Great looking dirt bike, wish I had one here at home Dave.
Look what I got today KiLeR
I went and traded my 82 1100 for this 04 KLR650 today, even trade. Rode 85 miles to meet the guy and we made the swap, I think we'll both be happy. Rode 106 miles home, 53 on dirt roads which is what I got it for. It was too clean when I straddled it so I fixed that. Had a ball, weather was great for this time of year. On the 53 miles of dirt I met 1 other motorcycle and nothing else but 3 deer of which I almost hit 2, something about this thing scares the deer, they were all 3 running full sprint. This thing has a lot more torque than I expected and runs down the highway pretty good except for the handlebar vibration, I'll have to try some things on that.
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I think if I had an extra wing sittin around, I would have done the same thing. Looks like a blast, and you still got the 1800 when you want to get smooth !!
Looks like a good deal.
Looks like it has been de-smogged. My next question would be has the doo hickey been replace.......if not do it right away!
Put a FMF Q4 slip on it and you will notice a bit of a jump in power.
A 14t front and 48 rear are the most liked gears for the KLR.
KLR's are oiled cooled AND they all burn a bit of oil after a good days ride. Keep a eye on the oil level.
They do have a bit of vibration in the handle bars.
Check and see if the low adjust screw plug has been removed.
2 questions for the last owner.
Has the Doo hockey been done??
Has the Daves mod been done on the carb??
Enjoy!!!
Kurt
Looks like it has been de-smogged. My next question would be has the doo hickey been replace.......if not do it right away!
Put a FMF Q4 slip on it and you will notice a bit of a jump in power.
A 14t front and 48 rear are the most liked gears for the KLR.
KLR's are oiled cooled AND they all burn a bit of oil after a good days ride. Keep a eye on the oil level.
They do have a bit of vibration in the handle bars.
Check and see if the low adjust screw plug has been removed.
2 questions for the last owner.
Has the Doo hockey been done??
Has the Daves mod been done on the carb??
Enjoy!!!
Kurt
Cool! Looks like a fun toy. Wish I had one to play with.
Gene:waving:
Gene:waving:
The power and the gearing seem to be just fine like it is so I'll probably leave that alone for now. Have you found anything to reduce the vibration? I did ask the PO about the doohickey and he didn't know, he was the second owner so I'll just assume it was never done and do it myself.Looks like a good deal.
Looks like it has been de-smogged. My next question would be has the doo hickey been replace.......if not do it right away!
Put a FMF Q4 slip on it and you will notice a bit of a jump in power.
A 14t front and 48 rear are the most liked gears for the KLR.
KLR's are oiled cooled AND they all burn a bit of oil after a good days ride. Keep a eye on the oil level.
They do have a bit of vibration in the handle bars.
Check and see if the low adjust screw plug has been removed.
2 questions for the last owner.
Has the Doo hockey been done??
Has the Daves mod been done on the carb??
Enjoy!!!
Kurt
Haven't read about the carb mod yet.
Your going to have a slight vibration all thumpers do.
If your not sure about the Doo hickey then by all means do it. If you don't it can take out the head and piston all at once. Takes about 1 hour to do if your any kind of a wrench at all.
The de-smog and Daves carb mod work real well when you un-cork the exhaust. You would be surprised how much better it runs when it can breath.
I ride in some pretty good tree line trails on mine so I like them to preform well. The KLR is a little heavier then the XR but then again the KLR has and will always be a tractor of the duel sports.
Kurt
If your not sure about the Doo hickey then by all means do it. If you don't it can take out the head and piston all at once. Takes about 1 hour to do if your any kind of a wrench at all.
The de-smog and Daves carb mod work real well when you un-cork the exhaust. You would be surprised how much better it runs when it can breath.
I ride in some pretty good tree line trails on mine so I like them to preform well. The KLR is a little heavier then the XR but then again the KLR has and will always be a tractor of the duel sports.
Kurt
Well I am some kind of wrench (it's not bragging if you can do it) so I am probably looking at needing at least 1/2 hour.If your not sure about the Doo hickey then by all means do it. If you don't it can take out the head and piston all at once. Takes about 1 hour to do if your any kind of a wrench at all.
