| Top Gun Motorcycles |
2008 KLR-650
by Todd Vosper
by Todd Vosper
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is prohibited without the express written consent of the author. For more information or to request permission to publish this
document, please see our contact page. For information on our pledge to maintain your privacy click here. To learn more about
your friends at Top Gun Motorcycles, read about us here.
Initial Impressions
In one word, SMOOTH. That’s the word I find myself thinking every time I roll on the
throttle. It may not jump off the line, but the ’08 is definitely smoother and quieter than
previous models. As you may already have gathered from other reviews on the 2008, this
is a fairly impressive machine on the road. Here are some quick general observations:
The suspension, although not great, is definitely an improvement over the older models.
Both compression and rebound have improved significantly. We made our first ride with
the preload set on “1”, and at 185 lbs, I was using approximately half my ride height. This
is no hit on Kawasaki; the manual states that a preload setting of “1” is for a 150 lb rider.
We’ll take some more measurements and let you know which setting works well for us at
our weight. Obviously, bigger riders will still need a new spring. Wind protection is good; I’
m 6’2” with a taller-than-normal sitting height, and the airflow over the stock screen hit me
at about chin level. However, I didn’t feel much buffeting, and the airflow above smoothed
out quickly. It is quieter than expected as well. The newer (and bulbous!) fairing keeps
most wind from reaching my legs. Braking action is good, but I still feel less dive and more
positive braking on my DR650SE. No doubt it is still an improvement over the older KLR’s.
The front end seems to “fall” into turns, especially at lower speeds, but once the lean
angle is set it corners well and feels very stable. Speaking of stability, I thought this new
fairing would be far worse in a crosswind than the older models. On the very first day, I
brought it home over the Coronado Bay Bridge in San Diego in a pretty stiff crosswind and
thought the bike handled it admirably.
Weight
Now to a question everyone has been waiting to have answered. The owner’s manual lists
the dry weight of the 2005 at 337 lbs, and the 2008 at 386 lbs. Could Kawi really have
added 50 lbs to the KLR? Well my friends, here’s the answer:
In one word, SMOOTH. That’s the word I find myself thinking every time I roll on the
throttle. It may not jump off the line, but the ’08 is definitely smoother and quieter than
previous models. As you may already have gathered from other reviews on the 2008, this
is a fairly impressive machine on the road. Here are some quick general observations:
The suspension, although not great, is definitely an improvement over the older models.
Both compression and rebound have improved significantly. We made our first ride with
the preload set on “1”, and at 185 lbs, I was using approximately half my ride height. This
is no hit on Kawasaki; the manual states that a preload setting of “1” is for a 150 lb rider.
We’ll take some more measurements and let you know which setting works well for us at
our weight. Obviously, bigger riders will still need a new spring. Wind protection is good; I’
m 6’2” with a taller-than-normal sitting height, and the airflow over the stock screen hit me
at about chin level. However, I didn’t feel much buffeting, and the airflow above smoothed
out quickly. It is quieter than expected as well. The newer (and bulbous!) fairing keeps
most wind from reaching my legs. Braking action is good, but I still feel less dive and more
positive braking on my DR650SE. No doubt it is still an improvement over the older KLR’s.
The front end seems to “fall” into turns, especially at lower speeds, but once the lean
angle is set it corners well and feels very stable. Speaking of stability, I thought this new
fairing would be far worse in a crosswind than the older models. On the very first day, I
brought it home over the Coronado Bay Bridge in San Diego in a pretty stiff crosswind and
thought the bike handled it admirably.
Weight
Now to a question everyone has been waiting to have answered. The owner’s manual lists
the dry weight of the 2005 at 337 lbs, and the 2008 at 386 lbs. Could Kawi really have
added 50 lbs to the KLR? Well my friends, here’s the answer:
What's NEW!
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Both bikes were filled to the top with fuel just
prior to weighing. There is a slight difference
in capacity – the ’05 is listed as 6.1 gallons
and the ’08 at 5.8 gallons. From outward
appearances, it seemed to us that the tanks
are the same unless there’s an internal
change that affects capacity (or maybe the
old tanks were listed incorrectly?).
Note that most of the additional weight on the ’
08 is added to the front of the bike. Looking
down into the front end of the bike you can
easily see the extra bracing required for the
new fairing. The new bash guard is well
designed but requires more bracing as well.
This extra weight is NOT good off-road, but
prior to weighing. There is a slight difference
in capacity – the ’05 is listed as 6.1 gallons
and the ’08 at 5.8 gallons. From outward
appearances, it seemed to us that the tanks
are the same unless there’s an internal
change that affects capacity (or maybe the
old tanks were listed incorrectly?).
Note that most of the additional weight on the ’
08 is added to the front of the bike. Looking
down into the front end of the bike you can
easily see the extra bracing required for the
new fairing. The new bash guard is well
designed but requires more bracing as well.
This extra weight is NOT good off-road, but
|
Note: weights may not equal total due to scale error. All weights are in pounds.
| The new bash plate is well-designed, but the bracket is another example of extra weight. |
not nearly the problem it would have been at 50 lbs heavier. DR650 riders take note –
front end weight on the DR-650 is 25 lbs lighter than the ’08 KLR! That’s a significant
difference (read - advantage) off-road.
One concern we have with the ’08 is the large amount, and quality of, the plastic on the
new fairing. It will be interesting to see how the aftermarket attempts to solve the issue of
protection for the ’08. Anything would seemingly have to be very big, which will only add to
the problem of front-end weight.
Suspension Travel
Kawasaki reports rear suspension travel as 7.3”. We put the bike on the lift and went to
work. Kawasaki seems to have been fairly accurate in their claims. We calculated 7” of
travel on our ’08. The difference appears to be mainly the result of our assumptions vs.
Kawasaki’s on how much bump-rubber compression can be achieved. In any case, it’s
pretty close to the advertised number. A welcome change to the outward appearance of
the rear shock is the addition of a dust guard over the lower portion. We’ll be doing more
detailed work on the suspension at a later date.
front end weight on the DR-650 is 25 lbs lighter than the ’08 KLR! That’s a significant
difference (read - advantage) off-road.
One concern we have with the ’08 is the large amount, and quality of, the plastic on the
new fairing. It will be interesting to see how the aftermarket attempts to solve the issue of
protection for the ’08. Anything would seemingly have to be very big, which will only add to
the problem of front-end weight.
Suspension Travel
Kawasaki reports rear suspension travel as 7.3”. We put the bike on the lift and went to
work. Kawasaki seems to have been fairly accurate in their claims. We calculated 7” of
travel on our ’08. The difference appears to be mainly the result of our assumptions vs.
Kawasaki’s on how much bump-rubber compression can be achieved. In any case, it’s
pretty close to the advertised number. A welcome change to the outward appearance of
the rear shock is the addition of a dust guard over the lower portion. We’ll be doing more
detailed work on the suspension at a later date.
To clear up any confusion, the bikes were each placed on the scale three times: once
with the entire bike on the scale, once with front tire only, once with rear tire only.
Those three readings are listed separately in the table.
with the entire bike on the scale, once with front tire only, once with rear tire only.
Those three readings are listed separately in the table.