Hey mate, your squeek is the abs plate. Because when the brakes get applied strongly so they engage the abs ring/ plate get bent out a little. It's happened to my klr as well
Really?! I actually thought this might be it! Can it be bent back or do you need to replace the part? I’m happy to see this comment, I was really hoping someone would know what it is!
@NotShookADV you can bend it back straight while the wheel is on the bike. You'll see close up where it should be. Generally a light tap with a hammer. Also if you get the abs light come on when your riding, it'll be bent the opposite way, using a screw driver . You'll see some rubbing points. I have had both rear and front do it hence why I know the noise. Hopefully this is very helpful mate and a very easy repair
@gruffingit. Thanks a lot for all this info, I appreciate it! This should save me a heap of time. I’m going to have a go today and hopefully I’m back up and running again.
Just wanted to check in again to let you know you are an absolute legend, and this was literally a one minute fix with your great instruction. Thanks so much. And funny that you say this happened on both your front and back, because I have had this noise come and go on my rear brakes too! So good to know. The internet remains undefeated!!
Cheers Heath! I really appreciate the support. It does seem like I’ve really annoyed some people by not wanting to ride the exact same bike as them doesn’t it. Comments like yours keep me going, thanks mate!
100% bro, I used to put off doing adv trips cause I was waiting to build the perfect bike with the perfect setup and luggage, I wasted too much time until I just started going out with what I had that's all you can do ride the bike you got with the gear you have and just actually do it and enjoy it
@@heathpendlebury6133 This is spot on. Not everyone can afford or needs to have the most high-performance modded out rally machine to go camping in the bush, just go and have some fun on whatever you have. Honestly I have found it to be a lot of fun learning as you go and figuring out what adventuring riding is for yourself, rather than listening to some KTM nut tell you must buy a 25k bike.
Really good to see you posting again- I appreciate your openness and honesty. As a newish klr owner and adv rider, your vids inspired and motivated me.
Thanks a lot! I love hearing that. The KLR is a great bike, I’m still very in love with mine, I’m very keen again to get back out and make videos. How are you finding the KLR so far?
@@NotShookADV I really like my ('23 adv) KLR- just had it's second rego. Totally reliable so far; just have to make sure the screws are all locktighted. I appreciate it's steadiness on the roads you have to take to get to the trails you want to be on, though that steadiness is partly due to its weight which can be a bit of a worry when the going gets interesting. Definitely think it's the best adv bike for me and will be hanging on to it for the foreseeable future.
Yep they are all good points I agree. They go well on the road, very comfy and safe. Like you say you can definitely get yourself into some situations off-road, and they are damn heavy to pickup. I think I will be holding onto mine for a while too. Thanks for the comments
Phenomenal! Fabulous to see you back. Inspirational stuff. Fellow KLR rider and appreciator. Your posts are among the very best ADV ones available to show folks what is achievable with some skill, determination and good bike prep/maintenance. You don't need ultra expensive bike and kit to do this stuff as many YT posts allude too. Super well done.
Cheers Mike, The KLR has really suprised me aswell with what it’s capable of, and it’s really done me very well. This post is very motivating for me, I appreciate it, thanks for the kind words legend.
After long thinking you had quit, this new upload really made my day. TH-cam needs more truly offroad KLR content -- even when Gen 3 debuted, there wasn't quite enough. You're a champ for putting yourself and your bike on the line for it. Here's a refund on that grease, it's on me! Cheers!
Cheers Don! I agree about the lack of off-road content for the KLR. This is exactly why I started the channel, I wanted to make the type of videos I wanted to watch myself that were missing from TH-cam. Thanks a lot for the kind words, and the donation/grease refund, deadset legend. Gets me very motivated to get out and make more videos!
I feel your pain. I didn't even make it out of the house for my last planned adventure. The anxiety demons got me and I felt like a scared little 10yo boy. Good on you for getting through day 1. It looked pretty hectic.
Yeah that’s sucks when you get stuck like that with the anxiety. For me once I get going it all slowly disappears every time! But like you, getting out is the hard bit. I hope you are able to get out again soon too. Thanks for tuning in!
Billy Goat Bluff track is not something you ought to be taking on fatigued at the end of the day; you are a tough person for sure. I've always been drawn to the Klr but i lack the physical strength to haul that bike up after a drop - and you will drop it in the Victorian high country. I'm looking to get back there soon after my own disaster. I think a modified Honda 300 Rally is a better option for me in rough terrain like the Vic Alps. Very impressed by your determination to make the big klr do the job.
Yep I think it was probably a bad decision to push so hard on the day, lesson learnt for sure. I reckon the Honda rally will be a great bike, and a lot of fun up in the high country, the last thing you want is a big heavy bike you cant pickup easily. Great to hear you are planning to get back out there again! Thanks for watching.
Bruhhh! You scared me with the clickbait thumbnail! Love watching your vids, mainly because your reaction to every mishap or challenge is to laugh. Pure joy and enthusiasm when so many others may get frustrated. You're a great ambassador for that kind of riding (well, except for getting more than you bargained for from time to time - kids don't try this at home). Keep it up; love watching.
Cheers mate, I’m glad you enjoy the vids. I appreciate those kind words, I do really get a lot of joy out of the adventures, even with the struggles and more than I bargained for moments. Thanks a lot for the support! Keeps me very motivated.
Downhills are the confidence killer for me. Vicious cycle, you find yourself being more cautious, try to slow down too much at the wrong times etc. Literally had a small off a few hours ago doing this!
100% this is exactly it. The only time I’ve ever put her down on the downhills is I was going too slow and lacking confidence. Very counterintuitive especially after a few drops, like you say it becomes a vicious cycle, and then add the fatigue of the lifts, and it gets bad quick. Half way through this ride once I figured that out again and sped up, I had zero issues. Cheers for the comment!
Cheers Roy! Thanks for tuning in from the other side of the world. Oregon would be a great place to explore on the KLR! Should be a few good adventures coming up for you this season.
Thank you for your videos. YOU inspired me to go from a KLX300 to a KLR650, I still have the KLX, but I wanted the fuel range, capacity, and the experience of an ADV bike. I am in Kansas in the heart of the USA, so I do not have such harsh terrain as you, but you have done some insane stuff with your bike! I hope to travel the US on my KLR and experience some beauty in the country. Remember though, not every video has to be brutal on your body or your bike- most will watch just for the experience. I personally think Australia is an amazing country, and would love to explore it-this is the easiest way for me to do so. Keep the rubber side down. Keep the videos coming in the future! From your friends in the US. -Brandon
Hi Brandon, Most welcome, I’m really glad the channel provided some inspiration! The long fuel range must be a game changer out in the Midwest, what an amazing country you have to explore there, unmatched in adventure potential. Yeah you are right, I need to maybe slow down a bit and enjoy some more chilled rides in the mix too. Might make it all a bit more sustainable and enjoyable. Thanks for the support from across the globe!
I've had my challenges on my KLR (my 4th dual sport) as well. I ride an old rail bed with crushed stone on the center of two tracks. Hard to enjoy it all when constantly trying not to wipeout.
I had an 87 klr and sold it for that reason. I then got a xr650l which performed much better on the railbed. Later went back to the Klr for comfort and highway use. Interested to see the new kle coming out soon. Which tires are you now running? I'm on the Shinkos now. Had dunlop 606 on the xr which seemed good on the crushed stone. I'm thinking more aggressive knobbies might help. I ride alone most of the time as well. This summer I waved to some guys on the trail and nearly ended up in the trees! Lol
@@mullins6429 Good stuff! It’s good to have a fellow KLR enthusiast along for the journey! Are you riding a gen3? What are your thoughts on the bike overall?
@@NotShookADV I’ve owned two Gen ones and the one I have now is a Gen two. Love these bikes. They will go anywhere and back again. The first one I had I rode it untouched apart from services for 75,000kms. Never had a problem. The second one was unfortunately destroyed in a traffic accident by a car driver not watching where he was going. The one I have now has modified suspension which makes a huge difference to handling and load carrying capacity. Can’t beat ‘em.