Kurt
I congratulate you on the KLR It is one of the best adventure bikes of all times ( the Jeep of motorcycling )
I have owned three of them and you would find in my past posts the same thing I will mention here in this one
I put a lot of miles on them with no problems at all 58,000 on a 1999, 47,000 on a 2003 an 15000 on a 2007 , I never had to add a ddrop of oil too any of them I NEVER had to replace the (doo hicky) in any of them never had aproblem with it , It is the cam chain tensioner and when adjusted properly and on time you too should not have a problem . most people loosen the tensioner lock with the bike on side stand and loosen it too much , bike should be straight up when adjustment is made .
as far as carb never a problem . I can't say about the California bikes
good luck
I have owned three of them and you would find in my past posts the same thing I will mention here in this one
I put a lot of miles on them with no problems at all 58,000 on a 1999, 47,000 on a 2003 an 15000 on a 2007 , I never had to add a ddrop of oil too any of them I NEVER had to replace the (doo hicky) in any of them never had aproblem with it , It is the cam chain tensioner and when adjusted properly and on time you too should not have a problem . most people loosen the tensioner lock with the bike on side stand and loosen it too much , bike should be straight up when adjustment is made .
as far as carb never a problem . I can't say about the California bikes
good luck
Actually it is the balancer chain tensioner but I kind of wondered about how the spring or adjuster could break if it was maintained properly, and if lugging the engine could have anything to do with it. I just ordered the parts for it anyway.I
I NEVER had to replace the (doo hicky) in any of them never had aproblem with it , It is the cam chain tensioner and when adjusted properly and on time you too should not have a problem .
good luck
As far as the carb, I see no problem there, it has no hesitation and all the power anyone could need in a bike like this. I put the power to use several times (remembering my dirt bike days) pulling the front end up going over washed out places and pot holes in the dirt roads I rode. It responded instantly every time. I have yet to start it cold, the PO rode it about 40 miles to meet me as I rode 85 miles to meet him, so can't say about it being cold natured.
I would probably kill myself on a ride like that.
Enjoy the new ride and don't get too crazy on it.
Enjoy the new ride and don't get too crazy on it.
my first bike was an 80s xl250 enduro, i miss it. i would love a 650 but i cant reach. living in the desert there are off road possibilities every dircetion.
. Takes about 1 hour to do if your any kind of a wrench at all.
Kurt
LOL
Dave IS where the word WRENCH came from, named for him! LOL
Wikapedia...
Word "Wrench"
A slang term in English language of USA meaning Dave0430
Other less known uses of "Wrench", a metal object used to turn a nut or bolt.
I would buy one of these in heart beat if I could afford insurance on two bikes. My buddy had one in high school and hit the deer that was scared by the sound of the bike. I see quite a few on the way up to Alaska. Definitely a work horse. And you can get a kit to turn them into a diesel. The Marines can't be that wrong on the toughness of them.
I've been wanting to pick up a KLR for some time since I moved here but think it's a bit high for a short legged guy like me. I might just have to bite the bullet for an older one to see if it would work for me, I could always sell it if didn't.
I've been wanting to pick up a KLR for some time since I moved here but think it's a bit high for a short legged guy like me. I might just have to bite the bullet for an older one to see if it would work for me, I could always sell it if didn't.
I am a little vertically challenged myself, you just have to learn to slide over to the side and put 1 foot down. They make a lowering kit also.
I've had 2 of them, a '98 and an '01. Bought the '01 new. Back then they were my only bikes, and weren't quite comfortable enough to be a road bike and to big and heavy to be a good dirt bike (for me). So I wound up with a Vulcan 750 road bike and Yamaha XT225 dual sport. Both mine were completely stock except for removing the emissions crap, sidestand and clutch nanny switches, replaced balancer chain tensioners, rear subframe bolts, and put Dual Star centerstands on them. I put a Corbin seat on the '01, and regretted it big time. Went back to stock and lost $200. The stock gearing, exhaust, carb and air filter were fine, and I'm sure worked better and were more reliable than anything aftermarket. If you are going to do any serious offroading where there are rocks, I'd replace the plastic skid plate with a real one. The KLR is liquid cooled but does tend to burn oil if ridden at freeway speeds for a long time.
DaveO430 You are right it is the balance shaft chain tensioner , Don't know why my mind was on the cam chain .
I think a lot are replaced for peace of mind and that is worth a lot plus you get to wrench it .
and I say again all three of mine allways started and ran great
I have since left the KLR and bought a DL1000 , Better on road but can't hold the KLR a light off road
Enjoy your bike lots of smiles in it
I think a lot are replaced for peace of mind and that is worth a lot plus you get to wrench it .
and I say again all three of mine allways started and ran great
I have since left the KLR and bought a DL1000 , Better on road but can't hold the KLR a light off road
Enjoy your bike lots of smiles in it
I'm with Sathan! I rode a Wambat all over Arizona when I was young. It was exillerating for sure! Spent many hours trying to find a wash to ride so I could find my way out of the desert! Rode home in the dark more than once!!! Nice bikes. jimsjinx
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