KLR 650 Trans American Trail Ride

Now you are just showing off! Only 28 pounds of fuel plus the weight of the tank, might be worth it, that would make it steady and stable back there. Certainly would give it a "golly, gee whiz" factor that nobody else would have. Of course then you'd need some plastic tubing and a little 12v pump... Esso, Gulf, Shell, BP, or Speedway stickers on the side?
Haha I'm more concerned with how thick id have to make the bottom panel of the tank to make it less prone to puncture than I am with the weight. It is a neat idea though.


Don't forget water! You will need it! We each carried a gallon of gas and a gallon of water on our bikes. Gallon of gas 6.2 pounds/gallon of water 8.3 pounds. We also had camel backs with water and would often add ice to counter the heat/humidity.

Hmm. While you might not need the extra fuel, what about water?

It's good to have some insider Info on the TAT. With the 6 gallon tank on the KLR, I should be able to make 240 miles on a tank, using a conservative 40mpg. From what I've read, there shouldn't be any stretch of the TAT between Chattanooga and the Ozarks that would be without gas for more than 200 or so miles. I do have two liter size fuel bottles that @ridesolo gifted me a few years back that will ride along is some capacity on the trip, even if just to help a fellow riding mate get to the next fill up spot. I have grown used to riding with a camel back, and will plan to do so for this trip as well. I'll find a spot for a gallon of water as well!
 
I am lovibg this trip plan. Too bad boarders are closed and I got not dual sport or Id be tagging along
 
I am lovibg this trip plan. Too bad boarders are closed and I got not dual sport or Id be tagging along
Can't help with the border crossing, but @Deviant1 is planning to do the trip on a Yamaha XS750 with knobby tires, so that excuse is null and void. lol
 
As someone who has pulled a Uni-go (behind a GL1800) that the wife seriously overpacked, keep the weight low and minimal. Doesn't effect handling at speed on pavement, but slow on gravel gets much harder. And, if it goes down you have that much more to pick up. For an old guy like me, I decided that next time I will pull 80% of it out and leave it in the garage.
 
The Arkansas portion is pretty easy, decent dirt roads and two lane pavement most of the way. Most normal people do the whole thing in a couple of days. We did it on obsolete 2 stroke enduro bikes that ate fuel like crazy, ate sparkplugs and had at least one flat each day. It took us two weeks so you know we were in no hurry. Your tank range should be fine at least for Arkansas stretch. We meandered a lot, leaving the TAT to go see friends or visit new places within 25-50 miles of the trail. We stayed in hotels or cabins. We also ate a lot of BBQ and my buddy called it the Beans & BBQ Trail. Be sure to stop at the Oark Cafe. The burgers and pie are good. It is now a destination ride like the Rock Store in California.
 
Tomfoolery. Heck, my hair has already begun to turn grey and dredlock, a milk crate is organically growning in my driveway just in time to become one with my klr, rotella oil now comes out of my faucets at home and kitty littler buckets are turning into fairings in front of my eyes.
....

And this is why I'm here.

If you are going to pull a trailer, I'd definitely do the front brake upgrade. Mine had the larger rotor setup and I loved it.
 
I mean if you twist my arm I may ride the trail with you on my DR so we can compare :D

Looking good (well, you know, as good as a KLR can look :D )

Here's the super lights we did for my buddies KLR
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As someone who has pulled a Uni-go (behind a GL1800) that the wife seriously overpacked, keep the weight low and minimal. Doesn't effect handling at speed on pavement, but slow on gravel gets much harder. And, if it goes down you have that much more to pick up. For an old guy like me, I decided that next time I will pull 80% of it out and leave it in the garage.
Yeah, the plan really isn't to pack more as much as it is to get what I do pack lower to the ground vs up high in the pillion position where panniers and top cases would usually sit. I've looked closely at those Uni-Go's. They seem great but also seem to cost more than I'm willing to spend and I never see them pop up used for a cheap enough price. I'm a welder and fabricator by trade lol figured I might as well build one.

The Arkansas portion is pretty easy, decent dirt roads and two lane pavement most of the way. Most normal people do the whole thing in a couple of days. We did it on obsolete 2 stroke enduro bikes that ate fuel like crazy, ate sparkplugs and had at least one flat each day. It took us two weeks so you know we were in no hurry. Your tank range should be fine at least for Arkansas stretch. We meandered a lot, leaving the TAT to go see friends or visit new places within 25-50 miles of the trail. We stayed in hotels or cabins. We also ate a lot of BBQ and my buddy called it the Beans & BBQ Trail. Be sure to stop at the Oark Cafe. The burgers and pie are good. It is now a destination ride like the Rock Store in California.
I am taking notes on this. Funny, when the plans started for this trip, my original idea was to do a few upgrades to the BMW R90/6 and use it as my steed. I steered away, not because I didn't think the bike would be capable (its the most dependable bike I own) but in the end I just didn't really want to beat it up on the "trail". I am honestly a bit jealous that you did the trek on a couple old 2t enduros. I may have to do it again in a similar fashion.

If you are going to pull a trailer, I'd definitely do the front brake upgrade. Mine had the larger rotor setup and I loved it.
Thats definitely on the list once I replace the penny bank stash. I think I'll go with the eagle mike setup on that.

I mean if you twist my arm I may ride the trail with you on my DR so we can compare :D

Looking good (well, you know, as good as a KLR can look :D )

Here's the super lights we did for my buddies KLR
Haha, Prentice Cooper this spring. Shouldnt be far from you (Chattanooga) Lets make that happen.
Funny too, I haven't posted pictures here yet, but I'm working on mounting a set of dual Honda Ruckus headlights on it. I'm going to try to integrate them into the stock fairing if possible though. I kinda like the windshield thats on it, and i honestly kinda like the archaic look of the stock 1st gen fairing.
 
I worked on my dual headlight setup today. It uses a pair of Suzuki DR650 fairing mounts adapted to hold Honda ruckus headlights. The plates hold the fairing, turn signals and headlight frame. I cut up the fairing and mounted it back up. It now turns with the bars. I still need to clean up the cuts and make a few braces to stiffen everything up, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

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I'm not a fan of some double headlights, but these look as good as they get. Almost as good as the 80's 90's crotch rockets.
 
That's fantastic! Ya dun good, boy.
Way cool.
Thanks Gents!
I want double headlights too now
Make. It. So
I'm not a fan of some double headlights, but these look as good as they get. Almost as good as the 80's 90's crotch rockets.
Thanks Mike, and I agree. I hadn't found many that I liked, and even fewer that used the stock fairing in any form. Most looked to me to be a pretty gaudy attempt and didn't fit quite right with the bike, namely this one.....
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I think that what makes yours look right is having them close to the fender. The red bike would be better with the bravket just flipped to lower the bulbs ~2". Not good like yours, but at least better.
 
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