That’s great you got that much mileage out of your first one without any issues! This is one of the great things about the KLR, such amazing reliability. I’m hoping I can run up some big KMs on mine aswell, I look after her mechanically but I do thrash it, so will be interesting to see. Yeah the suspension is a good thing to upgrade. Stock suspension on the gen3 is decent, but a bit too plush with luggage, I reckon the suspension upgrade did transform the bike. 100% agree they are a really great bike.
Getting out into the Bush must be a great escape from the bondage of city life, work stress, and a great vacation from the chores at home. You have some beautiful country there and mountains! Your, living the life of off-road riding! Recommend finding a mate to go riding with on these rides for safety and added fun as I'll bet no one is on those trails very often and if you get stuck (flat tire, injury, or some other mechanical issue ... CHEERS!
Yep very true it’s a great escape, and very lucky to be so close to such beautiful country. I do some riding with friends in real life, for this channel though I just do the solo stuff. I always carry a satellite phone, and other emergency items, but I understand there still is a risk involved. Obviously I take it a bit easier also. Cheers legend.
Thanks horizonchaser, I really was feeling it on this ride more than ever! Yeah the climb got the heart going very hard. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for tuning in.
Cheers mate it’s good to be back! Yeah that’s spot on, it had been so long I had forgotten how much fun it is, and took a bit of time to shake those nerves. Good to see you have been staying out on the tracks on the KLR while I was away!
Cheers legend! I really appreciate that. Hearing that you are enjoying the videos is great motivation for me to get back out there. I did have a lot of fun on this ride, still hungry for adventure.
Nice to see you back.Yep,life can get in the way sometimes but when you ride,get some helmet therapy,life seems so much better.Great comments about being rusty,I have to tell myself constantly to relax being an old bloke.I recently bought a secondhand 2021 XT250 to see if a lighter bike could help me improve.Totally in love with the little bike,can take it places I would not take my Honda 500X,enjoy such a light bike.I guess sometimes we just have to get extra bikes to do a bit of everything,Cheers mate,hope to see some more of you.
Yeah definitely, it’s great for the mind to get out on the bike. It is amazing how much energy you can burn by just being too tense on a ride isn’t it. I think this is the direction I will eventually go, add some sort of lighter bike to the garage in addition to the klr. You are onto it I reckon, having a couple of bikes is the sweet spot, none does it all perfectly. Thanks for the support! Can’t wait to get back out there and film the next episode.
Cheers Tim, it’s good to be back. I think the rotor looks fine(may be wrong). The caliper squeaks when I unbolt it from the bike, so the squeak itself isn’t caused by the rotor. I’m about to jump in and have another crack at fixing it today, wish me luck. Thanks for supporting the channel!
I bought the KLR 2024 and dropped it a few times in the trails and this heavy beast made me sign back up to the gym, but it's way too top heavy and will stick to gravel with it and get a klx300 or similar for trail.
Haha well that’s a good result if it got you back in the gym! It is a heavy old thing to lift. Bit of a technique to it though. I’ve dropped and lifted mine hundreds of times, fully laden with luggage and extra fuel too. I only ride solo so I’ve even had to lift the thing off me a heap of times aswell. Have to disagree that it’s no good on anything but gravel. I’ve taken mine up Australia’s toughest and most remote off road trails and tracks. Deserts, tropics, high country, you name it ive done it on the KLR. Check out some of my videos.
Cheers from Canada. Old Geezer here, just picked up my new KLR. People ask, are they reliable and are they tough? I refer them to your channel. Kawasaki needs to pay you. Best KLR channel available. Be safe.
Thanks Geezer! haha yep the KLR is a tough machine. Congrats on the new purchase! I think the KLR is perfect for Canada, you are going to have some great adventures.
Great to see you're out and about again. Many thanks for the update. I'd heard about Billy Goats Bluff, looking at that it's definitely not one for my Tiger, maybe the next bike. Cheers.
Cheers Ian. It’s great to be back. It might be a bit of a wrestle on the tiger for sure, doable maybe, but depends on your appetite for pain I guess! Thanks for staying tuned in.
Cheers Baz. It was a pretty tough old ride actually, I was quite knackered. Yeah that’s spot on, sometimes unavoidable late in the ride. Definitely all part of the adventure!
Mate, you ride the KLR harder than most. I'm hoping to move down to southern vic next year and your high country videos have shown what is possible on the KLR650.
Awesome video. Love your attitude! Great to see you and the KLR back. That squeaking must of been off putting. I'm planning on a 4 day VHC trip in April, can't wait!
Cheers mate, it’s good to be back. Yeah thanks, I do I try and stay as positive as I can, it gets hard sometimes when you are a bit knackered though. Hopefully this great weather we are having will hang around for your April trip. You should be able to get around a big chunk of it in 4 days, can’t wait to watch the videos!
Wow Andy, what an awesome ride Brother, big bottom out to start you descent, A1 riding Andy, so happy your not quitting Adventure riding, you have so much entertainment to produce yet Bro. The camber is the worst on those tracks, glad you made it down safe! 😅
Cheers Juddy! I really appreciate the support mate. Yeah true, the camber on the downhills is a killer, especially if you are going really slow, just asking to put the big girl down! Once that confidence is shot too, it’s over!
That was awesome mate. I'm glad to see you back into it👍👍. We were in the High Country a couple of weeks ago (40c in Dargo ) but don't do anything as challenging as you. Legend.
Cheers Coobye! Good to be back . Good stuff Dargo is an epic spot. That heat sounds pretty brutal, you have to take it a bit easy in those conditions I bet, and stay close to the swimming holes. Good to hear from you again mate, thanks for the comment.
Great video mate all those interesting tracks in one day well done. You are very handy with the KLR and you seem to get through some steepest and gnarly tracks very well on it. Yes it could be easier with another bike but it does not really seem to limit you much at all and is a very reliable and easy bike to live with then the 701 690 which by the way will end up weighing a lot more by the time you adventurise it and the gremlins are definitely an issue on the longer trips. I know I had one. Good to see you back.
Thanks a lot Tony! Yeah those are great points about the KLR, I hadn’t really thought about it like that. She’s also very comfy on the big rides too. Yeah those gremlins with the 690/701 certainly seem to be something that could haunt you with the remote stuff. Thanks a lot for the support, it’s great to be back!
117 kg beta 390rr. Even I wish it was 90 only. Real Enduro bike, 300 mm suspension travel and most I. can lift it without too much pain, can stand any crash and go on. So I don t care to have an hard set or make liaison on tarmac at low speed...
Cheers Jhon! I appreciate the kind words. I’m glad you get a bit of a laugh out of it, I’m having a lot of fun out there. Thanks for the support legend.
Hi Gary, Good question. I think the adventure is great value. Especially if you like hard panniers. The colour is great too. I guess it comes down to personal preference. I had a lot of fun doing all the mods I wanted myself, and I wanted to run soft pannys, so that’s what dictated my decision.
I agree with this in general, but I think most underestimate the ability of the KLR(myself included). I’m neither greatly athletic or skilful, in fact this is my first adventure bike. Riding the klr in technical stuff is hard, but it’s a lot of fun.
Mate as I'm watching you climbing I can't help feeling your gearing is way high for that sort of work. I carry 3 different size front cogs and change em out depending on steepness etc. Loer gearing up hill allows higher revs and slower speeds which give you more control. Takes me only minutes to change out a cog on the track.might save your clutch too. great video by the way
This is the modern day version of "Mulga Bill"! I have had the same issues with my channel and content. The wife is in hospital, and I cannot risk not being there for her, but I miss the backcountry right now.
