Looking at a dual sport, need advice

Hey guys,

Starting to look at a new dual sport, not to replace my xj650, but just something off-road capable.

The xj650 is my first bike & I've put almost 10k miles behind me. On a 2nd bike, I don't want to sacrifice any power or range on the highway.. so barring any late entries I'm most seriously looking at a KLR650 (or possibly a new Africa Twin!)

My question is this: Have any of you xj650 owners ridden or owned a KLR650? On paper the horsepower of the KLR is much lower, but i know you cant just go by that. I want to roll on the highway and not feel limited in comparison to my xj650. Can the KLR650 match an XJ in accel, etc. on the asphalt?

Ultimately I know I'll need to test ride a KLR (and the AT!), but glad to hear any impressions, comparisons, on how a KLR holds up to an XJ on the road/highway.

If a new KLR650 is s slug on the highway, compared to a 34 yr old XJ with the same displacement, that Africa Twin is gonna be pretty hard to pass up!

 

A KLR is slower (1/4 mile is somewhere around 15 seconds), but your XJ sucks on single-trail. Compromises. Always compromises.

The KLR does have the advantage of being inexpensive, very reliable, easy to service, literally sips fuel, and is milk-crate friendly.

If you look at an Africa Twin, also shop a Super Tenere'

Honestly, being a tightwad, I'd get a used KLR and have the advantage of not crying the first time it gets dropped.

 

I like that !

 

Welp,

I ended up with a used KLR.. it was on craigslist, but turns out the seller was a guy I worked with for 3 years way back when..

I trust his skills and knowlege of bikes and this KLR is done right. Its an older model but has been totally reworked and is fully modern aside from fuel injection and ABS.
Its got upgraded shock, fork, brakes, tank, dash, etc. Its "Done", and I dont need to spend another dime! -- though i may still opt for a centerstand, as I dont trust milk crates



Ultimately, its slower than my XJ650, and not as highway worthy.. but its FAR more worthy on dirt and offroad! I may still look at an Africa Twin in a season or two, but totally happy with this buy for the moment!

 

The milk crate is for carrying stuff in.

Hold off an loking at teh Africa Twin. There is talk of Yamaha having a new Tenere' based on the Fz-07, and it should be coming to the U.S.

 

Ha! I see.. Still not a fan! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Another bonus with this bike is i got a complete 2nd motor with the 685cc upgrade piston, radiator, etc. I just need to send off the 650 jug to have it swapped by the 685 kit vendor.. no additional cost, just freight!

So my KLR650 could quickly become a 685 with more midrange torque and maybe a little more pickup on the highway... not too concerned but nice to have this option

 

Word.. the tenere is interesteing but the current model is almost 100lbs more than an AT & underpowered when you consider weight/power.. theyre gonna need to improve in those departments for me to consider the yam as a viable dualsport option.

One thing the AT has going for it is it only about 50lbs more than my new(used) KLR, and way more horses in the pen -- so to speak.

Nothing against Yam, theyre just gonna have to show me the money (and low weight) if they are going to make my short list for a NEW motorcycle

Tks for the wise words, k-moe, as usual!

 

Thinking outside the box for a moment..... Could the shocks and forks be mounted on your XJ ? Hmmmmm!

 

I think not, sir. Rather, I submit to you that the box you speak of may not even exist!

The XJ650 is a shaft driven bike with dual shocks mounted to either side of the swing-arm... and half of that swing arm is the shaft drive housing..

The KLR is a chain driven, mono-shock with complex linkages beteween the swingarm and shock. Or in other words, it is completely different than an XJ650.

Not to mention the KLR (chain) and XJ650 (shaft) have final outputs that are positioned perpendicular to each other.

In no uncertain terms, mounting a KLR shock & swing-arm to a XJ650 is not possible without SIGNIFICANT and DESTRUCTIVE modifications AND cost.

Ill advised, my friends. Ill advised

 

A chain drive conversion is possible, but ungodly expensive and time consuming.

 

not with those tires

 

They look like an 80/20 dual sport tire to me.

 

The front disk is pretty. The armor makes it look like something a stormtrooper would ride!
"Speed up, Luke! They're on our tail!"

 

Ground clearance alone makes this KLR way more off-road capable than my XJ.. The tires are 80/20 or 70/30.. not sure but they took me 200 miles on dirt roads and another 20 on the Snake Creek OHM/ATV trail -- mud holes and all.... So, no, not full-on dirt knob, but the bike is plenty off-road capable.

My buddy's dad said the same thing about storm troopers.. I need to rent a costume and roll around town

 

congrats on the Killer! I'm currently riding a 2015 and have over 10,000 kms on it already. Just returned from riding the Trans Taiga all the way to the end. Google Trans Taiga if you've not heard of it. This is my 4th KLR, I always return to them like an alcoholic to the bottle. They are slow and heavy but somehow very satisfying to ride. The torque is just enough, everything is just enough to get the job done.

 

Looks like fun! A ways north for me, but still really cool... I'm guessing you weren't riding in your t-shirt

There are a couple routes like that I'm interested in. I just need to get some ppl together who'd want to join me... a Solo trip like that isn't totally insane, but probably not the smartest

 

July 15th we left Wemindji it was 4 degrees Celcius that morning.
We met a guy on a 950 KTM along the TT. He was riding and camping alone, stupid really as a crash could leave you out there for a long time without anyone coming along. No cell phones. We did more than 2000 kms of gravel roads, the 650 tried swapping ends a few times, white knuckles for sure. A 500+ lb adventure bike would have been less fun.