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2008 Kawasaki KLR650, 20,000 Mile Extended Review
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- čas přidán 26. 05. 2012
- I bought this KLR650 in 2008 and made a video reviewing it at 3,500 miles.
It's 4 years later and the bike now has nearly 20,000 miles. The miles have been a mix of commuting, touring and dual sport riding on 2 track and public dirt roads. It seemed like a good time to let people, that are considering purchasing a KLR650, know how well their bike will hold up.
The bike has been very reliable. It's only been to the dealer for recall work (muffler bolts and turn signal attachment). No issues whatsoever. It always starts and runs great.
I did replace the doohickey in March 2011, with 13,000 miles on it. As you can see in this video: • 2008 KLR650 Doohickey ... the idler spring was very loose.
I sold the bike in May 2016 for $2800. It had 33,747 miles on it and was still going strong.
Let me know if you have any questions on the KLR.
Special thanks to John for being my camera-person.
Thanks for watching!
Keith
Review in crocs. What a legend.
RDubs why do people hate crocs so much
RDubs ... Special Riding Crocs.
I see people mention the 685 kit and I have to say that it was the best purchase I ever made for my 2002 KLR. Prior to having the cylinder bored and the piston and rings installed, my bike used about 300-400 millilitres of oil between changes at 2000 kilometres or so. After the kit, the bike uses no oil at all that I can tell, regardless of how I ride it or which oil I use. I had never had a single cylinder bike that didn't use some oil and I was frankly amazed by how well the 685 kit worked. It far exceeded my expectations.
That's a good testimonial Cliff. I've heard others swear by the 685 kit. I guess for many KLR owners it's a question of cost vs. the inconvenience of adding oil.
You're videos have really helped me out in choosing between a 600rr and this KLR650. Really like the outdoors and taking detours and hiking so this was a great insight in seeing these bikes in those environments!
Scout0ut Thank you very much; I appreciate being able to help people make informed choices. Looking back, I wish i had bought a dual sport like a KLR when I started riding 25 years ago.
Just bought me one today not a bad bike for how cheap they actually go for. Thanks for the video man stay safe on the road out there!!
Thanks man! Glad the video was helpful. I sold my KLR last year, but it's still going strong. They are probably the best bikes for the money! Happy riding in Tennessee!
Thanks the comments. Hard to beat this bike. I catch myself sometimes in the garage just looking at it like it's a Ducati or something.
Yes, the problem is common when the clutch plates stick on a KLR650 (and a KLR250 too) when you start it each morning. Before starting my 2005< I would put it in 1st gear and hold the clutch lever in, and roll the bike slightly forwards and backwards, and they would break loose. Then, put it back in neutral and start it up and warm it up a bit and ride off.
thanks for the comments. I wish I bought one of these bikes when I started riding in 1992.
KLRs don't vibrate more than an average bike. I noticed more vibration than usual on my 2012 model after 2000 miles. First thing I did was making sure the engine mount bolts were tight. They were not. I tightened them up and vibration was back to normal. Also, I've noticed the bike in this video had an aftermarket hand protectors installed. The handlebars have vibration dampeners installed on handlebars (one on each end). Obviously mors vibration woll be felt without the dampeners.
Really good video. Glad to hear you still like the KLR. My KLR is as old with as many miles on it and I agree with you 100%
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
A bunch of the 2008 models burn oil. There was a redesign of the rings from the old model and some issue with the material they used. (Several of the reviews of the 2008 model mentioned this and reported the oil burning too.) It was corrected before the end of the 2008 run and everything past 2008 is fine.
The bike burns oil mostly at around 5,000 rpms, on the highway. I recently did an 800 mile weekend trip and used about 3/4 of a quart. On long trips I carry a quart of oil with me.
Good extended review.
Great review👍🏻
Tire choice depends on your usage of the bike. If you are doing a lot of dirt riding I would recommend a knobby. I've had good luck with the Dunlop 606's.
If you are riding primarily on the street I've had good luck with the Avon Distanzia's. They will give you some traction in the dirt and wear really well on the street.
My favorite tire is the Continental TKC80. It's 80/20 dirt but it wears well on the street and gives you tons of confidence in the dirt.
Have the same bike, same year and color, close to the same miles...more mods! Been a great bike fore me as well. Have been all over America on it.