Sorry to hear that about the wife mate! Yeah it’s damn tough when you have the real life stuff going on, but the backcountry will always be there, and it will be all the sweeter when you get back out there! Wishing your wife the best, and hoping for speedy recovery. Good on you for being there for her.
great to see you here again mate! I feel you brother. I think it's an important part of the bike life puzzle this process of rethink, reconsider and reassure why we ride and what drive us out to this adventures. also it's such a mix of feelings when we get home exhausted but at the same time eager for the next one right? btw, I'm the dude who attacked you at coles st kilda a few months ago with a "are you the klr guy??" as I couldn't remember the channel's name but def knew who your face 😂 hope one day we bump each other again and can go for a spin 🤙
Hi mate! Hahaha that’s right, my gf actually tells the story of the supermarket to people, thinks it’s a classic. Yep definitely, sometimes you don’t really realise how great the adventures were till some time after. Bike life puzzle is a great way to put it, I think it’s a constant for me wondering about what bike would be perfect. But they all have their own pros and cons. I could be happy on the klr , and I know I would be happy on a lighter bike, I just need to be getting out there. Yeah for sure we could go for a spin one day. How is the KTM treating you?
@@NotShookADV hahaha unreal it became a classic! yeah the klr is such a great "all can do bike". on the way back home when I sold mine I had regreted five times already haha. but the 450EXC has been such a great bike as a replacement since then. literally feels light half of the weight (especially when you hit the hard terrain), extremely capable, easy to do maintain and the best of all is you never afraid of dropping it. one thing that's been difficult for me is the tarmac sections (mainly on big trips to the high country and beyond, since I'm in st kilda it's a long way). considering it is still a dirt bike adapted to road, I might look in replacing it for the 690 sometime later. I reckon that'll be the sweet spot. or the kove if it arrives on time
@@angelogmuller It does sound like a lot of fun, I would really love to add a bike like that to the garage one day. Yah thats one of the great things about the KLR, its the super comfy road machine, its great for the long tarmac rides. Yep 690 would be an epic bike too, probably the best of both worlds like you say. Shoot me a DM on insta next time you are hitting up some high country stuff.
Yeah I do. I just use it mainly to keep track of KMs and hours, but I also sometimes use it with map waypoints. It’s a great backup if my other maps are not working too. It has saved me so many times!
@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449 I looked into this, and couldn’t find any for the gen3, none where available at the time(in Aus) But this is definitely a great mod I’d love to do.
@@NotShookADV some brake shops will make them up for bikes , I had some made up for. Yamaha XT 660 I had and also a road bike Yamaha TDM 900 ( it’s an amazing difference in feel along with the High performance brake fluid. )
I started out riding on a honda 300L recently, much smaller than your bike. I did ride small dirt bikes in my teen but only as a weekend rider, no racing or trainging. The 300L is dangerous in the dirt trails on technical stuff, heavy, wonky handling, terrible stock suspension, truly a street leaning bike in dirt trim, at least it feels that way. So I test road a ktm 500 and in 15 minutes, knew it was time to change bikes. The 500 is so light it feels like a mountain bike. With all my gear, the ktm 500 weighs the same as the honda 300L with no gear on it. Crazy difference - handling and safety go hand in hand. Plus, the power is endless, which means all the traction you want for those hill climbs. I recently bought a second ktm 500 for the same prince used (with only 1k miles) as a new honda crf 300L. The KTM is a million times better. But, that's a 2014, it's not as nimble as the 2022 500 I have. After 2020, the bikes got crazy balances and nimble. Still, the 2014 handles a million times better than the 300L. I've found the myths about maintenance and reliability on ktms used for adv basically myths. It's not a problem, even for non-mechanics like myself, to not be distracted by that, it's pretty minimal. Having said all that, I always wondered what folks thought of their KLRs. Thanks for the video.
The KTM500 is definitely a bike that has been on my wish list. I’d love to build on me into an ADV bike. I think there will be a day when I buy one, it’s just a matter of time. Maybe as I get older and more sick of wrestling the big heavy bike. Like you say, nothing compares to their power and ability off-road. I think all bikes have their own little quirks mechanically you just need to figure them out and plan your tools/spares accordingly for ADV riding. Some guys like yourself do some great adventures on the 500s without major issues. Hopefully in the future I add a 500 to the garage to have alongside the KLR! Thanks for the post.
Cheers Chris, thanks for watching! Yeah, the bike's a beast, but it's all part of the fun for me. That's the beauty of adventure riding, we all dont have to ride the same bikes!
I noticed that as soon as you sit down you sort of losing it. Don't sit, stay standing on the footpegs and ride those steep hills. You gain so much more traction standing up.
100% this is it. Never should be seated on a steep decline I agree. Next ride things to remember for me: -Never go too slow on downhills -Never try to stop on a steep hill(ever) -Never sit on steep descents Cheers for the comment mate.
@@NotShookADV I agree with all the points except from your first one. Going slow on very steep downhills is a must. You don't want to gather momentum and let gravity decide where you'll stop. Been there (with a very light bike too, a 500EXC), and it was scary. Of course, there are steep decents and STEEP decents. So it depends. I think what you mean is to allow a flow of wheel movement in order to pass over certain obstacles like ditches , rocks, etc which I understand in situations like in your clip (even though the darn camera lenses flatten steepness and we can't judge very well) but if you get to even steeper decends, stand up, body to the back, lock the rear wheel and modulate the front brake. In extreme enduro we even shut the engine off, in gear, and make the decent modulating the clutch. A drawback for the latter technique is that if you don't go very slow the bike might jump start and then you have to be ready to apply the rear brake. So, why not just lock the rear brake and decend in the first place? Because in very steep decends applying the rear brake sort of messes with your body balance and your balance in general on the pegs. That's why (and for many more reasons) static balance practicing is so crucial for enduro. When I bought my enduro bike, years ago, I learned how to really ride off road. I thought I knew then I realized how many mistakes I was making. Finally, as a sportsman, 16 years as a professional, it's always about fundamentals. Conquer fundamentals and you'll enjoy the sport (and perform so much better) even more (and be safe while at it). I taught myself watching the IRC guy on YT, Adam Rienmann, Birtchy, Colllins and a few more and hours of practice. Theory is good but without practice the body doesn't follow. Cheers. P.S. I like your enthusiasm.
Some truth to that, but I don’t think it’s as simple as lighter is better. Really depends on a lot of things, but yeah the KLR is probably too heavy for a lot of the riding I do. Thanks for watching!
There’s a lot to love about the KLR. I don’t think I would trade anything for mine at the moment, but not against maybe one day adding a second bike to the garage.
Cheers mate, Haha yeah that squeak is haunting me! I haven’t been able to figure it out yet, it seems to be just one of the pins squeaking. I have a few more things to try, and then I guess I will probably have to do a bleed and do a rebuild on it. Im learning as I go with the mechanical stuff.
@@NotShookADV Glad to hear. I'm only saying it because I tried Moto Trials yesterday with a GREAT coach. I felt uncomfortable to begin with. After three hours I did things I had not expected to be able to do in the next year.
Thanks stbees, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Not sure I fully understand how you found the title bait? I had quit adventure riding completely for 7 months and nearly a year away from my regular riding in the high country? Had quit TH-cam completely during this time. Do you think that’s not long enough to say I quit? Or was it that I didn’t talk for long enough about it? Or was it the thumbnail text that annoyed you? I mean I was pretty scared on this ride too, so I don’t think that is bait is it? I’m always happy to take constructive criticism, my intention definitely isn’t to annoy viewers. Anyway thanks for watching and commenting!
I ride to enjoy the ride, not stressing out. Mountains are there to enjoy, not to conquer or overcome my fears. A wise person always takes the path of least resistance.
While Im happy for you that you get enjoyment out of the mountains without conquering them, I have to completely disagree with your comment philosophically. Viewing mountains solely as objects of enjoyment rather than challenges to conquer overlooks the potential for growth and self-discovery that overcoming obstacles provides. I agree in some cases the path of least resistance is wise, but the notion of always taking the path of least resistance can be seen as promoting complacency and stagnation rather than embracing the richness of life's experiences and challenges. The wise man who never challenges himself would be a boring old man. The challenge is the essence of adventure riding in my opinion. But I also acknowledge that people seek different things in life, and I wish you the best on your journey my friend.
