KLR is done, and no 2019 model. This article speculates that the KLR will be replaced by a Versys 650 X. More of a off road version of the V650.

https://adventuremotorcycle.com/news...continued-2019

Wow! Was thinking about selling the FZ6 for a cruiser or KLR650 and here we are!

This has nothing to do with an off-road version of the Versys 650 but I read an article the other day that was one writers opinion of the "best" ten touring bikes in the US...........the Honda Gold Wing was on the top followed by the BMW 1600 and then down the line with HD's a Yamaha's, etc.... The last (10th) was the KLE650FF........Versys 650 LT. They pointed out that "touring" has many demands and one of them is curves which a light touring bike like the Versys handles very well.

i guess ill keep my 2011 now it's going to be a collectors item

The Versys is such a dang good bike. Just read something about Ari Henning bought one for his personal bike. Zack Courts in his review basically said, he would buy one with his own money today and ride it across the country without question. I mean those two guys have been on EVERYTHING. That is high praise to hit your own pocket book for one.

Ill be interested to see what and if they do a 650 "off road" I mean we all know the carb is what killed the KLR. So Im kinda just imagining a KLR with an ninja motor.

will be interesting to see the new presumably dual sport versys 650, but really sad to see the KLR canned. it's been around a long time, and an icon in its own right.

Probably won't have to wait too long, the shows where they release new bikes are in Nov and Oct. So just around the corner anyway.

Keep fingers crossed and lets see what Kawa has in store for 2019.

Versys X-400 would also make sense as a replacement to me, and is closer in weight to the KLR.

If they give whatever it is decent suspension then itll be tough resist. The Versys and KLR have lamentable suspension bits from the factory IMO

The Kawasaki 400 engine IS the Kawasaki 650 engine with sleeves installed to reduce the bore. This means there is no weight, cost or size advantage with the 400 over the 650.

Are you 100 percent sure on that? I know Kawasaki did that a few years ago for some non-US markets, but I thought the new 400 engine was an all new engine like the 300 engine before it.

I really enjoyed my '08 KLR 650. Just didn't feel like it had enough when I started doing more distance riding so I replaced it and the Ninja 650 with the Versys and the KLX250S. Wish I would have kept it because it was fully sorted and had every accessory imaginable installed by the doctor I bought it from.

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Of course this could just be like the KLX250S that was absent from the lineup for a couple years and came back exactly the same except for fuel injection.

Need "Mind Blown" emoji. Wow, hope it's like the Yamaha 750 world raid or smaller Africa twin. Hope they do it right.

A fuel injected KLR... you think they have their panties in a bunch over it not being produced anymore? Imagine if Kawasaki removed the good ole reliable carb from it

According to a Cycle World article on the 2018 Ninja 400: "Kawasaki says the engine is a clean-sheet design."
Here's the article:
https://www.cycleworld.com/2018-kawa...-review#page-6



I'd sure like to see it put in the Versys X !!

Those of us who own and love KLRs might want to consider stashing OEM parts. Soon's a model run ends, parts-wise you are down to what's on the shelf, and when that shelf runs low that's it. For example, I have a highly customized 2007 named Biffy Bullfrog. Biffy sports in the neighborhood of 58,000 miles on her clock. That's a helluva lot for a Kawi thumper made in Thailand. If I intend to keep her, I would be wise to stash a pair of fork seals, a 685 bore kit, maybe a Thermo-Bob ( about the only mod the PO missed ). I have probably cleaned out Biffy's carb eight or ten times; so I might be wise to stash a needle and float valve.

Things to think about.

My '08 had a KLX650 carb needle in it. The KLX650 was only made in the early 90s. I don't think you will have a problem getting common parts and there were so many KLRs made that the aftermarket will still support it.

There are 'build' stories of the KLRsys on ADV rider - V engine in the KLR ONLY adds 10 pounds, IF I remember correctly!

When I had a KLR we went thru this "weight" thing on the KLR Forum, till some of us weighed our KLRs... - actually came in at about 417 pounds, close to the Versys.

FWIW - Bill Watson (watt-man) who makes the ThermoBob, has around 150,000 miles on HIS '04 KLR.

I knew a one-legged man.