2022 Kawasaki KLR 650 Review - First Ride
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2021
- Which side of the fence were you on when you got the hot goss that a new KLR 650 was coming down the pike? The for the love of god don’t change it! troop, or the this thing better be a Twin- cylinder Tenere-killer gang?
Well, as you likely already know from our First Look article back in January of this year, the 2022 Kawasaki KLR 650 has received more than a few choice upgrades while largely remaining the same motorcycle that has undergone few major changes since its inception in the 1980s. It’s still the low-cost Single cylinder adventure bike that filled a particular niche long ago, putting it atop sales charts for Kawasaki over the years while simultaneously tractoring its way into a special place in motorcycle-cultdom.
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Good stuff. It's nice to see reviews where an $8K motorcycle isn't buried under $25K expectations.
Great review! This is exactly why the old tank is such a legend. Bravo to Kawasaki for keeping the KLR around!
No doubt this will continue to be a popular adventure bike. Have reasonable expectations and it should be a joy for any journey.
A nice thought. Most people expect every bike to be the absolute best even when it is not supposed to be from the start.
Man, I got the new 2022 KLR base model no abs, I bought it because I wanted a big thumper, it's a hoot to ride !
I would like to say to you people that do CZcams videos!!!!!!!
This is an example of a great informative video.
I love the music the camera work and the editing. Very nice. Im a veteran motion picture cinematographer for 42 years. This is good stuff! Thanks.
PS: Im on my 5th KLR.
It’s a great bike.
people want 90hp motorcross bikes with really good on road dynamics for $4000
Yeah, and most preferrably with 50 000km maintenance intervals😂
And weigh under 300 lbs.
Thank you so much for making this video. Truly helped in making my decision.
I really want this bike in France!
Good stuff Ryan! 😎👍🏼👍🏼
Great review. I would love to see a comparison between this new KLR650 and the KTM 690 Enduro/Husky 701 Enduro. These single cylinder adv bikes seem to still have their place.
Does it drink oil if you cruise at over 110 km/h on it?
I test rode this bike and it's probably the best single dual sport out there, had them all. Has a lofty/floaty feel about it. I wouldn't call it slow, it seemed to do well for me, and if you pick another single to go faster, you're just going to get hammered with vibrations anyways.
At 5'8" how was the seat height for you?
damn thing is almost 500 lbs now
Wow, this bike is only $6,700 brand new! I thought for sure Kawi would want 8k for it now. That's a steal.
They say 6700. But u can t get it for 8000 more like 9000....how about when honda and suzuki 2022 come out maybe prices will drop I am curious to see the new 750 adventure from honda
@@morgan98801 what about dr650 ? I am going to for all the 22s to come out honda suzuki yamaha if nothing new still more 22s will be available maybe the klr won t have the inflated prices
@@SolomonsMartialArts The DR is more expensive than the KLR. I'm seeing them here in SoCal for 9500 ish out the door.
I bet it really sells well.
As A 650 owner I can attest to all of the positives except for two disturbing letdowns. 1. No kick start. If you are battery dead miles away from humanity why don’t they have a kickstart. This is an adventure bike for heaven’s sake. So easy to add the kick start. 2. Access to the battery is through the seat which is a 20 minute excruciating seat removal.
I am trading in my old V-rod for one of these I think...it will make a great second bike for exploring. Definitely want the side cases and fog lights. I'm a shorter guy also about 5'8" and I was pleased to hear you say it was fine for you...these taller bikes can be tricky. Thanks Ryan...new Sub!
I'm 5'6" and my '10 fits great with a Sergeant low seat.
@@danmanthe9335 I like the Sargent seats, but I am leaning toward a Corbin, have one on my Gold Wing. Thanks for commenting.
Lol I'm 5'6😆 and still will try to see if I can drive it
Solid plastic side panniers are a mistake. If the bike falls, and it will, these mini trunks will crack or worse. Use soft side panniers.
