftermarket stuff available for the KLR as well. Lots of people have been on epic journeys on this bike. Lots of people on this board use it as well.

For what you're looking for - if it was me - I'd probably go with the KLR.
BTW - I ride neither.
 
J

jeep monkey

Guest
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Thanks Guys,



I'll keep the suzi in mind as well.



J.
 
skidmark43

skidmark43

Administrator / BFF in the blue jacket
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+1 for the KLR (though I've never owned one)

KLR riders, unfailingly, are good-natured folks who always seem to be wearing big smiles when out riding.

I've ridden in McNutt, Chipmunk, Dead ZoneA etc.with guys on KLRs; so I'm convinced that the only limitation to those bikes is rider skill / stamina.

And... You could comfortably ride to Alaska or Peru on a KLR

Plenty of aftermarket parts & support.
 
Julius

Julius

New member
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Hey,
As you read before the Honda is a better dirt machine, that said it is a tremendous good road machine as well.
The Kawi probably has the most after market stuff available. Some figure it's the best value dual sport bike ever made.
Personally I think the Suzuki DR650 is better than both. I have mine set up for the dirt riding in winter, one tooth smaller front sprocket, stock seat, and tank. For summer I put on a Corbin seat, IMS 20 l. tank, and large panniers. I have done more touring on this bike than all my Goldwings put together! I have put some extremely hard miles on this bike and it never lets me down.
Well after all that every person I know with either of the big 3 bikes has nary a complaint about their machine!

Cheers :hb:
 
F

flip-flop

Guest
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I had a KLR and Loved the bike, but the wife would not get on it. Like all have said the bike is great on the road and gravel, a little heavy but manageable on trails. The best part is you don't need to add a larger fuel tank, maintain the bike and it won't let you down. Great supply of add on accessories. I rode mine for over 12 hour stock and only had a little monkey butt.
 
B

bigthumper

Guest
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I like my xr650l, I use it for all sorts. I ride tough single track, logging roads, and also use it as a daily commuter. I have two sets of wheels one set has 95% dirt the other 95% street. I chose this bike becauseI feel it is the best bike out there for all these duties. Just my 2 cents.
 
J

jeep monkey

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Thanks for all the great info guys. Now if you can halp me to figure out a way to make the old lady more happy about the purchase I'll be golden! She is not happy that I want to purchase a bike.



Jeff
 
J

jeep monkey

Guest
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Hey one more question... Are the XR and the XL essentially the same bike?



jeff
 
Hooligan

Hooligan

Member
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Jeff,

Pls Clarify, are you talking XL650 (which is a Transalp also known as XLV650) or a XR650L...(air cooled thumper)?

I don't think they made a purely XL in 04, the XR650L yes.

....or am I missing something here.....on the otherhand, heck, what do I know, I am orange bias....:tup:

:hb:
 
J

jeep monkey

Guest
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Hooligan wrote:
Jeff,

Pls Clarify, are you talking XL650 (which is a Transalp also known as XLV650) or a XR650L...(air cooled thumper)?

I don't think they made a purely XL in 04, the XR650L yes.

....or am I missing something here.....on the otherhand, heck, what do I know, I am orange bias....:tup:
Click to expand...
LOL, to be honest I really don't know the exact letter designations. I am drawing from knowledge that is 10-15 years old here. I am just getting back into the bike scene.

The bike I looked at last night (xl650 as far as I know) looked much like my old xr 200 I had as a teen. It was a 2004. It quite possible had more letters attatched to the name but was not in the bargin finder.

I have now looked at both the KLR and the XR 650's. The klr looks much more comfortable for long rides and the xl looks very similar to an xr. Just by looking at them it looks like the XL would be more capable off road (which has been said) and the KLR better on road.

I think the KLR is more what I am looking for and the KLR was immaculate and only 9,000 km's. The XL has been modified poorly and abused and 15,000 km's.

I have one more question. Is the 2004 KLR a 5 or 6 speed? Looks as though the XL was a 5 speed.

Thnaks again

Jeff
 
zokalr13

zokalr13

Member
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KLRand XR are 5 speeds..i would recommend a DR650 or DRZ400- they are agood choice and after a while, youcan decide laterwhat type of bike suits you better.. I.E. -KTM , BMW etc.....as most dual sporters do...i would not recommend a KLR[ just my opinion]but you gotta get something..read thumpertalk or ADV rider on the weband then decide ...good luck!!:)oh, and dont let your wifey tell younot to get a bike-just to shut mine up- i tell her its a killer machine,blah,blah, and she will collect the $250,000 or so life insurance policy....she thenshuts up, i get my bike,im happy shes happy-:spl:....oh, KLRs are ok i guess....
 
North

North

Active member
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Hi,

I am not sure which Honda you are talking about. Here's a link to the 2004 Honda's:

http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/honda/2004.html

There is the XR 650L and the XR 650R. The XR 650R is 50lb lighter and was not street legal stock.

The XL 650 is transalp, which I think was never sold in Canada.

Anyways, I have ridden a 2007 XR650R with a street legal kit on it. I thought it was one sweet dualspot bike.:tup: I also had an 84 XL 350R which I put on the street and I loved it.


P.S.

The DRZ400 is also very well liked dualsport bike too.
 
Julius

Julius

New member
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jeep monkey wrote:
Hey one more question... Are the XR and the XL essentially the same bike?



jeff
Click to expand...
Hey,
The XR650L and XR650R are very different bikes.
Check the honda.ca web site for the specs of the XR650L. The XR650R is no longer available new.
In a nut shell the XR650R is large motocross style dirt bike, not street legal.
The XR650L is a street legal dual sport motorcycle.
The engines are very different between the two.

PS, at your first post I took your 'XL 650" to mean XR650L, I do not believe there has been a 'XL' series motorcycle for over 20 years.
 
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