Honda XR650L v Suzuki DR650 v Kawasaki KLR650!︱comparison review & known issues

http://crosstrainingenduro.com The best Japanese single? XR650L, DR650 or the KLR650?
0:19 Honda XR650L the good stuff
2:07 Suzuki DR650 the good stuff
2:59 Kawasaki KLR650 the good stuff
3:30 XR650L known issues
4:00 DR650 known issues
4:22 KLR650 known issues
A comparison of the budget light weight 650 singles still available brand new! The Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L and the Kawasaki KLR650. Which would suit you best? And what are the known issues? We'll start with the DR650. We have jumped it. Wheelied it. Thrashed it. And made all sorts of wild claims about it. Some viewers have told me they bought a DR650 based on my videos, which does worry me a bit. As there are other options. It's no longer available in Australia, but many countries still have the Honda XR650L. And many claim it is a superior bike. Is it? Maybe. It depends on your style of riding. In our opinion, the DR650 is a true big bore dual sport bike. The XR650L is more of a big bore dirt bike. While the Kawasaki KLR650 is for highway cruising and smooth dirt roads. Sure there is plenty of overlap. Some modify the Honda XR650L and do crazy long road trips. So why is the Honda XR650L best for offroad riding? It's the lightest by a long shot. It has the best suspension, and the longest travel. Which also means great ground clearance too. A shorter wheelbase makes it very nimble in the dirt. And a wide ratio gearbox gives you a low first gear, and a fifth gear suitable for the highway. Although some complain the gaps between certain XR650L gears are too wide. Others like me will modify the hell out of the Suzuki DR650 and get it close to the XR650L for dirt riding. But hopefully this guide should help work out which bike will suit you best. Over to you, Matthew for our Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L and the Kawasaki KLR650 review. Thanks Barry. Unlike the 17 inch rear wheel on the others, the Honda has an 18 inch rear wheel, giving you a huge variety of tyres.vAs is the fuel tank size. The Suzuki DR650's oil cooler and larger oil capacity work well for long distance. First gear is too high for slow dirt riding but fine for general dual sport work. The mediocre suspension is okay as long as you are a gentle rider and not overweight. The Suzuki DR650 has the lowest seat of all three bikes, plus a further lowering option at the rear linkage. It's main drawbacks on the highway compared to the KLR are the lack of fairing, a hard narrow seat and the small fuel tank. But in stock form the Honda XR650L isn't great for long distance. With no oil cooler it can run hot when pushed hard for extended periods, and wrecking valves has happened. It has the least oil capacity, the smallest fuel tank, and that very high seat height. Also there's no cush drive hub so it's not smooth on the road and the gearbox will probably wear faster with big mileage. The best dual sport bike? The Suzuki DR650. It's not great off road. It's not on road. But it's a good compromise and various mods will help with either. It's weight is between the other two bikes. Your thoughts on the KLR650, Matt? Matt: The Kawasaki KLR650 ain't much fun off road, The Honda XR650L problems? The Kawasaki KLR650 problems? The pre-2010 models were known for using excessive oil. A weak weld on gear shift lever breaks very easily. Use stronger sub-frame bolts if loading up the rear rack. Barry! It's the heaviest by far, the suspension wallows if pushed hard, and there are big repair bills if you crash and damage that fairing! But the weight makes it stable on the highway and smooth dirt roads. You'll love the fairing especially in poor weather. Your ass will love that comfy seat, as will any pillion passengers. You even get a rear rack with the Kawasaki KLR650! Plus it's water cooled which is great if pulling high speeds for hours on end. A quick look at known issues with our comparison of the Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L and the Kawasaki KLR650 reviews. While all three bikes have great reputations for reliability, a few issues can stick out for long term owners. Don't overtighten oil drain plug - the thread strips very easily. Most importantly fix the 'doohickey' problem before it destroys your engine!No cush drive hub can lead to premature countershaft spline wearing and the transmission too. Fit a cush hub if doing long distance. And the DR? Matt: DR650 problems? There's a small chance the NSU bolts can work loose and destroy the gearbox. The countershaft seal can pop out on pre-2013 models, and there's a very small number of third gear failures. See our DR650 known issues vid for more details. There you have it guys, our comparison of the Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L and the Kawasaki KLR650. If you have further tips let us know in the comments.
KLR FOOTAGE: thanks to RideWithWill
   • Can the KLR650 do OHV dirtbike trails...  
XR650L FOOTAGE: Thanks to CANTSiR    • Видео  
Music: "Round 2" by Dolby
#crosstrainingadventure #dr650 #klr650 #xr650l