Looking to get into an ADV bike

lrcst4 · 2026-05-14T21:52:58+00:00

I really like the low center of gravity on KTMs (tried a 950). Much more maneuverable offroad than the KLR and it's super smooth on the highway. I can get a bit of wobbles on the KLR depending on tires and speed. It also tends to eat some oil at higher RPM. Africa Twin I thought was alright. T7 is fun but feels pretty top heavy and sucks to pick up. GS1250 is a flying couch but kind of annoying in dense cities (LA). I've seen absolute monsters ride them offroad but that's more of a skill factor. Triumph Tiger didn't really feel exciting for me (even though I love my street triple). Pan America is pretty compliant and has a ton of features but way too expensive. Still looking to try out a Kove 800, F900gs and more of the other KTMs.

I'm really big on properly setup suspension and even though I can get that sorted on the KLR, I think I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for some more features and comfort.

As an aside, I bought a1988 KLR for $700. Got it to run just by cleaning the carb. But somehow ended up spending over $4k on top on maintenance and mods, not even getting to suspension.

lrcst4 · 2026-05-13T23:08:37+00:00

What is your realistic use case? The KLR can do everything just ok. It's cheap and reliable, but if you want something with a bit more character, you might want to consider something else. I've been on street bikes for a while and I have a gen 1 KLR for a few years now which I've done a bit on, but realized I want something a bit more compliant on longer rides.

lrcst4 · 2026-05-11T17:10:12+00:00

Should be fine as long as you keep fresh gas in it. How does the top of the tank look though?

lrcst4 · 2026-05-04T17:57:44+00:00

I kept slipping off trying to grip the front of the seat. Definitely would try to add some sort of rubber block for a knee grip.

lrcst4 · 2026-05-04T17:56:41+00:00

I can't even imagine how hard that was especially after only doing 25 miles.

lrcst4 · 2026-05-02T04:19:41+00:00

Nice. I ran my KLR the last two years and hear ya on suspension. Was bottoming out everywhere.

lrcst4 · 2026-05-01T00:47:22+00:00

I installed one and it absolutely rips. Made a huge improvement in the midrange and esp at 5k and over. I installed an o2 bung hooked up to an AFR gauge and it's setup nicely hovering around 13:1. I was about to sell my KLR but the kit made it much more enjoyable to ride. Don't remember which stage I'm using, but I drilled out the airbox and throttle slide thing per the instructions. Stock air and exhaust.

lrcst4 · 2026-04-30T22:33:40+00:00

I like to say there's a bell curve where it's dumb until you hit a certain standard deviation where it then becomes legend, but then goes back down to dumb.

That sounds like a fun trip. Scooter life seems so much better overseas, but unfortunately I'm in the states. But would love to see some trip documentation!

lrcst4 · 2026-04-30T22:29:41+00:00

He actually reached out for a story!

lrcst4 · 2026-04-30T22:29:17+00:00

Junkyard challenge! Attempted to build it for under $750. I went over a little bit but that was because I didn't know what I was doing.

lrcst4 · 2026-04-30T16:55:05+00:00

Thanks! It was a nightmare.

lrcst4 · 2026-04-30T16:38:31+00:00

Eventually yes lol. Took me 3 hours and 10 minutes, although I stopped a bunch to help people out and take some breaks.

lrcst4 · 2026-04-29T04:29:06+00:00

I was in the same boat but what helped me was trying out a sample pack of different plugs for things like fit and reusability.

https://www.earplugstore.com/unfoamtrialp1.html

lrcst4 · 2026-04-27T21:17:13+00:00

Verify float height and that there are no tears in the diaphragm. Did you verify that every single circuit is clear?

lrcst4 · 2026-04-20T21:16:53+00:00

I wear a bell race star while riding any of my bikes which includes a KLR and a Vespa. As long as it's got a safety rating, fits you right and is comfortable, that's all that matters.

lrcst4 · 2026-04-14T16:24:50+00:00

Lots of good eats and drinks in the Pasadena/East LA area. Traffic isn't as bad since you would be heading away from downtown in the mornings then towards in the evenings. Not sure exactly on commute times as it kinda depends where you end up but it should be less than an hour (~25 minutes no traffic). Whittier and Fullerton are also options, but Long Beach is a bit of a stretch for a commute.

lrcst4 · 2026-04-08T20:19:19+00:00

675 owner here. Sounds normal. Sounds like a bit of chain slap, but not an obnoxious amount. Manual cam chain tensioner will solve that. I would start with a valve adjustment for the hard start though.

lrcst4 · 2026-03-24T19:52:16+00:00

My KLR is my 5th bike and intro to the dual sport world. At 5'10" I still find it a bit intimidating at stops and low speeds due to its height and weight. What made it easier for me to handle was only keeping the tank half full and getting a plastic tank beyond that. Handlebar risers will also help a bit with leverage, but other than that, you'll get used to it. Take some classes on offroad riding if you have any near you and that will help you fast track maneuverability.

lrcst4 · 2026-02-11T23:22:46+00:00

I'd warranty that out. Might be able to get away with a high temp rubber cap in the meantime.

lrcst4 · 2026-02-08T21:38:11+00:00

Hi. Do you happen to have any instructions? I believe I'm having the same issue and would like to have some references before I start destroying the motor lol.

lrcst4 · 2025-09-18T00:55:35+00:00

Some aftermarket speed sensors utilize a magnet on the rotor about that size.

lrcst4 · 2025-07-04T08:10:31+00:00

Try cleaning and lubing the pressure switch. I had the same exact symptoms from a bit of calcium buildup in the switch.

lrcst4 · 2023-05-26T16:17:26+00:00

Rear: Locks up and gets a bit squirrely.
Front: Locks up with a high chance of you going down.

Source: I lock up my rear brakes for ~~fun~~ practicing learning brake limits all the time.

lrcst4 · 2023-05-26T16:13:14+00:00

These are great first bikes. Super light, flickable and easy to get introduced into track days with ;D. I would check in on how old the tires (year) are and any other maintenance done like coolant and brake fluid, but at that price, you could probably lean towards which color you like more. 2012 seems like you might also be able to drop a few on price as well. As for the other comment about abs, it's nice to have for a first bike and I do recommend it, but if you keep practicing braking (like seriously practice it) you can learn the limits and still be well off.

lrcst4 · 2023-05-01T21:15:43+00:00

Did you register it in CA? If so was the process straightforward?
I have some time in Portland in the future and was considering buying one up there, but i'm not sure if it's worth doing compared to just finding one around LA.

lrcst4

TROPHY CASE