In most ways, the KLR is better than it should be. The fairing keeps wind off your upper body, the handguards are huge, and its overall off-road capability is comparatively good. It’s more agile than any of the twin-cylinder adventure bikes, but don’t get carried away. The Suzuki DR650 and the Honda XR650L are both more off-road-worthy, especially the Honda. It is, however, more of a dirt bike than the heavier-but-faster BMW Sertao 650.
Bottom line: if the adventure bike market were driven by pure Vulcan logic, no one would buy anything else. In terms of value, the KLR is a hands-down winner. Passion, status and pride are different issues. In those categories, the KLR’s price might be a deterrent. A 30-year-old bike that costs less than most scooters doesn’t turn many heads. Kawasaki offers the bike in a special edition this year, called the New Edition. The name is probably an internal translation that made it to the public by accident, but it offers a little more bling for $100 more. Then you can build up the bike with a world of high-end accessories like bags and guards, effectively doubling the price of the bike. The KLR can be anything you want. Just understand that there’s still a pre-Cambrian reptile under it all.
