Adventure Riding across the Country | KLR650
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- Is adventure riding across the country really possible or a good idea? Can a KLR650 make it across the country and would the ride be something you would do. In this video, we talk about touring or taking long adventure rides across the country and I think my KLR650 can do it!
#klr650 #klr #kawasaki #adventureriding
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I have had my 2007 KLR for over 16 yrs with 63.000 miles. It has taken me from the East coast to Tx. Just recently got the new Vstrom 800DE which is great, but everyone keeps asking why I still ride the KLR....my answer....because I love it 😊
There's just something very authentic when you ride a bike like the KLR. It's like eating vanilla ice cream. Simple, pure, good. It's my go to bike.
Very nice!
I have a 1800 goldwing, a KTM 1190 adventurer and my go to bike is my 2022 KLR.
I took my first adventure ride on my KLR650. Continental Divide Ride. I rode from Houston TX, to Antelope Wells NM, up the CD (mostly dirt) to the Canadian border and back home via secondary hardball 5600 miles. Very enjoyable. Highway pegs, throttle lock and self sufficient. Not one problem...
First bike is a 2022 KLR 650 and I've put 11k on it so far. A couple 10 hour days on highway with a decent bit of time in the dirt, I'm convinced that this bike is comfy and capable. Longest day was about 425 miles. Get after it!
Great to hear, I plan to
DO IT. I've owned two Yamaha Super Tenere Adv. Bikes. The first was a really stripped down, very basic version. I rode it from SW Indiana to Newfoundland. About 10,000 miles. I road it across 1200 miles of gravel at age 69. When I got home, I loved the bike BUT, definitely needed cruise control. SO I bought a 2015 Super Tenere that had cruise control. It is 1200 cc's, 6 speed with hard case panniers and topcase. I've done 1000 miles in a day but normally, and as recently as 60 days ago, rode from SW Indiana to Idaho doing about 700 miles per day. I'm now 72, had a stroke in 2022 and can't wait for next summer. Again, DO IT. Forget the cruiser. I traded a Gold Wing for my first Super Tenere.
I loved my 213 klr as well but yes, oil consumption, cruise and 6th gear would transform it!
I've been riding for 45 years. Hondas, Yamahas, Kawasakis of every size. My favorite was my Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad I rode for ten years. The longest single trip was over 4k miles. Never a fan of high speed interstate highways but they do help get me to the fun rides. Now I'm riding a KLR 650 exclusively. It's a perfect affordable bike for adventure riding. Once you get to the area you want to explore - you're on the right bike now.
The affordability is great for people, and I’ve heard a lot about the Vulcan
I've done 3000 mile trips on my oil burning 08. Loved it. Just stay off the interstate. Heck, if you ride a motorcycle on the interstate you might as well just drive. I have crash bars with highway pegs (best thing ever for long trips) and seat concepts seat. I can ride 800 mile days with no issues.
I've done over 60,000 miles on KLRs. Great bikes. I very much regret trading my 2018 KLR for a DRZ instead of a Gen 3 KLR. KLR will run 80 up an interstate all day without fuss. I rode my 2012 KLR from California to Washington on all interstate, stopping only for fuel, no problem. Your KLR will do absolutely anything you want it to. Even off road, it will do whatever you have the skill to make it do
Great to know and many people have talked about it long trips on it
Buddy rode his gen 1 KLR from here in Wyoming all the way to Point Barrow, Alaska and back. One of the reasons I got one last month. They are capable for sure of doing 90% of what can be done on a motorcycle (off the racetrack). Like you, I have a cruiser if I want to stay on the macadam and put a lot of miles down in a day. I got the KLR with the intent to keep to the back roads and dirt/gravel/rock paths, and plan on using it to explore the backcountry where a street-tired V Star won't go comfortably. After riding mine on the Interstate (75 or 80 MPH posted here, with lots of big rigs, travel trailers, RVs, and other big vehicles), I have no intentions of ever going much over 65 on mine...it's not relaxing for me, and I want my riding to help me unwind. I say, "Go for it", but don't be in a hurry with the KLR, and you'll have a much more satisfying trip.
I've done the 3000+ mile interstate rides on my BMW r1200rt and 3000 mile 2 lane highway rides on my KLR. I vastly prefer the KLR rides. Get good highway pegs though, they are a lifesaver. Or a legsaver?
great point, taking some time to make the trip enjoyable
At the age of 41, I went from Sacramento to Florida to Roanoke, 7 days, on a 2007 GSX-R 600
Trans America Trail is a must do. KLR will get you there and back no problems. Its a tractor but it is a great bike.