I had to doublecheck I was really watching a video about a 2022 bike when you mentioned fuel injection instead of carbs as a model change XD
Maybe Kawasaki can now sell them in Europe again - we have a lack of affordable ADV Bikes here
for an adventure bike of that class 2 disc brake should be the norm this thing fully fueled with full panier and a pillion on long downhill mountain road will deffinitly push that single disc setup to the limit im not expecting brembo or some race derive radial mount setup but somthing with more thermal capacity then say a ninja 400.
I would get the Adventure deluxe with the top box. I would only fit the panniers when necessary. They get in the way filtering through traffic. The price point is important unless money isn’t an issue. A lot of people don’t have or want to spend a fortune on this genre of bikes in the first place.
@Kevin in Australia it’s legal to ride down the space between cars when the traffic is stopped at a red light. This called‘filtering’. The maximum speed limit is 25 kmh when doing this. It’s designed to speed up traffic flow and stop congestion. Bikes take up much less space than cars.
@Kevin we have a different attitude to things here. All about getting from A to B the most efficient way possible legally. People encouraged to use scooters,small capacity motorcycles- less congestion and pollution than cars. Less parking space. Cheaper fuel wise with petrol over $2 per litre. Much tighter gun control in Australia 🇦🇺.
Man, nice I got the new KLR, I bought it because it's still a big thumper, I traded in my twin for it, never had a KLR, it's a hoot to ride !
It looks really good, Kawi did a great job on the bike this time round just like the last two times. But it's just too heavy for me. I weigh 140lbs. I want a bike I can actually pick up multiple times while I go off road with my dad. DRZ400s is really my only option at this point if I want something with more power than a KLX300 but weigh less than a DR650.
Except, I have noted, they still haven't fixed that 'doohickey' problem.
Pity about that.
Even through I have a new 2021 Ténéré 700 sitting in my drive way right now, I am seriously considering buying a 2022 KLR650, just the base model with ABS. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my T7, that bike rocks like there is no tomorrow, but I want a bike that I can use as a commuter bike and save my T 7 for the real adventure. That plus I purchased my T7 for my trip through Central and South America. Commuting about 70 miles round trip is adding miles pretty fast in my T7, so I need a "disposable" (for lack of better word) bike to commute and put all those miles on. For the price I think that this bike will be great.
My only concern is the well know oil consumption problem of this bike. With one guy in a video riding his new KLR650 from Connecticut, USA, to Panama and back. By the time he reach the US border on his way back, he was adding a quart of oil per day. Yes, per day! His model was a 2007 o 2008, so I hope Kawasaki has done something about it. I'll wait and see what people start saying as they put miles on the new one.
I have 2013 klr ,changing oil every 6000km or 4000miles ,mine does not burn oil..
The 2008s and 09s are notorious oil burners because of the piston rings.
Kawasaki still has the same piston/ring design from 2008. The bike will burn oil if you hold it much past 70mph on the highway for a lot of miles.
If it were me I'd just use the T7 so that you're well-adjusted to it when you go out on adventures. For a commuter though you can't beat the Honda 500 twins... much smoother and way better on fuel than the KLR650, more agile, very good for dumping tons of miles on.
My height is 167cm, can i ride it?
I'm also 5 8. How is seat height? Manageable?
I'm 5'11 and I can't plant my feet flat, even with boots. But it it's much of an issue for me.
For the price its a no brainer for many I would think.
I wish Kawasaki had bought this bike in India as well :(
I think so too with all the changes in the economy, so maybe it's time to put the four wheel cousins on the back burner for a while.
Dislikes from DR members lol
Maybe it's just be, but this new KLR have a look I can swallow, the older ones is just simply too ugly, and lack finesse. This new one looks better, and from the review I've seen, will carry on the legacy of the indestructible KLR
The KLR was never about looks, it was about getting across Africa when you don't have a production crew following you.
Is like the pug dogs. They look so ugly that they’re actually pretty
Great bike, still priced a bit high. Kawi has certainly done a great job leveraging social media on the release as KLR reviews are everywhere lol. All good tho! ✊🏼
Man, I got the base model no abs it's $6.699, 456 lbs with six gallons of fuel !
