I've ridden my friend's T7, and I have a 22 KLR. The T7 has a more aggressive feel. Combine that with the exhaust note, and it wants to go fast and use it's HP. The KLR lets you take things at a slower pace, won't leave you behind and gets you there albeit with the T7 guy waiting for you. Both are great bikes.
I own both and they are 2022 models. The difference I paid out the OTD with extended warranty’s was about $3400.00. The KLR Adventure was $9900 and the T7 was $13,300. I love both, coming from a DRZ400S and riding over 30 years on and off road. These bikes are fun, if your debating between the two (T7 or KLR) if you like the feel of a sport bike power band that has a smooth responsive throttle get the T7. But if you want to get on the road and explore and don’t care about speed and power so much, and plan to cruise a little slower (60mph - 70mph) and need more comfort get the KLR. I really enjoy riding both, but the Tenere is probably my favorite bike to ride out of all the moto’s I’ve owned. Putting a sport bike engine in a dirtbike platform was such a good idea! So fun man…you have a good video and I really enjoyed watching both cruse side by side.
Good to know. Close to 65 but working overseas so no bike time for now. Research phase for now. I'm basing too much on maintenance (valve checks and adjustments) and other than the BMW, looks like the KLR is the next easiest to do. Others are more powerful, expensive and I'm sure fun. Goal at this point in time is get the KLR to gain experience then see if the GSA is still my dream bike after that. Road bikes are fun, been doing that probably too long. Not fast by sport bike standards or any others but my 2020 Road Glide limited with the 131ci kit puts a big smile on my face. 132rwhp/ 144 rwtq. Could do better but this keeps a factory warranty. Overall, it's a thumper thing.
Really enjoyed this one Swanky. I grew up in Milwaukee and spent a lot of time "upnorth" on my grandparents and cousin's farm in Price county, (Ogema/Prentice area) back in the day. We all had dirt bikes and road bikes and spent many hours riding both. As I'm no longer living in WI, I felt I was back there again riding with this vid! I try to get back twice a year but doesn't always work out that way. These dual sports look like a lot of fun! Cheers...
Glad to hear it took you back back Jim! My dad always tells stories about riding dirt bikes all over town back in the day. Makes me wish I'd have been around back then. But I'm glad to have some trails to ride yet and it's hard to beat the modern bikes!
it's great to see the impressions from someone just hopping on the bike cold. I agree that the KLR model in general is a fun and very smile inducing bike on the trails. Something about the way it moves that weight around makes it a bit a slow speed thrill, lol.
I’ve had a KLR. Can probably say one of the nicest KRLs too. Put a lot of money into it. And sold it for a lot more than I bought it for. People were fighting over it. But at the end of the day, you can get a bike a lot nicer for a little more money. Or a used bike for the same money of the KLR. I did. Bought a 15 KTM 1190 adv R.
Do you only eat Oranges? What do you have against Apples? I personally eat both and sometimes I have a hard time deciding which to take. I'm well aware they are different but are they not both sweet and nutritious???
I own an ‘03 Harley Softail for cruising Highways , then I wanted to get into Moto camping so I bought the MotoGuzzi V85tt adventure and I absolutely love this bike ! With that said I do want a motorcycle that I can venture into to harder off road camping stuff and then I find myself looking intently at the KLR650 . If I buy this bike for those shorter ride off road adventures I feel it will be worth the investment. The Moto Guzzi v85 I can ride all day without fatigue it’s super comfortable but it’s a bit sketchy in loose sand with its weight. Good video guys! 😁✌️🇺🇸
While both are good bikes, but I feel it really depends on the sort of rider you are. If "it *can* do highway speeds" is fine for you, the KLR is fantastic. From my perspective, though, the KLR can handle road riding but it absolutely is not *fun* doing it - and if you're not hitting highways and spending all your time offroad, there are better choices than both. On the other hand, the Tenere is perfectly happy railing through corners at 100mph. If you'd never do that, though, and if you don't care about highway passing power, the cost difference makes the KLR very attractive. Me? T7, all day, every day. It's ridiculously capable on road or off, and always fun and exciting to ride. It also bears pointing out that both bikes are *extremely* rugged and reliable, and getting parts for either is trivial. The KLR is a KLR, and the T7 is sporting the same CP2 engine found in the insanely common MT07 and (less common) R7, and has been in production for almost a decade - with basically zero reported issues. Neither have complex electronics, so there's less to fail. A very, very good feature for an adventure bike.
Was waiting for a T7. Got tired of waiting and calling dealers. Found a used KTM 790 2020 for less that $ 10.000 in pristine shape with fantastic upgrades. Just love the bike. Hope it will be reliable.
Loving my '22 KLR650. Its my first dual sport type bike and it has met all my expectations. It has its quirks for sure but for someone just learning to ride off road, its a perfect choice. Seems most comfortable on nice dirt roads but can handle the highway and some serious off road just fine. Even with a complete novice rider on stock tires, I was impressed at the trails it handled without much fuss. T7 might be a better choice for a more experienced rider but the KLR is a great starting point for a beginner on a budget. Spend that extra 3k$ on some roadtrips.
Couldn't have said it better myself! My gen2 was the first dual sport I put a lot of miles on. It was a little tall and heavy for me but I loved every minute of it!