I must say you manage your time all wrong buy trying to set these massive goals and not allowing yourself the time to enjoy and take advantage of the opportunities presented
To each their own. I think the biggest mistake you can make is thinking everyone should do things the way you do, and the idea that there is only one way to enjoy things. And then going to someone’s channel, who is putting themselves out there, and having a bit of fun, and then telling them that’s wrong. Fascinating behaviour.
So you bought a KLR and expected it to be magical but you don't have the skill to ride it and it's not the bike you need for the job anyway. It's a good idea you stop riding. You give us all a bad name.
The KLR has been magical mate! The fact it’s my first bike means it’s taking some time to learn how to ride it, but I love it. Getting out there and having a good time. If that is giving adventure riders a bad name then good! Thanks for watching
My brother it looks like you commented almost this exact comment on my Simpson video. Seems like it might be time for you to log off. But if you do continue with trolling the channel I appreciate the comments as it boosts my engagement stats, and the ad revenue you are creating by watching is supporting the channel, so thank you in advance! Let’s grow together!
This is my first adventure bike, I’m just out having a bit of fun, not taking myself too seriously, not meaning to offend anyone who likes to ride a different bike to me.
To be fair I haven’t ridden for 7 months, of course I’m struggling, I can tell you I’m having a lot of fun though. Log off brother and go out and get some sunshine.
I am always disappointed when these TH-cam channel riders buy a Klr and treat it like a lab experiment then discard it after a year and move on to another experiment I suppose to try to get more Viewers, No loyalty to the machine, thank you for showing the Real capabilities of the KLR, Awesome machine, awesome channel!!!
Yep I feel you on this. I always said I would only consider moving on after I had done a Cape York trip, and after that trip I probably loved the bike more than ever to be honest. As this is my first ADV bike I totally understand why people might be turned off, if you are coming from a lighter machine like I did. But I think the beauty of adventure riding is the loyalty to the machine, like you say. Learning all the little quirks about it mechanically, its strengths and weaknesses and making a bunch of good memories on it. I think if I ever do want another bike, I’d add a bike, not sell the KLR to be honest. Thanks a lot for the support! Much appreciated.
Unlike the vast majority of non trials riding riders you understand and have the discipline to keep a steady throttle. The vast majority of off road riders at least in the United States are their own worst enemy on a climb and lose momentum by overly modulating and chopping the throttle. This is gotten worse over the years as less riders have grown up riding underpowered bikes which don't allow such nonsense! Good job.
Thanks mark! Yeah I agree it makes your life a lot easier on the climbs with a steady throttle. While counter intuitive, it really is the way to do it. I think this ride really showed I need to really focus on more speed on the downhills with the exact same principle. Every time I put her down on descents was just a matter of going slow or trying to stop, just stupid things to do on a downhill. Interesting you say that the trend of people not holding a steady throttle has gotten worse. Makes sense though, it is a lot easier to learn to pin the throttle on the underpowered machines. Cheers for the comment
Yes, I instruct riders on mountain bikes by explaining that if they get in trouble on a trail going down hill, it will almost never require them to stop but only to slow down a bit to maneuver. So I tell them to think of brakes as speed controllers not brakes, and that they will only need to slow a bit to make a maneuver and not to panic brake with intention to stop. It seems calm them down and gives them a chance as slowing to a stop tends to cause rookie riders to wash the front end.@@NotShookADV
Strong disagree. I safely and comfortably did 8000km through the outback in 2 weeks last year on the KLR. Also have done plenty of high country tracks solo that I’ve seen guys on 701/690s fail to get up.
Check out my Solo unsupported Simpson crossing video. Or if you want to see me get up a track a bunch of kitted out 701s couldn’t get up : th-cam.com/video/qz4MRNvF_yQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BRtIgbvAtfkue8Wx Skip to 17:20 All done SAFELY and SOLO the KLR. In fact if you head to my page, there are 12 videos of me solo riding safely on the KLR. Thanks for the advice, think I will pass on the 701.
Hey mate, your squeek is the abs plate. Because when the brakes get applied strongly so they engage the abs ring/ plate get bent out a little. It's happened to my klr as well
Really?! I actually thought this might be it! Can it be bent back or do you need to replace the part?
I’m happy to see this comment, I was really hoping someone would know what it is!
@NotShookADV you can bend it back straight while the wheel is on the bike. You'll see close up where it should be. Generally a light tap with a hammer. Also if you get the abs light come on when your riding, it'll be bent the opposite way, using a screw driver . You'll see some rubbing points. I have had both rear and front do it hence why I know the noise. Hopefully this is very helpful mate and a very easy repair
@gruffingit. Thanks a lot for all this info, I appreciate it!
This should save me a heap of time. I’m going to have a go today and hopefully I’m back up and running again.
@NotShookADV no worries mate. Glad I can be of some assistance
Just wanted to check in again to let you know you are an absolute legend, and this was literally a one minute fix with your great instruction.
Thanks so much.
And funny that you say this happened on both your front and back, because I have had this noise come and go on my rear brakes too!
So good to know.
The internet remains undefeated!!
Few detractors in the comments mate, dont take notice your doing a ripper job thanks for the entertainment and inspiration 👍
Cheers Heath! I really appreciate the support.
It does seem like I’ve really annoyed some people by not wanting to ride the exact same bike as them doesn’t it.
Comments like yours keep me going, thanks mate!
100% bro, I used to put off doing adv trips cause I was waiting to build the perfect bike with the perfect setup and luggage, I wasted too much time until I just started going out with what I had that's all you can do ride the bike you got with the gear you have and just actually do it and enjoy it
@@heathpendlebury6133 This is spot on. Not everyone can afford or needs to have the most high-performance modded out rally machine to go camping in the bush, just go and have some fun on whatever you have. Honestly I have found it to be a lot of fun learning as you go and figuring out what adventuring riding is for yourself, rather than listening to some KTM nut tell you must buy a 25k bike.
Really good to see you posting again- I appreciate your openness and honesty. As a newish klr owner and adv rider, your vids inspired and motivated me.
Thanks a lot! I love hearing that.
The KLR is a great bike, I’m still very in love with mine, I’m very keen again to get back out and make videos.
How are you finding the KLR so far?
@@NotShookADV I really like my ('23 adv) KLR- just had it's second rego. Totally reliable so far; just have to make sure the screws are all locktighted. I appreciate it's steadiness on the roads you have to take to get to the trails you want to be on, though that steadiness is partly due to its weight which can be a bit of a worry when the going gets interesting. Definitely think it's the best adv bike for me and will be hanging on to it for the foreseeable future.
Yep they are all good points I agree. They go well on the road, very comfy and safe.
Like you say you can definitely get yourself into some situations off-road, and they are damn heavy to pickup.
I think I will be holding onto mine for a while too.
Thanks for the comments
Phenomenal! Fabulous to see you back. Inspirational stuff. Fellow KLR rider and appreciator. Your posts are among the very best ADV ones available to show folks what is achievable
with some skill, determination and good bike prep/maintenance. You don't need ultra expensive bike and kit to do this stuff as many YT posts allude too.
Super well done.
Cheers Mike,
The KLR has really suprised me aswell with what it’s capable of, and it’s really done me very well.
This post is very motivating for me, I appreciate it, thanks for the kind words legend.
Welcome back and as usual your videos never disappoint I admire your resolve to push through and keep going and look forward to your next adventure
It’s great to be back! Thanks a lot for the kind words.😃
Im glad you enjoyed the video, and I really appreciate the support.
After long thinking you had quit, this new upload really made my day. TH-cam needs more truly offroad KLR content -- even when Gen 3 debuted, there wasn't quite enough. You're a champ for putting yourself and your bike on the line for it. Here's a refund on that grease, it's on me! Cheers!
Cheers Don!
I agree about the lack of off-road content for the KLR. This is exactly why I started the channel, I wanted to make the type of videos I wanted to watch myself that were missing from TH-cam.
Thanks a lot for the kind words, and the donation/grease refund, deadset legend.
Gets me very motivated to get out and make more videos!
