Honda XR650L v Suzuki DR650 v Kawasaki KLR650!︱comparison review & known issues

[@crosstrainingadventure]

INDEX (extra notes further down) 0:19 Honda XR650L the good stuff 2:07 Suzuki DR650 the good stuff 2:59 Kawasaki KLR650 the good stuff 3:30 XR650L known issues 4:00 DR650 known issues 4:22 KLR650 known issues Great tip for KLR owners from Katherine Silvas [ED: I'm not sure if it applies to every year model though] 2nd generation KLR, post 2014 maintenance suggestion. At 6000km intervals, unloosen doohickey bolt (lower left side crank casing)and hit lower sump area with rubber mallet to allow spring to readjust. Should hear a light click as it does so. My 2018 model has 35000 km. No trouble thus far with above tip. I remain hopeful! Subscribe for weekly adventure & dual sport vids! English not your first language? Heaps of subtitles... Safety & protective gear vids bit.ly/3BmKeGE Our dual sport & adv ride vids bit.ly/3HTdvvl Bike & product reviews bit.ly/3BrnVjq The more bizzare side! bit.ly/34ZschR The more philosophical side bit.ly/3v9nKYX Riding across Vietnam bit.ly/3pej9Rt DR650 project vids bit.ly/3gQEStP Check out our other channels too... Cross Training Enduro bit.ly/3Jncax4 Cross Training Trials bit.ly/3uUjwEm

[@anonymous_PR]

Techforlife mod for the Honda xr650l where I can find or see some info about that mod?

[@shulme89]

I' own the Honda and Kawasaki my girlfriend told me I had to get rid of one of the bikes as we didn't have enough space. So I got rid of the girlfriend.

[@OOICU812]

Problem solved.

[@steelmilkjug]

Shoulda sold both, bought a DR650 and kept your girlfriend.

[@user-lw6lu7mt6w]

good boy

[@socaladventuresdavidt2557]

Good choice.

[@bustersmith5569]

@@steelmilkjug No way,,,

[@ZebulonJakub]

Dr650 owner here...... still going strong after 35,000 miles. Would get another in a heart beat

[@bobburro3642]

Thats great milage

[@Oddman1980]

I used to have a 2008 KLR650, and I now have a 2009 DR650. I think the DR is superior on and off road when compared to the KLR. I've had the DR650 for some time, and it's been modified with a larger fuel tank, hard cases, carb, high compression piston, 4mm oversize valves, heavier springs, a better seat, and a windshield. Now it's a great bike for any situation.

[@crypticreality8484]

That's cause you never had a Gen 1 KLR

[@bmcneely3435]

The Suzuki DR650 was my favorite big bore bike. I had so much fun exploring new and old areas. But after getting all the mods done. 5;weeks later. Someone stole it out of my front yard. I really miss that bike. It was set to truly be my favorite.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

i'm hoping to get another soon, it seems i can only go two years before the bush pig addiction kicks in again

[@2stroke4me]

What do you mean big repair bills when you crash and damage the fairing? Tape and zip ties aren't that expensive, lol!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Now that's proper bike maintenance 😂

[@bandogbone3265]

I use 10X tape. It's expensive, even on Amazon.

[@kennethhanes5438]

You can’t get away with that in Australia car or bike all your shut gotta want to be attached

[@hondaryder3779]

Gives it that 'seasoned' look.

[@beborodner930]

I own 1 bike.. Gen2 KLR.. Shopped for all 3 , but settled on the KLR.because I get bored easy and like to explore trails that are miles away from home. Put on some front and rear crash bars and bark busters..and good knobs and now have a 90mph tractor.. The weight slows you down in the tight stuff but isn't any less fun.. The big girl digs for days and plows through some knarly patches of trails that impresses my buddies on dirt bikes. I've never gotten stranded. I have 23kmi on it and it doesn't burn oil, runs nice and cool... takes sooooooo much abuse and keeps going.and going. On those days when I just want to get on the highway and B roads and cruse.. It has such a sweet spot at 70mph. And torque's itself around the twisties in such a fun way. Plus with 240ish miles of range on a full tank, you can play this game... turn off your GPS, pick a direction and get lost for 2 hrs and try to find your way home. I love this bike. My 2nd pick would probably be the Dr.

[@hiltonmcconnell2563]

Had a 2007 KLR and loved it but now have a 2020 DR650 with a 20 liter gas tank on it, will get around 500 km per tank of gas the KLR was around 450 Km per tank of gas. When it comes to off road I will take the Dr650 over the KLR 650 and find them bough great on the highway, I do not like wind protection, love to feel the wind on my chest, I also find the DR much better when you have to get past some one on the highway. Bough bikes will put a big smile on my face. I also have the KTM 390 Adventure which is also a great bike. great off road but like the KLR lacking ground clearance. But when it comes to gas the KTM will give me 3.3 liters per hundred fully loaded with my 33/64 liter hard bags on, so even with the 14.5 liter gas tank still get over 400 Km per tank of gas. For all day highway and some dirt roads the KTM but if I want to hit a lot of rough dirt and gravel roads, and some off road the DR is my choice. Great to have 2 in the stable.

[@rustyrooster4879]

I'm a DR owner and I love it! The only downsides I notice about my bike is the stock mirrors are a little too short and the seat is damn near hard as a brick! It has all the power and speed I would ever need and was cheap to buy and is cheap and easy to service. I love the simplicity and old school details and reliability.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

The stock mirrors are so heavy too. I know it's not a crazy amount of weight but it's up high which makes a difference. The very first thing I do on a DR650 is replace these and remove those heavy bar ends. I've go the Double Take mirrors which have a nice long arm on them. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpaYeq16aa2pkLM

[@franciscoburguete9959]

Hay extensiones para los espejos y el asiento con el uso se vuelve cómodo

[@ElartesanoFreewind650]

Yo he tenido muchas,Japonesas desde la decada de los 70' y todas me han gustado por sus componentes de 1° calidad. He tenido alquileres de Trikers Honda Atc,50-70-90-110-200 "Odyssey" ( motor deCR 250CC. ) No sigo porque mi, Historia con motos quads,es muy larga hasta la fecha. Ahora con mi querida Suzuki Freewind XF 650 del 2001..

[@tiuskilin2573]

I love my DR 650 with a suspension, carb, exhaust and fuel tank upgrade, and a 14 tooth sprocket! Perfect bike, inexpensiv and easy to work on! 👍🏻

[@gregorywilliams6219]

I love my KLR. I ride it on single track trails and dirt roads. Its a pig on single track but its what I have. The main reason I like it is because I can scout for roads to ride without worrying about fuel. It will do whatever your capable of doing, and more. I am getting a KDX for tough single track though! LOL

[@crosstrainingadventure]

great sized fuel tank on the KLR. many of us find you need something like the IMS 19 litre tank to do adventure riding on the other bikes and of course that adds a fair bit to the cost. enjoy the KDX when you get it! i assume the 200? great little bike! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5fXe3WdZdKSncU

[@MarioMartinez-vc4ks]

I am riding my fourth XR, a 2010 XRL! I started in 1984 with a 350, it went 48k before I sold it! Running! I've owned two others since then till now, with untold thousands of miles on them. I've loved them all! Braaaap!

[@flyingtigers7856]

I bought a 2015 KLR camo and racked up 30,000 k's mostly commuting with occasional off road adventures here and there. I chose the KLR for it's better on road manners, big seat & tank and it did everything and went everywhere I wanted. Hopelessly underpowered and even dangerous when LAMS restricted on the highway, I removed the nanny state restrictions and it transforms the bike. I do miss it, but not the engine vibrations, my next ADV bike will have an extra cylinder!

