Comments on: 2009 Kawasaki KLR 650: First Evening Ride

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:46:31 +0000

I have had the new kawasaki klr (2008) and have ridden it extensively for 2 years. I am 5’9″. All you have to do is get a set of 1.5-2 inch loweing links. And lower thr front fork tubes 3/4 to i inch. Its an inexpensive and fairly easy mod. You will need to cut and reweld your kick stand. The result was amazing. A flat footed duel sport that handled like a ninja. No kidding.

By: SpannerX

SpannerX — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:30:57 +0000

Steve: The new model came out in 2008, and it’s an inch lower in the seat height than the previous model. I’m 5’10” with a 30″ inseam on a good day when I wake up, and with a full tank of gas it’s a little hard to get it off the kick stand if the ground isn’t perfectly flat for me. Riding 2 up and we compress the spring more and it makes it easier to flat foot.

By: Baron's Life

Baron's Life — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:55:32 +0000

56…an article on age and riding would be interesting for sure

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:43:19 +0000

bobskoot: The KLR does drop when you sit your weight in the seat -- my guess is 2 -3 inches. But even then it is still tall.

I find more difficulty getting on the bike than anything else due to a lack of flexibility on my part. I need to do more stretching so that I can swing my 55 year old leg up and over the seat without a groan....

Baron's Life: Not sure how old you are but at 55 I'm not too old for the KLR! A lot depends on what you convince yourself you should be able to do on a motorcycle. Interesting topic for a new blog post. I think I may write something. Thanks for the inspiration!

The KLR does have some things in common with the Honda Transalp but is stilll much taller.

The height grows on you and there are a lot of short KLR riders out there. People are surprisingly adaptable when they put their mind to a goal.

By: Baron's Life

Baron's Life — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:25:08 +0000

Steve,
I’ve owned 2 kawasakis in my life, one was a yellow tiny 90CC machine and the other was a 900cc blue machine and both were very extremely responsive, in fact dangerousely so…open the throttle and they just went.I’ll have to try this one some day…reminds me a bit of the Honda Translap. To be perfectly honest, I think I’m too old for this dual purpose… bike but would still very much like to read the rest of your evaluation

By: bobskoot

bobskoot — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:17:29 +0000

Steve:

Last year I went to a dealer that specializes in dual sports. KLR, Husquarna (sp?), KTM etc. I said that they were too tall for me. He said they are that way until you sit on it and load it down. I bounced on it a bit and soon I got used to it and found the ground much closer. They need the height and longer shock travel to do what they do. but I still think that they are a bit too tall for me

bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:10:31 +0000

Sojourner rides: The KLR would be great for a trip across Canada. It could handle whatever came it's way and it appears to be solidly put together and I bet easy to get parts for.

The seat is comfortable. I have heard of the older ones being uncomfortable but perhaps the redesigned 2009 model has a better seat?

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:48:28 +0000

SpannerX: As tall as if felt yesterday today I was really comfortable with the height. Learned what to expect when I put my feet down...

Mr. Riepe: It's going to be close. If I had to choose I'm not sure which I would take. Different motorcycles with different abilities.

I'll think about diners...

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:46:00 +0000

Baron's Life: Went on a hundred mile ride this morning in the fog. Tense and a little unnerving at times but I'm convinced I could ride the KLR all day.

Conchscooter: It is really tall. You would have to leave it on the kickstand and mount up from the footpeg.

Richard: I'm working on a post but probably won't put it up until Monday. Need to sort out all the stuff that happened on the ride.

By: Sojourner rides

Sojourner rides — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:31:27 +0000

Interesting that you referred to this as the “Jeep.” I have said the very same thing about my husband’s new BMW F650GS, which I’m planning to take on a long ride tomorrow. I’ve had a fantasy of taking a klr to Nova Scotia or British Columbia’s backroads. I sat on one at a motorcycle show– I would need to take a stool along to climb on and off–it was the tallest bike I’ve ever straddled. How’s the seat? I recall that that would have been the first thing I’d change. Still, that bike seems rather solid and rugged. Safe riding.