2024 Kawasaki KLR vs. KLR Adventure Why you may want one over the other!

[@louislopez55]

For reference, I am 5’ 8” tall with about a 30” inseam. I also weigh only 152lbs, but well over 160 with my helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots. I can not flat-foot when sitting and I have the lower “S” version. I feel very comfortable and confident in it, but I have been riding for many years, and on many bikes. I am so impressed with this machine, but to be honest I probably would not have liked it when I was younger. I was too interested in power and speed, I’m glad I’m over that part of my life! But the KLR is very torquey and moves down roads and highways just fine, it just doesn’t have afterburners!

[@leeinwis]

S model bro

[@MacHill-n2v]

I had a 2008 KLR650 with 38,000 miles on it when it was sold. It was very reliable. I never replaced the Doohickey but I did do the required adjustment at the recommended service intervals. My biggest complaint would be oil consumption. On long highway trips I always made sure I had an extra quart of oil with me. I highly recommend “Happy Trails” panniers, center stand, and a side guard to protect the radiator. The panniers have lots of room and won’t break if you drop the bike. I had “warm gear“ electric jacket and gloves for the freezing temperatures and Aero Stich Darien Jacket to stay dry. Lots of good memories!

[@billegge3074]

lower center of gravity is everything! Get a gen 2 (2014 1/2 to 2018). Get some 2" lowering links. Only put 4 gallons of gas in your tank. Now it weighs no more than a gen 1. And it is 3 inches lower than a gen 1. Perfect klr!

[@cac2244]

Great video. I bought the sage green 2024 adventure ABS and I removed everything that made it the adventure model, so i should have bought the basic non ABS. I put Tusk crashbars top and lower, replaced the cheap hard panniers with Tusk Olympus soft panniers, custommized the fog lamps, put a Tusk shift lever, JNS lowering footpeg kit, Tusk foot pegs, barkbuster hand protection, Enduro Engineering skid plate, double take mirrors, eagle mike brace, etc...

[@gcprost]

I bought a 2023 KLR 650S. I was not drawn to the adventure model. The crash guards don't have enough protection, the bags are small and flimsy. I would like the electrics but I installed a USB power outlet for a fraction of what the dealer wanted. I bought the Kawasaki crash bars and I'm very pleased with them. They are very robust and they have good protection up and down. There is even a very nice protected spot for driving lights that would not be effected if the bike goes over. I installed the Tusk rack and aluminum pannier and I'm very pleased. They are very robust and there is lots of room.

[@1219magnum]

I have both an Adventure and an "S" model. Even tho I am 6'1" and 32" inseam, I prefer riding the S because of it's lower center of gravity. I bought Givi hard bags for the S but the plastic is too brittle. My bike fell over and cracked a bag, so I don't recommend Givi's. I did a 2 day, 925 mile ride recently on the S with lightly loaded bags. I weigh 245 and all was fun and fine. The 2nd day was 550 miles, so KLR's are very capable touring machines. Thank u.

[@IslandADV]

Thanks for the shoutout man!!! You said it best "the key is the adventure itself". I am, and forever will be, a KLR fanboy, but it's such an easy bike to ride, to work on, to mod, and to fall in love with. You should pick one up man. We'll likely be up around Freddy with the bikes this summer with NBDRA.

[@PeterLoweOne]

I'm absolutely considering an adventure bike for the future. Life stuff may prevent that from happening this year. Haven't decided which bike yet, but the KLR is on the list for sure! Also, I'm happy to give a shoutout to a maritime channel that's very deserving of a large following!

[@rigger314]

I sold my KLR 2015 model many years ago and got a Super Tenere. It just was the same and have regretted selling it ever since. It was a great fun bike. Just bought a new Harley, no not the pan american but may one day by another KLR you never know. I would love them to put a twin cylinder and a 6th gear on it though.

[@MotoNinja247]

Here in Romania I have never seen a Kawasaki KLR, I didn't even know it existed!

[@PeterLoweOne]

These are legendary in North America!

[@CaptHollister]

Not sold in Europe

[@IamHappySoHateMe]

I bought the Adventure and your video really reinforced that I made the right decision. I was looking at those two exact bikes. Mountain roads and Jeep trails are about what I want to do. Your reasons you gave were my reasons. Thanks and I didn’t know about the orange tab when the carrier is open.

