Building a 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 for Overland Travel!

[grahamfitter]

My rear tire is getting pretty worn... any other KLR riders have any suggested tires not mentioned here already?

I have a set of IRC GP1s waiting in the garage while I run out the clock on the Kenda K761s the PO put on when I bought the bike.

The Kendas have lasted 11K mostly commuting on asphalt with the occasional weekend on gravel roads and ATV trails. They worked well for the dry road, were generally ok in the gravel, sand, dryish rocks and non-gloopy mud. I steer well clear of the slippery stuff! The front tire cupped quickly when run at Kawasaki's suggested 22 or so PSI on asphalt but both tires wore well at around 32 PSI. Wet handling was OK when new and is marginal now. I think that's a common complaint with this tire but to be honest its only been an issue for me recently.

I put GP1s on my DR200 a couple of months before I sold it and was impressed with wet and dry road and trail handling. I'll find out soon enough how well they work -- and how long they last -- on the KLR.

 

[Dave Bennett]

KLR Tires

In keeping with my frugal them for this build, I am leaning towards the Kenda K270's for replacement tires.

http://www.kendausa.com/en/home/motorcycle/dual-sport/k270-dual-sport.aspx

I can get a set locally for $130 front and rear, mounting is $30 per tire if I bring the bike in or $15 if I bring the wheels in sans bike.

Some good reviews here:
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p...Tires+and+Wheels&webCatId=8&prodFamilyId=5383

 

[Dave Bennett]

This is a pretty good breakdown of some of the available tire options for the KLR:

For wet weather 50/50, the TKC 80 rules.

For hi milage and 50/50 the Mefo Explorer

For better value 50/50 and better street manners probably the Maxxis 6006

For BEST value, high mileage wear and slightly more dirt oriented, the Kenda K270 without a doubt.

For dirt biased, a Dunlop D606 (or Michelin Baja) with a Metzeler Karoo or Pirelli MT21 front

For hardcore dirt, perhaps the Kenda Trackmaster ll for a DOT Legal tire.

In a nutshell, I would say Kenda K270 value vs. Mefo performance (street manners, predictable in the rain, with decent dirt if aired way down, & cost no object)

YMMV!

 

[sandalscout]

Took a look at the Shinko SR244 as well. It and the K270 are both based on the GP1. The K270 seems to have more complaints about wobble and too soft sidewalls, plus I recall reading someone say that they had better tire life out of the Shinko. I recently swapped to the SR244 myself, paid less than ~$90 for the two tires and two tubes (smaller size than yours, I'm sure). I like them very much!

 

[CoastalDefender]

I don't see the Karoo T(raveler) in that breakdown?

I have two Karoo T's on the back end and neither lasted me more than 3k...
I have one Karoo T on the front and it's lasted 6k.

My Deathwings lasted me 1/2 life at 4k.

I'm going to go with a more street oriented tire next time, still can't decide which one though.

 

[Dave Bennett]

I don't see the Karoo T(raveler) in that breakdown?

I have two Karoo T's on the back end and neither lasted me more than 3k...
I have one Karoo T on the front and it's lasted 6k.

My Deathwings lasted me 1/2 life at 4k.

I'm going to go with a more street oriented tire next time, still can't decide which one though.

That listing is kinda old, the full article did mention them briefly.

The reason I went with the Kenda K270's was that they are an aggressive tread 50/50 DOT rated tire with good longevity reviews and affordable - I just paid $48.99 for a new front tire and $63.99 for a new rear tire...

... that I'm just going to trash anyway. No point in paying almost twice that much or more per tire

13AUG11

 

[grahamfitter]

GP-1s have about 1400 miles on my KLR and I like them for where I've been: sandy trails, unpacked gravel, small rocky ledges, mud that's not too squidgy. The rear has just about worn through the sipes on the center blocks so I'm guessing they'll last about 4500 miles. (I probably should get a different bike for the weekly 300-400 mile commute!)

As said the Kendas/Shinko are very similar so you should have fun with those.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Handlebar Suggestions?

I need the handlebars to be higher since I'm tall, when I stand I always wish they were a couple inches up and back a bit.

Suggestions?

 

[CoastalDefender]

I need the handlebars to be higher since I'm tall, when I stand I always wish they were a couple inches up and back a bit.

Suggestions?

http://www.roxspeedfx.com/

Rox Risers are ********** awesome. You and I are about the same height and I noticed a substantial difference in comfort in the "attack stance" posture on the bike. In fact, it is now a joy to stand and "ride" vs sitting and ride, no more bending over because we're tall as hell.

The nice thing about that product is it has infinite adjustment vs fixed adjustment that some competitors have. I should have suggested you mount my bike the other week to see how it felt underneath you. Sorry about that, you're free to take it for a spin next time we kick it together.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Thanks Kadar, if those are the bar risers you used on the WABDR I'll go with them.

I'm also looking at taller ATV type handlebars, heated grips, and "barkbusters", anyone have any experience or suggestions for those on a 08+ KLR?

 

[Dave Bennett]

New tires!

Had the new Kenda K270's installed yesterday (19AUG11, 3,250 miles) at Temecula Motorsports. I was sketched out on the way home by the steering with the recommended 21 PSI... but a quick stop and increase to 30 PSI front and 35 PSI rear made it muey bueno.

These 50/50 tires look much gnarlier in person than they did online too. They are a true "all terrain" tire design

Rear, 5.10-17, $63.99

Front, 3.25-21, $48.99

And a new reflective ADV decal came in the mail all the way from Canada to adorn my rear fender

19AUG11, 3,250 miles

 

[Scott Brady]

Sweet! Looking good.

 

[CoastalDefender]

Had the new Kenda K270's installed yesterday (19AUG11, 3,250 miles) at Temecula Motorsports. I was sketched out on the way home by the steering with the recommended 21 PSI... but a quick stop and increase to 30 PSI front and 35 PSI rear made it muey bueno.

These 50/50 tires look much gnarlier in person than they did online too. They are a true "all terrain" tire design

Rear, 5.10-17, $63.99

Front, 3.25-21, $48.99

And a new reflective ADV decal came in the mail all the way from Canada to adorn my rear fender

19AUG11, 3,250 miles

First thing's first, you need to ride more, I have over 10k on my '09, vs your 3k on your '08...

I had an ADV sticker on my rear fender, but it came off with the fender shortening mod.

The real reason I replied was to say Barkbusters on a Wee Strom are fantastic in my AO. They beat the hell out of the trees, not my hands. The real true reason I got them was I was worried about a limb actuating my brake or clutch inadvertently. They keep those fears at bay.

I also believe they saved my controls after this last leg of decent off-road riding, since I put it down 5 times and only suffered scratches instead of broken equipment.

-CD

 

[Dave Bennett]

First thing's first, you need to ride more, I have over 10k on my '09, vs your 3k on your '08...

-CD

Well, while I bought it in June 2008, I was busy training to be deployed. I left in January 2009 and came home pretty busted up in June 2009... Which means my bike spent almost 18 months in the garage while I was gone and then later unable to ride due to my injuries...

Thankfully, I'm making up for it now.

 

[grahamfitter]

I'm also looking at taller ATV type handlebars, heated grips, and "barkbusters", anyone have any experience or suggestions for those on a 08+ KLR?

My KLR is wearing Barkbusters "Storm" hand guards and they've worked fine for me in the few droppages. A bonus is installation is surprisingly easy because all the brackets line up. I did need to dremel a small cable hook off the left side off the handlebar though. There is a bit more vibration without the weights but not enough to reinstall them.

The PO installed heated grips of unknown heritage and they rock.