Great review cheers mate!! Mine chews oil like crazy looking forward to a new piston kit!
If the camera panned in you'd see a bunch of scratches. It's been dropped on each side already this season. It gets used as intended!
what year model did they fix the oil burning? Also how frequent would you have to add oil and how much, while touring?
It was fixed probably late in 2008, but definitely by 2009. I would stay away from the 2008 models.
Let me put it this way, when I would go out on a multi-day tour I needed to carry a quart of oil with me at all times. For day rides, you are okay. But putting a few hundred miles on the bike per day you are adding over 1/4 of that quart or more.
great review quick and to the point nice looking bike for 20k hope to hear more
Thank you MIchael! Sad to say I sold the KLR in 2016. It was a great bike!
In 08 the motors were some what changed. Nothing major but it produces about 5 more HP than the old KLR 650. I heard they had a bad batch of oil rings, and 80% of 08's got bad rings,and 20% of 09's had the same issue. by 2010 the issues were resolved. Still my favorite bike ever.
Thermo Bob and 685 kit is the answer to excessive oil consumption
It burns oil at about the same rate it did when new. It's now got 26,000 miles. I will just add a bit of oil now and then and keep riding it till it dies. These things are pretty much bulletproof otherwise. I expect high mileage out of it.
My 2011 burns a little oil above 5000 rpm.5000 rpm is 70 mph. That’s bout as fast as you are allowed to go anyway so I don’t really care.On a two day-800 mile trip from central Missouri to “Moonshine,Illinois” (Look that one up!!!!) I had to add 1 quart.We rode pretty hard most of the time.
I'm surprised the 2011's are burning oil. I thought it was restricted to the 2008's only. That seems like a lot of oil to add for an 800 mile trip.
I considered the XR briefly but the seat height was too much for me (30" inseam). I did like the air cooling though. The KLR and DR are very similar so I went with the KLR due to the longevity and aftermarket support.
You can't go wrong with any of those bikes though. The XR is more of a dirt bike and less comfortable on the road. But you can modify any of those bikes to make them into what you need.
I bought a 2012 Left over this year and now have 3000 miles on the Clock... I get 50 to 53 mpg and run mostly on back roads in New England... RPMs Rarely exceed 4k... My biggest concern is that in the morning the clutch seem to stick if I fail to let it warm up for at Least 5 min. When I drop it into first gear it kills the motor.... Ive Tried 3 Different Oils and it's the same problem with them all... Valvolene 10-40, Castrol 4T 10-40 and Shell RotellaT 15-40.... Do others have this problem???
I’m shocked that a Japanese namebrand like Kawasaki would have oil burning issues
Great review! Really appreciate it. If you had known of the oil burning and vibration before buying the bike, would you have bought it?
I just picked up an 09 with 19,700 and has yet to have the Doo done. Will be heading to EM on the next wrench day. But my question to you is, what have you found to be your favorite rear tire. Mine will need replacing in about a month or two.
Thanks.
Thanks for the response. Before your purchase, did you consider dr650 or the xr650? If you considered other bikes what made you buy the klr.
Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated to help me make my decision :D
thanks for the info, i got my self a 2008 klr, for 2600dlls,. just today, with minor dings, i will fix it up like youre bike ...
I am 6'1" and 250 lbs do you think I'm to tall for this bike?
My oil burning seems tolerable. I just got back from a 2000 mile trip and it burned a few ounces per day (150-200 miles per day). On the last day I did 500 miles of interstate and it needed about 8oz of oil. Not happy I had to carry a quart of oil on my trip but at least it won't run dry in a day of hard riding.
Try some aftermarket rings or 10 over bore with a 10 over ring
80/20 is about right. I'll check out the Conti's
Thanks.
The oil burning happens with almost every year model. I have a 2015 and it does burn oil.
That's too bad. I thought they solved that problem after 2008.
Nice review!
How tall would you have to be to ride comfortably? I am 5'1 (female) and get a little scared with heights. Do you think I would be able to firmly press both feet onto the ground on this or newer KLR650's, instead of just skimming the surface?
This looks like a tall-ass bike! Look at the clearance in the front fender! I read someplace that the seat height is 35 inches.
WHAT ? NO SCRATCHES ? or DENTS ?. It looks new.
good review!
