Kawasaki Klr 650 Review

Used Buyer Review

The KLR 650 is one of those bikes that refuses to die, and that's genuinely its greatest selling point. Kawasaki barely changed the thing between 1987 and 2022, which means parts are everywhere, mechanics know them cold, and the community knowledge base is enormous. Buy one with 40,000 miles and don't lose sleep over it — these engines just keep going if the previous owner wasn't a complete idiot about oil changes. That said, go in with realistic expectations. The doohickey — a balancer chain tensioner — is a known failure point on pre-2008 models and can grenade your engine if ignored. Check service records, or budget $200-300 to have it replaced immediately. The suspension is agricultural, the vibration above 70mph will numb your hands on long days, and it'll never win a drag race against anything. But for overlanding, commuting, or general beating around on imperfect roads? It's almost perfectly suited. Used prices have climbed absurdly post-COVID. Don't overpay. Walk away from anything priced above $5,500 unless it's been heavily upgraded.