This is by far my favorite comparison of this bike...the best part was spending time with a family member for sure. I be honest t7 by far looks good. PRACTICALITY it's goes to klr ...thank you to both I love the video Sir. 💐👏🎉❤️
I bought a 2022 klr this year, and for my type of riding it’s all I need. My back won’t let me stay on a bike for longer rides anymore so I mostly ride farm to market roads and county roads maybe an hour at a time. My last bike was a 250l so the klr was a vast upgrade from that, and it has an actual SEAT on it instead of a 2x6 like the Honda!🤣 For what I do, I just couldn’t justify the cost of the T7
The look and resulting "feel" of the front fairing and dash are definitely very different. The width of the KLR tank also makes it feel like, well a tank haha.
So I own a dr650 (geared low, heavily modified) and a cb500x (modified for ADV/offroad trips) and people say the cb500x has a really smooth engine, but when I drive the CB500x man, I really miss the torque and grunt of the low-geared DR. It just sounds awesome and powerful. I wish new single cylinders could still be made, but emissions laws have made it essentially impossible.
I've always wanted to gear a KLR lower but it just never made sense for me since I need to run at least 60mph for extended periods of time to get to my trails. I just recently missed out on a DR I probably should have picked up. That would be a great candidate for gearing down and running hard off road. If you ever find yourself in the market for one, the Tenere offers more impressive down low grunt than I think my KLR ever could.
i wish i have road a t7 a nice race engine behind a formidable duro sport. the klr however i have seen it crumble to pieces down the side of a mountain and picked it back up and road it again. 80mph I wouldnt suggest it. no do not pick up the klr but if you want to do some off roading and you are capable than it it is a good bike for you."off roading" i got my klr for cheap because the last owners didnt know how to take care of it.they laid it down so many times and did not know how to care for it. a single carb and a single spark ez to work on. spark ignition go.
I’ve had both, honestly neither one goes over 65 comfortably…offroad for most people, similar performance, though the KLR is a little easier to manage…sure the Tenere is technically more bike, but a veteran rider on a KLR can crush a novice or ok rider on a t7. I blow by yuppies all the time 650 and their riding high dollar KTMs and the like. The best thing about the T7 is that it’s a smoother running less Cindy highway bike…not worth the doubled price for that
Nice!!! I was looking for one myself again a while ago and came across a 250 that someone had transplanted a CBR300 motor into. Almost convinced myself to buy it haha.
T7s are hard to find and expensive after the markup. I jumped on a KLR because it was cheap 6500 for the adv model and I wanted to get into camping and adventure riding on some trails. You can ring its neck out and get decent performance out of the KLR esp with a nice exhaust. Plus it has really good range almost 300miles. that helps in the woods. If the adv lifestyle is for me I will likely upgrade, but so far I ride it like I stole it and its just fine.
@@leroyjenkins4123 Its 2022 and I got it in January 2023. They're trying to release old stock. best time to buy last years model. it ended up being more after fees and taxes almost 7900.
You know those movies where they keep jumping back and forth from scene to scene and you lose your place as to who is saying what? This video. But I am unfamiliar with the different persons' voices, so that didn't help.
I've done an 860 mile mile day in the summer across South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas on a Gen 2 KLR before. Its fine doing it. EDIT: I've ridden the same Gen 2 KLR all the way from Kansas to Sault Ste Marie by way of the entire Keweenaw and UP. Its fine doing that as well. That was loaded with camp gear, tools, food and clothes.
@@diviningrod2671 it wasn't bad at all honestly. The only place the bike felt out of breathe was crossing the Rockies several times. And to the second part I've done over 2500 miles in 10 days several times. They will hum along at 70mph all day. Even better with light mods. They really are the master of nothing but pretty okay at everything.
@Travis Livengood thanks for the info brother. What kinda of elevation was up there in the rockies ? Last what's the weight capacity of these bikes ? I've seen people report carrying 75lbs in gear. This will be my first on road bike .
@@diviningrod2671 Its been up over 11,000' several times. Monarch Pass, Wolf Creek is right up there too and so is Kebler. I'm 6'3" and 180lbs and traveled with all my camping gear, clothes, tools, and snack food and water for 10 days of traveling. No idea the weight, but with the crash bars, tusk medium side boxes, skid plate etc, its a fair bit porkier than stock. These days its not a fair comparison as it also has exhaust, jetted carb, ported and polished head and a 685 overbore since 2008 bikes like to eat oil due to a bad piston ring design.
Not sure why Jerry would want an adventure bike if he already has a Tiger(900?) that’s a super capable bike and fits what you said is his Adventure style riding to a tee. Others that say it’s not fair to compare the KLR650 to a T7 possibly don’t realize that when your buying a bike you look at everything that’s out there your interested in. I once had a friend that told me that the best bike for you is the one you enjoy riding and don’t sweat when you have to pay for it- as long as it’s not constantly in the shop. The funny part is he recently bought a Norden 901- the swing arm has broken. Took a month to get fixed ( had to get a local welding shop to fix it. Couldn’t find a dealer willing to repair it in less that a few months. He also had issues with electrical components and now there something in the front that’s causing a death wobble. - his last comment to me about it. I broke my rule- I paid way too much and I knew KTM had a reputation but went ahead and got it anyway.😬. Could have bought 4 klr650 for what he paid for the Norden. How’s that for not worrying about parts or downtime?