[@chexlemeneux8790]

DR650, Safari tank , Yenkro Fairing , comfy seat, dropped pegs , raised bars , Tm40 pumper carb/slip on exhaust / airbox mod , upgrade the suspension and get a set of knobbies .. you have a machine like no other. Turns heads , comfy, versatile , low maintenance . All while being the most reliable bike around.

[@thatstyte]

You influenced my choice in picking the DR650... two years after purchasing I'm thankful. It might not be a rockstar on the track, but imo, one of the most versatile and widely available (affordable) transportation machines ever made. Singletrack in a tangled swamp? Yes. Sustained 80 mph on the highway? Sure. Mixed surface, twisty back roads? Yeah, of course. Dont just take my word for it though, the 30 years of sales and popularity speaks for itself.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Totally with you on this one. It won't suit everyone... but as a cheap reliable 50/50 bike it's hard to go past it. Then if you like the road a bit more? Go the KLR. Tending toward the dirt? Go the XR. We are spoiled for choice!

[@natural9743]

This is no comparison the DR 650 is the only bike to consider,it does everything brilliantly

[@johnspencer2620]

I love my XR650L. Modded heavily for desert style off-road in Arizona. I also own and old KLR that is an absolute tractor. Great Video sir!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

thanks john!

[@christianjensen6908]

What mods did you get?

[@hegantetamboktyanak6368]

I have a DR 650 with 96000 kilometres on it only trouble I ever had was a leak in the cam chain tensioner gasket and I had to replace the O-rings in the valve covers . I have had tt600s since the 80s I have had four in all and would be my favourite bike I also have XR600 and XR400 they are all good bikes and they all have their place XR as a far better dirt bike than all of them and the Dr is a better road bike than all

[@socaladventuresdavidt2557]

I own a XR650L un corked so basically a beefed up xr600r but want a XR400R just for single track and maybe even the track! I'm 6'3 230 how's the power on the 400? Better then drz400?

[@hegantetamboktyanak6368]

@@socaladventuresdavidt2557 not having ridden the Suzuki 400 I couldn't tell you but I imagine it would be more powerful than the Honda

[@crosstrainingadventure]

i have heard the power is very similar and dyno charts tend to back this up... about 34 hp at the rear wheel. i used to own an XR and then eventually the DRZ but they were so far apart i couldn't give you a 'butt dyno' assessment.

[@socaladventuresdavidt2557]

@@crosstrainingadventure how does it do on freeways above 75mph?

[@LumpkinMumfins1]

Had 2 KLRs and an XRL at different times. Vid is spot on! The KLRs were rock solid commuters and great for adventure riding on smoother dirt roads, but suffered in any silt/sand/mud/single track. The XRL was rough on the highway, and not light enough off road to justify its seat height and poor street manners. Next big dual sport is the DR for me! Seems like it may be the “Goldie locks” thumper!

[@lmbear]

Seems like these have been around long enough that you should not have to modify the Suzuki with so many upgrades that you are spending half what you paid for a new bike, just to make it more useable on the dirt or more road worthy. Then you have the Honda XR650l, that basically replaced one of the best dual sport thumpers ever made, the 1987 XL600. But, that is just the problem. Honda still uses the same motor they used in 1987, except it's a 650cc instead of 600. Still use the RFVC air cooled engine that is known for eating valves. Ask me how I know that. After owning an '87 XL600 when I was 13 years old. That is a weak engine. It was back and forth to the shop 3 times while under warranty. Always a valve issue. I'm suspecting it was due to poor cooling and oil circulation, not a great motor in extreme heat environments like Nevada. Then you have the Kawi 650. A big heavy beast that might as well be wearing street tires because it sucks in the dirt, regardless. I remember having to carry my XL600 out of a mud pit. Try that with a bike as heavy as the KLR. It's not going to happen unless you are built like Brock Lesner. These bikes need a huge redesign. Why they have not done things to make these bikes much better is beyond me. A perfect dual sport 650 is going to be water cooled, weigh around 320 pounds, is going to have excellent suspension that is totally at home on the dirt as it is on the street. Is going to be properly geared for both uses, offer a bullet proof drivetrain that you should not have to worry about for a loooooong time, have electric start, and a powerful engine that gets 100 mpg. Come on Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki, get your crap together if you are reading this. It's been 35 years since my XL600 was new, but rest assured it is every bit an equal to the bikes made today. Which is pretty sad really, when you think about it.

[@jimpoole7146]

I have ridden all 3 bikes both on and off-road. Even though I now own a DR650 with the normal carb and suspension mods, I agree with your conclusion...the DR is the best all-around performer. In addition, it's relatively easy and simple to wrench. The XR has the best stock suspension but is too tall (but can be lowered). The KLR is top-heavy making it a real pig off-road.

[@Gravelcruiser]

I think my DR has become a permanent fixture. I've looked at the others, even thought about them but in the end I don't see either one fitting the bill for me as well as it does.

[@bikewolf7455]

lol how? the only things that ever break on my DR and needs to get fixed are things that i break while wrenching on it because im double left handed. for example stripped threads and bolts

[@crosstrainingadventure]

tighten till they strip then back off half a turn... perfect!

[@FORDboy357]

Have a 98 650L myself. Lots of mods. Lithium battery under the seat to get rid of the massive battery box on the side and I run an XR600 side cover. Kickstart from a 600R in addition to the electric start. Mikuni 41mm flatslide. NX650 2nd gear (closer ratios from 1-3) and FMX650 5th gear (taller for highways with 14/48 gearing).

[@nathantaylor120]

Well, after many hours (over the course of two years, on & off) of consideration, weighing up the pros & cons of many bikes, I basically stopped thinking about it for a while and then I ended up with a bike that was never on any lists, a 2001 XT600E for $2000. It found me, which took out all of the decision making. It`s old, heavy, banged up and slow, but it gets me out and about exploring roads I have never been down. It`ll serve a good purpose for a while and then I`ll find an excuse to buy a 700 Tenere lol. Love your vids too by the way.

[@elgringoec]

Yes!

[@Dr.Zoidberg087]

nice. i did the same thing a few years ago but mine is a 1990. complete pile, i turned it into a scrambler and I'm planning on a dr as a next bike.

[@idselseno2306]

Someday I will find a used Tenere 700. It won't be as mighty like it was new but parts will be easy to scout. Combined with less electronic wizardry, then with a good DIY attitude I'll be able to to ride it to explore and won't be scared if I drop the bike.

[@davidfuller764]

Thank you sir, great ideas

[@mechanicman8687]

I’ll keep my ‘82 xt 550.

[@austinstrate6880]

I got a dr200 for my first bike and absolutely love it. I'm gonna get the dr650 next year and give the 200 to my lady. As much as I love my 200 I cant wait to have more power. Suzuki is definately the king of all the dual sports.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

You'll love the grunt, Austin! And then when you do the power mods you'll get about an extra 10% which really wakes the bike up. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGiqlIGaoamqms0

[@fishonkayakadventure]

dead on! you nailed the progression of those bikes perfectly

[@crosstrainingadventure]

cheers mike! i see so many guys struggling to decide which to buy and hoped this might make it easier...

[@KLRmurdercycle]

100% they all can be built to a different purpose, but out of the box this accurate.

