KAWASAKI KLR650 (2013-2014) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2014, Kawasaki launched the KLR650, which like its predecessors, was one of the best dual-purpose bikes available on the market at the time, that offered good fuel efficiency and the ability to carry large loads while still offering enough comfort for long hauls.

Just like any respectable off-roader, the Kawasaki KLR650 needed a set of cable suspensions, so it came with a 41 mm fork on the front that provided 200 mm of wheel travel and a Uni-Trak five-way preload-adjustable and four-way rebound adjustable shock absorber on the rear that offered 190 mm of wheel travel.

The bike was designed from the beginning as a fuel-efficient machine, rugged, and capable of carrying enough load while offering effective wind protection for long journeys, which made it an unbeatable value for those riders who were seeking adventure at every corner.

As for the braking performance, the model packed a tow-piston caliper that squeezed a 280 mm petal-style disc on the front wheel and a 240 mm disc with a single-piston caliper on the rear, while combined with the suspension package boosted the bike's performance without messing with its versatile off-road capabilities.

The 2014 Kawasaki KLR650 took its thrust from a 651cc four-stroke single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 42 hp with a peak at 7,000 rpm and 47 Nm (35 lb-ft) of torque available at 5,000 rpm, converted into speed by a five-speed manual transmission linked to the rear wheel with a chain final drive.