I suppose we should have mentioned that but he's planning on selling his XC800. I'm not sure if they increased the rake angle on the newer models but his bike is actually sort of difficult to keep upright in the sand and mud. Both mine seem to handle a lot lighter in the same situations. Personally I don't think I'll ever buy anything but Japanese. Just to dang reliable and inexpensive!
@@SwankyCatProductions a very true statement. Time has proven that the big Japanese bike makers excell in longevity, reliability and cost effectiveness. I’d have to agree that (although I’d love to try a Pan American) I’d probably still go with a Japanese bike. ( lol comming from the guy with a garage full of Kawasaki’s)
Previous Gen2 now Gen3 KLR rider here. Your vids have steered me to the KLR twice now. Thanks! My gen3 is stock and was wondering which trails in Wis you would suggest for trail riding a stock bike in a moderate manor. (Aka the bikes too new and I'm too old. ) Harrison Hills or is there another you would suggest ? I live in the Dells area.
That's awesome! I love Harrison Hills but if your looking for something a little less intense Langland county has a lot of great ATV trails you can ride and has some great gravel roads and woods trails with little to no side by side traffic. 5 Cent Road is a good place to start and you can get to the actual ATV trail from a few different points. Otherwise Tigerton OHV Park is a little closer and the main loop is fairly tame. Only takes about 30 minutes to get around it though.
Thanks for the great video. Can the klr do 75mph steady for 4 or 5 hours on the highway? Does it have enough power if two up and on an incline to pull at 75 mph?
65-70mph is kinda the sweet spot, at least for me on my ‘22 KLR650 Adventure. Any more and it gets little unstable on the highway. Could be the stock tires
I am wanting a lighter adventure bike to supplement my Yamaha Super Tenere and I have narrowed it down to the T7 or KLR. I would really like to test ride both and make a decision sometime in the next few months. I don't care to ride fast off-road anymore and I really want to slow down my pace and take my time getting to places. I also want to have some comfort during my travels. Currently, T7's are hard to find here in the southwest, however, 2022 KLR's can be found at just about every Kawasaki dealer. Since its introduction, I have yet to see a T7 for sale on a dealers floor.
Honestly I think they are both worth the money but the KLR is probably the best option if your not looking to ride hard and fast. The KLR will do everything the Tenere can, just at a little slower pace.
@@SwankyCatProductions Thank you for your input. Though I'm a Yamaha man, the KLR was the direction I was leaning based on a lot of your vids and those of a few others.
The klr is in its own category so it's always hard to compare. It's better for certain people and certain lifestyles I would say. For me, I chose the klr for moto camping, hunting and fishing. Also use as a daily driver in city, but my main idea when I made the decision was for hunting and camping stuff. I feel like the klr suits that sorta lifestyle better. Both are great bikes. Good video
I think it's a fair call pitting these two bikes against each other to try and show if the T7 is worth the extra money and if so, why. Likewise if the KLR is fine and worth the money saved. Really it depends on the rider and what they want from a bike and what they want to spend. I had a KLR650 nearly 30 years ago and loved it, had some great adventures on it. Nothing like the T7 existed back then. Now i'm a lot older and have a T7, I wouldn't ever consider a KLR these days. The Yamaha is great in the bush for it's weight and on the road it will cruise and power on when the Kawasaki has long since given up. The Yamaha truly is a great bike and worth every cent it cost, it's better than the bikes I was dreaming of 30 years ago.
EXACTLY!!! I think both bikes are actually fairly reasonably priced. Sure you can get away with a KLR but if you're also going to want a second road bike along with it than the Tenere would actually be the less expensive option!
Depends what your looking for I suppose. My dad's planning on getting a T7 to replace both his Versys 1000 and XC800. It might not do quite as well on the road as the Versys but it's miles ahead of the Tiger off road.
Different price points.... Kawi service for KLR's is worldwide....T7, not so much. PLus the KLR can run on crappy pump fuel anywhere in the world. The unit cost significantly less...
That Tenere Seems to have too much stuff in your way. Good for HWy but if you were riding single track that tenere would be in your way. Did Jerry Sell his 250?
Gotta love that T7 power. I’ve heard from more than one reviewer about the top-heavy feel of the T7, though. And that it’s tough to pick up when dropped. (Hey…you’re not off-raising enough if that doesn’t happen!) But they both weigh about the same… The KLR seems better in the dirt. Just wondering if there’s a heavy feel similar to the T7. (Yeah, yeah…I gotta get off my sport bike and ride these two someday soon!)
We actually did another video after this on single track and a mx course and we both decided the Tenere felt much easier to control and more capable on everything we rode. The KLR is probably still better for a newer off road rider but other than that the Tenere is better in all aspects... Other than price and availability lol.
@17:20... uhhh go ride each in the sand and tell me the klr is equal lol. Or take each down a whoop section.. or mx track or or or lol. KLR's are better for begginer dirt riders. They are GREAT bikes. I own 2. But they suck at some stuff - event with heavy suspension mods.
For 10k you get t7. 7 grand I can get klr. And upgrade it before I even spend the same has the t7 total. And tbh? It’s not freeway bike. It’ll do it but it’s not it.
Very true. Just like you could buy a Tenere, upgrade it and still spend less than a KTM. A KLR is always going to be a KLR though and a Tenere will always be a Tenere. So buy what you want and do what you want with it!
Numb nuts saying the klr is for beginners is ridiculous. Far as I can tell, everyone that rides a klr enjoys it. For a (slow) bike It easily exceeds speed limits.
