In 1987, Kawasaki debuted the KLR 650, an incredibly versatile motorcycle. It competes in a segment of bikes known as dual-sports or adventure bikes, depending on who you ask. These motorcycles have off-road capability that rivals a dirtbike, with good street performance as well. Adventure Bikes are typically expensive because of their versatility. The KLR, on the other hand, can be had for just over $6K new, and a couple of CNY motorcycle dealers still had them in stock when this article was written.

It featured a carburated single-cylinder 650cc four-stroke “thumper” engine which proved, throughout its incredibly long production life, that it was nearly invincible. It put out a whopping 42 horses and 34 ft-lbs of torque, which is very torquey for a motorcycle. The engine did have 1 flaw that enthusiasts refer to as the “doohickey”. This small driveline part, more formally known as an idler shaft lever, is rarely durable. It is easy and cheap to replace. The rest of the bike is as ironclad as the rest of the engine and even if a part does break, replacements are easy to find due to its span from 1987 to 2008 with almost no changes. Most things remained the same even after the 2008 refresh until its discontinuation in 2018. It will be dearly missed by many riders who see its value and how it has impacted most, if not all, current adventure motorcycles. Rest in peace, Kawasaki KLR 650.