Here's a good read-This guy took a KLR that has been around the block more than a few times on a long trip:http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=762691 As with any bike you should be or learn to be somewhat mechanically minded, especially when your taking it beyond borders... Not knowing much and relying on the dealer network makes a trip much more expensive and perhaps in some cases a lot shorter than planned... The KLR is very simple, it contains one computer module that tells it when to spark at the plug, so the whole bike and any problems can be diagnosed and sorted without plugging into a computer... When it comes to making any bike reliable on a long trip a sharp mind is one of the best tools in your toolbox...
Well this is going quick. I just talked to a friend, we're going to trade bikes for a week or so. No title signing, just trying each other's junk out. His 2011 KLR for my 2002 XR650R.
You can find great deals on KLRs by calli g Harley & Honda shops. People buy KLRs only to find out its not "street" enough and trade them to dealers etc. Any new bike shop will have a couple KLRs in them. I bought 2009 KLR with 1200 miles, fully farkled for only $4200. You can find faily low mile gen2 bikes for 3500 to 5000
There are a lot of great comments and I am leaning heavily toward the KLR. I purchased mine sight unseen from an inmate here about five years ago. I wanted an ugly bike in good mechanical shape I could take to South America or loan to beginners who wanted to try dual sporting (not loaning a beginner a new GS!). Anyway, I had it about two weeks and the spark plug blew out of the top(think it was held in by crazy glue or something). Luckily it happened within pushing distance of Badlands in Las Cruces. Well, we tore the bike apart and replaced the top end and piston. At the same time we added a stainless steel front brake line, progressive springs and shock, a 6.6 gallon tank, gel seat, upgraded the frame bolts, and did the "doo". The bike has new 606's on it and I know it needs a new chain and sprocket. It's battery is less then six months old. I will change the oil and filter before leaving and probably again in Panama. I have the large dirt bagz on the bike and a waterproof duffel from Wolfman complete the luggage. I am thinking cheap hotels instead of camping We can ride our own schedule south. Since I am retired the time is my own and Panama is 800 miles closer then Anchorage. And if it breaks or gets stolen, so be it.
I wonder if the responses would be a little less one sided in the BMW forum... I'd go with the KLR myself... Sent from my phone with magic.
I have absolutely nothing against BMWs -- in fact, I've loved the three I've owned. I was determined to by a BMW dual-sport before I rode my current KLR. If I am in relatively civilized parts of the world, there is nothing like the German product. However, out in the bush, there's much to be said for a bike you can fix yourself with a rock, in a puddle filled with alligators. I'm also a former classic Land Rover owner. The two share much the same charm. It's not that they never break. They do. However, it's usually a pretty simple matter to see what is wrong and remedy it. Spares are cheap, and fairly common. You're not tied into a dealer network. For example, most bush mechanics understand carbs. If your fuel injection goes gaga, there's not much to do but get on the phone to a dealer who knows what to do. Not that fuel all over isn't of a superb standard. . . Running some water through KLR carbs isn't going to harm them permanently. It really does a number on FI vehicles. Ask me how I know. Ya see, my brother borrowed my rig one time. . . I also don't worry too much about my KLR being stolen. They are simply not sexy enough for the average thief (although there places where they'd steal a red-hot woodstove.)
I dont believe the real question is about which bike to take. There are constant posts of that nature almost weekly. The internet is filled with opinions on everything imaginable! The real issue is stepping up to the plate and making a decision. What I with my stable of bikes (BMW and KLR) or the guy down the road has does not matter in the least. Any one of a dozen bikes will be good enough. Flip a coin if you have too, take that one and be happy with the adventure that results! You will not get far down the adventure trail looking backwards.
An incentive for choosing the KLR, IMHO! Given the low-dollar asset value of a KLR, I consider it neo-expendable, given the price of a vacation nowadays. Take the net: Monetary value, on-the-hoof; less whatever salvage value may be available locally, and . . . bet you haven't even come close to a typical inclusive vacation "package" deal. (Oh, yeah; add your bus fare back home, from Tapachula, Mexico! )
i was living in sayulita, mexico for a year (last year) and meet alot of thru riders. most where on KLR650s or DR650s because of the simple tech and cheaper looking bike (theft concerns). avg speeds are 45mph south of the US. i'd go through your KLR and take that. new: bearings, chain/sprocket, tires, cables, plugs, fuel filter, brake pads, cush drive washers...any wear item plus adjust your valves. if it fails SOB it's much harder to find parts but labor is cheap if you have spares.
I've never gotten more than 1,800 miles off a rear D606. Usually around 800-1,000 miles. Might want to think about putting tires with more longevity on them for the trip, or shipping yourself replacements.
If you go KLR, make sure you PM halfthrottle for some info. He is back in the states now but spent alot of time in Panama with his KLR. He may have some insight on many aspects of your adventure.
I have both a GSA and a thumper. If were starting in Canada, I'd be really torn, since the GSA is an amazing road (paved or otherwise) bike and the ride across the US would be brutal on my DR. When I ride the DR, I don't really notice the vibration and lack of power but getting back on the GSA is a revalation (so smooth, so powerful, so heavy). The GSA is out of its element on any rougher than a dirt road, though. Since you are starting on the border, I'd take the thumper.
Here was my KLR's odo back in June: Add 3K to that number and that's where I'm at today. The bike still runs just like it did when I bought it 6 yrs ago when it only had 11K on the odo. Still burns a quart of oil every 1K miles if ya run it over 5K RPM sustained, and a half-quart every 1K if ya keep it below 5K. Doesn't make any funny noises, or I should say it makes the same funny KLR noises it's made for the last six years. All original internals, apart from the doohickey which was changed out at 11K (stocker was fine, it's on my keychain now). I'd check the valves, put a new rear tire on it, change the oil and ride it across the country tomorrow without a second thought. And since somebody's bound to ask--I run 15W-40 diesel oil (Rotella, Delvac, Delo, whichever's cheapest) in it. I used to change oil every 2K, but the last couple years I've been pushing it to 3K between changes. Might start pushing it to 5K between changes if I ever get tired enough of the bike to try to kill it. Every great once in a while this has been known to happen, I don't know how or why