5 Custom Adventure Bikes Built By “Real People”
These impressive bike builds will inspire you to start your next project.
4. Kawasaki KLR650 “KLRsys”
Everyone knows that the KLR is a capable Adventure Bike. The KLR650 was introduced in 1987 and has remained unchanged, except for some minor styling updates, for 27 years. The bike is so good, it recently won an award for best Adventure Bike from Cycle World Magazine. It’s clearly an excellent bike right off the showroom floor, but many owners still find areas they’d like to improve on. Two common complaints are the soft suspension and lack of power. The KLR motor puts out a mere 37 hp which makes achieving 100 mph only possible with a downhill and tailwind.
An Adventure Rider from Texas has a solution to the lack of power that he calls the “KLRsys.” At first glance you can’t tell there is anything different about this KLR, but if you look closely you will notice that it’s powered by a fuel-injected Kawasaki Versys motor and 6-speed transmission. The twin cylinder 650cc Versys motor nearly doubles the horsepower of the KLR, making 100 mph achievable without breaking a sweat.


You can find out more details about this bike build on the ADVRider Forum.
Notify me of new posts via email
I did something similar with my Husky TE630–Safari Tank, hard bags, small windshield, rack, guards–some say I took a perfectly good dirt bike and turned it into a KLR…..Tom in Salem
TE630 is considered by many(and me) the best of the singles .
I give to you the ultimate adv bike! (slightly biased as it is mine 🙂 )
http://www.chasinghorizons.co.uk
The SV650 is a nice custom but about as unsuited for adventure riding as a Goldwing. It would be a short race to see if the oil cooler or the radiator got destroyed first. Luckily the lack of luggage capability would not leave you far to push it home.
Or the exhaust…
Suzuki made the V-strom for this purpose, so modding an SV650 into an adventure bike is a waste of time, effort, and money. Kudos to that guy for the fabrication skills though.
you missed this one haha http://oztoice.wordpress.com/emily-2/
KLR is a great ADV bike. Who needs to reach 100mph with a fully loaded bike on unknown far flung roads with limited medical support?
Suzuki DR650 is the best platform to start with. You can build a really cool bike that is bullet-proof and nearly 100 lbs lighter then the FS800 or similar bikes. Capable of going anywhere a motorcycle can travel, narrower, very dirt capable with upgraded suspension, tons of after-market parts available. Much more maneuverable then an Africa Twin, GS or even KTM due to the lighter weight and smaller profile.
[…] travel. For some inspiration google sv650 enduro and hit images. The search SV650 Frankenbike. 5 Custom Adventure Bikes Built By "Real People" The above are all easily do-able, this one would be really cool, but a lot of custom parts […]
I’m taking an SV650 down the Adventure build trail too and would sure like to see how Russ fabbed-up the underseat tank. That is just a fabulous idea!!
Where can I find more info ,building slooowly my own!
Did modify my XR650R to electric start and desert race / adventure bike.
Great bike with so mich power and reliabilty.