That is good to know, and I hear so much about that ride, have to do it
One of my buddies ran a KLR for about 5 yrs...him and his girlfriend spent 6 days touring down in Washington!!...never had 1 complaint!...the KLR is like a jack of all trades...master of none!😉👍...great video...stay safe out there!!😎👍🤙👍🤙🇨🇦
totally agree and appreciate you
I’ve crossed the us upwards of 30 times (16 years living in Florida and going to mt/or to see family) I never take the interstate!!
Currently on a klr, 4 cross country trips …
Love seeing the country on two lanes …
That’s awesome
We have a group meeting in Sandyville, WV. next year, all on adventure bikes, heading out to do The Million mile HWY, 4 corner monument, the grand, canon, Glen Canon, Zion, Grand Tetons, West yellow stone, yellow stone, Cody, Devils tower, Chazy horse, SD, ND, MS, to the upper UP, down through Michigan. than back to Sandyville WV, were I'll head south , Back to central Florida. were mostly riding the KLR's. No highways, 90% secondary roads. and as many dirt roads as we can find.
That sounds totally amazing! Sorry for the slow comment
@@bodeanaventures Ed March, c90 adventures. He rode all over the world on a C90, a 650 is a coach comparable
I need to be apart of this group 👀
I rode over 30,000km (20,000 miles) on a circumnavigation trip around North America (Canada/United States). It included the furthest road points.
Northern - Deadhorse, Alaska.
Western - Anchor Point, Alaska.
Eastern - Cape Spear, Newfoundland.
Southern - Key West, Florida.
14 episodes on TH-cam.
Mapmando Adventures.
Not the most comfortable bike 😬, but an exp.
I have taken my 2022 KLR 650 from DFW to Big Bend which is 515 miles each way. Then you ride all over that area for another 300 miles. Back roads in Texas are 70 plus mph these days which changes things a bit but its way better than the interstate.
A friend takes his to Sturgis and Daytona. And he is in his 60’s. 😎👍
U can tour on a KLR. A month ago, I did a 2 day, 925 mile ride on my 2023 KLR, the second day being 551 miles, BUT, I had a Seat Concepts Commuter Low touring seat and GoCruise throttle lock. I averaged 62-63 mph (indicated as 65 on the speedo) and all hwy miles. I am 69.
The beauty of KLR's and bikes like them is that, they cost less to run per mile, not to mention their lighter weight doesn't tire u out as much as a heavier bike, like a HD Road King, which I traded for 2 KLR's. Thank u, ride safe and, good luck on your cross country tour!!
Appreciate that and really good to know that somebody is going over 500 miles in a day
my original Adventure bike was a 1977 Triumph 750 Bonneville with disc brakes that i would take bow hunting down many gravel roads and through corn fields and soybean fields to get to the wooded areas. It weighed 390lbs and I didnt have any complaints back then and it was my most fun all arounder until the KLR.
The worst thing on the Triumph was you had to prime the carbs and it would ultimately leave you smelling like a gas station and Im sure many a deer were quite happy about that as they usually never got close enough for me to harvest... The KLR is such a superior bike to that ole trusty Triumph that got stolen in Michigan and I am 40 years later free to go anywhere I want to take it. It never overheats and it never bottoms out the forks or rear shock and my old back really appreciates that. It is confident on and off road with the stock tires and surely will be even better with tmore aggresive iires. If I had to only keep one of my 5 motorcycles from a Sportster, Shadow, Nevada, TTR 250 and the KLR well the KLR would be my choice hands down.
great story and interesting about the hunting!
Of course you can ride a KLR 650 on long tours. Great tank capacity and mileage. It can be run at 65-80 MPH on the Interstate, but would really be great on the scenic routes. It has been done many times. Your mind is a bigger limitation than the motorcycle. I have been seriously considering either the KLR 650 or a Suzuki 800DE just for this. I am leaning toward the Suzuki because of my size and weight at 6'4"+ and 280lb. It has a fully adjustable front and rear suspension, but is a bit more expensive than a KLR. To be frank, I am tired of lugging around a 900lb Touring Rig. A 500lb motorcycle would be like a vacation in itself.
Get the 800DE
Getting there too and I am about the same size as you and this bike fits well. Don't know the Suzuki well but sure a great bike. I have a 950 pound cruiser too so I get how you feel
In 1973 my brother and I rode from NY to CAliforna round trip on Kawasaki 500 triples 2strokes.
You can definately long haul on a klr but not with a stock seat unless you have cheeks of steel lol
I do 1,000 mile trips on mine alot and bever had much issue with the seat.