Thanks Brad! Enjoy your KLR!
Can you remember what amounts of debris you had in the oil filter during your breaking in of the engine from new? I have one with 6k and found some debris in the filter and this doesn't seem normal, just curious what other people were getting....
There weren't a lot of metal shavings in the oil. It's normal to have some. How does it run now and does it use more oil? It may be normal...you'll see some in the oil.
That looks very tall. Goes up to your stomach/mid section. So you're tippy-toe on it right? You'cve had it for a long time so I assume you feel safe riding like that?
I sold the bike about 3 years ago, but had it for about 7 years. With the low seat I could tip-toe at a stop. The KLR is such an easy bike to ride that I never felt uncomfortable on it. You can modulate the clutch pretty easily to make the bike do what you wanted.
Hah, no, I would have waited for the 2009's to come out. But the oil burning is manageable and I've adapted to the vibration. No regrets now.
AdventureswithMe ... 685cc big bore kit lessens vibration, oil consumption And slight increase in power...
Or a thicker oil will help with less burn harder for the compression pull it up the cylinder walls
that's a good suggestion. My KLR is gone now, but that could be helpful for others. Thanks!
2008 was supposed to be an update for this bike, are the earlier ones better or is this one and newer?
You're right...2008 was the first year of the 2nd generation KLR. I like the 2nd generation bikes, though some people prefer the 1st. They are more off-road oriented.
I'm 5'7 with a 30inch inseam would it be a night mare to ride it on city?
I don’t think so. It’s helpful to have the experience riding so you can balance it comfortably. The rear shock compressed enough that you should be able to comfortably put a foot down.
I am getting ready to finance this bike. OTD will be 5100, w/ 13469 miles. I plan on asking about the oil as you said. What do you think, is this too much?
+Ryan Bottinelli What year? That's a lot for a used KLR. More than I've seen. They seem to be going in the $3,500 range.
I actually just sold mine last week. $2,800 with a ton of mods, 33,747 miles, but oil burner
There's a good bit of mods on it but now that I'm thinking about it does sound much. Its a 2008. Good condition
+Ryan Bottinelli I would personally stay away from the 2008's due to the oil burning issues. Not all the 08's have it, but it seems like a great number of them do. It would be hard to tell without riding it for a while.
did you say 15mpg or 50?
installed extended rear blinker holders? i hv ethe same bike thanks
The SW Motech rear racks require the extended holders. I wasn't a fan of them, but no choice was given. I thought them in 2008, so hopefully they have modified the design.
I'm about to buy my first bike so I don't want a really expensive one, so i've been looking at a klr 650 with 27,000 miles on it and it is selling for $2,990. Would it be worth?
Hi, what year KLR and where are you located?
Its a 2008 and in Dallas, Texas.
+Dailen Haapanen I feel like that is too much. That's high mileage for a KLR and many of the '08's are oil burners.
Check out the Flea Market section of ADV Rider to get a good sense of the value of these bikes. I would say a bike like that should be closer to $2500, but I would go 2009 and later due to the oil burning issue with the 2008's.
AdventureswithMe 2k a good price?
Is 50mpg highway? And going 65mph?
that sounds about right. I sold the bike over a year ago. If it's not, it's close.
What are you riding now?
I replaced the KLR with two bikes: a Super Tenere and WR250R. I guess the KLR is really the Swiss Army Knife of motorcycling.
Your kidding right? Its a KLR, not a Hummer.He said 50 mpg. I get 50 to 53 mpg regularly.
Nice bike. only reason a motor is going to burn oil is bad rings which this bike must need if it has 20,000 miles on it. I think on a single like this you should change the rings about every 10,000 miles or sooner. And bad valves not seating right will let oil blow by or the valve guides. So at 20,000 miles time for a rebuild or sell it.
no, lots of new cars burn a qt every 800-1200 miles. Add oil occasionally and forget it. It's more of an issue with the piston and rings only will not fix the problem. Great bike, just add oil when needed. no big deal
Do-Hickey :D
yup, had to get the doo-hickey done.
👍❤👍
Your klr looks too new
You should see it now. It's got scratches all down the left fairing and a bent up crash bar. It's been dropped twice this year and crashed once.
CROCS!!! :(