Hello, I am looking to get into a bike that can bridge an adventure touring bike and a dirt bike (not a 200XC to a goldwing...). I am looking for a bike that with a larger aftermarket tank, pelican cases, and a few modifications to fairing/headlamp can be driven on longer adventure rides incorporating 200-400 mile days on dirt and tarmac. Or it can also be modified with a smaller fairing/tank/remove the racks and some other mods and be halfway decent on the trails (not super technical single track but not a gravel driveway either....) Looking over several hundred threads I have come to the conclusion that the KLR 650 is the bike closest to the 50% road / 50% Dirt capabilities. The bike that does everything (or nothing) well. Gets the job done. I have found several posts detailing how to make it more roadworthy but haven't been able to find any threads on how to make it more dirt worthy. If you have modified your KLR650 for more dirt oriented riding please share your Mods. Please include any links to on-line resources and pictures please! Thanks for looking.
Get knobby tires, crash guards, proper hand guards. The bike comes with 25L, if you need more you can add a jerry-can and put the weight lower.
Real knobbies help. I tried the Pirelli MT-21 and now use Dunlop D606. Ricor fork valves also helped and I'm sure the Race Tech units would do the same thing. I installed Enduro Engineering bar guards and a Renthal aluminum bar after the stock steel bar bent. I've dropped the bike a whole bunch of times and the bar has been fine. IMS shifter. I bent it last weekend turning the bike around on a trail but it did not break. Still to come are better pegs because the stock rubber ones get slick when it's wet and or muddy and a new shock. Folding mirrors are also on the list since I've managed to bust two left mirrors. PS: I also ordered bar risers to help improve my stand-up ergonomics. IMHO, getting the bike to fit you is key to learning how to ride it.
Byrd-man, Here's a link to my '08 KLR650 build thread. It's a bit wordy and I changed a few things as I went along. Ok a lot! My '08 went through a couple of different versions, until I decided what I wanted to build. What I wanted was one do everything dualsport motorcycle. The KLR came the closest to doing what I wanted. As always, life seems to get in the way of even the best laid plans, so it's taken a little longer than I had hoped. Overall, I think it's been worth the delay but I will be riding it next week. There is still much to do. The pictured rear rack is going away and I will be making my own custom rear rack in order to drop even more weight from it. At one time the bike did have a set of Pelican Cases and pannier racks on it. Since I'm more interested in dropping weight, I've decided against using those. Two waterproof Ortlieb bags will now be used on it. The next round of big mods include: new FMF header, FMF muffler, Excel 21/18" wheels, Nuetech TUbliss wheel system, Rekluse clutch, Moose Racing Flex bars, integraded front and rear turnsignals, lightweight Lithium Ion battery and probably a Schnitz Racing 685cc engine kit next Winter. The bike has a complete 2008 KX450F USD frontend on it. This conversion is a bolt-on with an Emig Racing KLR/KX conversion stem. The only modification for that was a new forkstop and to change the mount for the KLR ignition switch. I'll be adding a new forklock shortly. If you have any questions feel free to PM me. There is really too much to list but here goes: 2008 KX450F USD forks rebuilt by MX-Tech Inc. RICOR IAS rear shock 2007 KLR650 rear shock linkage and dogbones IMS fuel tank Renazco +2 Rally seat Moose Racing Flex bars Moose Racing handguards & air deflectors Moose Racing footpegs Moose Racing shifter Moose Racing front KX450F brakeline Moose Racing airfilter Moose Racing FB520 chain Moose Racing KX450F axle spacers Acerbis locking gas cap Trail Tech Stealth Vapor Trail Tech X2 headlight Galfer wave rotors and brakepads KTM military folding mirrors LED rear tail light JNS skiplate 2008 KX450F 'Monster Energy' front fender 2007 KLR650 radiator 2007 KLR650 fan Superbike Gel grips SamM http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=464503&highlight=Building+worth
Foot pegs from a DR650, first off road mod I made to mine. Also good hand guards, the stock ones are useless IMO. A good skid plate (I still need to get one) and a rear master cylinder guard are recommended. Mount the rear plate higher up on the fender, one good bottom out off road with knobbies can catch the plate and mangle it up real nice.
Mine has been modified for heavy dirt riding. It has been on the worst roads possible from Colorado to Guatamala and Baja. It has KDX front forks, brakes and wheel. Makes a huge difference. Increased travel and now you can actually stop. Aluminum paniards that are lockable, but narrow enough to fit through a standard door. Great for taking your bike into the room in Mexico or abroad. DRZ Foot pegs, sticky like dirt pegs should be. Pelican rear case. Tank paniards KTM Tank bag After market bars Bark busters Heated grips Aftermarket lights on a custom mount Rear shock shimmed to provide more support. all frame bolts upgraded and lock tighted LED signal lights and tail light Trail Tech Vapor computer Schnitz Racing 685 kit Thermobob 12V outlet for charging phone etc. I know I am forgetting a lot of things, it is set up right. Awsome bike and I have only bottomed it out a couple times. I was planning to keep this bike a long time and it is set up right, but my wife lost her job and I have to sell it. It is not pretty, but it is more than dirt worthy and will take you everywhere you described going. Let me know if you are interested. I am posting from my phone but there is an add in the PNWet classifieds here on ADV. Pics:
I've done all the usual farkles like gaurds, skid plates, crashbars, etc... one small easy thing I've done is to add a mudflap to protect the shock. On the underside of the airbox there is a tab with two holes in it. (right behind the shock where all the trail garbage gets flung) I used a piece of old innertube (cut to fit) and bolted it to the two holes and let it dangle down inside the rear wheel opening in the swingarm. It flexes with the suspension and keeps all that crap from being thrown onto the shock. It took about 15 minutes sipping a beer to add.
Only other consideration is lower gearing. 14 tooth countershaft sprocket gives you a bit better bottom end, and maybe add a 45 rear for a bit more. If you want to get silly, try a 13 up front. Any combo works with the standard 106 link chain.
Didn't mention the Cycleracks rear rack in your list in the quoted post; leastwise I dodn't find it. Looks mighty substantial and serviceable, to me; good product! (Have one on my KLR250.)
a 22 cent KLR with a skid plate and D606's will go anywhere. even more dirt oriented than that: side stand safety switch bypass bark busters 14 tooth front sprocket Motech crash bars non-DOT tires custom tuned suspension if you run an aftermarket skid, make sure to either cut your drain plug's head down or buy a low profile one. the stock one sticks out begging for problems.
The cycleracks.com rear rack is great but it's just too heavy. Probably going to build my own aluminum rack and just use 2 Ortlieb drybags. The cyclerack is going on another project. SamM
Thanks for the replies guys. Great info. SAM M amazing build out. I lost a few hours going through your link. How about lighting? Anyone use a dual light set up or one of the 8" trailtech or baja designs solutions? How about an HID upgrade kit for stock light?
Byrd-man, Thanks! It has been fun. I'll admit that I got sidetrack pretty good a couple of times and the build has morphed into a second KLR project for me. The bike will be finished sometime this week. SamM
