In recent times, adventure bikes have exploded in popularity. Manufacturers are all scrambling to cram ever more tech into these bikes in an effort to keep up with- or stand out from the crowd. As a result, some of the most advanced motorcycles on the road today are ADVs. While modern tech certainly adds a level of convenience to a motorcycle, it is not always ideal to have it on an exploration vehicle that will be exposed to the elements.
UPDATE: 2026/07/15
This article has been updated with more information on the bike’s dependability.
Rugged Simplicity Can Be More Reliable
Kawasaki
While much can be said of the latest technology that is making its way into the motorcycle world, and how it can improve the riding experience, when exploring far-flung areas these features are not always desirable. These electronic features add failure points, and no matter how well sealed things may appear to be, once you drown a modern TFT dash, it will fail. Sometimes, simplicity really is the more desirable feature.
Kove Moto USA
This is one of the reasons why more and more buyers have been gravitating towards more simplified dual-sport bikes. While both reliable and more competent off-road, there is a serious compromise to be made in the form of long-distance comfort. The bike in question offers to meet in the middle, giving us the rugged simplicity of a dual-sport, and some of the long-distance comfort usually associated with an ADV.
The Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure ABS Is An Excellent All-Rounder
MSRP: $8,199
Kawasaki
The KLR650 has been in production since 1987, but along with a refresh back in 2022, we also got this adventure model. While it is nothing but an aging dual-sport loosely disguised as an ADV, in terms of use case, this really is one of the best tools for exploration. Over the years, it has proven to be both reliable and immensely durable, able to handle pretty much anything you throw at it. Equally capable of handling the weekday commute and a multi-day adventure ride, it really is one of those bikes that can do a little of everything.
Life Expectancy Of A Diesel Truck
The reason we’ve picked the KLR650 here is that it has cockroach-like reliability and a life expectancy comparable to that of a diesel truck. Keep it maintained, and it can keep chugging along for years with just routine maintenance. Look at online forums, and you’ll find many high-mileage examples with 50k to 70k miles on the odometer. We even found one KLR650 with 172k miles.
A rider on a Kawasaki KLR650 kicking up dirt on a dirt road in the countrysideKawasaki
It’s the reason people pick this old dual-sport ADV for around-the-world tours. Sure, the GS is the more popular and fancier one, but when you want to attempt to cross the Darien Gap or cross desolate Mongolian plains, it’s the KLR650 that is more dependable. It’s also affordable, cheap to fix, and even a truck mechanic can work on it. This is the bike that took Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, a prolific writer and motorcyclist, on his global circumnavigation ride in 2001 and 2002.
Kawasaki KLR650 military-spec model with a diesel engine on a navy ship, rear third-quarter viewU.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Larry Carlson
This is also one of the very few bikes trusted by various governments, with several police forces, armed forces, and municipalities worldwide using it. The US Marine Corps also commissioned this bike, though with some modification to the engine, resulting in the KLR650 M1030M1. It had different pistons and other internals, designed by Hayes Diversified Technology, so it could run on diesel rather than petrol. It’s reasons like this that the KLR650 can last for so long and why people consider it among the most reliable bikes ever built.
The KLR650 Adventure Makes Use Of A Big Old Thumper
Power: 40 Horsepower
Kawasaki
This huge single is the main reason why the bike is so durable, and also one of the main reasons you might think twice about buying the bike. For those used to how much a single-cylinder motorcycle vibrates, it is not much of an issue, but if you are coming from a multi-cylinder bike, the KLR650 will feel like a paint-shaker. The only issue this engine has had throughout its production life was an idler shaft lever (it keeps tension on the counterbalance chain), known colloquially as the “doohickey,” which was prone to failure. Kawasaki finally rectified this issue with that 2022 update, and as long as you make the necessary adjustments prescribed in the owner’s manual, there won’t be an issue.
Kawasaki
These engines are understressed, and by modern standards, have a low compression ratio of 9.8:1. As such, they will run on poor quality fuel without much fuss, and keep going forever. Even with the “doohickey” issue, people continue to buy, sell and repair older models because everyone knows just how durable the rest of the machine is. With such a big following, these bikes all come with a built-in community, which is something that is pretty difficult to put a dollar value on.
The KLR650 Adventure Really Can Go Anywhere
Kawasaki
The KLR650 is not fast. It is a motorcycle that requires a commitment to taking life in the slow lane, quite literally. But, you really can go anywhere at that sedate pace. Like most modern ADVs, it has a relatively tall seat height of 34.3 inches, but this affords the bike a respectable 8.3 inches of ground clearance. While this is not the best nor the worst in class, it comes equipped with a decent-looking skid plate and robust frame sliders, so when you do drop it or scrape the bottom, it won’t be too much of a drama.
Unlike most modern adventure bikes, which are street bikes made to work off-road, this is a genuine off-road bike made to work on the road. As such, long highway stints are not for the faint of heart, as the vibrations and wind buffeting will combine to make it a less than pleasurable experience. While it does come with better wind protection than the average dual-sport, it is still more at home on back roads, and obviously, completely at home off-road.
An All-Inclusive Adventure Package
At this end of the market, KLR’s biggest drawcard is just how much value it packs. While this is, by no stretch of the imagination, an advanced, feature-rich motorcycle, it does come equipped with everything you need to get out and explore. You get decent side cases, factory-fitted fog lamps, hand guards (albeit a little flimsy looking), and a DC socket so you can charge whatever electronics you do bring with you. It is ideal for those that want a bike that is ready to go anywhere without having to make any upgrades or modifications.
Naturally, any bike this versatile is never going to be great at everything. In fact, we would go as far as saying it is not particularly good at anything at all. While it is primarily an off-road bike, all the added weight, even without filling up those side cases, makes it pretty heavy for a dual-sport, with a wet weight of 487 pounds. Make no mistake, it is still competent off-road; it just won’t be as good as the base model, or any other dual-sport, really.
As previously mentioned, sitting at highway speed for hours on end is not its forte, and realistically speaking, that is precisely where you will spend most of your time on any adventure ride, unless you live on, or near a BDR. Buying a donkey like this is a commitment to a certain level of discomfort, which is not a bad thing at all. At the end of the day, if comfort is really what you are after, then taking the road less traveled might not be for you.
Source: Kawasaki
