Building a 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 for Overland Travel!

[RedDog]

Keep it coming. You've sold me. I've got my dealer looking for a green one. After 29 years of motorcycle ownership I've been without one for 18 months and this is the direction I want to venture.

I've owned many fantastic machines all new - Honda CBX-6, the first year of CR250R watercooled MX, first year of Harley 5 speed belt drive Sportster Deluxe, etc. Always had a soft spot for Kawasaki though - GPz1100, ZR1100, ZX1200R, etc.

I want your KLR650. That's my next machine.

Edit: I see Blackfoot Motorsports in Calgary is blowing them out new for $5,999. CDN (plus tax). Sweet!

 

[Dave Bennett]

OEM Shifter

The OEM shifter was not working for me with my size 13 boots on so I started looking at longer shifters from IMS and others.

Eventually, I tried removing the OEM shifter and rotating it up one spline. This worked out great and has given me the room I needed for accurate shifting with boots on, and I saved a few bucks!

 

[Dave Bennett]

Shroud Trade

I found a guy over on the KLR World forum in CO who had new black shrouds and was looking to trade for silver...

Pics once I get my new black shrouds mounted and decals cleaned up, it will look mean in green and black! :box:

 

[805gregg]

I like the 08 model better

I rode a 2002 for 10,000 miles upgraded to a V-Strom, much more fun.

 

[Dave Bennett]

I rode a 2002 for 10,000 miles upgraded to a V-Strom, much more fun.

The Wee is a great bike - excellent on the super slab, just not nearly as good in the dirt as the KLR.

.02

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

I want you to know that I am enjoying all this motorcycle stuff from you Doc.

:lurk: :beer:

 

[Dave Bennett]

I want you to know that I am enjoying all this motorcycle stuff from you Doc.

:lurk: :beer:

When we ridin' man? :roost: :roost:

Today I completed the MSF course so I am cleared hot for my CA motorcycle endorsement! :victory:

 

[Dave Bennett]

OEM Turn Signals

Found these neat LED's as a future replacement for the OEM signals.

http://www.electrosport.com/products/product-detail-1719.php

Some have had problems with the OEM's "falling off" (rubber bits of sub-standard quality) so when/if mine fail these are the way to go IMO.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

When we ridin' man? :roost: :roost:

Today I completed the MSF course so I am cleared hot for my CA motorcycle endorsement! :victory:

Soon my friend, very soon!

 

[Dave Bennett]

Progress!

Lots of progress lately on the dual sport front!

Received my CA M1 endorsement :wings:

Ordered the KLR650E tall windshield from California Scientific :box:
http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/KLRprod.html

Ordered the small expedition tank bag from Wolfman :box:
http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/Expedition/SmExpTankBag.html

And, the black shrouds are in place - pics of it all to follow!

 

[goodtimes]

Eric (wolfman) does some nice stuff. I used a set of his soft bags during the Trans-Am trip. Top notch products, made right here in the USA.

 

[Curtis in Texas]

I've read this top to bottom and haven't seen any references to some other sites to help you with your quest to outfit your KLR, so here ya go!
:roost:

Here are some KLR specific Web sites you may or not know about.
I’ve link you into the “08” forums to save some hassle.
http://klrworld.com/forums/index.php?board=145.0

Here’s another.
http://www.klr650.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=109

And if you don’t know about this site, you will want to read the Trip Reports.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=2
The Adventure Rider Web site has some World Class travelers on all kinds of machines.
Be forewarned they have a bit of an attitude on ADV, but a plethora of information.

And although it’s not a “Real Expedition” , but, I did a trip report here with the S.O. that you might find entertaining. But, since the wife doesn’t ride the adventure was getting her on the bike. (Disclaimer, some of the comments I made about my wife was tongue in cheek!)
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30746

If you dig around the TWT Site you’ll se we are an active bunch! We love to ride to eat.
Great group of guys to ride with.. Hope you can find a local group like this bunch.
We have an unofficial “Arkansas Fall Colors Tour” coming up soon which is always fun, and our Mexico Excursions are always a blast. Next trip will be to the Mountains outside of Monterrey Mx. (These are not done by trailer like the above vacation I did with the wife)( But, she did learn to love camping, as long as she had a powder room.)


Enjoy your KLR, I’ve got 30K on my 06 and the farkeling is half the fun.

Curtis in Texas

 

[Dave Bennett]

Thanks, I am already a forum member on KLRworld, ADV, and klr650.net unk03:

 

[Curtis in Texas]

Thanks, I am already a forum member on KLRworld, ADV, and klr650.net unk03:

Great, judging by your knowledge and choice of equipment I got the impression you may have already had an inside track to those sites. But, I couldn't find any references in the earlier post. So I thought I'd throw them out for you and anyone else thinking of following your footsteps with the 08.

I wouldn't trade my 06 for any other bike on the market. I rode it to work today and I still grin when I hit the road. I love this bike!
The after market for these dual sports is unequaled to any others.
Although the KLR may not be the best bike for any one type of ride, it does do all of them well enough to be a favorite among many world travelers.

Enjoying following your build.
All the best.


Curtis

 

[Dave Bennett]

Started Commuting on the Bike

She does 80 with ease on I-15, fun on the backroads in the twisties, quick in town, easy to handle in dirt

And, it now takes me a little over 1 gallon of fuel to go to work and back at 50mpg on a 70 mile (roundtrip) commute. :bowdown:

My commute is now a leisure activity instead of a daily incarceration