To me It's finally a better bike than the DR650.. like the longer swingarm and better brakes. Im a 2nd Gen KLR owner with 30kmi of abusive riding.. I love this bike. It's sooo reliable Considering an upgrade to the "Traveler" version with some better pegs and Upgraded crash bars!! Hmmm..
What does DR weigh?
You are 5.8 and you said it was fine. I am 5 .10 sat on 1 at the dealer felt really huge. Tall heavy and wide. Will I get used to it? Also the price I keep seeing 6699. But when I said ok I ll buy it the price went 9700 to 9300. Another place 8700....how can I get 6700 plus tax and lic.
The prices of all vehicles are highly inflated now due to the chip shortage creating supply deficits. We're going to have to wait a couple years for prices to get back to normal.
Ask the dealer to show you what fees are there. 2k for taxes,license and delivery seems about right for that price of bike. When they can pump out a bunch you can negotiate some of that away or get them to throw in gear.
@@austinjudkins8346 I went up 8000 . We were still over 1000 difference . I was disappointed. Walked out. I read honda is coming with a 750 adv.
@@SolomonsMartialArts lots of cool new stuff coming out. I keep seeing a ktm 490 adventure being talked about. That's what I am hoping for. The klr 650 might be a close second. The 390 adventure might do it but I do like a larger framed bike.
I did the same think with the klx 300. My local dealer price gouged on everything. He wanted to charge me $ 995 in shipping charges from S.F. to Reno. Prep was additional. Long story, short, it was $ 7,500 final price....I walked.
Dohicky fixed?
Nope
They reckon the issue is exaggerated by forum enthusiasts
Man, it's updated !
"Some transmission parts have been upgraded for durability, though the cam chain tensioner or Doohickey, as the KLR connoisseur calls it, remains unchanged from the previous model (meaning you may want a tighter spring in there)."
@@markcollins5026 no it's not.
Super
Klr vs cb500x?
Please... with the same money in Italy you get the Benelli TRK 502, the mini-GS. The trk 502 is the most sold bike on tne italian market since last 5 consecutive months.
Are u saying "please Kawi, bring us your product?"
There is minimal faith in Chinese engines where I live but that faith is indeed growing
@@DeeDee-go2zt No. I'm saying that for the same money you can get something much better than the KLR650. I'm quite disappointed from Kawa.
Lol brother, try find me a high mileage version of this bike that you're selling. If the Italians want to get nostalgic about the brand name then that's very sweet but most people require longevity and resale value from their big purchases
@@DeeDee-go2zt This italian guy has made more than 60.000 Km. It has also installed a new mapping to increase torque and power of 5 CV:
czcams.com/channels/h-gT6XP__GbfV1qLMLL8Dw.html
P.S.
He has the first version of the TRK 502.
kruto!!!
Fanboy say Kawasaki is very big company. Yet they cant afford a different style headlight
Kawasaki heavy industries IS, in fact, an enormous industrial company with a net worth of 1.5 trillion JPY. This is not about "they can't afford". These are all carefully thought-out decisions by product managers, marketing people and businesspeople. Every cent, literally every cent, is taken into account when producing a product like this. I work in the design and manufacturing industry, and more than half of my job is dealing with value engineering.
@@2WheelsGood.01 They made less money than Honda. Thats why they cant afford compete in MotoGP.
@@addicz2 what? Racing is just a marketing tool and an investment opportunity. They simply have no financial interest in it. Like Porsche isn't in F1 as well as many other brands. It is no indication of sales performance. Toyota is the #1 auto seller and they haven't been in F1 since 09'.
@@2WheelsGood.01 Its about tradition. A pride. A show off time.
Enfin !
if the media in 2021 are still talking about fuel injection, you know there isn't much left for the bike to talk about.
last year I was really dissapointed and pissed with kawasaki for being lazy and changing practically nothing on this motorcycle, however, today I'm experiencing a total change of heart.
