There is nothing spectacular about the Kawasaki KLR650, and even this is an understatement. This bike is passing almost unnoticed in the media, even when new model years make appearance. However, the KLR650 is one of the gateways into the adventure world, much like the old Honda XL600V Transalp was.
This means that the bike is an excellent educational platform for new riders, and will make do in pretty much any scenario. After all, it looks like this type of anonymity is fact one of the trademark characteristics of true dual-sport bikes, and we could add other 650cc machines, such as the Suzuki DR650 or the Honda XR650L to the list.
Still, these low-profile motorcycles are the ones that will sometimes fare better than the overly-hyped big-bore adv bikes when the going gets tough. Lightweight, simple, and easier to maneuver, these dual-sport machines are also way cheaper than the likes of the BMWR1200GS, Yamaha XT1200Z or the KTM 1190/1290.
It's the same low profile that causes the manufacturers of aftermarket parts and accessories to sort of overlook these motorcycles. In a way, it's a common sense marketing move, as the customers who spend big bucks on expensive machines are more prone to keep spending on aftermarket add-ons.
A guy who buys a cheaper do-it-all-go-anywhere bike is believed to be less willing to equip it with state-of-the-art adventure parts, or in any case, go for the lower-priced ones.
Middleweight all-rounder/adventure bikes are really popular in Europe
Middleweight adventure bikes are, however, much more popular in Europe than in North America, most likely because on the Old Continent, bikes are used more for practical reasons than for social status.
It may sound a bit blunt, but this is how things really are. More Europeans who decide to get a bike, do it because they actually need one. For often weekend outings in the wild, faster, more economical and funnier daily commuting, vacations and other similar purposes, Europeans do put such bikes to work and appreciate it more than their US fellow riders do.
With the financial crisis causing people to turn to more affordable bikes, machines like the Kawasaki KLR650 became more visible, hence manufacturers such as Touratech making a bolder move in this segment.
The video below can also be regarded as a small review of the bike, though KLR650 owners will tell you that there is so much more to this bike than meets the eye. Some of those who viewed it complained that the Touratech riders looked like they lost a bet and were forced to ride the KLR. Still, having ridden similar machines, we can vouch that there's nothing they do in a spectacular way. However, it's the fact that they can do pretty much anything in a more than satisfactory way that earns them many points on the practicality scale.
It's good to see that Touratech is developing a range of KLR 650-specific products. This lays a good foundation for future developments in this segment, and possibly for more bikes like the KLR.
So far, Kawasaki KLR650 gets Touratech exhaust pipe and side stands switch protectors, progressive fork springs and two rear shocks, a Hyperpro rear suspension spring, bar risers, alu panniers and sidecase/topcase racks, wide serrated foot pegs, and a headlight metal mesh protector, with more items likely to follow.
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