Kawasaki Klr65o

KAWASAKI KLR65O

A rally hike for the real world

ROUNDUP

QUICK RIDE

SWING A LEG OVER Kawasaki's KLR65O, and you just might start thinking about the joys of compromise.

You'll notice the bike's sizable proportions. With its sporty mini-fairing and motocross-like seat height, you'll notice that the KLR is fashioned to resemble a Paris-toDakar rally bike. And you'll notice that at 405 pounds with a full fuel tank, the KLR is hard ly a candidate for desert racing.

Sound confusing? With the KLR, Kawasaki never intended to build a dirtbike, or for that matter, a true P-D replica.

Rather, the KLR is an example of the ultimate compromise. It's a streetbike that can be taken off-road.

Unchanged over the past five years, the KLR's dual-over head-cam, four-valve Single displaces 651cc via a 100mm bore and 83mm stroke. Dual chain-driven counterbalancers reduce engine vibration, but not enough to smooth out the images in the rear-view mir rors. Rubber-covered footpegs help keep some of those vibes from the rider's feet.

Electric starting makes for convenient operation in either hot or cold conditions, and once warmed, the liquid-cooled engine offers a wide power band. Though not the most powerful in its class, the KLR's roll-on performance is impres sive; a twist of the throttle sends the Kawasaki jetting through traffic.

Less impressive, however, is the KLR's stopping power. Both wheels are fitted with small, drilled discs and single piston calipers that fade under hard use. Ridden at slower speeds, the KLR feels more at home. Its suspension, with well-chosen spring and damp ing rates, handles everything from potholes to tree roots. The KLR's rear shock is ad justable for spring preload and rebound damping and, like the fork, offers 9 inches of travel. For street use and light off roading, the fork works well enough, but when pressed to its limits, the air-adjustable 38mm unit will squirm and bottom.

Keeping in step with the sus pension, the KLR's semi knobbed Dunlop tires also suggest compromise. Both ends offer good traction on the street, but are limited off-road. In the dirt, the 21-inch front tire wanders and has a difficult time maintaining a tight line when exiting corners. Ground clearance is commendable, es pecially on the Street where the tires slide before the pegs touch. Off-road, a plastic skid plate protects the crankcase from damage.

On pavement or off, the KLR is plenty comfortable. The thickly padded seat is long and wide and the motocross style handlebar aids quick di rection changes. In fact, the bike's comfort levels are such that with the addition of a set of soft saddlebags and a sport pack bungied to the rear rack, the KLR65O becomes a capa ble long-range ride.

Though biased towards the street, Kawasaki's KLR65O, priced at $3699, is a worthy dual-purpose compromise, es pecially for those with a bit of desert adventure in their blood.

Matthew Miles