Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:43 pm
You're right Geoff, about the stock tires on the KLR being 'less than ideal' in mud.
I found that they were actually really good in hardpack and light sand, and did reasonably well on pavement.
I ran a Maxxis C6006 50/50 tire for a short period of time (<2000km) and found it to be really good on gravel and handled exceptionally well on pavement (for a knobby tire), but it absolutely sucked in loose sand and dirt - the only time I've really come close to going down in the dirt was with this tire, and that was due to it hooking up on alternate sides coming out of a ditch - threw the bike sideways when I crested the top.
I'm currently running Kenda K761 tires front and rear on my KLR, and I love them. they are more purely a street tire, but the rear can handle light sand and dirt relatively well, but gets a bit squirrely on gravel roads. I don't know how the front will do, as the last time I ran a 761 rear I still had the stock dunlop front tire on the bike (18000km and finally decided to change it out - still has about 1000km of life left in it at least)
As for the KLR being top heavy and hard to handle (or pick up), that's a load of crap - mostly
Yes, it can be top heavy when the tank is full, but it certainly isn't hard to manage. The wide bars make it very easy to control the bike, whether you are moving through traffic in town or cruising down a rough trail. I'm not a very big guy (5'8", 150lbs) and I have no problem handling this bike. Did I mention that I had never ridden any kind of dirt bike before I got my KLR a year ago?
The bike is very easy to pick up, if you know how to do it. I'm not a very strong guy by any means, but I can pick my bike up in under 10 seconds without breaking a sweat.
So can my girlfriend.
As a full on trailbike, I wouldn't choose the KLR, but if you are looking to go blasting along fireroads or through similar places, it really is a good solid bike that can take a beating.
Check out the KLR specific forums at http://www.klr650.net for more knowledge about the venerable KLR than you can shake a stick at.
definitely check out the ride videos there as well, for some truly amazing footage of just what the KLR650 is capable of.
I found that they were actually really good in hardpack and light sand, and did reasonably well on pavement.
I ran a Maxxis C6006 50/50 tire for a short period of time (<2000km) and found it to be really good on gravel and handled exceptionally well on pavement (for a knobby tire), but it absolutely sucked in loose sand and dirt - the only time I've really come close to going down in the dirt was with this tire, and that was due to it hooking up on alternate sides coming out of a ditch - threw the bike sideways when I crested the top.
I'm currently running Kenda K761 tires front and rear on my KLR, and I love them. they are more purely a street tire, but the rear can handle light sand and dirt relatively well, but gets a bit squirrely on gravel roads. I don't know how the front will do, as the last time I ran a 761 rear I still had the stock dunlop front tire on the bike (18000km and finally decided to change it out - still has about 1000km of life left in it at least)
As for the KLR being top heavy and hard to handle (or pick up), that's a load of crap - mostly
Yes, it can be top heavy when the tank is full, but it certainly isn't hard to manage. The wide bars make it very easy to control the bike, whether you are moving through traffic in town or cruising down a rough trail. I'm not a very big guy (5'8", 150lbs) and I have no problem handling this bike. Did I mention that I had never ridden any kind of dirt bike before I got my KLR a year ago?
The bike is very easy to pick up, if you know how to do it. I'm not a very strong guy by any means, but I can pick my bike up in under 10 seconds without breaking a sweat.
So can my girlfriend.
As a full on trailbike, I wouldn't choose the KLR, but if you are looking to go blasting along fireroads or through similar places, it really is a good solid bike that can take a beating.
Check out the KLR specific forums at http://www.klr650.net for more knowledge about the venerable KLR than you can shake a stick at.
definitely check out the ride videos there as well, for some truly amazing footage of just what the KLR650 is capable of.
, then agian not having to deal with break in procedures and comprehensive insurance is a plus to me 