Faults:

When I purchased this used motorcycle, the bike was very hard to start and was a little down on power. The exhaust system got very hot and partly melted the rear fender. Turns out the engine's valves were adjusted too tight and were leaking because they were not fully closing.

I suspect a previous owner attempted to adjust the valves himself and failed. The 4 valves require shims. Ideally you need a $200 shim kit, so all sizes are available. I suspect that owner didn't have the correct shims and made an error. It looks as if he left the bike parked for several years because it wouldn't start, then sold it.

It's possible the valve seats are receding, in which case the cylinder head will need a rebuild. But after 2000 km there's no evidence of recession.

Otherwise the bike has been free of trouble.

General Comments:

This motorcycle has been in production for about 35 years. Parts, accessories and upgrades are plentiful and easy to buy. Unlike many other older bikes, everything you need is available.

There's lots on information and advice available online, too.

This bike is an excellent value. There's many good examples available used, and I found prices were about half that of competing dual-purpose bikes like the Suzuki DR650.

This bike can do everything quite well. It's very easy and friendly for road use. The generous torque and easy clutch make riding a breeze. You sit upright, comfortably, and the handling is easy and predictable. I'm about 6 ft tall, 240 lbs and it fits me like a glove.

The brakes are good enough for modest speeds. The faring provides some wind protection. It's comfortable up to about 90 km/h Above that, wind buffeting tends to push the bike around.

Off road, it feels like a jumbo sized dirt bike, about 25% bigger, wider and heavier than a typical dirt bike. But it's very comfortable and is just fine for all kinds of rough trails at modest speeds. But the smoother the trail the better. It handles reasonably well. It's easy to steer around obstacles.

Unfortunately the transmission is only 5 gears. First gear is relatively low. Second gear is a big jump. Gears 2,3,and 4 are relatively closely spaced then 5th gear is tall. So there isn't enough gear ratios to suit all conditions. The front drive chain sprocket is easily changed.

The stock sprocket is 15 tooth, and a compromise that favors street use. My bike has a 16 tooth sprocket, which is too tall for off road and urban driving.

I think a 13 or 14 tooth sprocket is essential for city or off road.

There's 3 generations of KLR650. My bike is a Gen 1, the earliest design, but many people prefer it over the later Gen 2 and 3 bikes. The Gen 1 is slightly lighter and generally more dirt - oriented. It has a magneto ignition, meaning it can be push started, even if your battery is dead, unlike later models.

My bike was modified by a previous owner. The suspension was upgraded front and rear with firmer springs and firmer damping. It's very controlled and confident going over rough terrain. It has the Thermo-Bob device, which is a thermostat and coolant bypass, allowing for faster warm up. There's an aftermarket digital instrument display that's lighter than stock but does many more functions. The stock 14 lb muffler has been replaced with a free flowing glass-pack aluminum muffler, weighing about 3 lbs. It's too loud so I installed a simple honeycomb style silencer that fits inside the pipe upstream of the muffler. The sound level is tolerable. The air filter box has been opened up and a free flowing air filter added. I installed a jet kit to adjust the carburetor mixture. It's added noticeable extra power.

The previous owner installed a better seat, heated grips and z big aluminum skid plate. The original handlebars were uncomfortable, so I added a better handlebar.

Finally the bike has a 12 volt power outlet, so I can either light my cigarettes or charge my phone.

Overall, I really like the bike. It's very comfortable, pleasant and easy to ride. It can do everything moderately well. It's at its best riding the back roads and smoother trails across the country. The price was a bargain, and I love the reassurance of great parts support.

The biggest limitation is the bike's extra large size. It's big to provide space for a passenger. It's good for extra large people like me. But I suggest smaller people might find it a bit too big and cumbersome.

Faults:

I bought this bike when it was 22 years old, but in great condition. Nothing has gone wrong with the bike, the only expenses being maintenance. A set of tires and tubes, a clutch, and chain and sprockets. I also did the doohickey and upgraded the front fork springs and replaced the fork seals.

The parts are very cheap for this bike and maintenance is easy, and after freshening up the bike, it runs like it is brand new.

After a few longer rides, I realized the seat needed some attention as the foam was collapsing, so I went to the foam store and rebuilt the seat. No complaints now.

General Comments:

This bike is definitely a Swiss Army knife bike. It is fun and easy to ride, although it is a little top heavy with a full tank of fuel.

The braking and suspension is much improved with the upgraded Progressive springs, which removed the mushy brake dive that was present with the original springs. For the $90 Canadian it costs for the springs and the two hours to do the job, the improvement is well worth it.

As for riding, I would say the bike is fantastic at any posted speed limit, it will commute or travel the highway with ease. I have had it on some abandoned use at own risk roads and the bike is quite at home on them, but you know you are not riding a dirt bike.

This is not my only motorcycle, but it is the most fun bike I own. It is easy to see why people love the KLR650.