I feel your pain. I didn't even make it out of the house for my last planned adventure. The anxiety demons got me and I felt like a scared little 10yo boy. Good on you for getting through day 1. It looked pretty hectic.
Yeah that’s sucks when you get stuck like that with the anxiety. For me once I get going it all slowly disappears every time! But like you, getting out is the hard bit.
I hope you are able to get out again soon too.
Thanks for tuning in!
Billy Goat Bluff track is not something you ought to be taking on fatigued at the end of the day; you are a tough person for sure.
I've always been drawn to the Klr but i lack the physical strength to haul that bike up after a drop - and you will drop it in the Victorian high country. I'm looking to get back there soon after my own disaster. I think a modified Honda 300 Rally is a better option for me in rough terrain like the Vic Alps.
Very impressed by your determination to make the big klr do the job.
Yep I think it was probably a bad decision to push so hard on the day, lesson learnt for sure. I reckon the Honda rally will be a great bike, and a lot of fun up in the high country, the last thing you want is a big heavy bike you cant pickup easily. Great to hear you are planning to get back out there again! Thanks for watching.
Bruhhh! You scared me with the clickbait thumbnail! Love watching your vids, mainly because your reaction to every mishap or challenge is to laugh. Pure joy and enthusiasm when so many others may get frustrated. You're a great ambassador for that kind of riding (well, except for getting more than you bargained for from time to time - kids don't try this at home). Keep it up; love watching.
Cheers mate, I’m glad you enjoy the vids.
I appreciate those kind words, I do really get a lot of joy out of the adventures, even with the struggles and more than I bargained for moments.
Thanks a lot for the support! Keeps me very motivated.
Downhills are the confidence killer for me. Vicious cycle, you find yourself being more cautious, try to slow down too much at the wrong times etc. Literally had a small off a few hours ago doing this!
100% this is exactly it.
The only time I’ve ever put her down on the downhills is I was going too slow and lacking confidence. Very counterintuitive especially after a few drops, like you say it becomes a vicious cycle, and then add the fatigue of the lifts, and it gets bad quick.
Half way through this ride once I figured that out again and sped up, I had zero issues.
Cheers for the comment!
Best wishes from another KLR rider up in Oregon! Just getting to the start of our season, should be a good summer!
Cheers Roy!
Thanks for tuning in from the other side of the world.
Oregon would be a great place to explore on the KLR! Should be a few good adventures coming up for you this season.
Thank you for your videos. YOU inspired me to go from a KLX300 to a KLR650, I still have the KLX, but I wanted the fuel range, capacity, and the experience of an ADV bike. I am in Kansas in the heart of the USA, so I do not have such harsh terrain as you, but you have done some insane stuff with your bike! I hope to travel the US on my KLR and experience some beauty in the country. Remember though, not every video has to be brutal on your body or your bike- most will watch just for the experience. I personally think Australia is an amazing country, and would love to explore it-this is the easiest way for me to do so.
Keep the rubber side down. Keep the videos coming in the future! From your friends in the US.
-Brandon
Hi Brandon,
Most welcome, I’m really glad the channel provided some inspiration!
The long fuel range must be a game changer out in the Midwest, what an amazing country you have to explore there, unmatched in adventure potential.
Yeah you are right, I need to maybe slow down a bit and enjoy some more chilled rides in the mix too. Might make it all a bit more sustainable and enjoyable.
Thanks for the support from across the globe!
Great video and content mate. Doing those tracks on a fully loaded klr is no joke. Look forward to the next one.
Thanks JP, glad you enjoyed it!
I appreciate the support.
I've had my challenges on my KLR (my 4th dual sport) as well. I ride an old rail bed with crushed stone on the center of two tracks. Hard to enjoy it all when constantly trying not to wipeout.
Yeah they can be a real beast of a bike at times! But I still love my KLR. Thanks for watching
I had an 87 klr and sold it for that reason. I then got a xr650l which performed much better on the railbed. Later went back to the Klr for comfort and highway use. Interested to see the new kle coming out soon. Which tires are you now running? I'm on the Shinkos now. Had dunlop 606 on the xr which seemed good on the crushed stone. I'm thinking more aggressive knobbies might help. I ride alone most of the time as well. This summer I waved to some guys on the trail and nearly ended up in the trees! Lol
I recently bought a KLR and I love it. It does everything I need it to do. Thanks for showing what these machines are capable of doing!
Congrats on the KLR purchase. Many great adventures await!
Cheers mate, thanks for tuning in.
Total weapon you are mate. Looking forward to the next episodes!
Haha Cheers mate! Thanks for watching.
With the big boots, I actually changed the gear shift lever to a longer aftermarket one, it goes well.
Great video. I’m glad you’ve decided to continue on with your KLR adventures. Keep up the good work 👍🇦🇺
Cheers Mullins. I’m looking forward to more KLR adventures, thanks a lot for the support!
@@NotShookADV You’re welcome mate. I’m a KLR owner as well. 👍🇦🇺
@@mullins6429 Good stuff! It’s good to have a fellow KLR enthusiast along for the journey! Are you riding a gen3? What are your thoughts on the bike overall?
@@NotShookADV I’ve owned two Gen ones and the one I have now is a Gen two. Love these bikes. They will go anywhere and back again. The first one I had I rode it untouched apart from services for 75,000kms. Never had a problem. The second one was unfortunately destroyed in a traffic accident by a car driver not watching where he was going. The one I have now has modified suspension which makes a huge difference to handling and load carrying capacity. Can’t beat ‘em.
That’s great you got that much mileage out of your first one without any issues! This is one of the great things about the KLR, such amazing reliability. I’m hoping I can run up some big KMs on mine aswell, I look after her mechanically but I do thrash it, so will be interesting to see.
Yeah the suspension is a good thing to upgrade. Stock suspension on the gen3 is decent, but a bit too plush with luggage, I reckon the suspension upgrade did transform the bike.
100% agree they are a really great bike.
Getting out into the Bush must be a great escape from the bondage of city life, work stress, and a great vacation from the chores at home. You have some beautiful country there and mountains! Your, living the life of off-road riding! Recommend finding a mate to go riding with on these rides for safety and added fun as I'll bet no one is on those trails very often and if you get stuck (flat tire, injury, or some other mechanical issue ... CHEERS!
Yep very true it’s a great escape, and very lucky to be so close to such beautiful country.
I do some riding with friends in real life, for this channel though I just do the solo stuff. I always carry a satellite phone, and other emergency items, but I understand there still is a risk involved. Obviously I take it a bit easier also.
Cheers legend.
Im grateful you posted the video. It looks as though the high country there that day has a mighty strong will rider on its trails
Big thanks to ya
Thanks Floyd! I appreciate the kind comment.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
Love the vid, so great to hear your honest apprehension, thought process, and enthusiasm. That climb looks tough af
Thanks horizonchaser, I really was feeling it on this ride more than ever!
Yeah the climb got the heart going very hard.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for tuning in.
good to see you back ! as the video progressed so did your excitement for riding again!
Cheers mate it’s good to be back! Yeah that’s spot on, it had been so long I had forgotten how much fun it is, and took a bit of time to shake those nerves.
Good to see you have been staying out on the tracks on the KLR while I was away!
glad to hear you want to keep going love your videos. here's a comment hoping the algorithm recommends you to more people
Cheers legend! I really appreciate that. Hearing that you are enjoying the videos is great motivation for me to get back out there. I did have a lot of fun on this ride, still hungry for adventure.
Well done man. I remember learning thru those same pains. Still am honestly lol. Good job bud, keep rollin.
Thanks mate! It’s all part of the journey I guess, it’s all great fun. Thanks for the support!
Nice to see you back.Yep,life can get in the way sometimes but when you ride,get some helmet therapy,life seems so much better.Great comments about being rusty,I have to tell myself constantly to relax being an old bloke.I recently bought a secondhand 2021 XT250 to see if a lighter bike could help me improve.Totally in love with the little bike,can take it places I would not take my Honda 500X,enjoy such a light bike.I guess sometimes we just have to get extra bikes to do a bit of everything,Cheers mate,hope to see some more of you.