Can't take it seriously without a 6th gear. Kawisaki really missed the opportunity to have a legitimately budget ADV bike if they had JUST PUT A 6TH GEAR IN THIS BIKE
Its not the end of the world...lol. Before 6 gears we had 5.. Before 5 we only had 4, and we did fine 🙂
This is the highest selling on/off road bike EVER sold for a reason..
Go ride one..
It's not as simple as "just add a 6th gear". In production, this involves a lot of effort and cost analysis. The cost increase would be significant, hurting the sales more than the lack of 6th gear. They want to keep this bike low cost. It's all a numbers and money game.
@@2WheelsGood.01 Yeah that's fine and that's why Yamaha can't keep T7s in stock and KLRs are a dime a dozen. No 6th grade is a huge loss in sales.
@@IRLtrolls Yamaha can't keep the T7 in stock because they make a lot less units than the KLRs. Add the parts and microchip availability issue and it further exacerbates stock issues. KLRs are available almost worldwide and there's a reason they've been making them since 1987.
@@2WheelsGood.01 Yeah I know I daily rode a KLR for 3 years. It's an antiquated piece of shit and the T7 will be the new work horse dualsport/Light Adv bike for the next 30 years.
They didn't even fix the Doohickey. I love Kawisaki and I have owned a ton but they dropped the ball on the new KLR. EFI doesn't save it.
That WIERD front fender angle and pointy headlight lens . . . WTH.
You mention that the KLR is so light... Well, according to your Site, the Weight is 432 pounds. So being "so much lighter than the bigger adventure bikes..." Hold Up. Let's look at the new Pan America from Harley Davidson... 534 pounds. So 2 Pounds is so much lighter? That's only the difference of a good breakfast my guy. And the Pan Am has TWICE the power. So if you are going got sing praises on the KLR - You missed the target. What you should have aimed for is what the KLR really represents... VALUE. You can almost get 3 KLR's (Base) for the price of a Pan Am Special. KLR's are the AK-47 of Adventure Bikes and the new one still hits that mark. Cheap and Reliable and can go anywhere and get the job done. That's what the KLR is all about, my guy.
Mate, 534-432 is 102 lbs difference. Not 2 lbs difference.
This bike is literally over a hundred pounds lighter than the pan america.
And Pan American is not twice 40hp of klr ...it's about 4 times as powerful
534…432
Is NOT a 2 lbs difference….
I read the NEW KLR is 480 plus pounds...up from 450 plus pounds...432 an older model
I'll take honda nc750x dct....auto allday!
Indeed
nc750x dct is much more expensive at $9299, and is a street only bike, not a dual sport like the KLR. 17 inch front wheel, less than 5 inch suspension travel, etc
@@zelph1844 We asian love offroading with matic. Thats why Honda ADV was born.
@@zelph1844 that's the price I've to pay for my laziness🤭
A ridiculous bargain.
Almost 500 pounds for a 650 cc! No!
Feel free to buy a 690 Enduro R that weighs 350 lbs and cost 12K. Choices are a good thing.
It's ridiculous, we are missing a
LOT of great economic bikes in Europe due to fucking stupid EU ecology regulations
suts a bat expirience never again te wurst motorcycle evver
Look at the lighter KTM 390 adventure
390 ADV great on paper, good value. Convinced my brother to buy one after he rode my 790 ADV R. BDR trip, we swapped bike after complaining, 390 ADV was such a drop off. No power, suspension travel, less TC/ride mode options like the 790R. It was a turd, only good thing was the price. Even worse on hwy, he sold it as soon as we got back.
Lol reasonable 1254$$$$ reasonable 😂😂😂😂 rods ride ride on power sports lacrosse Wisconsin ‼️‼️‼️ no adjustments on front shocks , WAS 6500 WTF 🤬
I was just there.
BUY A YAMAHA TENERE 700 same price ‼️‼️‼️‼️