As they say a legend never dies, it’s just reborn. And in the case of the KLR650, the iconic machine is back after briefly being discontinued in 2019 — and there’s much to be excited about. 

The list of changes in this Gen-3 iteration is long, including fuel injection, improved midrange torque, a new frame, longer swingarm, improved brakes, optimized suspension settings, ABS, LED lighting, updated electronics, taller windscreen, and more. While many things have changed, much of what made the 35-year-old KLR650 a cult classic has remained the same. But is it too much change for the KLR faithful? Enough new to warrant trading in your old machine? Did they finally fix the Doohickey?

After two days of riding over hundreds of miles on varied desert terrain in Northern New Mexico, we get a seat-of-the-pants perspective and answers to all your burning questions. In this video, we give a rundown of the new KLR’s capability in the dirt, on asphalt and traveling on the highway. The analysis also covers areas where it could be improved, whether it’s still a great value, and more.

Thanks for checking out the video and leave us your thoughts and questions in the comments below. For those of you who prefer to read, you can check out our full review article of the 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 here.

Photos: Drew Ruiz