Yikes bro, chill. I don't think anyone said "it's only good for beginners" but in comparison to the Tenere (which is was what we were discussing in the video) the KLR is much easier to control at slower speeds. Ask anyone whose put in time on both off road, it's pretty common knowledge
@SwankyCatProductions cool dude I wasn't try to Hassel anyone, I hear it too much lately in watching many videos, probably more common in the comments section. It's a odd comment that's all. I'd say it might be alot for beginners especially off rd... anyway I Enjoy your content !! Thx 👍
Yeah a single cylinder bike with tech from the 80s and a msrp of $6800 doesnt and shouldnt compare to a flat plane crank dual cylinder machine that runs over $10k. That being said i have 6000 miles on my 22 KLR Adventure and plan on doing 200k. The big attraction to a KLR is its legendary reliability and simplicity. It is the Toyota of bikes
Why not compare them? Hundreds of people like my dad are deciding between the two. I'm not trying to start a fight here but honestly I'm not sure where the "Legendary KLR reliability" idea came from. Most Japanese bikes are extremely reliable and most single cylinder dual sports are pretty easy to work on. KLRs may be great bikes but they are not indestructible and can have problems. The Tenere motor has been in sport bikes for years now and I'd bet people run them waaaay harder than most KLR owners do. Yet I've never heard about any oil burning or counter balancer issues... Not to mention you can put TEN THOUSAND more miles on the T7 before it needs a valve adjustment compared to the KLR.
@@SwankyCatProductions I think you'll find out the valve intervals are the same after the initial 15k on the KLR. Which is 25k. As far as "doohickey" it's an $80 repair/upgrade and just about anyone, (if it hasn't failed already) with a harbor freight 1/4" socket set could figure it out. As far as the oil issue, it's hit and miss on mine when it burns oil. Definitely when I'm pushing hard 5k plus it gets thirsty. I have over 50k on mine. Mostly 8 mile trips to and from work, and changed one valve shim. All that said, if budget isn't option. The Tenere is a probably a better platform. However when I bought my 06' KLR, the Tenere wasn't even a bar napkin drawing.
Too much "this one, that one etc." Lots of comparison videos suffer from that. "The KLR blaa blaa and The T7 blaa blaa" may seem redundant but would be much easier to follow. Great video tho.
I've ridden my friend's T7, and I have a 22 KLR. The T7 has a more aggressive feel. Combine that with the exhaust note, and it wants to go fast and use it's HP. The KLR lets you take things at a slower pace, won't leave you behind and gets you there albeit with the T7 guy waiting for you. Both are great bikes.
Couldn't agree more!
I own both and they are 2022 models. The difference I paid out the OTD with extended warranty’s was about $3400.00. The KLR Adventure was $9900 and the T7 was $13,300. I love both, coming from a DRZ400S and riding over 30 years on and off road. These bikes are fun, if your debating between the two (T7 or KLR) if you like the feel of a sport bike power band that has a smooth responsive throttle get the T7. But if you want to get on the road and explore and don’t care about speed and power so much, and plan to cruise a little slower (60mph - 70mph) and need more comfort get the KLR. I really enjoy riding both, but the Tenere is probably my favorite bike to ride out of all the moto’s I’ve owned. Putting a sport bike engine in a dirtbike platform was such a good idea! So fun man…you have a good video and I really enjoyed watching both cruse side by side.
jeez 9000 for the klr?
Man, nice I'm 68 I have a 2022 KLR, I traded in my twin for the KLR because I wanted a big thumper, it's a hoot to ride !
KLR is the best thumper in my opinion!
Good to know. Close to 65 but working overseas so no bike time for now. Research phase for now. I'm basing too much on maintenance (valve checks and adjustments) and other than the BMW, looks like the KLR is the next easiest to do. Others are more powerful, expensive and I'm sure fun. Goal at this point in time is get the KLR to gain experience then see if the GSA is still my dream bike after that. Road bikes are fun, been doing that probably too long. Not fast by sport bike standards or any others but my 2020 Road Glide limited with the 131ci kit puts a big smile on my face. 132rwhp/ 144 rwtq. Could do better but this keeps a factory warranty. Overall, it's a thumper thing.
In the real world, the T7 costs 50% more out the door than the KLR. Both are great bikes.
I paid somewhere near $10,500 for my Tenere and about $7,000 for my KLR.
@@SwankyCatProductions good deal on the T7, only one I’ve seen in 3 months was Used for $14k!!!!
Nice video. Nothing beats riding with a good buddy. Good luck to Jerry with his new bike, and thanks for sharing the fun!
Thanks Kent!!!
Really enjoyed this one Swanky. I grew up in Milwaukee and spent a lot of time "upnorth" on my grandparents and cousin's farm in Price county, (Ogema/Prentice area) back in the day. We all had dirt bikes and road bikes and spent many hours riding both. As I'm no longer living in WI, I felt I was back there again riding with this vid! I try to get back twice a year but doesn't always work out that way. These dual sports look like a lot of fun! Cheers...
Glad to hear it took you back back Jim! My dad always tells stories about riding dirt bikes all over town back in the day. Makes me wish I'd have been around back then. But I'm glad to have some trails to ride yet and it's hard to beat the modern bikes!
it's great to see the impressions from someone just hopping on the bike cold. I agree that the KLR model in general is a fun and very smile inducing bike on the trails. Something about the way it moves that weight around makes it a bit a slow speed thrill, lol.
