KLR 650 ABS base model

[catcitrus]

Glad to hear you are settling in. I had a matt green KLR 650 when I worked for CAT in Peoria a few years ago. I didn't do much to it and it certainly did everything quite well--including the county dirt roads in Arkansas. I have now bought a second hand F800 GT--same engine as your GS I believe, but with belt drive. Ticks all the boxes for me with full luggage, low seat etc----the engine has linear power and is quite smooth, and getting smoother. I think its been poodled around a bit so needed some exercise. I'm looking forward to some long trips on it. There is quite a F800 community in the US and threads on the ADV forum--so you could go back and get another one out there!

[Apophis]

So I have had the bike back and have been riding it to break it in and now I am kitting it out for travel
I am finding that the price of things in the UK is just a rip off I am going to list the price in what I paid and then in pounds

So I had the Following Bits from the UK when I moved Sat NAV and Touratech locking bracket Kriega Tank and US 5

KLR 650 $6473 £ 5220
state tax and registration I purchased it in Illinois so had to go to the DMV to do this in Wisconsin and its cheaper than Illinois $551.39 £444.66
that price includes Road tax for 2 years

Crash bars made By Tusk $179 £144
Pannier racks and Panniers and handles also Tusk $565 £455.64
Rear Monokey universal Givi plate $74 £ 59.67
wire spot lights connectors switch and mounts $200 £161

I also purchased Lomo bags for the bike in the UK £40 a pair

the bottles and carriers I had as they attached to my rear box I also brought over from the UK but I did have to By the mounts from Touratech
$55 each $110 £88

so a total so Far on this bike to Buy and prep for touring is

£6612.97p
So total in US dollars $8200 and to Buy what they call the adventure out here is $8199 plus state tax and registration and prep fees https://motohunt.com/l/7912256/2024-Kaw ... enture-ABS

not to bad for Brand new bike kitted out to My speck Oh plus £80 for the USA maps for the Garmin

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I have a few more bits to do on the bike like a better screen for me I am also going to do the Thermo bob Mod before I travel on it as it is one of the Must do Mods on the KLR even for the Gen 3 bikes and once it is out of the factory warranty I will also do the Dohickey mod as well

As these parts are freely available out here and if I ever do return to the UK this bike will come back with me I may as well get the parts and do the Mod's recommended

[Apophis]

Its been a few weeks the bike is returning 50.4 MPG -US and 68MPG -UK

My sat nav failed so sent it for repair and paid $150 for the repair but it came back as a 350LM with US maps so saved me buying an extra set of maps for the wife's sat nav

she liked mine so much she got the kLR 650S S meaning the short version LOL and then we had them lower it 3/4 of an inch she says it is like riding her G650 she had in the uk

the wife has the medium Panniers and I have the large they have the same mounting so can be mounted to either bike and we purchased a cheap back box from Amazon but if I'm truthful this is as good as the Givi back box I have
both bikes have the same Protection bars and Emma has tested hers out already by dropping the bike.
we start our travels later this month and will post some more soon.

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[Apophis]

Well we went up north this weekend to a place called bolder Junction and, on our ride, out on the Saturday we visited Michigan and got to the shores of Lake Superior this was our first American rally and when we arrived, they were like you rode here well ye it's a bike rally not a trailer rally
anyway, everyone has their own view on this.

going up we didn't touch any major roads and it was fantastic riding coming home was less exciting we stuck to the interstates and eat miles

here are a couple of the pics from the weekend on the KLR's

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[catcitrus]

I did one or two when I was working in Illinois and they were typically in national/state parks with excellent facilities----including a beer trailer! I had a KLR 650 too when I was there.(earlier model in matt green). Ironically I now have a F800 GT here in the UK--nice bike all round--one of the best I've had over many years. (I know you had the GS version in the UK). What are you doing for a living in the US out of interest?

[Apophis]

I am a support engineer for the following instruments I fly around installing them and support the engineers around the word to fix them as well

https://www.cameca.com/products/apt/leap-6000

[catcitrus]

just had a look-- very high tech and specialised analysis system.

[Apophis]

Been a while since I posted winter has been cold this year and we have been down in the -20C for a fair portion of it so to cold to ride with out getting
frostbite plus the wife won't let me.

So I had the same cold start issue this year as last and the Stealerships out here just Arnt interested in after sales anyway lets not dwell on that

I did a few Jobs on the bike this winter and have the odd day to test ride it
first two Jobs are Engine Upgrade Mods one is for the cooling it is a radiator bypass that stops the bike getting cold Coolant dumped into the cylinder called the thermobob this is meant to help stop the Cylinder go out of round

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The next mod is called the Doohickey and is replacing the Balance chain tensioner lever and spring this is an up to you mod and there is a constant argument as to the need for it. the top is the new version from Egale mike, and the bottom is the Kawasaki version

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I also did the Valve clearances and they were out of spec after doing these it cold started go figure the bike is also now running on Full synthetic oil

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