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2000 Kawasaki KLR650 Motorcycle reviews

4.8 (19 reviews)
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Reliability
4.8
Overall quality
4.7
Performance
4.7
Comfort
4.7

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19 ratings and reviews

Voted most helpful review

Brian

Tallahassee, Florida

Reviewed on January 26, 2011

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
I bought my bike in September of 2009 with about 13,500 miles and have since put about 4,500 miles on it. I had no riding experience until I took the MSF course. I was worried about the seat height and balance of the bike but after more than a year of riding on mostly street but a little sand and dirt, I c... read more
I bought my bike in September of 2009 with about 13,500 miles and have since put about 4,500 miles on it. I had no riding experience until I took the MSF course. I was worried about the seat height and balance of the bike but after more than a year of riding on mostly street but a little sand and dirt, I could not have made a better choice. My only complaint that I did not get a bike years ago. I am planning on trying out a little neighborhod riding with a passenger before considering buying a second bike in a few years. THE KLR STAYS! It is a great first bike and will make an excellent "spare" down the road.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
4.0
Comfort
4.0
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Voted most helpful review

Anonymous

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Reviewed on November 17, 2004

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
I bought mine in '99, a 2000 model A14. I am on the 20K as we speak. Overall, a great and fun experience. I would never take this bike on the long run (2000 +), because I think it just simply does not have the comfort I need. On the other hand in the city there is no better bike. Enough power, light, large ta... read more
I bought mine in '99, a 2000 model A14. I am on the 20K as we speak. Overall, a great and fun experience. I would never take this bike on the long run (2000 +), because I think it just simply does not have the comfort I need. On the other hand in the city there is no better bike. Enough power, light, large tank, tall sitting, and people do make some great comments on it. It's not an H-D, but an H-D is surely not a KLR either. Even if I get a get another bike pretty soon, the KLR will stay in the family.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
4.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
4.0
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Voted most helpful review

Bryan

Toronto, Ontario

Reviewed on May 13, 2002

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
I got a great deal on my used KLR650. With the money I saved, I upgraded the brake lines, pads, fork-brace installed, hand guards and front springs. Simple mods to the airbox and jetting smoothed the power delivery. Now I have a great bike that will do 100mph on the highway and as fast as you care to go in th... read more
I got a great deal on my used KLR650. With the money I saved, I upgraded the brake lines, pads, fork-brace installed, hand guards and front springs. Simple mods to the airbox and jetting smoothed the power delivery. Now I have a great bike that will do 100mph on the highway and as fast as you care to go in the woods. It has more than enough power to climb any hill off-road without breaking a sweat. I manage to keep up no problem with my buddies on their DRZ400's in the tight single trails. This is not a light two-stroke dirt bike, but when you work around it's off-road shortcomings (front end will not come up, really heavy to pick-up) this bike will go anywhere. Just gas it and hang on, it will go through any mud bog. don't expect to race any real off-road bikes, but it will keep up if your riding skills are up to the task. While your buddies are loading their bikes on a trailer, your half way home already. It also does well as a two-up tourer for day trips and a sport-bike in the twisties. A great value, if you can only have one bike this is the one.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Pete

Houston, Texas

Reviewed on November 6, 2001

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
I bought mine used with 15,000 miles. I installed a Supertrapp and rejetted the carb and really woke up the midrange. I have owned many performance dirt and street bikes, and I am very impressed at this bikes total practicality. It's not fast, but it's powerful and predictable. If you can make the l... read more
I bought mine used with 15,000 miles. I installed a Supertrapp and rejetted the carb and really woke up the midrange. I have owned many performance dirt and street bikes, and I am very impressed at this bikes total practicality. It's not fast, but it's powerful and predictable. If you can make the leap from a gasoline truck to a diesel truck, you will dig this bike. Great tool.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

J Gregory

Camden, Arkansas

Reviewed on July 10, 2001

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
I love MY KLR650 it does what it was advertised to do. I live where half the roads in the county are unpaved gravel, it takes them with ease. I have taken it to the rocky mountains and went over passes on rock roads no problem. I've driven many a mile on interstate highways at eighty miles per hour no ... read more
I love MY KLR650 it does what it was advertised to do. I live where half the roads in the county are unpaved gravel, it takes them with ease. I have taken it to the rocky mountains and went over passes on rock roads no problem. I've driven many a mile on interstate highways at eighty miles per hour no problem. I Have had Harley riders say they would like one for a second bike so they could go some of the places I do. I have been riding since 1963. It is one of best bikes I have ever driven.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

