Posted: 7/2/2026 12:25:14 PM EDT
|
When my wife and I met, we both had bikes, and we had a few after we got married. 2015 or so she decided it was too dangerous and no more bikes. At the time I didn't really mind and bought a hotrod Mustang instead. Now that she's my ex-wife and the Mustang is gone, I drug this home:  It's a 2014 with 4200 miles. Pretty clean. I didn't do much maintenance on the bikes we had previously, other than rebuilding a carb here or there. I'd like to do everything on this. Any thing outside of normal tools I'll need? Planning on one of those motorcycle lifts that lift the frame and let the wheels hang as reading how to make suspension adjustments seems to indicate you do it with the shocks unloaded. Is there really anything else bike specific I should get? What's changing a tire like on one of these? I'd always had that done by the shop before. I've changed a lot of tires but never on a motorcycle. |
|
Originally Posted By heat762: Look up the doohickey Had a klr650 before....after redoing the suspension for my fat ass it was.....ok Underpowered and too heavy really It's ok for general purposes but not good at anything Enjoy Exactly what I was looking for. Just to commute to work or bang around our expansive county/state forest roads. |
|
Get a set of JIS screw drivers. Everything else can be handled with regular tools. The tires aren't hard to change but it will be a challenge the first few times you do it. The KLR is kinda a heavy pig off-road but is okay with fire roads and most two tracks. It's top heavy with a full tank of fuel, it takes a bit to get used to, the fairing and windshield actually does a decent job of blocking the wind. I went from this:  To this recently because I wanted a lighter bike for the type of riding I do 
|
USN Retired: APR 1988 - MAY 2008
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
|
Originally Posted By Kuraki: When my wife and I met, we both had bikes, and we had a few after we got married. 2015 or so she decided it was too dangerous and no more bikes. At the time I didn't really mind and bought a hotrod Mustang instead. Now that she's my ex-wife and the Mustang is gone, I drug this home: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/125898/20260701_193725-3788593.jpg It's a 2014 with 4200 miles. Pretty clean. I didn't do much maintenance on the bikes we had previously, other than rebuilding a carb here or there. I'd like to do everything on this. Any thing outside of normal tools I'll need? Planning on one of those motorcycle lifts that lift the frame and let the wheels hang as reading how to make suspension adjustments seems to indicate you do it with the shocks unloaded. Is there really anything else bike specific I should get? What's changing a tire like on one of these? I'd always had that done by the shop before. I've changed a lot of tires but never on a motorcycle. 
|
Proud and grateful Tennessee Squire
flgfish: "Low mileage cars piss me off. You saving your girlfriend for the next guy? Drive the car and enjoy it. A 911 is damn near bulletproof."
flgfish: "Low mileage cars piss me off. You saving your girlfriend for the next guy? Drive the car and enjoy it. A 911 is damn near bulletproof."
|
Originally Posted By Kuraki: Are they all kinda cold blooded or just mine? This one doesnt idle off choke until it's pretty warm. I'd start at full choke and keep easing the lever back until it would start to stumble, wait a little bit and ease the lever back a bit more until it stumbled...repeat until it would idle with no choke. It usually would idle off choke in less than a minute unless it was fairly cold out. |
USN Retired: APR 1988 - MAY 2008
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
|
Originally Posted By Seabee_Mech: Mine wasn't. I'd start at full choke and keep easing the lever back until it would start to stumble, wait a little bit and ease the lever back a bit more until it stumbled...repeat until it would idle with no choke. It usually would idle off choke in less than a minute unless it was fairly cold out. Interesting. Thanks for the tips everyone. My helmet came so I rode it quite a bit yesterday and had a blast. |
|
I've got an '08 purchased used w/ 5600 miles, seemed well taken care of. I've never ridden in the mud or done any serious trail riding just street and some forest service roads. Here's what I've encountered over the years. Steering stem bearings are poorly greased. Swingarm and suspension pivot points are poorly greased, my swingarm pivot bolt was starting to corrode but cleaned up decently. Battery life sucked. After the OEM battery failed I went through 2 AGM batteries before installing a Shorai lithium in 2017 which is still in the bike. Coolant flushes are simple and I've never had a leak. I did the doohickey even though I had not experienced any issues prior. Not sure about the gauge cluster lamps on the newer KLR's but I replaced the 4 lamps including the hi-beam with AUXITO 6000K LED T10/194 wedge base lamps. Now it's easy to see the neutral indicator at a stoplight. Installed a green LASFIT LED T10/194 wedge base lamp for the turn signal indicator, 2 pack cost $10.99. Very bright and well worth the cost since you won't look like an idiot riding around for miles with a turn signal blinking! Now for my biggest headache - the side stand safety switch. I should have bypassed it as soon as I got the bike but noooo. I had all sorts of weird random no starts along with the bike shutting down while riding. The switch tested good with a meter and appeared okay but clearly wasn't. So do yourself a favor and bypass it NOW. I've not had any issues with the clutch safety switch but look out for that one too. See's a heavy pig but offer good wind protection and you shouldn't wind up in jail with only 37 HP at hand. 
|
|
Originally Posted By fttam: Can’t kill those things, so have a blast! You will sooner or later if the doohickey isn’t replaced…. OP will find out the hard way why there are no junkyard/salvage KLR650 motors for sale anywhere.. |
Never make another person a priority when they merely see you as an option...
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
|
Originally Posted By TheOtherDave: You will sooner or later if the doohickey isn’t replaced…. OP will find out the hard way why there are no junkyard/salvage KLR650 motors for sale anywhere.. Originally Posted By TheOtherDave: Originally Posted By fttam: Can’t kill those things, so have a blast! You will sooner or later if the doohickey isn’t replaced…. OP will find out the hard way why there are no junkyard/salvage KLR650 motors for sale anywhere.. Are there any out there that haven’t had the doohickey done? I’d love to know if OP’s was done |
You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.