Gel honeycomb motorcycle universal seat cushion off of amazon 40 bucks. Turns the KLR seat into a lazy boy. 😏
I have had several adv bikes. Currently KTM 690. I do mostly gravel and two track travel. My last trip was 2200 miles of 95% dirt. Good times!
Nice...know a lot of guys love the KTM's
I have a 07 1Gen. KLR and a BMW RT if I'm in a hurry I take the Beemer, if I want to see more country its the KLR on back roads small town motels and local restaurants. the KLR has been all over the PNW and Alaska less problems with it than the Beemer, not fast 70 mph on the GPS just right for an 88 year old man I'm not in a hurry at this stage of Life. the KLR does fine changed the seat and windshield 16 tooth sprocket, crash bars, alum. bags. Enjoy the ride !!
Great video man, hope you were able to take it to the old gas station and take a long trip with it.
KLR- "Keep Loctite Ready" 😉.. I have a gen2, find it completely comfortable. I even prefer my stock seat over my seat concepts seat
that's funny and seems TRUE already
In 2014 I had a friend in Oregon pickup a Facebook Marketplace 2013 KLR w/ 2400 miles. I hadn't been on a bike for 20+ years and had never taken a trip on one. I flew down from Alaska w/ some camping gear and old military Gortex, packed up and rode it solo back to Anchorage. There were lots of mistakes and tribulations, but it was an awesome trip. The next two summers I did trips in AK/Yukon/BC before trading in the bent/twisted KLR for a BMW 800 ADV. I have over 22K miles in the Great North, and rode the 800 ADV solo to Bozeman when I moved down. These bikes are made for long adventure rides! Now, I have a system for packing, etc... and it includes a lot more safety gear than I carried on that first trip. My longest day on the KLR was 637 miles (over 300 on dirt). Don't make too much of it--just go!
Great story and proof is right there, appreciate the comments and ride safe
I did a 2500 KM ride last summer on my 2011 KLR and loved almost all of it. Started in Calgary Alberta, Canada rode to Kalispell Montana the first day then went down to Missoula, across to Lewiston Idaho, up to Spokane Washington then home in about 6 days. Getting in to Lewiston was the only part I didn't love as there were some very strong winds that were really pushing me around. I have a tall windscreen on and I had some cases on the sides and top which didn't help but I made it safe and sound. I tried to stick to back roads and those were great put in parts of Montana and Idaho the speed limits are like 80mph which is not good for a KLR
now that is a great trip!
You thinking a long trip in the KLR because is the pleasure to ride it at any road. Excellent machine for ours age or any age. I did 400 miles in 1 day and I want keep riding, please do it, don't wait, go for it. I live in Florida and the weather right now is perfect. Thanks for your videos...If you want make 400 miles in one day like me, you need only one more thing...Real cheap...
Really appreciate that. I am going to take it on a much more extended trip in the spring.
I’m hoping to do the MABDR in 2025. Until then, I’m going to explore the backroads in the Adirondacks to work my way to that.
I just got my KLR650S back from having the steering defect fixed. It took 3 weeks! I took your advice and told them to replace the bearings. That’s why it took so long. They needed to shop the parts from the factory. Smooth as silk now!
Be safe!
Have fun!
Gen 1 klr650.. Indiana to California and back no interstate
Hey buddy. I'm 61 and have 400 miles on it. I had a Suzuki 650G long time ago. I'm in the north Georgia mountains and considering a few hundred miles trip soon. Love your videos.
Appreciate it and I hear great riding there
Thanks for the mention my friend. It all comes down to how much time you have for an adventure. My Pan Am was perfect for long days on the highway and doing the Dalton. If I had months to do trips instead of weeks the smaller bike is the way to go. We all need to go to the MABDR and meet up with HDR and Broncoride and do a section or 2. I did see a few KLR’s out in the wilds of Canada and Alaska.
My longest trip is 1,400 km on my Royal Enfield Himalayan. I went from Calgary to Bella Coola. I've done quite a few long days on this bike (800 km) but I just put money down on a KLR because it is more capable at higher speeds.
Enjoy the new bike
Love the channel! I have the KLR 650 ADV and I live in Oakland County. I have 550 miles on it with the steering issue. So glad you made that video. I really thought it was me or the tires on the bike. My first ADV....
Appreciate that Mark and hope you were able to get it fixed. It’s like a brand new bike now and I love it.
I googled the Old Gas Station you mentioned and will be riding there after my first service! I had never heard of it before and can't wait to visit! Thanks so much
Love mine. It’s perfect for my kinda riding. Backroads fm roads and the dirt roads. I’m not a major highway man
You are right, perfect bike for that
Totally get it! My trips on my 300 rally keep getting longer and longer. Once I get a big wide seat concepts seat on it, who knows! Never had a klr, but rode one once and I wouldn’t hesitate to run backroads until I just wanted to stop for the day. Cool video, be safe!