[@diraltmcallister3523]

Just putting some money down on the KLR 650 Adventure, gonna take delivery in August

[@ArmedAndIndigenous]

This bike is like me. Im not the best but im good at everything 😂🤙

[@PeterLoweOne]

Haha. Love it!

[@jamesdumas6602]

I'm still riding my 2008 KLR 650 that I bought brand new for $4200 in October of 2007. The KLR 650's need a 6th gear, and Cruise Control.

[@williamardenjr116]

Always wanted one of these, but I am 6’4 and 250, and was wondering if these could do 80 pretty easy

[@Charlie-wg7jr]

I am 6’1 and 290 mine has hit 98mph EASILY

[@Thewarhorse47]

I currently own 2 KLR 650’s. I rode one of them all the way to the Arctic Ocean. Let me know when they build one that doesn’t burn oil.

[@GROMSQUATCH]

base model klr is definitely on top of my list for my next bike.. im between klr650 the klx300 dual sport or drz400 dual sport model. id love a "better" bike but the price on stuff now days is crazy..

[@PeterLoweOne]

I think a lot of people get caught up in "better" when what they really need is often quite affordable. Sometimes it's just better to ask, "am I buying smiles, or specs?" If you're buy spec sheet information, you can do a whole lot better than the KLR spec sheet. But if you're buying smiles, the smile per dollar ratio of a bike like the KLR is very high.

[@BrianSmith-ql5nj]

I own a 2024 klx 300 very capable bike. Very twitchy and floatable at high speed tho. Made mostly for backroads and trail riding with slight dirtbike capability. My next motorcycle will be a klr 650 to fill that highway capability need. Pending the situation will determine the bike i ride that day. Next fall i will be looking for my klr! (Or spring 2026😊)

[@fluffylittlebear]

The drz beats the other 2 in almost every way. They're all great bikes though.

[@peterv1806]

Awesome video. Well done! Thank for this excellent info. I'll visit the dealership soon.

[@christophepoteaux3932]

Got the base model in 2022, cause the Adventure didn't have what I wanted and had accessories that I didn't like.

[@X-7-JAMES]

This was a great video. Thank you.

[@BlackArroToons]

Nice review and bikes, thanks. Question: For single cylinder engines like the KLR, what are the advantages or disadvantages if there are any compared to 2, 3 or 4 cylinder motorcycle engines? Is it made for more torque?

[@PeterLoweOne]

Great question, and this won't be a complete answer, but I'll give a few reasons. First of all, these adventure bikes are made to go absolutely everywhere, and as you increase the complexity of the engines by introducing more and more components, you also increase the chances of failure. Put more simply an engine with 25 components has 25 potential failure points, where an engine with 10 components has 15 fewer potential failure points. So that's part of the reason for these single cylinder engines, you'll also find that this engine is not a highly stressed engine. It's not tuned to run at the limit of its capabilities. Whether you rev this engine out or not, it's not really working all that hard comparatively, and that has benefits too. More specifically to your question, a single cylinder engine like this is naturally more torquey down low. You may hear of adventure bike riders talk of "tractoring" out of a situation, and if you think about a precarious situation where you need good power from a stop. Perhaps in the event that you've tipped over on a slippery uphill section, and now you need to start to move again. Having good power, very low in the revs is important. It makes the drivetrain much more manageable in those situations. If that doesn't make sense, picture the opposite. Picture a super bike engine that has to rev to very high revs to make power, now imagine having to balance the clutch and high revs to get just the perfect amount of traction. That would be a much more difficult skill to master, where a bike like this, you can progressively dump the clutch lever, and this will push, controllably on through the terrain with less rider input and less rider skill. So that's a long, but partial answer, but I hope it helps.

[@BlackArroToons]

@@PeterLoweOne Thanks for the very detailed and helpful answers, Peter! I understand what you're saying about traction too and how torque can help. Also a good point about less components to eventually wear out compared to less cylinders for less stressful riding conditions compared to higher speed engines. Thanks a lot!