Definitely!
Glad to see dad still riding strong Ben, good stuff 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks Ian!
I’ve had a KLR. Can probably say one of the nicest KRLs too. Put a lot of money into it. And sold it for a lot more than I bought it for. People were fighting over it.
But at the end of the day, you can get a bike a lot nicer for a little more money. Or a used bike for the same money of the KLR. I did. Bought a 15 KTM 1190 adv R.
Comparing a t7 to klr is apple to oranges. The klr does fine on the highway. And for price is well worth it.
Do you only eat Oranges? What do you have against Apples? I personally eat both and sometimes I have a hard time deciding which to take. I'm well aware they are different but are they not both sweet and nutritious???
Road King for my California highway riding - KLR for absolutely everything else :) great video
I have a 1987 klr650 and I travel all around Australia and I love it 😀 big trips and day trips around the scrub what a fantastic bike
Nice! It sure is!
I own an ‘03 Harley Softail for cruising Highways , then I wanted to get into Moto camping so I bought the MotoGuzzi V85tt adventure and I absolutely love this bike ! With that said I do want a motorcycle that I can venture into to harder off road camping stuff and then I find myself looking intently at the KLR650 . If I buy this bike for those shorter ride off road adventures I feel it will be worth the investment. The Moto Guzzi v85 I can ride all day without fatigue it’s super comfortable but it’s a bit sketchy in loose sand with its weight.
Good video guys! 😁✌️🇺🇸
While both are good bikes, but I feel it really depends on the sort of rider you are. If "it *can* do highway speeds" is fine for you, the KLR is fantastic.
From my perspective, though, the KLR can handle road riding but it absolutely is not *fun* doing it - and if you're not hitting highways and spending all your time offroad, there are better choices than both.
On the other hand, the Tenere is perfectly happy railing through corners at 100mph.
If you'd never do that, though, and if you don't care about highway passing power, the cost difference makes the KLR very attractive.
Me? T7, all day, every day. It's ridiculously capable on road or off, and always fun and exciting to ride.
It also bears pointing out that both bikes are *extremely* rugged and reliable, and getting parts for either is trivial. The KLR is a KLR, and the T7 is sporting the same CP2 engine found in the insanely common MT07 and (less common) R7, and has been in production for almost a decade - with basically zero reported issues. Neither have complex electronics, so there's less to fail. A very, very good feature for an adventure bike.
Was waiting for a T7. Got tired of waiting and calling dealers. Found a used KTM 790 2020 for less that $ 10.000 in pristine shape with fantastic upgrades. Just love the bike. Hope it will be reliable.
I'd like to try a KTM someday. Obviously reliability is a concern but it sure sounds like they are nice to ride off road!
Loving my '22 KLR650. Its my first dual sport type bike and it has met all my expectations. It has its quirks for sure but for someone just learning to ride off road, its a perfect choice. Seems most comfortable on nice dirt roads but can handle the highway and some serious off road just fine. Even with a complete novice rider on stock tires, I was impressed at the trails it handled without much fuss. T7 might be a better choice for a more experienced rider but the KLR is a great starting point for a beginner on a budget. Spend that extra 3k$ on some roadtrips.
Couldn't have said it better myself! My gen2 was the first dual sport I put a lot of miles on. It was a little tall and heavy for me but I loved every minute of it!
Keep them KLR videos coming! Bad Ass!
Will do! Thanks!
The KLR I had I put rox anti vibration handle bar rises which helped a lot with the hands tingling
Good deal, I've never tried those. I usually don't have a problem with it or notice it at least. Not sure why I did all of a sudden.
This is by far my favorite comparison of this bike...the best part was spending time with a family member for sure. I be honest t7 by far looks good. PRACTICALITY it's goes to klr ...thank you to both I love the video Sir. 💐👏🎉❤️
Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it!
@@SwankyCatProductions Your welcome Sir.❤️
you need windshield risers on the KLR. helps with wind protection and it looks much better
Agreed
I bought a 2022 klr this year, and for my type of riding it’s all I need. My back won’t let me stay on a bike for longer rides anymore so I mostly ride farm to market roads and county roads maybe an hour at a time.
My last bike was a 250l so the klr was a vast upgrade from that, and it has an actual SEAT on it instead of a 2x6 like the Honda!🤣
For what I do, I just couldn’t justify the cost of the T7
Makes perfect sense to me. Sounds like the KLR will be an awesome fit.
Texas hill country ?
Cp2 sound wise.. hard to beat
Awesome review and comparison
Thanks!
I love both
Tenere with thin dash feels light and KLR with wide dash looks heavy
Both are my dream bikes and KLR is lower its perfect for women
The look and resulting "feel" of the front fairing and dash are definitely very different. The width of the KLR tank also makes it feel like, well a tank haha.
So I own a dr650 (geared low, heavily modified) and a cb500x (modified for ADV/offroad trips) and people say the cb500x has a really smooth engine, but when I drive the CB500x man, I really miss the torque and grunt of the low-geared DR. It just sounds awesome and powerful. I wish new single cylinders could still be made, but emissions laws have made it essentially impossible.