Appreciate it Kevin
Several friends and I have Gen 3 KLR’s and are planning g a trip in 2026 from here in Michigans Thumb to Alaska
I need to get up there and ride
I just bought a 23 Klr, and starting to farkle it. 3 years ago, I rode my 2015 Tiger Explorer 9300 miles in 30 days across the US, from Florida to Washington, across the Plains, and back home. Go for it.
Rode to Nordkap this year. 4200 miles roundtrip in two weeks. People go around the world on this thing.
I keep hearing that, I am going to try a 400-500 trip in the spring.
There is only one way to find out and that is just do it.. my son rides his gen2 klr650 up to my house 3 hrs no issues then rides it back home
so true and that's my plan
My son & I are planning a trip from Dallas Texas to Yosemite next summer via Palo Duro canyon northern NM. Colo., Utah, & NV. We have only done one trip of only 300 miles in one day & our butt's let us know it, we'll have 3 weeks to do the Yosemite trip, no planned mileage per day after we get in the NM mountains. The bikes have a solid reputation & the only reservation I have with the trip is , it's a long trip & as always after the vacation the ride home will seem much longer :)
Can't wait to hear how it goes, great thing to look forward to with kid memories for both of you
On a 23 KLR650S. My longest trip so far was 160 miles(round trip) from Phila to Hamburg . Between my shoulders near my neck was hurting I’m assuming from the handle bars , holding on so long . But other then that ride was all side streets twisting and turning. Fun ride
how do you like the S
@@bodeanaventures I sat on a regular KLR and could barely tippy toe the ground. The S flat foot no problem. I haven’t, knock on wood, had any steering problems
Thanks for the video. I had a 2011 KLR and made many trips to the Tail of The Dragon. 400+ miles one way. That was about enough for one day for me. I now have a Yamaha Super Tenere and did a 3700 mile road trip to N.M. then back to the Dragon then home. It was my best vacation yet. And i have a few videos on here from that ride. So i say you can do it. Lots of people ride them to Prudhoe Bay Alaska. 🙂👍👍 Make Every Ride An Adventure
Thanks for sharing!
2021 Honda Africa Twin, Tampa to Seattle.
Nice!
Great video! We should all do a long ADV trip together to Tennessee? Can’t wait. Ride Safe
MABDR, even if it’s just a few sections at a time…..
Don’t overthink it and just f’ing go and do it.
I really tossed around picking up a klr but decided on the triumph tiger 900.
I have owned 3 different Kawasaki bikes back in the 80’s and 90’s and really enjoyed those bikes.
Didn’t ride after kids were born however after they went through College it was my turn again.
I went with the tiger because I had heard the Klr wasn’t the greatest on the interstates but found myself 80 % on back roads anyway. Even on the tiger loaded up with hard luggage I get blown all over the place on the interstate so I avoid them as much as possible.
I am curious how your Klr does on the highway and if it was worth spending the money on the tiger for the type of riding I find myself enjoying ?
I have not riden it enough on the highway but will plan to do that soon and let folks know!
Change the front and back sprockets for highway riding. My generation 1 got 58-62 mpg at 65 mph. Stick to 65 mph and no oil consumption. I rode from Texas to the east coast easily.
Great advice I appreciate that
Just came across your channel. Bought a KLR 650 s about a month ago, I like it so far, looking for dirt roads around me also. I was considering others but I'm 5'4" and wasn't liking the tall bikes with bigger cc. . Went with a adventure bike because getting to old to ride single tracks and my dirt bike isn't set up for road. I also live in Michigan. Keep searching for dirt.
thanks for stopping in and how are you liking the S model. I am 6'3" and the S was just coming out. Where abouts in Michigan, I am still looking for some good KLR roads!
Wow. Just noticed that you replied. I live west of Lansing. I'm almost a foot shorter than you. Didn't get much time to ride before weather change but did get about 200 miles on before parking it, mostly dirt roads in my area and to the edge of Yankee Springs / Barry State game area. Come on spring. Be safe and have fun.
I'm a new rider and have the exact same bike (ML series), actually your channel called my eyes because of the safety issue but thanks God I have not experienced that issue, long story short I live in FL and I will plan a trip, the reference is people in south America traveling in KLR 650 gen 2 from Venezuela to Argentina, so, this bike is made for more than expected
Since this video I learned that all of the 23 have ML#. Looks like it was just a group of thousands that had a torque problem. I have some other videos on morning and the fix. At the end of the day, they fixed my bike and it’s riding great. Enjoy your new bike, they are awesome
! Rode my Vstrom from AZ. To Montana and found every back road scenic route I could find and loved every second of it. ! Did the same thing on a Harley from az. To Washington and loved every moment. You can do it , it's a blast. Those were solo trips also.
