2005 Kawasaki KLR650 review from Australia

The spring for the tensioner on the balance shaft drive train broke at 18,000km. The vibration and the noise from the engine was horrific.

I took it to 2 dealers, who said there was nothing wrong with it. At one of the dealers the service manager told me Kawasaki engines are rubbish anyway, and I should have bought another brand.

The third dealership I took it to did the service, and said there was nothing wrong with it as well. I had to get them to ring Kawasaki Australia, as I had registered the problem with them; finally they agreed that they would strip it down to find out if there was a problem, but they said if they couldn't find anything wrong, I was to pay for the labour and parts.

After nearly two weeks (as they didn't have the tool to pull off the flywheel), they found that the tensioner spring had broken, which was then replaced, and they phoned me 2 days later to say it was ready.

Following a 20 minute bus trip, and an hour train trip, I got to the dealer and there was a major oil leak as they had not replaced the side cover gaskets.

So the following day I went back to pick the bike up. I got half way home and the clutch was slipping and carrying on like a pork chop. (Paid $400 for the service, tensioner was repaired under warranty). They told me they hadn't touched the clutch, which adjustment and lubrication should have been done on the service. I found that the bolt through the clutch leaver had been over tightened.

My next problem was that I had a minor accident on the bike and damaged the radiator. This took nearly three months to get the bike back on the road, as the stupid dealership had ordered the wrong parts twice.

Other than the poor service from the three dealerships I have been to, and the lack of parts in stock in Australia, I love the bike.

I have fitted Michelin Anakee tyres, and it handles, corners and brakes so much better.

Kawasaki Australia needs to look at the poor service from their dealer network.

I have recently moved to New Zealand, and I'm waiting for my bike to arrive, so let's see how the dealerships here perform.