[@1995dresser]

I have a 2015 DR 650 that bought new . great bike did my research before buying it. was hands down the best bang for the buck i changed a few thing as soon as I purchased it . first was the fuel filter and the chain roller and the seat and I put carry rack on it love riding it Great Bike

[@neilw]

I had a Gen 1 KLR for about 7 months. It was a love hate relationship. Sometimes I loved it when everything went well. Most times I hated it because it was so heavy. Anytime I got off balance in a slow technical situation it went down. Even turning it around at a dead end was a problem. The flimsy radiator plastics got broken immediately. I ride loose rocky Arizona and any time you fail on a hill climb you have your hands full getting it turned around. Once I tried to stop a fall and it split me in half like a turkey wish bone. I couldn't pick it up and had to get rescued. The seat was horrible on long road rides. After 30-40 minutes I was standing to get relief. I sold it and got a DRZ 400 which was a blast. Will never get a KLR again.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I haven't spent much time on a KLR, just rode a lot with a guy who had one. I would hate to be doing any rough off road riding with it. But it certainly ate up the highway nicely.

[@rudipell90]

I had a horrible experiencie with my KLR. It's overrated, the factory big fuel tank and basic mechanics are the only highlights.

[@hiltonmcconnell2563]

The first duel sport I had was the DR 600 kick start only and loved it. the second duel sport was the KLR 650 and loved it. then had a DR650, the DR 650 are much better off road than the KLR and not much difference on road unless you ride 2 up the the KLR is better. But the problem with the KL:R on the road is there is too much wind protection Ok for rain , but a good rain suit works good for the DR. I want to feel the wind on my chest that to me is a big part of riding. They were bough good on the windy roads but I find the DR a little better for the tight and faster windy roads. So if you do 2 up get the KLR other wise the DR is the best all round ride, That is unless you are a candy ass and scared they wind and rain will melt you.

[@rustyshackleford653]

The stock XR650L front sprocket does not fit on the countershaft correctly. This will cause the countershaft to wear prematurely, which is a very expensive and time consuming problem to fix. This can be solved by installing a fritzco brand or primary drive brand aftermarket sprocket, or a sprocket from an xr650r. Once this is fixed most 650l riders do not experience any premature countershaft or transmission wear.

[@wobblysauce]

odd that it was left like that.

[@johnmeurer4780]

My 83 xl600r countersprocket is the same and it doesn't fit perfectly either. I might try that sprocket you mentioned next.

[@elgringoec]

@@wobblysauce True... It was a maintenance item to keep it greased but nobody paid attention.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

thanks for the tip, rusty. i'll put it in a pinned first comment.

[@silverslvr5185]

My late father dumped soo much money into his favorite bike, a dr650. The last mod was a high compression piston. I never liked the tractor of a motor and this upgrade made the biggest improvement. Not only more power, it really livened up it’s response and smoothed it’s vibes. What a bike!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

honda got an impressive amount of power out of the old XR650R with mods like that, it's a pity that none of the japanese brands are interested in providing competition for the KTM 690 in this respect. mind you, the KTM is almost double the price so you can spend a few thousand and create a souped up version of the DR and still have change left over!

[@silverslvr5185]

@@crosstrainingadventure to bad Honda didn't import xr650r to many years (to the states anyway). The biggest problem for big thumpers is emissions. Even street legal KTM's here in the states are restricted.

[@TheHortond]

KLR owner here. I like it for what it is. A street legal dirt bike. Good lights and it does the job. Bolts seem to rattle loose all over the place and it was a pain to do all the upgrades they suggest. The Dookicky put it out of service for weeks. But that was because of work and when I took the case off I noticed one of the starter gears didn't have the needle bearings in it at all. So I had to find some new ones. And finish the doo. Which was a good thing I did because the spring had very little tension on it. So I think I caught it in time. It wasn't too bad a job with all the kits and videos out there. Never heard of one before I bought it. Just a letter and number salad. Just like the other bikes you talked about. But KLR was known to the state because they wouldn't let me get personalized plates that said KLR-650. Perfect number of letters for a plate. The price was the best part. Even the newer ones are a good price for a new bike. If you want a bike to learn on you can't go wrong with a KLR.

[@davelambardo6464]

I live in the pacfic northwest of America. Here in South western oregon we still have a lot of public access to our lands even though it's shrinking. We have lots of single track and 2 track with countless miles of fire trail logging roads and even sand dunes not far away. I decided on the honda for those reasons. The honda has enough suspension to handle heavy dirt rides it holds its lines extremely well. The tractor like power makes it chug way low in the rpm for tight trails. The same thing that makes the honda a great open trail machine with holding its lines is a like and a dislike it feels heavy and wide making it feel not very nimble. With a seat shave and a lowering link it's height is managble for shorter legged riders like me. The honda to me doesn't feel super at home on the asphalt. I definitely don't lean it over hard. The biggest complaint for me is the chain noise and counter shaft issues. Mine is fitted with the extra wide sprocket from fritzco. So its tight but still a big no no running factory sprockets. Not honda style imo! I am considering cush drive mod at sompoint. Prices on all these bikes isn't to bad in the used market! Price,cushy ride and a want to do some light adventure bike riding is what keeps me on them. Some day I will get me a new modern dual sport ktm,husky,or new cfrl. But till then these old school machines put a smile on my face

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Good to hear, Dave! It's a shame I didn't find out about the sprocket issue before putting this vid together though.

[@elgringoec]

I was running wider "R" sprockets for years before Fritz made the ideal sprocket for the "L". It combines the R width on the countershaft with keeping the chain in the grooves worn by the original sprocket alignment. There's a shocking amount of misinformation/misunderstanding out there regarding this issue! I can totally lean my L through the twisties, no problem staying on the heels of sport bikes. You just got to practice. Learn to feel when the knobs start sliding so you can stay in that zone. It's not that different from sliding on dirt, you just have to get used to it. I wouldn't waste my time or money on a cush hub. Just keep your Rs up when demanding power on the asphalt. It's the low rpm slam slam slam when you're trying to get power that does things in. Just don't get used to the KTMs and Huskies out on the dirt until you're about ready to fork out for one. The L is awesome until you find out what one of them is like. Also the Tenere 700 looks pretty promising for medium dirt duty combined with road duty.

[@imridingwithstoopidohwaiti3948]

@@crosstrainingadventure Im not sold that the front sprocket is currently an actuall issue. Its some what of a legend on the XR groups, After a bunch of reading I started seeing claims it it may well have been a bad batch of parts that Honda used or maybe a bad supplier. That being said I still bought a wide front sprocket to be safe. Mine saw 98mi to 10,000 last year splines look mint and I ride enduro trails.

[@jacobwheeling2046]

I have a 09 KLR 650 it is perfect for what I do with it, I mostly ride it around town, but it is great for after work rides into the mountains, and to scout trails for my dirt bike, and I’ve camped off of it which is always super fun!

[@thalliumrc3981]

All klrs burn oil with age above 75mph. 2nd gens have wire harness wear issues causing shorts. Under sprung suspension for early year 2nd gens and below including 1st gens. Oil drain plugs can be ripped out due them sticking out past the plastic skid plate and the bottomed out suspension.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Thanks for the info, Thallium. I'll include this in a pinned first comment.

[@tylerchaney1533]

For any big and talls looking for a bike and reading this...Im 6'4" tall (32"-34" inseam) and weigh about 300lbs and own a XR650L. The 37" seat height is perfect for my height to comfortably flat foot at stops and with my weight loading the suspension the 13" ground clearance really helps for both on/off road. Plus I found the XR seat to be more accommodating to my size. As far as power and performance it seems pretty up to par with the KLR and the DR. Ive rode all 3 and for my size found the XR best. As far as cooling system goes this vid is right the bike gets very hot in the city and to this day find it concerning eventhough no problems as of yet. Lastly I must mention that since 1993 to 2020 the XR650L has gone pretty much unchanged so parts are super easy to find and reasonably priced for both OEM and aftermarket. Happy riding to all and keep that rubber side down!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

cheers tyler. i wish they kept selling them here, no idea why they stopped in 2012. the DR650 is still a big seller and it has almost no competition!

