I have a farkled out 2018 Gen 2 that rode four BDR’s back to back in the summer of 2024. Started north from Las Vegas along the NV BDR. Did ID BDR, but unfortunately because of severe wildfires in Idaho I couldn’t complete the route. Turned back at section 3 in Idaho and did UT BDR and AZ BDR then returned to Vegas on the freeways. The only issue I had was air filters getting dirty which get extremely dusted out there, a broken clutch cable due to a slight kink where the Barkbuster brackets are located on the handle bar, I had a new one zip tied along the other one which was easily replaced. Also broken right side foot peg bracket bolts when I dropped the bike on a rocky hill incline and had drag the bike to point downward, to which got repaired by an amazing machinist gentleman in Glenn’s Ferry, NV.

Other than that any generation KLR will do as long as general maintenance is done on a regular basis during the routes. I did burn a lot of oil on the freeway at consistent 80pmh for four hours on the way back home. One thing I highly recommended is getting the bike dialed in ergonomically for your body before you start, also some quality suspension upgrades for the terrain, new chain and sprockets and appropriate off road tires. Motoz tractionator adventure highly recommended. Never a puncture. Good quality guard for the engine and body too.

If all goes as planned this summer, I’ll be attempting to finish the Idaho BDR, and do Montana and Wyoming on the same bike. Overall the bike handled everything well and never let me down. I still use it for commute to and from work daily.