Kawasaki Unveils New KLR Issue #227 | Have, Bike, Even, Motorcycle, After

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Kawasaki Unveils New KLR Issue #227

Written by John Fuller
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
After 21 years of production, Canada’s most popular dual sport, Kawasaki’s KLR650 has finally been revised and will arrive in this country in 2007 as an ‘08 model. In keeping with the traditional design the new model’s appearance is similar yet more futuristic with a bigger more angular fairing housing the gauges and a dual bulb headlight. The luggage rack is bigger, the seat more comfortable, the suspension lower and the tank just as enormous, ensuring all the original traits of the KLR remain. The lowered suspension is said to provide a firmer more responsive ride that actually loses a little travel, while the seat height is set a little closer to terra firma. The wheels have been beefed up with stronger spokes and tulip-type disc brakes (280mm/front, 260mm/rear). Even the alternator puts out extra wattage to allow plenty of juice for accessories such as heated vests or grips. So book your holiday and get your tent ready; the planet awaits your adventure and this new Kawasaki KLR is better than ever at being the perfect partner. IF YOU LIKE TO GO FAST OFF-ROAD, THEN KAWASAKI HAS CREATED A new model for you. Based on the KX450F motocrosser, the KLX450R should not disappoint with features offered only by true Enduro bikes. Slated as a 2008 model, the KLX450R will feature a five-speed transmission, electric start, heavy flywheel, and aluminum frame, along with the standard stuff like an overflow coolant reservoir, electronic speedo, largish tank, headlight and LED tail light. Reliability has been enhanced over the KX450F motocrosser with the use of steel exhaust valves instead of titanium and this Enduro bike gets nitride coating on its cam lobes and tappets to extend engine wear. The large can titanium exhaust and lowboy 41mm titanium header should insure an acceptable sound level and along with petal-style rotors, the KLX is pure candy to dirtbike aficionados. AFTER YEARS OF LESSONS WITH MOTORCYCLE MODIFICATION, IT seems I still have trouble learning not to mess with a proven design. It all started in the sixties when I would dismantle my toys in hopes of improving them or modifying them, now its motorcycles. In love with the underdog, I spent countless hours tinkering on many a motorcycle with some getting extensive modification—such as my 1989 TDR250 Yamaha, touted by the fuel tank as the “Ultimate Dual.” This bike was the odd man out in a popularity contest being pricey with a vague categorization, a little too far from a dirtbike and not quite a streetbike. If not for its impressive performance it may have been missed altogether. But, with 50 hp, this 300-lb. (136-kg) 250cc two-stroke Twin was fast and with a six-speed gearbox and pizza-sized front brake the TDR had what it took to make even modern day dualsports envious. My plan was to make it more off-road capable by replacing the front and rear suspension with that of a YZ490, a big project even for an experienced manufacturer let alone a backyard mechanic. The TDR came supplied with an 18” front wheel and I figured if I could mount a 21” wheel, the bike would work better in the trails. The project took years and custom parts were everywhere, including the airbox radiator, and even the frame required massive reconstruction. When it was over I had virtually ruined a rare and exotic motorcycle in the hope of improving what a team of designers struggled to produce. Similar experiences are abundant in my past, and I try to learn from my experiences. But the latest project could not be resisted: installing in my KLX400 a Yoshimura rev kit that consists of camshafts and a new ignition box, boosting the rev ceiling and altering the ignition curve to produce a hoped-for 10 per cent more horsepower. It sounded easy but even the seemingly straightforward task of installation turned to months of fine-tuning and polishing until finally success was met. And remember, this was a product from a company that had worked closely with the manufacturer to design a kit that should be both compatible and simple to install. How far do you go to get the bike of your dreams and is the outcome ever going to be completely satisfactory? My advice: keep it simple, use products that are made for your model of bike and never expect huge increases in performance. Even after big mods a bike will usually not change too far from its original capabilities. The biggest reward is getting it right after what seems like endless tuning. When it clicks, the feeling can’t be compared; you know you’ve created something special that few will experience. WHAT SORT OF INDIVIDUAL RIDES A MOTORCYCLE EVERY DAY, (besides me)? After traveling to Toronto and eastern Ontario recently, I was stunned how few bikes there are on the roads. Even after factoring in time of day, type of road and weather conditions it was rare to see a motorcycle even at rush hour. Have high insurance prices taken over or is it just too much trouble to take the bike? Studies have shown that the motorcycle, once a form of everyday transport, is now considered a purely recreational item, not a utilitarian vehicle. My thinking is that more riders should include a spot of recreation every day, whether it’s on the way to work or to the grocery store. It is unlikely anyone will recognize you with your helmet on if your worry is tarnishing a squeaky clean stature in the community; maybe you have loud pipes. I remember having a normal job once where they would frown upon a motorcyclist showing up for work. But isn’t that why we got a bike in the first place, to be an individual or maybe a little bit of a rebel? Of course, bills have to be paid and mouths fed, so we conform to structure. What happens next is that we park the bike in the garage until Sunday when all our work is done, our loved ones are happy and where they need to be all to get a chance to go for a ride. Is this why large motorcycle shops have recently closed across Canada? I say, break from convention, do what makes you content and ride that motorcycle ... that’s why you own it. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.