[@tylerchaney1533]

@@crosstrainingadventure cheers to you too sir. A shame they dont sell them there anymore. They are truly a fun beast to tame. You should start importing them lol. Do they sell the KTMs and Husqvarnas there? Beast bikes but come with a high price tag here. Broke my heart when I couldn't trade my house for a 690 Enduro-R😂

[@danielcasey4184]

Have always owned a DR650 since '93. DR650=TRACTOR. Simply put, the best !!

[@steelmilkjug]

Yep. DR's are like Tractors. They're sexy in the same way a 1990 LandRover Defender is sexy. Or a 1990 Tacoma Pickup is sexy.

[@tbalcome]

Yes! I have always wanted to be in one of your vids! I finally made it on your channel on that sexy KLR!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

thanks for the footage travis! and making it creative commons for others to use, i put an acknowledgment in the video text. 😊 that was some great terrain you guys were riding....

[@philpollard6087]

I've owned three Honda XR 650 the only bike I ever care to buy! I've done everything to mine including submerging it over the handlebars and you could not kill those bikes.

[@steelmilkjug]

It was a close call for me between a XR650 and my DR650. But I found a 2013 DR650 with 300 miles in mint stock condition, and I've been happy ever since. I'll probably keep buying DRs like you buy XR650s. I'd like to ride an XR650 sometime, but I'm sold on the DR650.

[@philpollard6087]

@@Speed-Racer I didn't replace them circumstances in my life had me sell them

[@philpollard6087]

@Rick Simpson I own a repair shop 20 years now Yamaha are great bikes!

[@SOCOAMERICANBULLYFARM]

I haven't had a chance to ride a Dr650 but I absolutely love the Honda xr650l it's been lowered for a 5 9' rider. Been ridden all over Southern Colorado and climbs these mountains like a Billy Goat! 1st gear is splendid for slow riding through extreme rough terrain and it will pass a KLR no problem on the highway. 23000 miles so far 2006 model 3rd owner.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Great bikes, Steve. I'd buy one if they were available in Australia still. A bit more dirthworthy than the DR, not quite as comfy on the road perhaps.

[@nev357]

I love my 2011 DR650 but have had months of unreliability issues. Spent hundreds sorting it out through a Suzuki dealer. Kept going through plugs, jets, coils, leads, batteries. Just had new stator, coil, carb clean, filter, lithium batt and apparently its running fine. Time will tell. It has all the mods as recommended by Cross training hasbeens so it fits like a glove. I am an older over weight rider but I think I ride ok on one or two wheels. I also ride a 1290R and 350excf but my go to would be the mighty DR650 for local forest roads and mild off road trails.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

That's a shame Nev, it's so rare to hear about issues other than the well known ones. I wonder if it was assembled on a Monday by a worker with a hangover? Hope it all goes well from now on....

[@nev357]

@@crosstrainingadventure Yes, the most reliable bike in the world is the most unreliable bike in my world. It has been frustrating but hasn't put me off her.

[@0xsergy]

@@nev357 lets put it this way, i owned the most reliable used car of my life. 800 bucks and i think i spent 500 on parts over the next 4 years while i thrashed this poor FWD sedan offroad on muddy shitshows, water crossings you name it all with the power of momentum. 150k kms later i crashed it into a tree. bought another Tercel with only 100k kms and it has been an unreliable mess. sometimes you get lucky, not always.

[@willeypoboy6052]

I'm a modified XR650L owner but modified for more dirt not HWY . Ride mostly dirt with it. Crf 450 front fork ,resprung in rear, electron carb. In so deep I have to ride the doodoo out of it!

[@travislivengood2744]

As a long term owner of a Gen 2 KLR, specifically an 08. I opted to go through the top end at 30,000 miles due to oil use. Still had cross hatch on the walls, just crap ring design. I have taken it on some pretty terrible roads, crashed it in some pretty terrible ways and it has always brought me home. It is just an awesome Swiss army bike. Fun o. Dirt, fun on pavement, fun to camp off of, fun to ride...pretty much everywhere and with the exception of upper fairings, everything in dirt cheap to buy, upgrade or replace.

[@hiltonmcconnell2563]

The fan went on the one I gave my sun and they want $ 500 for a new one. I would not call that cheap, the bike is a 2007 and most likely not worth much more than that.

[@travislivengood2744]

@@hiltonmcconnell2563 find a used fan? The bike is worth much more than $500 if it's not a husk. Hell, I crashed on my left side before I installed crash bars and my whole cooling system is fine still.

[@hiltonmcconnell2563]

@@travislivengood2744 He looked for one but can not find one, He is still riding it but can't do stop and go riding or ride in the city, open road and fast tails ok.

[@JuanchoCorreaOrtiz]

Driven all 3: DR is my choice. For a 172 cm tall guy like me and a Acerbis tank it has been most fun than any other bike trailblazing Colombia's dirt roads

[@crosstrainingadventure]

It seems to hit the mark with most, Juan. Possibly because it's a good compromise for riding gnarlier terrain but being good on the highway too. Personally I'd be really keen to try the XR but for some unknown reason they stopped bringing them into Australia in 2008.

[@tristankoepfli97]

I own a klr and love it. Yes its heavy ,yes its a slug, but it will keep chugging along. But mine is heavily modified. Suspension, exhaust crash bars etc. I also own a Yamaha Super Tenere and a Honda crf 450l and I still go to the klr for certain trips.

[@hadesomegamoto7639]

I have a 1G KLR650 and 97 DR650 and what you mentioned about both bikes is true. The KLR is definitely better on the pavement. The 1G KLRs are little better in the dirt than the 2G also. I just replaced my clutch on my DR and I did find the NSU screws were loose, like you could unscrew them by hand. They managed to stay in there for 40k miles, I took em out and loctite them back in. The great thing about the DR and the KLR is the aftermarket you can buy parts to suit your riding style. The DR650 also has a nakasil coating on the cylinderbore so they're very durable. My KLR burns oil like crazy now and it has almost 40k miles. A good majority of KLRs are oil burners also. What most people do is install a 685kit it smoothens the bike up, gives a little more power, and stops the oil consumption. Still gotta do mine.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

A real pity about certain KLR models starting to smoke way too early. That hard coating on the DR seems to work a treat, I was reading last year about a guy with half a million kilometres ridden and he was wondering whether to replace the coating/barrel or not.

[@Jaxon1776]

I love my DR! Now that I've spent 300% of the purchase price on upgrades and accessories. I still use the stock frame, engine and side panels though.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

for another $6000 you can replace those too. the only thing i kept were the mirrors, i changed everything underneath.

[@Jaxon1776]

@@crosstrainingadventure Well then, it's still a DR!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

😂

[@darinbell6982]

I’ve had 2 DR650’s in the past and would love another one. My main reason is I suffer from short leg syndrome and the DR650 fits me. I’ve beaten the tar out of my DR650s and they always remained faithful.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I hope they upgrade and continue! Australia is finally banning them for 2022 unless they put ABS on it. Fingers crossed...

[@socaladventuresdavidt2557]

Love my '17(got it new) XR650L have done every mod for the motor except oil cooler and header.... but with the uni air intake, FMF power core 4 exhaust, smog delete, bigger foot pegs, Protaper bars and 42tooth sprocket its a beast. All I need is a bigger gas tank and to install my jets I have... which is basically daves Mod... i live in San Diego and the kit sent me 160 main and 55/60/65 jets and 5/32" drill bit for daves mod... love it. Has 13" ground clearance and 11+" of suspension and great on highway and amazing in dirt. It was either the XR650L or DR650... went with XR650L just because honda reliability and seems like more of a following. Lot of KLR fan boys too. But seems like a wannabe ADV bike! The front sprocket will be changed before I hit 5500 miles....and its not that thin I looked yesterday! Non the less with the rear at 42 I might go 14 to get back to stock gearing. Which is 3.00 im at 2.80 and it cruises at 75 mph without revving the motor out.