I've always wanted to gear a KLR lower but it just never made sense for me since I need to run at least 60mph for extended periods of time to get to my trails. I just recently missed out on a DR I probably should have picked up. That would be a great candidate for gearing down and running hard off road. If you ever find yourself in the market for one, the Tenere offers more impressive down low grunt than I think my KLR ever could.
i wish i have road a t7 a nice race engine behind a formidable duro sport. the klr however i have seen it crumble to pieces down the side of a mountain and picked it back up and road it again. 80mph I wouldnt suggest it. no do not pick up the klr but if you want to do some off roading and you are capable than it it is a good bike for you."off roading" i got my klr for cheap because the last owners didnt know how to take care of it.they laid it down so many times and did not know how to care for it. a single carb and a single spark ez to work on. spark ignition go.
I’ve had both, honestly neither one goes over 65 comfortably…offroad for most people, similar performance, though the KLR is a little easier to manage…sure the Tenere is technically more bike, but a veteran rider on a KLR can crush a novice or ok rider on a t7. I blow by yuppies all the time 650 and their riding high dollar KTMs and the like. The best thing about the T7 is that it’s a smoother running less Cindy highway bike…not worth the doubled price for that
Kiddo my 300 rally just came in to the dealership woo hoo !😎
Nice!!! I was looking for one myself again a while ago and came across a 250 that someone had transplanted a CBR300 motor into. Almost convinced myself to buy it haha.
Congratulations brother ride safe and hope you enjoy yours
T7s are hard to find and expensive after the markup. I jumped on a KLR because it was cheap 6500 for the adv model and I wanted to get into camping and adventure riding on some trails. You can ring its neck out and get decent performance out of the KLR esp with a nice exhaust. Plus it has really good range almost 300miles. that helps in the woods. If the adv lifestyle is for me I will likely upgrade, but so far I ride it like I stole it and its just fine.
Man how in the world did you get it for that much??
@@leroyjenkins4123 Its 2022 and I got it in January 2023. They're trying to release old stock. best time to buy last years model. it ended up being more after fees and taxes almost 7900.
@@fernandizo nice!
Hey swanky, I’m also running motoz fractionated on my t7 , put a 140 on rear , what are you running
You know those movies where they keep jumping back and forth from scene to scene and you lose your place as to who is saying what?
This video.
But I am unfamiliar with the different persons' voices, so that didn't help.
Not sure who is talking about what bike
With a street-oriented tire, my KLR is rock solid in the turns. We'll see how that changes with 50-50 tires.
My Tenere with the Motoz Tractionators is incredibly solid as well. Most 50/50 tires should be just fine. The D-Sports are just to soft I think.
I already have a KLR.
If I have to explain it, you probably won't understand. 😎
Haha very true.
Unfortunately I had to say goodbye to mine but I would be KLR all the way. Best of luck num the less.
Sorry to hear that!
Where is that trail? I am in the central eastern part of Michigan.
I've done an 860 mile mile day in the summer across South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas on a Gen 2 KLR before. Its fine doing it.
EDIT: I've ridden the same Gen 2 KLR all the way from Kansas to Sault Ste Marie by way of the entire Keweenaw and UP. Its fine doing that as well. That was loaded with camp gear, tools, food and clothes.
Curious how it was riding that far and timeline? Hours of riding ? And last question, would you ever consider doing, say, 750 over a 2 day period?
@@diviningrod2671 it wasn't bad at all honestly. The only place the bike felt out of breathe was crossing the Rockies several times. And to the second part I've done over 2500 miles in 10 days several times. They will hum along at 70mph all day. Even better with light mods. They really are the master of nothing but pretty okay at everything.
@Travis Livengood thanks for the info brother. What kinda of elevation was up there in the rockies ? Last what's the weight capacity of these bikes ? I've seen people report carrying 75lbs in gear. This will be my first on road bike .
@@diviningrod2671 Its been up over 11,000' several times. Monarch Pass, Wolf Creek is right up there too and so is Kebler. I'm 6'3" and 180lbs and traveled with all my camping gear, clothes, tools, and snack food and water for 10 days of traveling. No idea the weight, but with the crash bars, tusk medium side boxes, skid plate etc, its a fair bit porkier than stock. These days its not a fair comparison as it also has exhaust, jetted carb, ported and polished head and a 685 overbore since 2008 bikes like to eat oil due to a bad piston ring design.
@Travis Livengood such great info brother, thank you.
Not sure why Jerry would want an adventure bike if he already has a Tiger(900?) that’s a super capable bike and fits what you said is his Adventure style riding to a tee. Others that say it’s not fair to compare the KLR650 to a T7 possibly don’t realize that when your buying a bike you look at everything that’s out there your interested in. I once had a friend that told me that the best bike for you is the one you enjoy riding and don’t sweat when you have to pay for it- as long as it’s not constantly in the shop. The funny part is he recently bought a Norden 901- the swing arm has broken. Took a month to get fixed ( had to get a local welding shop to fix it. Couldn’t find a dealer willing to repair it in less that a few months. He also had issues with electrical components and now there something in the front that’s causing a death wobble. - his last comment to me about it. I broke my rule- I paid way too much and I knew KTM had a reputation but went ahead and got it anyway.😬. Could have bought 4 klr650 for what he paid for the Norden. How’s that for not worrying about parts or downtime?
I suppose we should have mentioned that but he's planning on selling his XC800. I'm not sure if they increased the rake angle on the newer models but his bike is actually sort of difficult to keep upright in the sand and mud. Both mine seem to handle a lot lighter in the same situations. Personally I don't think I'll ever buy anything but Japanese. Just to dang reliable and inexpensive!