That is awesome, I need a trip like that!
I ride my Gen 3 KLR as much as my Hayabusa. They're different. The KLR has much more room on it, also.
Getting mine has been fun after the issues resolved.
I’ve done South Georgia to north georgia many times on a klr650.
Great to know and going to stretch it this year
Alabama to California and back, 2005 KLR650. Got on old Rt.66 in Ok. and stayed on it as much as I could ,glad to have the long travel suspension for some of it.
P.S. I am your age.
Do It!
Appreciate the encouragement and Rt 66 had to be great!
I prefer my Pan America over my Street Glide for long days in the saddle. I also have a WR250R that I’m going to ride the Trans American Trail on next year. My Pan America is just too heavy to deal with over the passes in CO. by myself. I’ve don’t the MABDR on my PA and there is nothing hard about it. It is beautiful scenic gravel and blacktop roads with a few rocky sections and creek crossings. It is a beautiful trip though seeing things you would never see on a street only trip.
I just had 4 guys in my group ride their WR250 dual sports 4 days to CO. Ride there for 8 days then ride home 4 days. I believe all are 60+ years old lol.
Dual sport and ADV riding is truly about the journey and not the destination. Be safe.😊
So well said and I just had a buddy get rid of his PA for more off road riding. I still love that bike and refuse to test ride one because I know what I will do!
Some people have crossed the world with a KLR650 so yes you can do it. Some people even cross the world with a 250cc. I personally crossed the USA twice from coast to coast with a VStrom 650. The VStrom has a twin engine so it is somewhat more powerful than a KLR and it is more suitable for highway speed than the KLR but the KLR will do it without problems.
I have a 22 KLR 650 and I am wanting ot do a cross country trip but I am not going to be on the interstate I am going to be on 2 lane and dirt roads the KLR is not for interstate travel long term IMHO, I also have a Ultra limited touring bike then yes its made for interstate riding all the way.
What mirrors are those, those are way nicer then what's on my 22 abs
They are called double take mirrors and you can get them off of Amazon. They’re a little pricey at 145 bucks but I definitely like them better.
took my 650 V-Strom Suzuki from Massachusetts to Tennessee to the dragon 2800 miles
incredible!
Again, mine was a DR 650, but basically the same as the KLR. I did 1800 miles in 4 days in the stock seat one time….. it can be done!!!! I prefer the “mid sized” ADV bikes for longer distance rides, especially if there’s a lot of pavement involved
I did MA to FL, two weeks down on mostly dirt roads. Lots of fun!
Tok my 2022klr adventure from Elizabeth nj to Athens ga down and back with no problems
Great to hear, I plan to do some sort f trip like that in the spring.
Ya man that bike will take you to the ends of the road far and wide
In 1990 my wife and I crazy this sounds but true.
Walked out of the showroom floor at Lynnwood Washington Cycle Barn with a brand new KLR650..
After proper break-in.
We geared up and took off on a cross-country trip that turned out to go to Palm Springs California Scottsboro Alabama Dupo Illinois and right back to Lynnwood Washington.
Changed out a chain and one sprocket along the way As we did some off-road riding as well and we changed out 3 tires.
Make sure to do the oil changes and we made it home alive Some looked at us like we were crazy.Others thumbed up as we drove on by...😊
Granted we were younger than but we enjoyed our trip on the KLR.
An awesome memory.
great story and thanks for sharing
Trans American Trail is awesome with the KLR 650 . Cross country trip , or even just part of it
Riders tour around the world on small and mid-sized ADVs.... You can DO IT!!!! Bodean. I'm planning a retirement ride around the country without out touching interstates or highways. I have no idea what bike I will do it on, I guess I will find out when the time comes, but it could be an ADV...
However, there's another thingie I have in mind for ADVing and that is crossing the country on the Trans-America Trail.. Did I peak your interest?
Right
Was that the zukey lake tavern in Pinckney?
It sure was
Nice im IN MIlan,, love riding out there @@bodeanaventures
If you ride at your pace it'll be great. If you have to match pace with a touring bike it will suck.
great point
Excellent video.
Really appreciate that James
Hmmmmmmmmmm, am I too old?
nothing you can't do!
get a Russel Day long seat and you won't need the Road Glide anymore.......
👋👋🇺🇸😎
Look at the tat ..