It finally happened. Ryan from FortNine, the man who killed the unkillable KLR650, has finally gotten his hands on the new bike, and shared some thoughts.
He doesn’t have much to say, mind you. The F9 YouTube channel has been running low on gas lately, with some behind-the-scenes turnover, so this is only a short look at the machine and a few of its key upgrades, not a longer deep dive into the machine’s yeas and nays.
The most important spec of all? That price tag. If you can find one in stock, you’ll pay $7,499 plus taxes and fees in Canada, Ryan’s homeland. In the US, it’s $6,699. In Australia, it’s $8,899. For that money, you get a bike that you can ride around the world, on paved roads or unpaved roads, and unlike other budget-friendly dual sports, you won’t be stuck in the slow lane and hampered by high winds. Buy a KLR, add heated grips, proper handguards and a skid plate (or don’t), throw on a set of saddlebags, and the whole world is open. You’ve spent roughly half the price of a Yamaha Tenere 700, and there’s nowhere you can’t go, if you don’t mind a bit of pushing and shoving and grunting.
Especially as pricing rises for the Suzuki DR650 as the bike does not move a step forward technologically, the KLR continues to look better and better as the Last Bargain Buy In The World Of Adventure Bikes. All the current-gen technology you need (EFI, optional ABS, LEDs), and none that you don’t (no traction control, no “hill start assist,” no AI-powered cruise control). It’s too bad other manufacturers aren’t interested in the idea.