Long Term Test Bike | Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure
It’s time to strap on some luggage racks to the KLR650 and hit the road.
A well thought-out and functioning ADV luggage system is a thing of beauty. I think that one in every ten riders have the right gear and wisdom to make it work, whilst the other nine are kooks that are constantly stopping to readjust straps, need to unpack from arsehole to breakfast to find a cable tie, or don’t have enough spare space for accessories like water.
I have owned and used Enduristan, Kriega, Osah, Nelson Rigg and other bags on the usual ADV camping trips. I have even followed the Circuit Local Court on my DR650 (as a lawyer not a defendant) travelling around Far Western NSW with a suit, laptop and case files in my panniers.
This month our mates at AndyStrapz sent us some luggage racks for the KLR650 and some Avduro Pannierz to slap on them. The legends at Kriega have sent on their top-of-the-range waterproof Trail 18 backpack. I have four key requirements from ADV luggage, and the Avduro’s and Trail 18 satisfy all of them.
1. More than enough space: The first packing mistake most ADV riders make is to load their bags to the brim like it’s their wife’s handbag or glovebox. This makes finding anything a nightmare and leaves no room for the inevitable forgotten essentials. With 15 to 35 litres storage each side and four big water/fuel bottle pockets, the Avduro’s fit my bivvy bag, sleeping gear, camp kitchen, food and clothes with space to spare for a beverage or two or a few.
This means I have the whole rear rack free for enough fuel to cross the Simpson. The Trail 18 fits everything I need for a day trip (camera, food, tools, water etc.) but I would consider something like AndyStapz’s Pannier Trunkz to get the weight of the tools off my back on longer trips.
2. Water and crash proof: Whether its rivers or rain, no trip is ever guaranteed to be dry. Long-lasting bags also need to be able to cop small crashes and keep trucking on. The Avduro’s are designed to be bombproof first and waterproof second, so they are water resistant and not quite watertight. However, the accompanying liners help with waterproofness, so this design mentality works. The Trail 18 is 100% waterproof and, like the Avduro’s, truly indestructible.
3. Tight mounting: I’m all for rackless set ups but I constantly struggle with the lack of a lower rear mounting point, which always makes them feel loose and they flap whenever the bike becomes airborne. Tight mounting gives me confidence that the load won’t move under stress, and also mitigates the damage done by spills. As you’d expect, the AndyStrapz racks fit the Avduro’s perfectly and keep the weight tight and under control. The Trail 18’s Quadloc harness makes me forget it’s even there while on the trail.
4. Narrow profile: Ever been rag dolled by a tree trunk after it cleared the handlebars but hooked into a pannier? Trust me, the best bags are narrow and make up the litres by being tall and long. The Avduro’s are frontrunners for storage space, but at 18cm wide their narrow profile is comparable to systems half their size. This design really improves handling with a full load and helps to keep single track on the cards.
It’s early days, but I think this is my favourite luggage system. I’ll check in later and let you know how they are going.
KLR650 ADVENTURE
RRP: $10,129
WARRANTY: 24 months all parts and labour
DISTRIBUTOR: Kawasaki Australia
SO FAR
TOTAL HOURS: 18
MODS THIS MONTH: AndyStrapz luggage racks, Avduro Pannierz
