The Kawasaki KLR650, the Versatile All-Rounder

The Kawasaki KLR650, time are tough, and new bikes need to deliver more bang for the money than ever before, right? Right. So are there any truly versatile new rides out there? Yes, several and while special offers are by no means uncommon in motorcycle shops, the Kawasaki KLR650 I recently found is solid value for money.

With the Kawasaki KLR650 you get what you really need, with none of the extras. If you don't think a clock or an LCD screen are necessary and if a plain but pleasant liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine is enough for you, Kawasaki may just have your next adventure or touring bike.

Despite the Kawasaki KLR650's dirt-bike looks, the Kawasaki KLR650 is a versatile all-rounder. The Kawa KLR650 is well up to anything from commuting to a bit of a weekend scratch. The power may not be too much to crow about but the cornering clearance is terrific! And of course the KLR650 makes a great basis for a adventures tourer. Kawasaki even has useful and affordable luggage designed for the KLR650.

The Kawasaki saddlebags are made of what Kawasaki calls a unique rubberized vinyl finish and on a recent and very rainy trip they proved effective if not completely waterproof. The saddlebags are a little small but cost not much also. Made primarily of the same material, the Tail Bag costs also not much and expands to take a heap of gear. There's also a tank bag and a tall windshield available. Kawasaki is serious about making the KLR650 as versatile as possible. No hard fittings are required, everything straps on.

While the Kawasaki KLR650 is high, I could still touch the road comfortably at my average height. The simple gauges were well within my vision behind a smart and useful small windscreen., The seat on the KLR650 is what you'd expect for this kind of motorcycle, with my backside getting a little sore after riding 90 minutes.

The rear disc brake is solid and reliable although the front brake, along with the soft suspension, was a little spongy. The Kawasaki KLR650 comfortably sits on the tarmac at 100km/h but still has power for overtaking slower traffic.

The Kawasaki KLR650 is outstanding value. It is tough, mechanically simple, has great fuel range and looks good. If you want something that will tour, is versatile and very easy on the wallet, the Kawasaki KLR650 is it.