Come on Kawasaki! Suzuki can build a SV650 motorcycle that comes with fuel injection, 6-speed transmission, v-twin engine that produces 71.7 horsepower and 45.6 foot pounds of torque, and all for $6999; only $400 more than a Kawasaki KLR650's retail price of $6599. With the KLR you get a carbureted engine, 5-speed transmission, single cylinder engine that produces 38 horsepower on a good day. In stock form the KLR is jetted so lean to meet EPA regulations it sputters and pops like a popcorn machine on deceleration. Fuel injection would fix this problem. Can't Kawasaki at least get close to the 50 horsepower and 44 pounds of torque produced by a fuel injected BMW G 650 GS? Can't we at least see fuel injection on the KLR, and can we get these things without a huge bump in price? The Kawasaki KLR 650 has definitely fallen behind. Its still an attractive motorcycle, but it makes me feel a little less like im spending my money wisely.
Photo's of the motorcycles mentioned above:The 2017 Suzuki SV650
The 2016 BMW G 650 GS
The 2016 Kawasaki KLR650