RIDE REVIEW I 2022 KAWASAKI KLR650
P104
never felt the need to change the
windscreen anyway; it works well
where it is.
The footpeg design is a
double-edged sword. It's great
for sucking up the vibes when
sitting on the bike and cruising
down the highway, but horrible all
other times. The rubber-mounted
pegs droop while standing, so
your feet tend to slide off, and
God forbid they get wet! The pad
isn't easily removable, either.
And if you do, the peg itself is too
small. Aftermarket companies,
get to work!
HANDLING/SUSPENSION:
All good here. The stiffer suspen-
sion is a noticeable improvement.
For my 160 pounds, the KLR felt
fine. Heavier riders might want
more spring, but I thought both
front and rear suspension soaked
up everything exceptionally well
through the first half of the travel
and the second half prevent-
ing bottoming. The fork is non-
adjustable, but the shock has
rebound damping and preload
adjustability. For this ride and
with my weight, though, I never
felt the need to adjust, even
with both side bags full.
The KLR felt very stable on
the pavement while at speed.
The front end now ignores those
grooves or imperfections in the
road that used to make the bike
float all over the place. The up-
dated rake and trail, girthier frame
and longer swingarm contribute
to this, but Kawasaki told me one
of the main factors is the new
front end/fairing assembly, which
does not stick out as far forward,
improving the bike's weight and
balance.
The KLR has slightly less
ground clearance, which could
be an issue for some people. I
smacked the engine cases once
on a pothole/lip on a dirt road at
speed that I did not see until the
last second. It didn't feel good,
but no damage to report.
COCKPIT: There isn't much to
look at from the KLR's seat. The
new dash won't steal your atten-
tion away from the road; it looks
boring and offers just the basics.
The tachometer might be gone,
but at least it has been replaced
by a fuel gauge, which is great.
The dual trip meters are simple to