@@SwankyCatProductions a very true statement. Time has proven that the big Japanese bike makers excell in longevity, reliability and cost effectiveness. I’d have to agree that (although I’d love to try a Pan American) I’d probably still go with a Japanese bike. ( lol comming from the guy with a garage full of Kawasaki’s)
@@Surly1966 I'd really like to try one too actually!
Great video, for me I'm short 5` 8" the Tenere was too tall, so I got the 2023 klr s model not as tall I'm not on my tippy toes.
Thanks! Yeah I think it's awesome they came out with the S model. Definitely would have made me more comfortable on my first KLR!
Previous Gen2 now Gen3 KLR rider here. Your vids have steered me to the KLR twice now. Thanks! My gen3 is stock and was wondering which trails in Wis you would suggest for trail riding a stock bike in a moderate manor. (Aka the bikes too new and I'm too old. ) Harrison Hills or is there another you would suggest ? I live in the Dells area.
That's awesome! I love Harrison Hills but if your looking for something a little less intense Langland county has a lot of great ATV trails you can ride and has some great gravel roads and woods trails with little to no side by side traffic. 5 Cent Road is a good place to start and you can get to the actual ATV trail from a few different points. Otherwise Tigerton OHV Park is a little closer and the main loop is fairly tame. Only takes about 30 minutes to get around it though.
Thanks for the great video. Can the klr do 75mph steady for 4 or 5 hours on the highway? Does it have enough power if two up and on an incline to pull at 75 mph?
65-70mph is kinda the sweet spot, at least for me on my ‘22 KLR650 Adventure. Any more and it gets little unstable on the highway. Could be the stock tires
I am wanting a lighter adventure bike to supplement my Yamaha Super Tenere and I have narrowed it down to the T7 or KLR. I would really like to test ride both and make a decision sometime in the next few months. I don't care to ride fast off-road anymore and I really want to slow down my pace and take my time getting to places. I also want to have some comfort during my travels. Currently, T7's are hard to find here in the southwest, however, 2022 KLR's can be found at just about every Kawasaki dealer. Since its introduction, I have yet to see a T7 for sale on a dealers floor.
Honestly I think they are both worth the money but the KLR is probably the best option if your not looking to ride hard and fast. The KLR will do everything the Tenere can, just at a little slower pace.
@@SwankyCatProductions
Thank you for your input. Though I'm a Yamaha man, the KLR was the direction I was leaning based on a lot of your vids and those of a few others.
I have yet to see one anywhere....... they must all be somewhere.
Nice ride.
It was!
C'mon Pop's, get a KLR in Sand Color!
I’m cross shopping as well. I wonder how the 890 adventure does on the highway compared to the t7? Would the t7 be a more comfortable ride ?
Huh never really thought about that. From what I hear they are much better off road but I'm not sure about on road.
I need to stop up there and let you ride my Super Tenere.
That would be awesome!!!
The klr is in its own category so it's always hard to compare. It's better for certain people and certain lifestyles I would say. For me, I chose the klr for moto camping, hunting and fishing. Also use as a daily driver in city, but my main idea when I made the decision was for hunting and camping stuff. I feel like the klr suits that sorta lifestyle better. Both are great bikes. Good video
Agreed, they can both fill very similar needs but the KLR is better for slower paced riding where the Tenere is more balls to the wall.
so which bike he end up getting
For what he wants to use it for ,the Tenere probably makes more sense.
Agreed!
The CRF300L Rally is also a great option if he isn't set on a larger bike.
I'd really like to try one of those to compare the power to the KLR. I have to imagine it's just about as quick since it's so much lighter.
@@SwankyCatProductions I'd wager you're right. And much easier to pick up when it's dropped.
I think it's a fair call pitting these two bikes against each other to try and show if the T7 is worth the extra money and if so, why. Likewise if the KLR is fine and worth the money saved. Really it depends on the rider and what they want from a bike and what they want to spend. I had a KLR650 nearly 30 years ago and loved it, had some great adventures on it. Nothing like the T7 existed back then. Now i'm a lot older and have a T7, I wouldn't ever consider a KLR these days. The Yamaha is great in the bush for it's weight and on the road it will cruise and power on when the Kawasaki has long since given up. The Yamaha truly is a great bike and worth every cent it cost, it's better than the bikes I was dreaming of 30 years ago.
EXACTLY!!! I think both bikes are actually fairly reasonably priced. Sure you can get away with a KLR but if you're also going to want a second road bike along with it than the Tenere would actually be the less expensive option!
You guys should have took Hwy 29 to Doc's, and ate at the Timeline Saloon. Good BBQ there.
I've never actually been in there but driven past several times. Maybe I should see if they'd let me do a test ride on a Pan America!
@@SwankyCatProductions Last time I was there, they offered to let me test ride one. I didn't have my gear, and was with my family.
Ok but the KLR is the best value in 2022. Name any other adventure bike >650cc for
Depends what your looking for I suppose. My dad's planning on getting a T7 to replace both his Versys 1000 and XC800. It might not do quite as well on the road as the Versys but it's miles ahead of the Tiger off road.
Different price points....
Kawi service for KLR's is worldwide....T7, not so much. PLus the KLR can run on crappy pump fuel anywhere in the world. The unit cost significantly less...
After experience with both. Which one do you enjoying riding more?
Definitely the Tenere but the KLR is a darn good bike too
The KLR outsells the #2 & #3 dual sports combined.
