Take the existing Kawasaki KLR650, upgrade the engine, ignition, suspension, brakes, frame, cooling system, lights, weather protection, styling, and comfort levels, and you still have the most affordable PROPER adventure bike around – just a more accomplished one. 

Kawasaki's fourth-best selling motorcycle, the durable KLR650, has seen very few changes in the two decades it's been around. The dual-purpose single-cylinder motorcycle has sold in huge numbers around the world, and 21 years after its launch there's still no indication of sales ever slowing down. Nip onto the Internet and Google “Kawasaki KLR650”, and you'll find about 132 000 English pages devoted to the much-loved machine, thanks to its low cost, simplicity of design, and the fact that it's about as fragile as an anvil. Its enormous fuel tank and 400 km+ range made it a favourite amongst those who like getting away from civilisation, and its low mass and lively engine performance made it a perfect all-purpose commuter/explorer/tourer. The KLR650 has also gained credence as a weapon of war, and has been used alongside its smaller sibling, the Kawasaki KLR250, by the US Marine Corps as its official combat motorcycle since the early 1990s.

But now it's even better! 

For the 2008 model Kawasaki started by revising the styling to something more suitable for the 21 st Century. The new KLR650 retains the huge fuel-tank capacity of its predecessor, but a higher windscreen and larger radiator shrouds now offer much better protection against the elements. The seat has been redesigned to provide more comfort for both rider and passenger, and the larger (90mm longer and 130mm wider) rear rack makes available more space for the luggage adventure riders need to carry with them. A slimmer tail section makes it easier to mount panniers or saddlebags, and modern instrumentation allows the rider to ascertain at a glance all he needs to know about his machine's performance. Sexy plastics with a new, high-output twin headlight lit up by a more powerful alternator finally rid the KLR of its much-loved but dated eastern-bloc appearance.  

Although the KLR650 would have continued selling well with a mere facelift, Kawasaki elected to considerably improve the machine's performance in line with its new styling and comfort levels. Revised cam timing allows the engine to rev more freely, for improved high-rpm performance, while the intake porting was altered to increase bottom-end grunt. A new piston with thinner high-tension rings, to significantly reduce oil consumption when the bike's ridden hard, rushes up and down the massive 100mm bore, and a new one-piece exhaust pipe improves breathing right across the rev-range. A modern transistorised ignition unit ousts the earlier analogue CDI, a throttle-position sensor allows more precise power delivery, and a thinner, lighter, Denso radiator offers 20% better cooling than that of the outgoing model. 

Because the 2008 KLR is capable of covering ground considerably faster than the earlier bike, Kawasaki realised the handling and brakes also needed to be beefed up. The 38mm front forks that served so well have made way for heavy-duty 41mm units, and the front spokes have grown from 3,5mm to 4 mm in diameter to present more rigidity. The rear suspension linkage has been revised for better performance and ride quality both on and off-road, and the '08 KLR now bears lightweight petal discs front and rear, mated to new dual-piston callipers at each end. The front disc has also grown from 260 to 280 mm. A new D-section swing arm and rigid forged lightweight axle holders complete the chassis upgrade. 

Although the new model now offers less suspension travel (200 mm vs. 230 mm up front, 185 mm vs. 205 mm at the rear), the additional movement of the old model was mainly taken up by suspension sag when the bike was loaded, so off-road performance is not compromised, while on-road handling is markedly more taut on the new machine.   

There are over 40 other smaller changes to the Kawasaki KLR for the 2008 model year. The indicator switch now has a press-to-cancel switch, meaning there's no longer any need to search for the “off” position between left and right, and the sturdier side-stand has a larger base-plate, preventing the bike from toppling over when parked on soft ground.

Motorcycle journalists who attended the launch of the new Kawasaki KLR650 in California last month waxed more than enthusiastic after riding the bike over 400 km of mixed terrain. Dirck Edge of Motorcycle Daily was unstinting in his praise.  “The stiffer suspension, stiffer wheels, improved aerodynamics and broader engine power add up to a KLR that is dramatically improved, without changing its character…. It is still one of the few bikes that provides miles and miles of highway comfort yet can tackle just about any off-road situation the adventure-tourer might consider worthwhile. … The KLR offers substantial off-road capabilities while being one of the most comfortable (if not the most comfortable) dual sports ever made for highway travel. Frankly, the new KLR650 is so comfortable on the highway, and provides such good wind protection, that it could be seriously considered as an alternative to a dedicated sports tourer.”

James Holter of AMA News was equally impressed.  “No question, the new bike definitely stops better, pulls stronger, corners with more confidence and feels way more comfortable while doing it. And that goes for both the dirt and the pavement.”

Kawasaki knew that they'd enrage lifelong fans of their big thumper if they turned it into a sort-of two-wheeled Rav4 soft-roader, so they made sure the new model retained the soul of the old, while doing everything much, much better.

Specifications

Model Code	KL650E8F
Engine Type	4-Stroke, liquid-cooled, Single
Displacement	651 cc
Bore Stroke	100.0 x 83.0 mm
Compression Ratio	9.8:1
Induction	N/A
Fuel System	Keihin CVK40
Ignition	Full Transistor
Starting System	Electric
Transmission	5-Speed
Frame Type	Semi-Double Cradle, High-Tensile Steel
Rake/Trail	28° / 112 mm
Suspension Front	41 mm Telescopic fork
Suspension Rear	Uni-Trak
Front Wheel Travel	200 mm
Rear Wheel Travel	185 mm
Front Tyre Size	90/90-21
Rear Tyre Size	130/80-17
Brakes: Front/Rear	Petal Disc/Petal Disc
LxWxH	2,295 x 960 x 1,350 mm
Wheelbase	1,480 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity	22.1 litres
Seat Height	890 mm
Dry Weight	175 kg
Max Power	44 PS @6500 rpm
Max Torque	50 N-m @ 4500 rpm
Colours	Candy Lime Green, Blue or Sunbeam Red