Yeah definitely, it’s great for the mind to get out on the bike.
It is amazing how much energy you can burn by just being too tense on a ride isn’t it.
I think this is the direction I will eventually go, add some sort of lighter bike to the garage in addition to the klr. You are onto it I reckon, having a couple of bikes is the sweet spot, none does it all perfectly.
Thanks for the support! Can’t wait to get back out there and film the next episode.
Great to see ya back mate, well done on the ride & hope to see more 🤘
Cheers mate! It’s great to be back. More to come, as soon as I fix these brakes.
Gutsy ride to do solo on a big bike mate!
Just found your channel and subscribed, so I'm glad to hear that you'll be carrying on.
Cheers from Sydney.
Thanks a lot for the kind words, and welcome to the channel & cheers for the sub!
Good to see you back. I love your channel. Looking forward to what’s next.
Thanks a lot for the support, it means a lot. More to come as soon as I fix these squeaky brakes!
Man's back! Glad you made it down Billy Goat's, was holding my breath!
Great to be back! Oh yeah that was a bit of a mess on the way down haha, took me a while to figure it out again. Thanks for sticking around.
Yup, getting back into the dirt after a time away is most interesting!
Glad you’re back!!
**check your front rotor for heat warping…
Cheers Tim, it’s good to be back.
I think the rotor looks fine(may be wrong). The caliper squeaks when I unbolt it from the bike, so the squeak itself isn’t caused by the rotor. I’m about to jump in and have another crack at fixing it today, wish me luck.
Thanks for supporting the channel!
Just figured out it was the ABS plate! We are back in action.
@@NotShookADV outstanding!!
It was kinda strange that it seemed only made that sound spinning the wheel one way (?) .
👍🏻👍🏻
Yep very strange, I have no idea why that was.
@@NotShookADV another item for the wall of shame (if you have one) . 🤔
Glad to have ya back mate, enjoyed this one!
Cheers Josh! It was great to be back out there.
Great blog excellent views of the high country
Thanks Andrew, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I bought the KLR 2024 and dropped it a few times in the trails and this heavy beast made me sign back up to the gym, but it's way too top heavy and will stick to gravel with it and get a klx300 or similar for trail.
Haha well that’s a good result if it got you back in the gym!
It is a heavy old thing to lift.
Bit of a technique to it though. I’ve dropped and lifted mine hundreds of times, fully laden with luggage and extra fuel too. I only ride solo so I’ve even had to lift the thing off me a heap of times aswell.
Have to disagree that it’s no good on anything but gravel.
I’ve taken mine up Australia’s toughest and most remote off road trails and tracks. Deserts, tropics, high country, you name it ive done it on the KLR.
Check out some of my videos.
Cheers from Canada. Old Geezer here, just picked up my new KLR. People ask, are they reliable and are they tough? I refer them to your channel. Kawasaki needs to pay you. Best KLR channel available. Be safe.
Thanks Geezer! haha yep the KLR is a tough machine.
Congrats on the new purchase! I think the KLR is perfect for Canada, you are going to have some great adventures.
Glad to see your back, I love your honesty and your nervous giggle.🤣🤣 Epic ride Solo mate keep it up. 👍👍
Cheers mate, It’s great to be back.
Haha yeah the nervous giggle coming out a few times on this ride!
Thanks for the support.
You can't kill a KLR, but you can make'em squeak.
Haha this is great!
Cheers Tim.
Great to see you're out and about again. Many thanks for the update. I'd heard about Billy Goats Bluff, looking at that it's definitely not one for my Tiger, maybe the next bike. Cheers.
Cheers Ian.
It’s great to be back.
It might be a bit of a wrestle on the tiger for sure, doable maybe, but depends on your appetite for pain I guess!
Thanks for staying tuned in.
Great stuff mate that looks a tough ride. I like you keep it honest and once fatigue sets in we all have drops its part of the adventure.
Cheers Baz.
It was a pretty tough old ride actually, I was quite knackered.
Yeah that’s spot on, sometimes unavoidable late in the ride. Definitely all part of the adventure!
Mate, you ride the KLR harder than most. I'm hoping to move down to southern vic next year and your high country videos have shown what is possible on the KLR650.
Thanks Digger! Yep the KLR can really do a lot, I really rate it.
You will love it down here, it’s a great place to live.
Awesome video. Love your attitude! Great to see you and the KLR back.
That squeaking must of been off putting.
I'm planning on a 4 day VHC trip in April, can't wait!
Cheers mate, it’s good to be back. Yeah thanks, I do I try and stay as positive as I can, it gets hard sometimes when you are a bit knackered though. Hopefully this great weather we are having will hang around for your April trip. You should be able to get around a big chunk of it in 4 days, can’t wait to watch the videos!
Wow Andy, what an awesome ride Brother, big bottom out to start you descent, A1 riding Andy, so happy your not quitting Adventure riding, you have so much entertainment to produce yet Bro. The camber is the worst on those tracks, glad you made it down safe! 😅
Cheers Juddy!
I really appreciate the support mate.
Yeah true, the camber on the downhills is a killer, especially if you are going really slow, just asking to put the big girl down! Once that confidence is shot too, it’s over!
Looking forward to seeing your next adventure very inspirational
Cheers Roamy!
Thanks for tuning in, I appreciate the support.
That was awesome mate. I'm glad to see you back into it👍👍.
We were in the High Country a couple of weeks ago (40c in Dargo ) but don't do anything as challenging as you. Legend.
Cheers Coobye! Good to be back .
Good stuff Dargo is an epic spot. That heat sounds pretty brutal, you have to take it a bit easy in those conditions I bet, and stay close to the swimming holes.
Good to hear from you again mate, thanks for the comment.
Great video mate all those interesting tracks in one day well done. You are very handy with the KLR and you seem to get through some steepest and gnarly tracks very well on it. Yes it could be easier with another bike but it does not really seem to limit you much at all and is a very reliable and easy bike to live with then the 701 690 which by the way will end up weighing a lot more by the time you adventurise it and the gremlins are definitely an issue on the longer trips. I know I had one. Good to see you back.
Thanks a lot Tony! Yeah those are great points about the KLR, I hadn’t really thought about it like that. She’s also very comfy on the big rides too.
Yeah those gremlins with the 690/701 certainly seem to be something that could haunt you with the remote stuff.
Thanks a lot for the support, it’s great to be back!
Great effort mate 😎 It’s all about riding and going for it 🍻
Cheers Daveo,
yep that’s it, just have to go out and have a crack.
Thanks for the support!
117 kg beta 390rr. Even I wish it was 90 only. Real Enduro bike, 300 mm suspension travel and most I. can lift it without too much pain, can stand any crash and go on. So I don t care to have an hard set or make liaison on tarmac at low speed...
Sounds like fun!
Welcome back, hardcore riding well done.
Cheers Clive! It’s great to be back.
Thanks for tuning in.
Mate U make me laugh so much U r the best so good good with real guts and passion long live the klr Thanks take care mate .
Cheers Jhon! I appreciate the kind words.
I’m glad you get a bit of a laugh out of it, I’m having a lot of fun out there. Thanks for the support legend.
Killer effort bud.
Cheers Mr Humpo!
Thanks for watching.
What’s up. Quick question. Would you recommend getting the adventurer with all the doodads or get a basic model and add it all on? Thanks!!
Hi Gary,
Good question.
I think the adventure is great value. Especially if you like hard panniers. The colour is great too.
I guess it comes down to personal preference. I had a lot of fun doing all the mods I wanted myself, and I wanted to run soft pannys, so that’s what dictated my decision.
Bummed KLR is still a 5-speed?
@@The4BsWithGary Yeah would have been a nice upgrade with the gen3 for sure. But does the job still.
The KLR would require great altheticism and skill to operate on any sort of technically challenging terrain.
It's exhausting just looking at this.
I agree with this in general, but I think most underestimate the ability of the KLR(myself included).
I’m neither greatly athletic or skilful, in fact this is my first adventure bike.
Riding the klr in technical stuff is hard, but it’s a lot of fun.