[@drinktillwerefunny]

Decade after decade, again & again & again, the Mighty DR650 gets the gold... I have 2017. It's so unfathomably reliable and extremely well built. Its a fabulous road and town bike maybe around the county too. But not really ideal for very long hiways. And it's a pig of a dirt bike. Too heavy for mud but perfect for adventure. Great for dry trails. Sinks in mud (365lbs plus my 250) but maybe I am these sinking problems due to my bald knobby. What an amazing motorcycle. Its the wrong bike to put a big rear sprocket on, too heavy.

[@craigd1275]

The KLR650 has the largest tank: 6 US gallons. There is an aftermarket 7 gallon plastic tank that was used on the US military's diesel KLR650 available. My engine was destroyed when the doohickey broke. Definitely change it. I think Moose makes a better shifter. With the big tank the bike is top heavy and easy to dump on rough dirt trails. .

[@DannyB-cs9vx]

I bought a DR650 today. The Honda is not lighter by a long shot. Honda 346lb, DR650 366lb Add an oil cooler. and the weight of extra oil as well to the Honda. The Honda tail section does not hold as much weight for cargo. One would need to beef up the Honda adding weight. Add the weight of lowering links for us short legged riders to the Honda as well. The wet weight of the DR650 also includes about a half gallon of extra fuel, (3lb). Honda tank is a bit smaller. For reliability, Suzuki addressed most of the issues on the newer bikes.

[@danarussell4246]

I have pretty much a bone stock XR650L (some minor upgrades) which is a couple hundred miles short of 15,000 miles. ZERO problems, change the oil, clean the air filter, check the valves like every 4,000, keep an eye on the brakes and tires but most importantly swap out the front sprocket and she'll run forever. I just ride this on back roads but have ridden a couple easy Dual Sports/Adventure rides. If it's going to be nasty I take my KTM EXC-F. I'm a roll on the throttle rider and I consistently get 52 mpg which I love. That's why I never wanted to put a pipe on it or desmog it. Where I ride it I love its quiet so I don't disturb anybody. Great bike in my stable but I'm also 6'-7" which fits me perfect.

[@Liberty4Ever]

I'm going to see if I can get a government grant for a study to determine how many cancer deaths have been prevented by the hearty belly laughs from these awesome videos. Great info, too. Thanks.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Glad you get it, the Aussie sense of humour often doesn't translate too well overseas 😊

[@Liberty4Ever]

@@crosstrainingadventure - You misspelled "humor". :-P

[@crosstrainingadventure]

That's inaccurate bastardised (note the accurate use of the 's' here) north American English though... you should should say 'misspelt'. 🤣

[@thistledewoutdoors3331]

I have both 1st Gen & 2nd Gen KLR650s... The faring on the 2nd gen provides more protection & wind defelction than the 1st... But on both I personally could do with more torque in 1st gear so i might down tooth the primary sprocket or go up in teeth on the rear sprocket.... Stock exhaust has a bird like whistling & is weird but, With a pipe on the 2nd gen - It sounds a little beefier & a little bit of extra power....... Def get handle bar risers & aftermarket taller bars / Corbin seat for wider assed thick people & Recor adjustable rear shock IMO

[@parcadv419]

I own a 1999 klr 650. I bought it used in Nov 2018 with 8200 miles on the odometer which is working.It came to me with a S W Motech CRASH BARS .If i was to suggest anything for this bike ,especially if off Road ,it would be these .I have crashed many times with no damage to the radiator or fairings. I also have a extra wide pegs, my blinkers have no rubber mounted arms to break off. we mounted them tight to the bike so they are protected behind the armour. Also theres a fork brace by eagle mike and the doohicky has been repaired. ive got luggege racks for hard boxes. along with hand guards.jnp light bar with spot lights. the list goes on and on. but heres the thing .I LOVE IT .this bike has tacken a beeting and never left me stranded. i do however want a dr 650 for my wife who is currently on a xt 250. love your content thanks

[@KLRmurdercycle]

I own a klr and have ridden the DR and XR. My 2011 is getting a rebuild now after 105000km. The doohickey lost tension around 22000km. The spring was just hanging in there. It has a yz250 fork conversion, stiffer rear coil, some carb mods, and 16 front sprocket. Has done everything just short of hard enduro. Bought a like new 2009 while I wait for parts for the other one.🥺 At 32 inseam the klr was intimidating. Got used to the height and more trail use, I put the longer dog bones on. Love the DR and XR but for me at the time, didn't want to put money into a new bike, like bigger tank and cush drive for commuting, and then the long distance bug bit me and that sealed the deal. When you have all 3 bikes together, it makes for a real fun day. The aftermarket and knowledge for them is rediculous.

[@kalgaramerinos7085]

Have had my DR for a couple of years and only done 11,000kms, mostly 5 or 6 day twin track jaunts around Northern Tablelands and North Coast of NSW. I love it! Not much in the way of mods, stock tank is a bit small for our rides so got a 30 litre a Safari tank (mainly because a mate had it cheap otherwise I'd have got a 20 litre Acerbis), Plex valves in the front forks, made a rack and pannier frames for soft luggage, knobby tyres and that's about it. No engine mods. My biggest beef is the high 1st gear. When it gets gnarly or there's a long creek crossing full of slippery rocks i say swear words....It leaked a bit of oil from the rocker cover which needed a couple of visits to the dealer but fixed under warranty. I find the seat is fine but in my dotage we don't do much more than 400-500kms in a day and some considerably less. Some days can be fairly long but rarely riding more than 2 hours without a break. We are lucky to live near some fantastic adventure riding and this bike is just a great way to do it. I reckon the XR with a longer range tank might be even better on account of the low 1st gear. Lack of cush drive and low highway speed probably not an issue for our type of riding. Seat height might be the main issue for me.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I'm keen to get another DR, Dan. I'll be doing the same as you... minimal mods this time. That last project bike was ridiculously time consuming!

[@user-ci6dd9wl6l]

As my first bike, I was fortunate enough to own a Kle 500. Although it is not on the list, I believe it is worth mentioning due to its comparability with the KLR. Essentially, it is the KLR platform with the GPZ 500 2 cil parallel engine, with some basic retuning. It is slightly heavier than the KLR and perhaps more road-oriented, but with less than 500 euros, it could become a great adventure bike. I am not sure if it was sold outside of Europe, but here there is no cheaper solution. I bought mine for 1800 euros. The machine is indestructible, just like the KLR, but in my opinion, it has a better engine for long travels.

[@jamesstewart1649]

I use to wheelie the xl650 at red lights. Great bike.

[@dusanpavlik8947]

DR 650. 👍👍👍

[@MM-cr7dq]

I miss my early 90's DR650R (red Dakar colours)

[@alexkram]

I've owned all 3 bikes and agree with everything in this video. The great thing is they are all amazing bikes, they are just good at slightly different things with a lot of overlap.

[@snowflakecuntreeman3947]

Think it's safe to say that rider skill is a bigger factor than what bike is chosen. If you suck like me then get a KLR and be happy, if you are good then get any of them 😁

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Couldn't agree more!

[@steveklr6505]

I love my 2018 klr I ride 2 up most of the time the stock seat is absolutely terrible that’s the first thing to replace but for the money we’re can ya get a brand new bike ride 2 people and just about go anywhere for 6 k how can ya beat that

[@dirtbikeTIMES]

Just bought an ‘01 xr650l. Really wanted a new crf300l rally, but I couldn’t stand to see my savings go down that much. Really excited to get into a true dual sport bike!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

What was price tag on the Rally model? Personally I would go for the extra grunt any day, just slap a windscreen and comfy seat on the 650!