Red line lol my bikes live in the redline.....
So I have no idea who is saying what about what. You should say the Kaw or the Yam this or that
That Tenere Seems to have too much stuff in your way. Good for HWy but if you were riding single track that tenere would be in your way. Did Jerry Sell his 250?
Yeah the Tenere is not a good bike for slow rides, that's for sure. Nope, he's still got it.
Gotta love that T7 power. I’ve heard from more than one reviewer about the top-heavy feel of the T7, though. And that it’s tough to pick up when dropped. (Hey…you’re not off-raising enough if that doesn’t happen!)
But they both weigh about the same…
The KLR seems better in the dirt. Just wondering if there’s a heavy feel similar to the T7.
(Yeah, yeah…I gotta get off my sport bike and ride these two someday soon!)
We actually did another video after this on single track and a mx course and we both decided the Tenere felt much easier to control and more capable on everything we rode. The KLR is probably still better for a newer off road rider but other than that the Tenere is better in all aspects... Other than price and availability lol.
Hell yeah back on a KLR awesome
Oh yeah!!!
@17:20... uhhh go ride each in the sand and tell me the klr is equal lol. Or take each down a whoop section.. or mx track or or or lol. KLR's are better for begginer dirt riders. They are GREAT bikes. I own 2. But they suck at some stuff - event with heavy suspension mods.
We ended up doing both those things the weekend after this and the Tenere was the clear winner!
What state Is that
WI
Klr is easier to pick than t7 is
I’ve never even seen a t7 up here in Maine yet. You can’t find dual sports or adv bikes, sucks!
They are pretty sparse here as well.
Same here in Ohio. I think you would have an easier time finding Big Foot!
@@jimperry4420 ya and he’ll be riding a dual sport
@@badbruise 😂
"The Yamaha T7 - just oodles better." - Yamaha is missing out if they don't make this part of their marketing campaign.
Hahaha 😂
So what happened did he sell his tiger and so he’s wanted a smaller adv ?
Not yet but that's the plan. He wants something easier to ride off road.
@@SwankyCatProductions I thought so they can be a handful off road if your not ready for it
Beginner rider on dirt? KLR. Experienced? T7
True
No Comparison. T7 blows KLR away!
For 10k you get t7. 7 grand I can get klr. And upgrade it before I even spend the same has the t7 total. And tbh? It’s not freeway bike. It’ll do it but it’s not it.
Very true. Just like you could buy a Tenere, upgrade it and still spend less than a KTM. A KLR is always going to be a KLR though and a Tenere will always be a Tenere. So buy what you want and do what you want with it!
Numb nuts saying the klr is for beginners is ridiculous.
Far as I can tell, everyone that rides a klr enjoys it.
For a (slow) bike It easily exceeds speed limits.
Yikes bro, chill. I don't think anyone said "it's only good for beginners" but in comparison to the Tenere (which is was what we were discussing in the video) the KLR is much easier to control at slower speeds. Ask anyone whose put in time on both off road, it's pretty common knowledge
@SwankyCatProductions cool dude I wasn't try to Hassel anyone, I hear it too much lately in watching many videos, probably more common in the comments section. It's a odd comment that's all.
I'd say it might be alot for beginners especially off rd... anyway
I Enjoy your content !!
Thx 👍
Yeah a single cylinder bike with tech from the 80s and a msrp of $6800 doesnt and shouldnt compare to a flat plane crank dual cylinder machine that runs over $10k. That being said i have 6000 miles on my 22 KLR Adventure and plan on doing 200k. The big attraction to a KLR is its legendary reliability and simplicity. It is the Toyota of bikes
Why not compare them? Hundreds of people like my dad are deciding between the two. I'm not trying to start a fight here but honestly I'm not sure where the "Legendary KLR reliability" idea came from. Most Japanese bikes are extremely reliable and most single cylinder dual sports are pretty easy to work on. KLRs may be great bikes but they are not indestructible and can have problems. The Tenere motor has been in sport bikes for years now and I'd bet people run them waaaay harder than most KLR owners do. Yet I've never heard about any oil burning or counter balancer issues... Not to mention you can put TEN THOUSAND more miles on the T7 before it needs a valve adjustment compared to the KLR.
@@SwankyCatProductions the F9 episode " killing the unkillable" killing a KLR. They failed
@@SwankyCatProductions I think you'll find out the valve intervals are the same after the initial 15k on the KLR. Which is 25k. As far as "doohickey" it's an $80 repair/upgrade and just about anyone, (if it hasn't failed already) with a harbor freight 1/4" socket set could figure it out. As far as the oil issue, it's hit and miss on mine when it burns oil. Definitely when I'm pushing hard 5k plus it gets thirsty. I have over 50k on mine. Mostly 8 mile trips to and from work, and changed one valve shim. All that said, if budget isn't option. The Tenere is a probably a better platform. However when I bought my 06' KLR, the Tenere wasn't even a bar napkin drawing.
People can compare whatever bikes they want. You can choose to watch it or not.
Too much "this one, that one etc." Lots of comparison videos suffer from that. "The KLR blaa blaa and The T7 blaa blaa" may seem redundant but would be much easier to follow. Great video tho.
Bro you're bias on the Tenere the whole ride lmao
Haha yeah true.
Why make a video about your dad choosing a motorcycle when you did everything but tell him to buy the T7.