Mate as I'm watching you climbing I can't help feeling your gearing is way high for that sort of work. I carry 3 different size front cogs and change em out depending on steepness etc. Loer gearing up hill allows higher revs and slower speeds which give you more control. Takes me only minutes to change out a cog on the track.might save your clutch too. great video by the way
Cheers mate, yeah I think you are 100% right the gearing is terrible for these climbs. I need to do a bit of research and buy a different sprocket.
Stupidly I replaced the sprockets recently and just used factory size as I didn’t know which way to go with it, but I think it’s time to change it up.
This is the modern day version of "Mulga Bill"! I have had the same issues with my channel and content. The wife is in hospital, and I cannot risk not being there for her, but I miss the backcountry right now.
Sorry to hear that about the wife mate!
Yeah it’s damn tough when you have the real life stuff going on, but the backcountry will always be there, and it will be all the sweeter when you get back out there!
Wishing your wife the best, and hoping for speedy recovery. Good on you for being there for her.
great to see you here again mate! I feel you brother. I think it's an important part of the bike life puzzle this process of rethink, reconsider and reassure why we ride and what drive us out to this adventures. also it's such a mix of feelings when we get home exhausted but at the same time eager for the next one right? btw, I'm the dude who attacked you at coles st kilda a few months ago with a "are you the klr guy??" as I couldn't remember the channel's name but def knew who your face 😂 hope one day we bump each other again and can go for a spin 🤙
Hi mate! Hahaha that’s right, my gf actually tells the story of the supermarket to people, thinks it’s a classic.
Yep definitely, sometimes you don’t really realise how great the adventures were till some time after.
Bike life puzzle is a great way to put it, I think it’s a constant for me wondering about what bike would be perfect. But they all have their own pros and cons. I could be happy on the klr , and I know I would be happy on a lighter bike, I just need to be getting out there.
Yeah for sure we could go for a spin one day. How is the KTM treating you?
@@NotShookADV hahaha unreal it became a classic! yeah the klr is such a great "all can do bike". on the way back home when I sold mine I had regreted five times already haha. but the 450EXC has been such a great bike as a replacement since then. literally feels light half of the weight (especially when you hit the hard terrain), extremely capable, easy to do maintain and the best of all is you never afraid of dropping it. one thing that's been difficult for me is the tarmac sections (mainly on big trips to the high country and beyond, since I'm in st kilda it's a long way). considering it is still a dirt bike adapted to road, I might look in replacing it for the 690 sometime later. I reckon that'll be the sweet spot. or the kove if it arrives on time
@@angelogmuller It does sound like a lot of fun, I would really love to add a bike like that to the garage one day. Yah thats one of the great things about the KLR, its the super comfy road machine, its great for the long tarmac rides. Yep 690 would be an epic bike too, probably the best of both worlds like you say. Shoot me a DM on insta next time you are hitting up some high country stuff.
Is your Yosh exhaust a full exhaust or a slip on?
Just the slip on
Sounds awesome for a slip on. If I end up getting a KLR I’m stealing your idea bro!!
@@The4BsWithGary Haha yeah it does sound great! Nothing like the sound of a big thumper with a nice exhuast!
Hey mate do you have a Garmin bike computer on your bars ?
Yeah I do. I just use it mainly to keep track of KMs and hours, but I also sometimes use it with map waypoints. It’s a great backup if my other maps are not working too.
It has saved me so many times!
@@NotShookADVmight give it a crack myself 👍
Rusty skills? Those up and downhills looked extremely steep and rough in spots. My b-hole would have been puckered up the entire time. Great riding!
Yeah they were pretty tough tracks to be fair.
Cheers mate! Thanks for watching.
Mate change your brake fluid for castrol Reactive ( it’s a high performance brake fluid - higher boiling point )
I did actually upgrade the brake fluid recently to some better quality stuff, I can’t remember the brand. I haven’t had them boil since!
@@NotShookADV get braided lines fitted as well if you want better feel .
@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449 I looked into this, and couldn’t find any for the gen3, none where available at the time(in Aus) But this is definitely a great mod I’d love to do.
@@NotShookADV some brake shops will make them up for bikes , I had some made up for. Yamaha XT 660 I had and also a road bike Yamaha TDM 900 ( it’s an amazing difference in feel along with the High performance brake fluid. )
Awesome video man
Thanks a lot! Glad you liked it.
I started out riding on a honda 300L recently, much smaller than your bike. I did ride small dirt bikes in my teen but only as a weekend rider, no racing or trainging. The 300L is dangerous in the dirt trails on technical stuff, heavy, wonky handling, terrible stock suspension, truly a street leaning bike in dirt trim, at least it feels that way. So I test road a ktm 500 and in 15 minutes, knew it was time to change bikes. The 500 is so light it feels like a mountain bike. With all my gear, the ktm 500 weighs the same as the honda 300L with no gear on it. Crazy difference - handling and safety go hand in hand. Plus, the power is endless, which means all the traction you want for those hill climbs. I recently bought a second ktm 500 for the same prince used (with only 1k miles) as a new honda crf 300L. The KTM is a million times better. But, that's a 2014, it's not as nimble as the 2022 500 I have. After 2020, the bikes got crazy balances and nimble. Still, the 2014 handles a million times better than the 300L. I've found the myths about maintenance and reliability on ktms used for adv basically myths. It's not a problem, even for non-mechanics like myself, to not be distracted by that, it's pretty minimal. Having said all that, I always wondered what folks thought of their KLRs. Thanks for the video.
The KTM500 is definitely a bike that has been on my wish list. I’d love to build on me into an ADV bike. I think there will be a day when I buy one, it’s just a matter of time. Maybe as I get older and more sick of wrestling the big heavy bike.
Like you say, nothing compares to their power and ability off-road.
I think all bikes have their own little quirks mechanically you just need to figure them out and plan your tools/spares accordingly for ADV riding. Some guys like yourself do some great adventures on the 500s without major issues.
Hopefully in the future I add a 500 to the garage to have alongside the KLR!
Thanks for the post.
I love your videos man
Thanks legend. It means a lot to hear that you are loving the content! Gets me motivated to get back out there and film some more videos.
Great riding, but no thanks, way to big & heavy 🥵😳
Stay safe 🙏
Cheers Chris, thanks for watching! Yeah, the bike's a beast, but it's all part of the fun for me. That's the beauty of adventure riding, we all dont have to ride the same bikes!
What happened? Did you crash somewhere romote?
You will have to watch to find out!
I’m all good though thanks for checking in.
I noticed that as soon as you sit down you sort of losing it. Don't sit, stay standing on the footpegs and ride those steep hills. You gain so much more traction standing up.
100% this is it.
Never should be seated on a steep decline I agree.
Next ride things to remember for me:
-Never go too slow on downhills
-Never try to stop on a steep hill(ever)
-Never sit on steep descents
Cheers for the comment mate.
@@NotShookADV I agree with all the points except from your first one.
Going slow on very steep downhills is a must. You don't want to gather momentum and let gravity decide where you'll stop.
Been there (with a very light bike too, a 500EXC), and it was scary.
Of course, there are steep decents and STEEP decents. So it depends.
I think what you mean is to allow a flow of wheel movement in order to pass over certain obstacles like ditches , rocks, etc which I understand in situations like in your clip (even though the darn camera lenses flatten steepness and we can't judge very well) but if you get to even steeper decends, stand up, body to the back, lock the rear wheel and modulate the front brake. In extreme enduro we even shut the engine off, in gear, and make the decent modulating the clutch. A drawback for the latter technique is that if you don't go very slow the bike might jump start and then you have to be ready to apply the rear brake. So, why not just lock the rear brake and decend in the first place? Because in very steep decends applying the rear brake sort of messes with your body balance and your balance in general on the pegs. That's why (and for many more reasons) static balance practicing is so crucial for enduro. When I bought my enduro bike, years ago, I learned how to really ride off road. I thought I knew then I realized how many mistakes I was making. Finally, as a sportsman, 16 years as a professional, it's always about fundamentals. Conquer fundamentals and you'll enjoy the sport (and perform so much better) even more (and be safe while at it).