[@dirtbikeTIMES]

@@crosstrainingadventure The rally version comes in at 6k in the us - excluding dealer prep fees. I snagged the XR for 3250, and another 600 in the classic upgrades. Might not be new and shiny, but if I can’t buy it twice I can’t buy it at all.

[@HooksAndWheels]

Love my dr650!!! Just added peg lowering brackets...new exhaust and jets...racetech front and rear suspension...airbox mod...14tooth sprocket up front and plus one in the back. Check out my vids and thanks to Barry for the inspiration!!!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

my pleasure! i'm hoping to buy another soon...

[@deaneverlean7408]

Hooks and wheels? Id like to do the same! How much did this roughly cost.

[@HooksAndWheels]

@@deaneverlean7408 it wasn't that bad. I got my exhaust through Ali Express for 105.00 dollars, 14 tooth sprocket was 35 through amazon, my front and rear springs with oil were 285 through rocky mountain atv mc. The airbox mod is free with a hole saw bit, the carburetor mod was free thanks to the cross training enduro guys. And the lowered peg brackets from dango designs were 79.00. Cheap but manageable upgrades that make a fantastic difference. You can check out my videos for more info. Thanks again barry! And dango designs and rocky mountain atv mc!

[@DIEZ919191]

I had all these bikes, they are all good for different things. But I could say one thing - I don’t want universal bike anymore, I want bike built for purpose, and that’s when it will shine, period.

[@rodneydolman1]

I've had a KLR for about 10 years do hicky failed 9 years ago * I have not replaced it * 3 times over the last 9 years I lay the bike on its side remove side cover manually tension the balance chain with a screwdriver no problems bike has over 60000 ks . KLR the bike that does everything but does nothing well.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

rodneydolman1 So it is like tensioning a chain on a chainsaw, but isn’t required nearly as often???

[@rodneydolman1]

@@Rick_Sanchez_C137_ The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Easy to hear when it's getting slack The spring is the weak link half of which is still in sump

[@duncanwilliams3320]

KLR 650 (Tengai 1990) Owner I think this is pretty spot on. Subframe bolts can fail, also footpeg bolts. Gear leaver does have a weak weld. I will say it can be pretty capable off road (how I know about the bolts). But it is the most bais for the road of all three. That said, great bikes

[@ianjones2731]

Owned all 3..klr for me!

[@Liberty4Ever]

One advantage of the KLR650: I's a bike you'll grow into. As we get older, most of us ride less aggressively off road and the KLR is more our speed. It's an aspirational dad bike, and I honestly mean that in the most complimentary manner imaginable. I'm an old ADV wannabe guy.

[@ianjones2731]

@@Liberty4Ever lol agreed

[@marcready6369]

Your comments are fair & well considered. For Au, an aftermarket 24L tank is a good idea. I have ridden an XR250, XL600, & NX650 around Australia and whilst I am sure you are correct about oil temperature and how the Hondas would benefit from am oil cooler, I experienced no such issues. Many countries do not have the very larger distances between fuel stops like Au and thus the stock tank might be...ok (actually I think a 9L tank on a 600 is stupid), but I agree with your assessment of the best uses of the XR & DR. I am not interested in the KLR

[@GratefulEd907]

I’ve always liked the Honda. Bought an 06 yesterday and plan on keeping it forever

[@mal-wx6tu]

I have a 2013 Gen2 KLR650, need Doohickey done soon,17000 KMs done, tall screen, Barkbusters, spotlights, the best all-rounder here, didn't know the gear and seal problems on the DR, and can't believe Honda didn't put a cush drive in the XR, had XR500A never any problems. Pity Yamaha didn't keep the XT660R, going I would have considered one next.

[@davidmcfarling8692]

KLR is a great bike. A little heavy. An after market exhaust can save 29#. Progressive rear shock and fork springs with heavier oil fixed suspension. Sargent's seat and comfortable for all day rides. Aggressive tires and it is tolerable in dirt. Do hickey is no big deal but Kawasaki should have kixed it years ago. All 3 are great bikes but I love my KLR.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Totally agree

[@leonvonbenecke]

2005 ktm 640 advenure rider popping in here with 163000km , just to flip you all off and say suck it. now that the obnoxious KTM mindset is out of the way, cool vid bud. also owned a Xr650, Xr500, and KLR650 fugly, they are all great bikes to their purpose

[@vittoriocostantini5808]

I CURRENTLY HAVE A KTM690 ENDURO R MOTORCYCLE (2012 MODEL). BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND HAVE DONE 103,000 KILOMETERS ON IT. IT NEEDS A ENGINE REBUILD. I STILL OWN A SUZUKI DR350 SEW MOTORCYCLE (1998 MODEL). I DID 280,000 KILOMETERS IN 8 YEARS ON THE SUZUKI. SUPER RELIABLE. JAPANESE MOTORCYCLES ARE DEFINITELY MUCH BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY THAN EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLES, (AND I'M ITALIAN). BUT DEFINITELY EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLES ARE MORE FUN TO RIDE. IF MONEY WAS AN ISSUE, I WOULD DEFINITELY BUY A SUZUKI DR650 MOTORCYCLE.

[@andyblack5687]

Matthew? 🤣 I went to the dealership to buy a used XR650L but they had sold it the week before. They had a used DR650 so I bought it instead. Glad I did actually since I ended up mainly commuting to work on it. The much taller seat on the XR would have made stop and go traffic a challenge for a guy like me who’s only 5’8” (173 cm) tall. It’s a great all around bike. I can’t wheelie like Barry but sometimes I do get after it like the Aussie mullet man in this video. I swear he’s like the dual sport version of Ronnie Mac.

[@wingingittracy8508]

I have an xr650L , with a crazy amount of mods it great !!!Hot Cams Stage 1 Cam xr 400 oil cooler , cr 500 usd forks gold valve in the rear shock , XRS ONLY MIKUNI PUMPER CARBURETOR 42MM KIT - HONDA XR650L ,Kibblewhite valve springs , robed the kick start from xr 600 r so it is kick and elect start , oil pressure light, Scott steering stabilizer , NX 650 5 gear so a bit of an overdrive , Talon wheels cush hub , panner racks honda line soft bags rear rack , ACERBIS 5.8 tank ,MOOSE RACING ADVENTURE SEAT , took it apart added gel pad , Aluminum Skid Plate , Folding Tip Shifter , wide pegs , XRs Only Exhaust Pipe , baja designs hid twin 8" with frame older style 10" led light bar , Ricky stator , XRs Only Case Saver / Spocket Cover iron man sprockets , Trail Tech Vapor dash gauges , folding mirrors , Acerbis Hand Guards, heated gripes . ALL stock bikes sucks , ALL !!! Doing mods never end , wonder if I should do the 720 big bore ??? lol stay frosty my friends . dream big and dare to fail .

[@crosstrainingadventure]

awesome, i didn't know there was a big bore kit of the XR. i know there's a 790 kit for the DR, would love to try that one day!

[@fiveowaf454]

The short wheelbase of the XR650l, combined with the height can make it very exciting when a gust of side wind hits you. If you keep the speed down they run pretty well on the road for the capabilities they have off road, I love mine, but would get a DR650 if I didn't have other road and Adventure bikes in the garage, I think it's the best all round bike. I actually prefer the air cooling too, one less thing to go wrong on an under stressed single and less maintenance. When riding with others on slow twisty off road trails, it makes me feel good when their liquid cooled much more capable dirt bikes start burping coolant, I just keep an eye on my oil temperature gauge that sits in the oil dipstick hole by the headstock, I'm always amazed how cool it stays even in 100 degree weather, if it looks to be getting hot, it's amazing how quickly it cools down if you stop and look at the scenery for a few minutes, the frame makes a good oil cooler.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

It's a real shame they stopped importing them into Australia back in 2008... we were never told why.

