Kawasaki KLR650

Pavement Strictly Optional

Finding interesting, new roads on the map is one of life's great treasure hunts. Poring over the topos, looking for previously unnoticed grey lines rife with squiggles is a quest that pays touring dividends time and again. But even the best research can run afoul of the facts. How many times have you ended up miles into your great new twisty discovery and, bang, the dreaded "Pavement Ends" sign appears?

Dual sport enthusiasts will be the first to tell you that Pavement Ends is another way of saying Adventure Begins. And for the last 20 years, Kawasaki's KLR650 has been the embodiment of the traits that make the street-or-trail option so appealing. When first released in 1987, the KLR became an immediate hit among those who champion getting way way off the beaten path. Despite the fact that the initial design has changed little since then, sales still remain brisk. According to Kawasaki, the KLR actually outsells its number two and three rivals (Suzuki's DR-Z400S and DR650SE) combined. Another appealing attribute is the economical entry fee. As of 2007, a brand-new model would only set you back $5,199. And while it could be strongly argued that the KLR ain't broke, there are undoubtedly a few things that, after two decades, could use some fixing. With the adventure touring market exploding in growth and predicted to continue its upward trend for the next decade, Kawasaki figured the time was right to go ahead and spruce things up. But for those KLR purists cringing at the thought of even slightly altering their iconic ride, worry not. The body has received some necessary tweaks, but the soul of the original has remained remarkably intact....

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