KIWI RIDER FEBRUARY 2021 VOL1 | Page 16

ROAD NEWS
torsional rigidity for a more composed ride . A new and 30mm longer swingarm with a 2mm larger diameter swingarm pivot shaft that also contributes to better handling . In order to meet the demands of both on and off-road riding , 41mm front forks with 200mm of suspension travel handle the suspension duties up front . Firm fork springs provide bump compliance and bottoming resistance while also reducing front-end dive under heavy braking . Kawasaki says they have worked on vibration damping to improve comfort . This includes rubber mounting the handlebar and pegs , which have also had their positions moved 10mm outwards to provide adjustability and put the rider in a slightly more relaxed position , to support longer hours in the saddle . A new fuel tank design has the same volume of 23-litres , but the usable volume has been increased and a new fuel pump that draws from the very bottom of the tank , contributing to a longer range . Aesthetically the KLR650 leaps forward with a new LED headlight and forward fairing , however ,
from the seat back the bike looks very similar to the previous model . Included in the aesthetic changes are a new talker windscreen , which is now 50 mm taller for better wind protection and features two-position bolt-on adjustability that allows windshield height to be increased a further 30mm . The seat shape and cover have been revised for increased ride comfort , and rubber dampers have been added underneath to further aid in rider comfort . The pillion grab bars have been reshaped and the sidestand has been shortened by 30mm , to make it easier to deploy when on the bike . The analogue dash cluster has also been replaced , with a simple LCD unit . The instrument panel adds plenty of features the KLR hasn ’ t had before with its speedometer , odometer , dual trip meters , fuel gauge , clock , and indicator lamps . While pricing for the NZ market hasn ’ t been released , the US pricing for the ABS model of $ 6999 puts the pricing of the new model in the region of $ 10,000 which will be a major selling point in the hot adventure segment .
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