[@fiveowaf454]

@@crosstrainingadventureThat's too bad, while these bikes that have been built forever are not to everyone's taste, for so many they are perfect for just getting off road and into the outdoors and having fun. I can't claim off road riding skills, or even the energy, now in my 60's, to even reach the limits of my XR650l, but it sure works for me and never misses a beat with simple maintenance easily carried out in the garage.

[@heavymetalworks6375]

I still think the KLR wins. Its a tank to say the least. The only bad I can say about the klr is its pretty under powered for a 650 and heavy.

[@prestigeworld-wide8292]

KLR is a grocery getter.

[@pollepost]

I have just bought an XR650L with an NX650 (dominator) engine installed, oil cooler, larger gas tank, renthal fat bars, heated grips, trail tech vapor display and more mods to come. In the future I will look into the cush drive, and maybe buy a set from HAAN wheels.

[@mohba01]

the NX650 wheels will fit, same 32 hole hubs. need to make spacers and relace them with an 18 incher.

[@parkerazz4385]

2018 KLR 650 I love it ive installed crash bars on the front and racks on the rear it goes whar I want when I want. I would ride more aggressively off road if I were in a group it is very heavy to pick up no mater what technique you use. Other then that no regrets. My price from the dealer for an out of crate KLR 650 just over 9,000 out the door with 2 year warranty.

[@garykentner7557]

I have a modified 09 KLR 650 and I just love the pig. Im a 6'5" pig so we make a good pair I live in Central Oregon and Ride every where. Single Track she will get the job done. 2 up loaded no problem. Ive rode the others and they have their good points. Im 58 and 250# dont get as rad as I did back in the days but Im man enough to throw around the KLR because of my size and strength plus not bragging but im a good rider been riding motorcross and desert racing my whole life. I love this Tractor I run D606 for better stability in the sand and rocks plus a long day in the saddle Im not as tired and fatigued as the other two. Its a better rode bike because of the weight.The Honda is the worst on the highway in heavy wind neither is a match to the KLR loaded heavy . When the bike is loaded to the gills large panniers and all its still amazes me 50 mpg. Its not top dog at anything but does it all and Im happy as a pig we make a good team her name is KLARA she is always reliable and faithful what more could I want... Cheers get one their cheap and VERY RELIABLE

[@someone46018]

I have had the XRL since 2017, bought it new, 25k miles on the clock now, mostly city and highway miles with lots of crappy roads, it comes stupidly lean from factory to pass emissions, it shouldn't be ridden with the stock jetting to avoid destroying the engine. The output sprocket is a big deal as well, but Fritz sprocket takes care of that for just a few bucks, cheap insurance. Other than that, you can ride the hell out it for many, many miles, the overheating "problem" is not much of a problem, I live in the tropics, and mine never overheats, I believe it happens to some people because of bad jetting and/or don't get this is a low revving lazy engine and push it hard to gain RPMs to give a false sense of security, you can chug this thing down on RPMs, no need to push it.

[@lauriewhy1805]

KLR owner here - large tank , fairing and rack stock and cheap to buy and own . I only wish it was a bit lighter . Of course im still bolting bits to it anyway .

[@crosstrainingadventure]

quite a few guys are saying the old generation one model was actually not much heavier than the DR. a bit of a pity it got porky after that.

[@MountainGuerrilla]

I bought the XR650L in 2014 and everything that could go wrong with it did. The ECU died, bought and aftermarket one and had the old one repaired. Dropped an exhaust valve seat and cost me $800 for a refurbished head. And adding stiffer springs and a seat concepts kit made the seat height about 34-35", I can flat foot one foot or tip toe both, by the precarious perch makes off-road slow speed riding iffy. Should have bought the DR650, I'm familiar with e SACHS system, owing Bandits, and the oil cooling system means higher oil capacity. Also the XR650L burns oil at high speed/high temps which isn't ideal because it has a low oil capacity.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Bummer to hear that. Mind you there is the occasional horror story with the DR650 with engines destroyed when the NSU bolts fell out and into the transmission... or third gear detonated. Very rare thankfully but it does happen.

[@shadowbanned4626]

Miss my KLX 650, had plates on it, decent suspension, would smoke all the other big bore thumpers of that generation

[@crosstrainingadventure]

i used to have one! a real shame they didn't put an e-start on it and develop it into a light high performance adventure bike. 😢

[@fourseasondirtbike2506]

But would it smoke a xr650r? OR THE mighty husaberg 650Fe

[@Angry-Lynx]

@@fourseasondirtbike2506 r is not dual sport ;

[@4570duplex]

I've ridden all three pretty extensively and generally agree with your assessments. I finally settled on the XR650L as "best" for my purposes, but with some modifications. First and foremost, that gas tank had to go. Mine now sports the 6.5 gallon Acerbis, which gives it an honest 250-300 mile range. Next was its towering height. Even at 6'1", it was too tall for me. Mine now has an adjustable lowering link, and I raised the forks as high as they will go. Doing so now allows me to "dab" on our tight Pacific Northwest (USA) single track. If I'm going to do some desert bombing, it takes me less than half an hour to raise it back to full height (it mostly stays "low", though). A Moose Racing rear rack allows me to carry enough stuff for day trips, and some Giant Loop saddle bags make it a worthy offroad "touring" bike. And, of course, there is the "de-smogging" and "Dave's Mods" (rejetting and altering the slide in the carb) which both add power and make it run properly cool, even in the desert. I consider the lack of an external oil cooler a plus, after having disabled the DR by busting the one on it in a fall one day. Properly tuned, the Honda runs cool enough to get by without one, on synthetic oil that is frequently changed. Oh, and with a JE 10:1 compression piston in it, plus a full XR's Only exhaust, it will flat run away and hide from either the Suzuki or, especially, the Kawasaki. Granted, lots of mods to make it suit me, and mods that can likewise be done on the other two, but I just felt the Honda a better starting point. They are all great bikes, though.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Very jealous! For some absurd reason we stopped importing them back in 2012. It's lighter, cheaper and has better suspension than the DR650. I'd much rather be on the Honda for our style of riding.

[@2007srv]

Hey so have you riden your Xr on any trails in Humboldt Co. ? I too have the Xr650L loweriong link will be here in few days at 6' it needed the link . I live a ferw hrs from Humboldt coast and wanted to trailer bikes there and ride ? Any suggestions? Thanks

[@4570duplex]

@@2007srv Boy, I wish! Unfortunately, I'm all the way up just outside of Seattle. All the way down to Humboldt Co would be one heck of a ride on that bike. Looks like there should be a good deal of great riding out there. Maybe someday... Meanwhile, I wonder if there might be some kind of a local trails guide on the web somewhere. There are some available for trails in my area, so I would be surprised if someone hasn't done the same down there.

[@2007srv]

@@4570duplex Thanks yes I know BLM land has maps for here , We live 5 minutes to Shasta Lake and across the dam is a lot of trail riding and scenes . I think were going to start posting vids on my channel :) .. Take care man ride safe .

[@zaq2938]

The NSU problem was finally fixed by SUZUKI in 2017 , it's nice that it only took 20years to fix it. I was wondering Barry if you have heard the rumor that the DR will be discontinued next year from the 1st November 2021 because all registered bikes must have ABS fitted. Another excellent video , hope you make quick recovery soon .

