[chipyting]

Well, technically I still own it but I gave it to my son to ride, but I'm sure I'll ride it from time to time. I am picking up a 2011 KLR 650 tomorrow, I just wanted something with a little more comfort and range. It's a really nice bike. The Tdub will always have a special place in my heart, they are such great little bikes. You salem boys, let me know when you are going on a ride sometime, I'll ride up and join you! Long live the TDUB!



Looks like this.

 

[DonBenito]

Congrats on the new bike, those KLRs are serious machines for those with the stilts to straddle 'em!



My wife has been eyeing my T-dub lately and thinking about taking the MSF ridercourse, so I may be in the market for a 2nd bike myself soon.



I'm thinking my best option might just be picking up a used TW to ride the backroads and trails with her and then saving up for a big displacement sport-tourer to really scratch that pavement itch I've been having.



Let us know how the extra 450cc and seat height stacks up against a torque-delivering fat rear tire, and whether or not that added displacement and fairing fill the gap between a TW and a liter+ pavement-focused bike well enough to win over those readers who are currently on the fence.



As a rider who's looking at frequent oil changes and triple-digit heat for the next couple of months, I'm definitely jealous of that water-cooled engine!

 

[retmotor]

Congrats on the new bike.

 

[HenryJ]

Congrats! I went the same way. except I bought Gen 1. You are going to enjoy it. I am on the opposite side of the state or I'd show you some trails to ride. Plenty to ride over there too though.



For those with the shorter legs, the Corbin low saddle is a huge improvement. The stock seat was not unbearable for height in my case, but ate up my back side. I needed a better seat to be able to ride it for longer periods. (like to town and back

) I have a feeling you will want to make a change too. I hear good reports on the Sargent.

I put the Corbin low seat on KLR1 so my wife would fit on it and liked it so much myself, I put another on KLR2 for me to ride.

 

[chipyting]

Nice looking seat, where'd you get it, how much was it? I rode for 200 miles today and the seat did become uncomfortable, I'll check it out for sure.



Thanks!

 

[HenryJ]

Nice looking seat, where'd you get it, how much was it? I rode for 200 miles today and the seat did become uncomfortable, I'll check it out for sure.



Thanks!

Watch the classifieds over on http://www.klr650.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=42

They show up at reasonable prices from time to time. That is where I found two.

 

[elime]

I have a Suzuki DR 650 but honestly I find the TW more fun. I think it is the "kick over factor", Don't misunderstand, I would never intentionally kick it over, but if I do have a mishap it is no big deal. On the Suzuki every little scratch really hurts!

 

[chipyting]

That's so true Tony, the TW is more fun to mob around town. On the open road it's night and day, apples and oranges different. 80 is the new 50. I could cruise on the Tdub around 50, no problem, on the KLR I was rolling along on the way home on a 55 mph backroad and looked down and was going 80. I backed it down immediately, but was really pleased on the road manners. I'm sure the TW is more fun in dirt as well, but I only really traveled forest service roads, so I'm sure this bike will be just fine in that scenario.

 

[805gregg]

I had a KLR the happest time was when the new owner drove it away, should have got a DR better off and on road.

 

[chipyting]

I had a KLR the happest time was when the new owner drove it away, should have got a DR better off and on road.

That's not what I've been reading. The DR is better in the dirt, KLR on the road is what I've been seeing. I looked at both but the KLR won out for me, but honestly, I probably would've liked the DR too. I don't know what you didn't like about your KLR, for me, It was honestly one of the best days of my life Saturday when I bought it and rode it home up the Oregon coast, something I would've never done on the TW, too many hills and too many cars from Florence to Eugene. BTW, it's a bit dickish to tell someone they bought the wrong bike, just FYI.

 

[lizrdbrth]

I'm on my fourth KLR since '85. I did stray once for less than a year when I thought I'd give a DR a chance. Sold my last KLR at 80,000 miles and I still see it go by my house occasionally. The timing chain was` a bit stretched. I told the new owner about it, he changed it and for all I know has racked up another 80 thou.



No DR I ever heard of lived to 80 thou without multiple top ends.



My current KLR just turned 40,000. Checking the valves is a major PITA, but it's needed exactly one shim in 40 thou.



It'll cruise at a GPS'd 80 all day long and I've done 15-hour Iron Butts on it. Do the math. with fuel stops and chow that's well over 80 as an average. Half the number of fuel stops vs. a DR, BTW.



It's a little over 700 miles from here to Moab. Wanna ride to Moab, carry a week's worth of gear, play all week then ride home, take a KLR.



The DR may be less a handful offroad, but for the difference I'll just drain half the fuel out of my KLR and spend more time at the gym. I keep my crap forever. The DR is long gone.

 

[elime]

No DR I ever heard of lived to 80 thou without multiple top ends.

Is that the difference between air and water cooled?

 

[DonBenito]

Is that the difference between air and water cooled?

Sitting in traffic today in 108 degree heat, I had a lot of thoughts about the differences between air and water cooled engines.

 

[lizrdbrth]

The DR is a good piece. Has a`pretty solid motor with a huge oil cooler and holds up well enough for what it is. It's the rest of its equipment (and lack of equipment) that makes it better than the KLR offroad.



The KLR is a water pumper with a low-sress 40 hp. Its pluses are greater longevity, fuel capacity and roadworthiness. Saying a DR is better both off and onroad means you take pretty short roads.



Not quite apples and oranges, but they're different critters with lots of overlap. The DR will never quite do what the KLR excels at, or vice-versa. Purely a matter of priorities.

 

[Xracer]

If you have any questions about your KLR ask. I've got a 08 and have done several mods to fix some of the short falls and to make the bike fit me.I've also still got the Dub!!

 

[Rhodetrip]

Proud owner of a TW200 AND a KLR650. Just back from a 3200 mile-10 day trip on the Trans-Labrador Hwy.

 

[HenryJ]

Proud owner of a TW200 AND a KLR650. Just back from a 3200 mile-10 day trip on the Trans-Labrador Hwy.

That IS what they were made to do. Congrats!

 

[Loppy]

Just to throw a little more fuel on this fire... if my pockets were deeper, this would be my big bore adventure bike.

690 ENDURO R: POWERFUL ALL-ROUNDER

http://www.ktm.com/us/enduro/690-enduro-r-usa.html