Like my KLR a lot, the 6 gallons of gas comes in handy when lost on fire roads in the Ozark Mountains around Hot Springs. That was the #1 reason for buying it, second reason was it was the first dual sport 650 that came up for sell between the three dealers in Hot Springs, Honda, Suzuki, and Kaw. All that blather being said, why does no one mention the gear tensioner in the engine that continually breaks. The KLR forum was screaming about it when I bought mine, everyone was changing it, and still are from my understanding.So I checked mine, tensioner good, tensioner spring broke, replaced both, less than 5000 miles, had I released the pressure for the automatic adjustment the chain would have really been lose, and Kawasaki ignores the problem that is YEARS AND YEARS OLD. You motorcycle media people are the only ones that can tighten the screws enough to change THEIR MENTALITY, and should warn your readers. Look up Doohickey on the forums if you have no idea what I'm talking about.
Dual-sport bikes have never filled me with a sense of awe and wonder, but after my recent experiences during the China Hat ride in Central Oregon I now understand their purpose, and the passion surrounding the sport itself," he admits. "When looking at both the KLR650 and DR650 it's hard not to think of the correlation these two bikes have with the late Ranchero and El Camino. The vehicles were not really cars and not altogether trucks, as are our two dual-sports are not really road bikes and not truly off-road machines. What we do have are two bikes that fill a much needed and unique niche of the motorcycling market
2008 KLR650 Specs
Engine: Four-stroke, DOHC, four-valve single
Displacement: 651cc
Bore x stroke: 100.0 x 83.0mm
Kawasaki's new triple-threat to the dual-sport market has plenty of features we like to see, even on a so-called dirt bike.Compression ratio: 9.8:1
Cooling: Liquid
Carburetion: Keihin CVK40
Ignition: Fully transistorized
Transmission: Five-speed
Final driv:e Chain
Frame: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake / trail: 28 degrees / 4.4 in.
Front suspension / wheel travel: 41mm telescopic fork / 7.9 in.
Rear suspension / wheel travel: UNI-TRAKr single-shock system with 5-way preload and stepless rebound damping / 7.3 in.
Front tire :90/90x21
Rear tire: 130/80x17
Front brake / rear brake: Single 280mm petal-type disc, two-piston caliper / single 240mm disc, single-piston caliper
This machine has had a strong following throughout the years. Whether or not it remains the best-selling dual-sport remains to be seen.Overall length: 90.3 in.
Overall width: 37.8 in.
Overall height: 53.1 in.
Ground clearance: 8.3 in.
Seat height: 35.0 in.
Dry weight: 386 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 6.1 gal.
Wheelbase: 58.3 in.
Color choices: Candy Lime Green, Sunbeam Red or Blue 21
MSRP: $5349