[@Bush_Tucker]

That's a false rumour that law has been out since 2019 and is only for road going bikes, off-road registered and dual purpose bikes are exempt from this because it is deemed unsafe to have abs on off-road bikes

[@Bush_Tucker]

If their is any truth the to dr650 being discontinued it would be due to emission laws since it's a big single that is carbureted and won't be able to pass emmisions for much longer

[@crosstrainingadventure]

By 'fixed', do you mean they put Loctite on the bolts, zaq? Hopefully this helps but for something that can destroy the engine I'm not sure if it fully qualifies as a fix. 😢 Haven't heard any rumours about ABS etc at this stage...

[@steelmilkjug]

Then you'd better buy a DR650 the way you buy an AR15.... get em while you can!!

[@vodkaismyholywater]

I owned a 1996 dr650 with upgraded gears and a custom comfort seat and bigger gas tank and I rode it 7 years before I needed any major repairs

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Must have had quite a few miles up by then, George 😊

[@rebeldetail6134]

Just bought a dr650 2021 its awesome gonna get a gel seat pretty quick other than that the bike is smooth and has alot of torque and top speeds are good too

[@GreaseAndGravel]

Awesome vid!! I had two KLRs (2000 C-model and 2007 A-model) and now own an XR650L. Everything you said are spot on. I can totally understand why you love the DRs so much. Cheers

[@crosstrainingadventure]

They are so much fun if you don't mind doing a few mods. Mind you, I reckon I'd be even happier if they still imported the XR650L in Australia. Except for the lack of cush drive hub and oil cooler it would probably suit our riding even more. No idea why they stopped bringing them 12 years ago.

[@GreaseAndGravel]

@@crosstrainingadventure yeah, we lost the XRs a few years back in SA too. Wish the XR650R was still available!

[@bryanreeme8584]

Have a gen2 KLR, love it, got it for the simplicity & value.. don't wanna try the others & maybe like em!.. also have a '76 amf "hardley" 2stroke enduro as a smaller bike (but don't wanna get it too dirty!)

[@rustymustard7798]

I ride a gen1, it's awesome! I tried the DR650 and it felt like a toy compared to the KLR. I stripped mine of fairings and about 100lbs of useless factory crap down to the essentials, progressive front springs, doohickey, bigger stator, IMS tank, grippy seat, and a bunch of other stuff. With the front fairing off and a naked style front end as well as a higher front preload with lighter oil makes it feel a lot more active and responsive offroad.

[@demetriuscooksey7147]

I have owned the DR and the KLR in the past. The KLR was more comfy on the open road and I loved the range I got with the big tank. The Dr just performed better in every other way. Its power to weight ratio was way better and some how continuously got 5-10 mpg better than the KLR. I'm not an aggressive dirt rider but the suspension did seem lacking at times. My biggest complaint for either bike was the gearing. They need a lower 1st gear so you can walk the bike over road/trail obstructions and they need a taller 5th (or a 6th) gear for riding on the highway. In my opinion the thing that stops these bikes from being true dual sport, do all Swiss Army Bikes is the gearing. Everything else can be swapped around and built to suit each person's needs.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

They seriously need a sixth gear, or at least a better spread of ratios, Demetrius. But I don't think we'll ever see that unless the Japanese get really serious about innovation and becoming market leaders again.

[@demetriuscooksey7147]

@@crosstrainingadventure your probably right. How hard would it be to cut a gear or two a little different. At least for that Top Gear, I mean the speed limit is like 20 mph faster on the interstate than it was when those models were initially designed.

[@sportonmoto617]

I’ve had both a KLR and an XR. Loved them both but found your assessment to be 100% correct. Now have a BMW F650Gs Dakar which is a totally overlooked option in the segment! It’s about the same weight as the KLR ( little bit lighter) and has more horse power!

[@tysleight]

BMW has a image issue ( only for rich guys that trailer the bike more than ride it is what comes to my mind when I think BMW adventure). They also seem to be less user rebuild friendly. I can find parts for my KTM anywhere and some professional grade info on fixes. Not saying I would not like a gs.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Yep, heard good things about the Beemer! But I just kept this to the budget range of 650s so left out bikes like the BMW, KTM 690 and Yamaha 700....

[@Dowent]

KLR 650 C - haven't seen any videos on it, but it pushes the KLR more towards the dirt while still providing the water cooled engine that is great for long stretches and solid tail frame for the luggage. Plastics don't brake, I've tried many times, but wind protection is poor, it still weights a lot and 6 gear is nowhere to be found.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

yes the japanese seem to have some kind of allergic reaction to sixth gears lol. except on the 250 dual sport bikes. a similar problem with hydraulic clutches....

[@Dowent]

@@crosstrainingadventure I think that the lower torque of the 250 allow them to fit the 6th gear into the narrow frame, but 6th gear in the 600 thumper would mean too wide engine. Funny thing is, my 250 dirtbike also only has 5 gears, but then again, that thing is crazy slim.

[@thumpervansqueakynuts5848]

So glad I bought the xr over the dr with this info, I do mostly trail riding occasionally I don’t want to load the bike to get to the trails so I just ride it there, will be fitting an oil cooler soon

[@jgrc73]

650r is an option too

[@artguerrero9952]

KLR funk yea! Gen1: welding truck, Hobbs NM, dun mare horse headed to the rez. Still kept on thumping! Bikes are beast! And ask any KLR hater: " hey does your dual sport have a moniker?"

[@olddad111]

I got a 650l for mexico. Took it one time, sold it and bought a KTM 525 and wow what a difference. Alot less weight and more hp.

[@tomservo5347]

What I hate is that I don't own these 3 models to reach my own conclusions. The KLR seems to be the most 'middle of the road' bike, like the best hybrid between a cruiser and dirt bike possible. It's like a Swiss Army knife-not as good as the tool fully devoted to it's purpose but able to perform anything asked of it in one package. I'm getting older and everyone I've talked to that's owned a KLR usually says that it is one of the most comfortable bikes they've ever ridden-so that's the clincher for me.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

The KLR is definitely the most comfortable... big plush seat, fairing. Great for highways or easy dirt roads. Of course the others can be given the same through accessories but it's extra money. I'd suggest the main thing against the KLR is its weight the moment you do anything tougher than a dirt road. But in the end you do really need to ride them yourself to see which suits.

[@royjames196]

I owned a 2001 which got totaled and a 2003. It’s definitely a comfortable bike. It’s more off road capable than it gets credit for but definitely not in the DR category off road.

[@johnnyturbo8460]

I love my DR650, IT GETS THE JOB DONE! My DR650 has over 22 thousand miles (over 35 thousand kilometers) on it and she still runs like a champ, last time i did a tune up and had the spark plugs out, i put a bore scope in the spark plug hole and the cylinder walls STILL HAVE the cross hash marks from when it was new. Very little carbon build up.. Thanks Amsoil, i put that SH!T in everything! It works

[@Angry-Lynx]

22k is nothing for ds bike ; dont act surprised that it still runs well, lol ;

[@crosstrainingadventure]

i can't find the post, but i remember some guy had half a million km on his DR... maybe 300,000 miles? he had done the rings twice and was wondering if he should resleeve the bore or just ride it until it wore out.

[@johnnyturbo8460]

@@Angry-Lynx true. Im just a proud owner of it. (I imagine you mean DR ) but i got what your saying

[@johnnyturbo8460]

@@crosstrainingadventure that's impressive

[@elgringoec]

Thanks for reminding us of something we've known since 25, 30 years ago. 🤯🤣 I still ride my '04 XRL. Occasionally. I don't know if any of these bikes are still available new in the US. Would be nice to get your take on the newer lighterweight adventure bikes. You guys have had the long awaited T7 there for over a year... Cheers!

[@elgringoec]

@THAT Guy I thought they finally dropped it but it might be. They were up to 7k three years ago. They're damn reliable and very forgiving. It's no KTM but then again I blew a few KTM riders away...