RIDE REVIEW I 2022 KAWASAKI KLR650
P106
reasonable amount of stuff and were simple to oper-
ate and install/remove. One key does the trick. They
also seal well, are not too intruding, and do a good
job resisting dings and scratches.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I thoroughly enjoyed
the new KLR650. To me, it feels much like
it used to in its heyday, only better. At least
in most areas. Yes, it's heavier and retains
roughly the same horsepower as it used to,
which doesn't sound good on paper. But the
weight thing didn't diminish any of the fun I
had on the bike (well, except maybe in the
sand but that might more of a tire problem
than weight). If there was anything that took
a bit of a smile off my face, though, it would
be the awful footpegs and shifter. Seems like
easy fixes to me, though. The front brake
could use some attention, too.
But the KLR has improved in so many oth-
er ways—fueling (FI), ABS, more range, better
suspension, improved comfort and more
conveniences and model options—that it's
easy to overlook any of the KLR's shortcom-
ings. Luckily, there are only a few of them.
There isn't much the KLR can't do. Sure,
there might be lighter, more powerful, bet-
ter handling and more sophisticated bikes
around that you could—well, kind of—compare
the KLR to, but there is just one KLR, and it's
a motorcycle that does everything well, even
better than before. And when you factor in
price, the KLR just keeps getting better.
CN
What's New Mexico
without a spectacular
summer evening
thunderstorm?
SPECIFICATIONS
2022 KAWASAKI KLR650 ADVENTURE ($7999)
ENGINE TYPE
4-stroke, single
VALVETRAIN
4-valve, DOHC
DISPLACEMENT
652cc
BORE & STROKE
100 x 83mm
COMPRESSION RATIO
9.8:1
FUEL SYSTEM
DFI w/40mm throttle body
IGNITION
TCBI
COOLING SYSTEM
Liquid
TRANSMISSION
5-speed
FRONT TIRE
90/90-21, Dunlop K750
REAR TIRE
130/80-17, Dunlop K750
FRONT BRAKE TYPE
300mm disc, ABS
REAR BRAKE TYPE
240mm disc, ABS
FRONT SUSPENSION
41mm leading axle hydraulic
telescopic fork
REAR SUSPENSION
Uni-Trak, 5-way adjustable
preload and stepless
rebound damping
FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL
7.9 in.
REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL
7.3 in.
WHEELBASE
60.6 in.
RAKE/TRAIL
30°/4.8 in.
FUEL TANK CAPACITY
6.1 gal.
GROUND CLEARANCE
8.3 in.
SEAT HEIGHT
34.3 in.
CURB WEIGHT (CLAIMED)
487.1 lbs.
WARRANTY
12 months