I taught myself watching the IRC guy on YT, Adam Rienmann, Birtchy, Colllins and a few more and hours of practice. Theory is good but without practice the body doesn't follow.
Cheers.
P.S. I like your enthusiasm.
Yep that all makes a lot of sense. Great post, plenty of good info in there!
I’m going to start implementing some of this next ride.
Lighter the bike the better good on you wrestling your machine cheers for the watch
Some truth to that, but I don’t think it’s as simple as lighter is better. Really depends on a lot of things, but yeah the KLR is probably too heavy for a lot of the riding I do.
Thanks for watching!
Gained a subscriber bruv. Keep up the vids 🫡
Cheers mate! I appreciate the support.
I love my klr as well, I wouldn't trade her for anything
There’s a lot to love about the KLR.
I don’t think I would trade anything for mine at the moment, but not against maybe one day adding a second bike to the garage.
Awesome
Cheers legend
Epic stuff. Way to hardcore for me Solo. You have sack though.
That Squeak will live with you in your dreams. Did you find out what the issue was?
Cheers mate,
Haha yeah that squeak is haunting me!
I haven’t been able to figure it out yet, it seems to be just one of the pins squeaking. I have a few more things to try, and then I guess I will probably have to do a bleed and do a rebuild on it. Im learning as I go with the mechanical stuff.
Legend
Cheers mate!
Going down is worse mate
So true! Especially with all your kit on the back, can be tricky.
Instead of quitting, how about taking Moto Trials lessons and practicing Moto Trials 5-10 hours weekly for the next half a year? Best of luck!
This would actually be really cool to do. Imagine how the skill set would improve over that timeframe!
I love the idea.
@@NotShookADV Glad to hear. I'm only saying it because I tried Moto Trials yesterday with a GREAT coach. I felt uncomfortable to begin with. After three hours I did things I had not expected to be able to do in the next year.
Good adventure, but people get tired of bait titles, I do anyway.
Thanks stbees, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Not sure I fully understand how you found the title bait? I had quit adventure riding completely for 7 months and nearly a year away from my regular riding in the high country?
Had quit TH-cam completely during this time.
Do you think that’s not long enough to say I quit?
Or was it that I didn’t talk for long enough about it?
Or was it the thumbnail text that annoyed you?
I mean I was pretty scared on this ride too, so I don’t think that is bait is it?
I’m always happy to take constructive criticism, my intention definitely isn’t to annoy viewers.
Anyway thanks for watching and commenting!
I ride to enjoy the ride, not stressing out. Mountains are there to enjoy, not to conquer or overcome my fears. A wise person always takes the path of least resistance.
While Im happy for you that you get enjoyment out of the mountains without conquering them, I have to completely disagree with your comment philosophically.
Viewing mountains solely as objects of enjoyment rather than challenges to conquer overlooks the potential for growth and self-discovery that overcoming obstacles provides.
I agree in some cases the path of least resistance is wise, but the notion of always taking the path of least resistance can be seen as promoting complacency and stagnation rather than embracing the richness of life's experiences and challenges.
The wise man who never challenges himself would be a boring old man.
The challenge is the essence of adventure riding in my opinion.
But I also acknowledge that people seek different things in life, and I wish you the best on your journey my friend.
That does not look “fun”, butI suppose for aome they like the challenge.
I had a lot of fun! But I think you are right it’s because I love a challenge. Not everyone’s cup of tea for sure. Thanks for watching.
I must say you manage your time all wrong buy trying to set these massive goals and not allowing yourself the time to enjoy and take advantage of the opportunities presented
To each their own.
I think the biggest mistake you can make is thinking everyone should do things the way you do, and the idea that there is only one way to enjoy things.
And then going to someone’s channel, who is putting themselves out there, and having a bit of fun, and then telling them that’s wrong.
Fascinating behaviour.
So you bought a KLR and expected it to be magical but you don't have the skill to ride it and it's not the bike you need for the job anyway. It's a good idea you stop riding. You give us all a bad name.
The KLR has been magical mate! The fact it’s my first bike means it’s taking some time to learn how to ride it, but I love it. Getting out there and having a good time.
If that is giving adventure riders a bad name then good!
Thanks for watching
My brother it looks like you commented almost this exact comment on my Simpson video. Seems like it might be time for you to log off. But if you do continue with trolling the channel I appreciate the comments as it boosts my engagement stats, and the ad revenue you are creating by watching is supporting the channel, so thank you in advance! Let’s grow together!
He has the skill. In spades. I can't believe how he manages this tank (or why)
I quit watching after 2 min. Get a lighter weight a motorcycle!
Am I being weight shamed? Thanks for watching!
This is my first adventure bike, I’m just out having a bit of fun, not taking myself too seriously, not meaning to offend anyone who likes to ride a different bike to me.
You're struggling and it's not enjoyable to watch. @@NotShookADV
To be fair I haven’t ridden for 7 months, of course I’m struggling, I can tell you I’m having a lot of fun though. Log off brother and go out and get some sunshine.
Can't take feedback don't post !@@NotShookADV
I am always disappointed when these TH-cam channel riders buy a Klr and treat it like a lab experiment then discard it after a year and move on to another experiment I suppose to try to get more Viewers, No loyalty to the machine, thank you for showing the Real capabilities of the KLR, Awesome machine, awesome channel!!!
Yep I feel you on this. I always said I would only consider moving on after I had done a Cape York trip, and after that trip I probably loved the bike more than ever to be honest.
As this is my first ADV bike I totally understand why people might be turned off, if you are coming from a lighter machine like I did.
But I think the beauty of adventure riding is the loyalty to the machine, like you say. Learning all the little quirks about it mechanically, its strengths and weaknesses and making a bunch of good memories on it.
I think if I ever do want another bike, I’d add a bike, not sell the KLR to be honest.
Thanks a lot for the support! Much appreciated.
Unlike the vast majority of non trials riding riders you understand and have the discipline to keep a steady throttle. The vast majority of off road riders at least in the United States are their own worst enemy on a climb and lose momentum by overly modulating and chopping the throttle. This is gotten worse over the years as less riders have grown up riding underpowered bikes which don't allow such nonsense! Good job.
Thanks mark! Yeah I agree it makes your life a lot easier on the climbs with a steady throttle.
While counter intuitive, it really is the way to do it.
I think this ride really showed I need to really focus on more speed on the downhills with the exact same principle. Every time I put her down on descents was just a matter of going slow or trying to stop, just stupid things to do on a downhill.
Interesting you say that the trend of people not holding a steady throttle has gotten worse.
Makes sense though, it is a lot easier to learn to pin the throttle on the underpowered machines.
Cheers for the comment
Yes, I instruct riders on mountain bikes by explaining that if they get in trouble on a trail going down hill, it will almost never require them to stop but only to slow down a bit to maneuver. So I tell them to think of brakes as speed controllers not brakes, and that they will only need to slow a bit to make a maneuver and not to panic brake with intention to stop. It seems calm them down and gives them a chance as slowing to a stop tends to cause rookie riders to wash the front end.@@NotShookADV
@markr5132 this is actually a great way to think about it! I will drill this into my brain!
Yeah, the klr 650 is not a safe bike to ride outback solo. Sell that land whale and get a 701 if you want to go solo.
Strong disagree. I safely and comfortably did 8000km through the outback in 2 weeks last year on the KLR.
Also have done plenty of high country tracks solo that I’ve seen guys on 701/690s fail to get up.
Check out my Solo unsupported Simpson crossing video.
Or if you want to see me get up a track a bunch of kitted out 701s couldn’t get up : th-cam.com/video/qz4MRNvF_yQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BRtIgbvAtfkue8Wx
Skip to 17:20
All done SAFELY and SOLO the KLR.
In fact if you head to my page, there are 12 videos of me solo riding safely on the KLR.
Thanks for the advice, think I will pass on the 701.
He did it. Crazy I agree, but he's a very strong rider.