A winning formula for Kawasaki that they were careful not to screw with too much. It’s the only large single-cylinder Adventure Bike on the market with wind protection and long haul luggage capabilities, from the factory, available for 2022 (so far). With large flap-type (not wrap around) handguards and my knees tucked in behind the fairing and reshaped 6.1-gallon gas tank (now with more usable volume), we all realized that the KLR650 is in a league of its own. Neither position caused any negative feedback from riders, and in that case, no news is good news. To change the position, you’ll need to remove the windscreen (4 bolts) and then move the mounting plates (another 4 bolts) to a higher position. The stock windscreen has two positions available. Out of the dozen or so testers of the KLR, no one complained about wind protection or buffeting from the 2-inch taller windscreen. Windscreens are such a touchy subject with Adventure Riders, and what might work for one person might not work for another. Although, it does get a nice 1/2-inch bar above the dash for mounting a phone or GPS, and there is now 80 watts of additional power available to use for electronic accessories or heated gear. It also gave more information than the new unit as it lacks a Tachometer, and other gauges like temperature are now just a warning light. The dual analog speedo and tachometer dash on the outgoing model of the KLR just felt more at home on this “bare-bones” Adventure bike. The new LED headlight and turn signals bring higher visibility and add a more modern feel to the 37 year legacy of the KLR, while the LCD Display (no TFT yet) is, unfortunately, an attempt at being modern. The flat graphite with camo graphics even has some sparkles but looks dusty quickly on the gravel two tracks of NM. So does the Khaki-Tan unit but in a very understated KLR way. The side fairings, gas tank, and the rest of the bike look fantastic, especially in the orange color, which has metal flake in it. Speaking of the “tip,” the front fender is very much a “take it or leave it” type unit. The bodywork, shrouds, and lighting cover of the KLR are all-new from tip to tail. When factoring in a group ride of more than 12 participants and photo and video stops, I spent 12 hour days on the bike and can confirm the seat is plenty comfy. While some readers may scoff at those numbers, I can assure you it’s more miles than most press launches cover. So let’s go over the key changes and what stood out during two days of testing that covered roughly 450 miles. “All-New” for 2022, the KLR650 gets a lot of upgrades and refinements that we’ve covered in detail in our initial announcement.

2009 kawasaki klr650 review