John Toll

Trenton, New Jersey

Reviewed on February 9, 2001

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
I've been riding for over 20 years. This is the perfect motorcycle. It's not sexy & you may get laughed at by the Harley crowd, but the KLR650 ain't about being cool. The KLR650 is about being smart. You will never find a better price/performance ratio in the motorcycle world. This bike will go anywh... read more
I've been riding for over 20 years. This is the perfect motorcycle. It's not sexy & you may get laughed at by the Harley crowd, but the KLR650 ain't about being cool. The KLR650 is about being smart. You will never find a better price/performance ratio in the motorcycle world. This bike will go anywhere. It really does cruise comfortably at 70-80 MPH with surprisingly little vibration. The torque is absolutely awesome & comes in handy off road. With practice & good physical conditioning, you can ride fast & furious off-road contrary to popular thinking. If you're not in top physical condition, then take it easy off road; just go a little slower than you would go on a dirt bike. An engineering masterpiece. The perfect blend of street & dirt in one bike. Did I mention durability? It redefines the word durable. This bike can take serious punishment & then take some more with no damage. If you're about being cool & like to polish & wax your chrome & look sexy on a Saturday night riding downtown, then get another bike. If you like a no worries, do anything bike, then get the KLR650. You'll have some money left over to actually enjoy it. Since the MSRP is about $4800, who cares if it gets mud or scratches on it. The 1999 model actually has a mud splat graphic on the gas tank. The bike looks better with mud & dirt on it. Buy one today; you won't be sorry.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Dr. Actinide

Los Alamos, New Mexico

Reviewed on January 31, 2001

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
I have been a lceensed MC rider for over 30 years - have had many bikes (currently the KLR, a 2000 Hayabusa, and a CT-110). I agree the KLR is too heavy for serious/fast off rioading. But I have put lots of off road miles on just going slower than a more off-road oriented bike (I reference the Suzuki DR350,... read more
I have been a lceensed MC rider for over 30 years - have had many bikes (currently the KLR, a 2000 Hayabusa, and a CT-110). I agree the KLR is too heavy for serious/fast off rioading. But I have put lots of off road miles on just going slower than a more off-road oriented bike (I reference the Suzuki DR350, which is much better off road - but not very satisfying to ride on the highway). The KLR is very very comfortable on the road due to superb ergos and the large tank that drapes over the cyl. head does a lot to cut engine noise. Very rugged, survived several crashes - think of it as a 2-wheel SUV!
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Eric Knight Holbrook

New York

Reviewed on December 22, 2000

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
This was the first "new" bike I bought after many bad experiences with used bikes and a new HondaXL600. First was a used honda XL250 (put on 23,000 miles before I burned out the engine between vermont and Rhode Island), the next was a used honda 350 piece O' cra$% that spewed fuel on my leg, the nex... read more
This was the first "new" bike I bought after many bad experiences with used bikes and a new HondaXL600. First was a used honda XL250 (put on 23,000 miles before I burned out the engine between vermont and Rhode Island), the next was a used honda 350 piece O' cra$% that spewed fuel on my leg, the next was a new Honda XL600 which kept stalling in 2nd gear and the dealer refused to fix it so I traded that for the KLR. I put 26,000 miles on the KLR before I was sideswiped by a car on a two lane highway and both of us (the bike and I) slid about 50 yards. Amazingly, neither myself nor the bike sustained serious damage and we both walked (and drove) away. Handle bars had to be realigned, but man, I was impressed. Even so, that experience shook me up and left me wanting to ride a different bike, simply from a mental standpoint. I got a new Ninja600 (the KLR got $4500 on trade in!!! and I was stunned I have to admit) and had that for 2 years and 10,000 miles, then got a Ninja ZX-11 and put another 30,000+, brought it out west to Washington State when I moved out there for a year,t before I had to sell it because I counldn't afford to ship it back to NY. I'm trying to remember that date I bought the KLR and the year 1989 sticks out. I know it's been about 10 years. Out of all the bikes I've had, the KLR probably has the best memories for me, the least trouble, the best gas mileage, the most durable, the biggest (height wise - can see over the hood of most cars and small SUV's). The ZX-11 the next only because I had to give it up but it was honestly a pain in the ass to keep up, and weighed a ton, wasn't well built and I always got stopped by the cops even if I wasn't speeding. Anyway... my final point is that I'm back in the bike buying time and ... wow... I can't decide now what to get. I thought i was going for another street bike, but the KLR is looking pretty good again, especially knowing all it's Pluses, and all the negatives of the street bikes (except they look good and they're fast).
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

J.O. Miller

Hesperia, California

Reviewed on November 17, 2000

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
Realizing that dual sports are a compromise; the bike was just what I expected. It is large and heavy. It works great on the highway and on dirt roads. If you are going to get into a situation where you will need to pick it up to turn around, you might consider a bike more suited for off road use. I am ver... read more
Realizing that dual sports are a compromise; the bike was just what I expected. It is large and heavy. It works great on the highway and on dirt roads. If you are going to get into a situation where you will need to pick it up to turn around, you might consider a bike more suited for off road use. I am very pleased with what I got for my investment. When I want to go exploring the mountains near my home, this works much better than my Wing! There are better road bikes and better dirt bikes; my friend's xr400 works better in the woods, but as a compromise bike; I like it very much!
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Druid

Oregon

Reviewed on September 22, 2000

Motorcycle reviewed 2000 Kawasaki KLR650 view listing

5.0
If you can only afford one bike, this is the one to buy. It is comfortable for two-up traveling, can handle rough roads and pot-holed city streets, has great range, and it is reliable. If you want something to ride without a passenger and in the dirt, look elsewhere.... read more
If you can only afford one bike, this is the one to buy. It is comfortable for two-up traveling, can handle rough roads and pot-holed city streets, has great range, and it is reliable. If you want something to ride without a passenger and in the dirt, look elsewhere.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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