2008 KLR

[Mike-H]

Anyone ridden a new 08 & the older model that can give some feedback?.....Is it worth buying the new vs the old?.....thanks

[JamesG]

yes

[Mike-H]

OK.....may I ask why?.....

[Johnny Monsoon]

No.

[Mike-H]

Sorry.....no need to explain....just realized why.....Nebraska,....Omaha.... definitely says it all..... .....

[JamesG]

I think this has been asked/discussed a couple of times here and I KNOW its been talked ad nauseam over on www.klr650.net .

Do a search here for "2008 KLR" and wander on over to the above web site to read about everyone and their Grandpa's opinion on the new bike vs. the old one.

[Albie]

Maybe  

[Mike-H]

Thanks JamesG....

[Johnny Monsoon]

Well, what are you buying it for?

To commute?  Foul weather commuting?  Then get the new one.

To run through trails, commute, generally beat up, tour to less-hospitable places?  The old one.

Just to have a DS bike on the cheap?  Certainly an old one.

[Mike-H]

To run trails & beat on it.....I've got a couple of street bikes as it is....one for hooliganism (European CB1100F) & one for distance riding (FJR 1300) of which I both bought new....I've got friends in the business so I'll probably buy new....@ a very good price.....plus I heard the brakes & suspension are much better on the new KLR.....

[Johnny Monsoon]

To run trails & beat on it.....I've got a couple of street bikes as it is....one for hooliganism (European CB1100F) & one for distance riding (FJR 1300) of which I both bought new....I've got friends in the business so I'll probably buy new....@ a very good price.....plus I heard the brakes & suspension are much better on the new KLR.....

You'd do far better to get an older one; the plastics are a lot cheaper and a lot less fragile.  No need for the increased (marginally) wind protection if you're just going to be offroading it and beating on it.

The suspension is NOT better than the older units for offroading.  Further, you can get the older stuff to act a good deal better than the 'other' (it ain't newer, just different and just as old) suspension for that kind of work.

Brakes are beyond capable for offroading in stock form.  However, I'm all about having better brakes and getting an upgraded, oversized rotor kit is easy for $300.  Considering that you can get a relatively new KLR650 for around $2500 (usually with some farkles on it) and do all the really upper-end mods for dirt for $500, you'll be far better with an older unit.

However, if all you're going to do is beat on it and you're not planning on doing any distance, I'd opt for a KLX250S (serious dirt, quite good on roads), a DR650, or a DRz400 over the KLR.

[BlueRidgeKat]

To run trails & beat on it.....

I'd go with the 08 as well. Just put a set of these on it. http://happy-trail.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=4-8-5B%20/%204-8-5G

[sagerat]

I've got an '05 and have ridden my buddies '08s both on and off road.

For what you want do with it, get a used one for $2,500-$3000 and have fun.

[Mike-H]

I know I should pick up a used one but the new ones sure look nice...I think it's the "new & shiny" that I'm finding hard to shrug off.....that & breaking it in myself....& the fear of buying someone else's problems..... ....

[SWriverstone]

I **finally** got to check out the '08 KLR in person at a local dealer (who **finally** got a few in!)

Bottom line? It's a street bike.

Yeah, yeah---I know it's basically the same bike with improved brakes, doohickey, lights, etc. But what I'm sayin' is that it looks like a street bike (where the old one looks like a dirtbike), and I frankly wouldn't want to be on something that looks like that on a singletrack trail somewhere in the woods. It might sound silly, but hey, appearances count, right?  

It was interesting to note that Kawasaki **had** to have copied the V-Strom with the new front fairing. Stand behind both bikes and look forward...notice the resemblance? (Almost identical!) Not surprising given the popularity of the Stroms...

I'm not knocking the '08 at all...just saying it looks like a street bike, and I'd bet there won't be a whole lot of good engine guards/nerf bars made for that bulbous fairing! (And I'd still swap the '08 seat out for a Corbin flat seat!  )

So I'd call the new KLR the "Poor Man's V-Strom," LOL. It looks like a great bike for someone who wants a reliable, fuel-efficient bike for the street that they might also occasionally take on dirt roads.

Scott

[Squiggy]

I've been pondering very seriously that my next bike will be the 2008 KLR.

I did do some research into both the new KLR vs the Husqvarna TE610 over at Adventure Rider and Thumper Talk. They both have their pros and cons, but for what I think I'll be doing, I believe the KLR would serve me better.

It's a bummer that the TE610 doesn't have more accessory options (primarily luggage) for a bike that has been out for several years now.

[sagerat]

Happy Trails has Paris-Dakar nerf bars as well as radiator guards for the '08 and sideracks, too.

Don't listen to Scott, my buddies have taken their '08s in some fairly gnarly areas.  

If I could only have one bike, I'd pick my KLR which has displaced the Ural as my most fun ride.

[Mike-H]

Well I've got it down to either the KLR or a DR650....I'll probably wait till the manufactures motorcycle show in December for a deal regardless of which way I end up going....decisions, decisions.....gotta love buying new bike....I just hope the other bikes in the stable (garage) don't get jealous  ....

[sagerat]

Get a copy of the Oct. '08 "Motorcycle Consumer News" which has a comparo between KLR 650, Honda XR650, Suzuki DR650, and BMW XCountry 650.  Article sums the pros and cons of each.

-----Spoiler Alert!-----












KLR wins.    

[Mike-H]

Get a copy of the Oct. '08 "Motorcycle Consumer News" which has a comparo between KLR 650, Honda XR650, Suzuki DR650, and BMW XCountry 650.  Article sums the pros and cons of each.

-----Spoiler Alert!-----












KLR wins.    

\

Thanks already got it (motorcycle consumers news) awhile back....thanks for the heads anyway.....