[@collectiveleak]

The answer lies in its history. KLR was used by the Marines, so they had to make it as simple and reliable because they WILL break shit. It's not made for power, torque, but just for pure simplicity and reliability. If you prefer utility over everything else,the KLR is for you.

[@jackmarks2176]

What in the world were the engineers thinking when they placed the switch for the fog lights on the right side of the faring. You have to reach all the way across a dark dash with your "left" hand at night and find the switch on the right side of the faring.

[@PeterLoweOne]

While there are definitely more ergonomic places to put the switch, you're describing a scenario that makes this sound much worse than it actually is. If it's so dark that you can't see the switch when you're starting out, then you can easily find it before you get underway, and if it's getting dark, you'll easily have time to find it before it's pitch black. Again, the placement of the switch could be better, but an averagely skilled rider shouldn't have any trouble whatsoever finding and using the switch while underway.

[@johntesner9271]

I have a 22 klr 650 adventure no abs went from Eliz ni to Athens ga straight non stop just for gas and food 24 hrs

[@herrtomas6729]

Hi Peter, nice to see you.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks! It's been pretty sporadic for sure! Hoping to get back to a more regular routine, but we'll see!

[@KTT1985]

I'm getting one tomorrow but my question is can you ride another person with you on it

[@PeterLoweOne]

Absolutely!

[@walterfabianodeandradebenn1177]

Não entendo a Kawasaki, não trazer ,esse KLR pro Brasil, iria vender muito!🇧🇷

[@alang39564]

That's strange, in Argentina they're selling them and you can get 50% of the bike in 18 payments 0% (I mean the regular KLR, not sure if you're talking about the adv version)

[@ivanvalenti13]

I don't understand why Kawasaki doesn't sell it in Italy....

[@mikethomsen5096]

I wish the luggage locks were on the side.... they dont like the weather... hard opening at times

[@PeterLoweOne]

That's a fair point.

[@CIXOTTOMMY]

I’m looking to replace my KLR 650 but holding out to see if Honda release the NX500 for the US/CAN market. What are your thoughts on that bike and do you think it would be a more road oriented and better daily commuter than the KLR?

[@PeterLoweOne]

I haven't had the chance to review that Honda yet. It is coming to Canada, but I tend to save my thoughts and recommendations until I'm able to review a bike.

[@CIXOTTOMMY]

@@PeterLoweOne Honda got back to me and said they are not releasing the NX500 in the US as it polled so low. Will still look forward to your review on it if you do one as I feel it’s one of the best value bikes out there. I am going to have to get a CB500X instead which is just fine.

[@davidkallstrom4349]

great video. l/100km, katalysator?

[@PeterLoweOne]

It's a fuel efficiency measurement used in Canada. We don't use MPG.

[@mikethomsen5096]

will the seat off the lower one fit on the taller one

[@PeterLoweOne]

Yes. It should fit fine.

[@The4.0Guy]

This seems like a good combo, little less seat height but keeping the ground clearance​@@PeterLoweOne

[@jonathandelmont]

Why don’t any of you guys ever tell us what the out the door price is??? Stop telling us the price that is not what we pay . Dealers are such bandits in the main and most of us hate bike and car shopping because we don’t trust dealers. Review itself is good. Just tell us the real price.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Whoa... Dude... I'm not a dealer. I just film at one. And if you want to know what an out the door price is, Jim Gilbert's Powersports tells you. I almost never quote pricing in my videos because they can change. If you connect with Jim Gilbert's, they'll happily tell you all of the costs involved with buying this bike. When I do quote a price, I use the MSRP which is listed on just about every Manufacturer's website, and it's a fair comparison to compare the differences between the cost of certain bikes. But the price you want is easy to find, just reach out to them using the link in the description.

[@johnnichols2562]

I just bought a 24 KLR 650 Adventure for 7199 + 800 dealer transport + 199 admin fee = 8199 out the door USD.

[@Charlie-wg7jr]

Just bought one Friday $9300 OTD.

[@kentwilliams3326]

Possibly because as time passes the MSRP goes up and these videos will be around for years.

[@shortyellowbus8358]

Bought the non adventure, non abs yesterday...6500 otd