Terra vs. KLR

I am about to sell my DRZ. It's a great bike but looking for a bit more power. I ride about 70/30 road/dirt, with some long day rides on the road. I decided against the VStrom and the DR and was about to pull the trigger on a new KLR, but now I'm looking at the Terra. It looks like a great all around bike. My main concern is reliability issues with a first issue bike vs. the known reliability of the KLR. For me, the Kawi dealer is 7 miles away and the Husky dealer is 55 miles away, and I like the dealer for most all of the maintenance. Any help and honest opinions about the Terra vs. the KLR would be greatly appreciated.

The good things about the KLR:
- thoroughly quantified reliability, short of some 08 oil burners they do well
- dealers, parts, aftermarket everywhere
- you likely won't have a problem that others haven't already had, really good forum support etc.
- you can buy a 4 year factory service plan for a few hundred dollars if you want
- 6 gallons of regular gas
- A bit cheaper at MSRP, and usually found much lower, especially at the year end transition.
- A bit less scheduled maintenance, no dealer computer required

The Terra has:
- a lot more power
- better wind management
- more modern styling
- 150 extra watts of alternator output
- fuel injection
- It's a new bike, based on a well established engine with enhanced performance, the KLR is ancient by comparison

We don't know how reliable the Terra will be. New head, new piston, new EFI, new frame, new ... But there's also a lot of well established BMW/Rotax hardware all over the bike.

If you ride them back to back, you will be hard pressed to take home the KLR. The Terra user experience is dramatically better, much more so than most folks expect. I had an 09 KLR, and only kept it for 5k miles, I never used the word 'exciting' when describing it. I've got a Strada, I use the word 'exciting' all the time when describing it.

In my mind the only reason not to by the Terra is lack of dealer network and new model jitters. The dealer thing is a personal decision, either your ok with it or not. New model jitters will go away with time, but we aren't hearing about any significant issues yet.

I don't know know about Tom but you sold me on The Terra.

Thanks KRussell. That is some helpful info. I am surprised you say the Terra has better wind management. The KLR has a larger fairing and at least an attempt at a windscreen. Why do you think the Terra is better with wind management? Also, what should I make of the overheating issue I have seen around various Internet posts with regard to the Terra.

Disclaimer on wind management, I'm 6'4", 275 lbs, where a big well padded aerostitch jacket and a full face or modular helmet. That presents a fair amount of frontal area.

As a bike moves through the air it has to move the air somewhere else. If the bike has a large enough frontal area to move the wind around you, you are likely a happy rider from a wind management perspective, unless it's too hot. Think large touring bike, and imagine the wind being pushed out of the way. :-)

For smaller bikes like the TR650 and the KLR the frontal area of the bike, for many riders, is insufficient to move the air around the rider. In this scenario, there are two things I have observed. On a bike like the KLR, the VStrom, etc., the design tries to get the air around the rider with windshields, fairings etc. But the air typically does not make it. So you end up living in a pile of turbulent air, often more than you would if you had no fairing at all. On the KLR, for me, it was pretty rough air. The VStrom was the worst air ever stock.

On the TR650 I think the key difference is they accepted the fact that they would not be able to move the air out of the way, so they just let it come by where it naturally lands. For me, this results in a lot of air on the top of my thighs, and nice clean air at my head. I like the clean air on my head. The air on my thighs and low on my body does not create fatigue like wind higher up on your body does, that makes a big difference on longer days.

I've ridden the TR650 for a couple of 6+ hour days on pavement, and it doesn't fatigue me. I wanted off the KLR after an hour. The air was rough, there was a lot of it, and it was hitting me right in the chest.

I have seen a couple, but I've seen them resolved by getting the air out of the cooling system. I think the hottest it's been since I owned my Strada has been about 70, so I don't have an opinion yet.

I had an 08 KLR (mine didn't burn oil)...and there is no comparison IMO. The terra feels more secure both on and off the hiway, most likely due to a lower center of gravity and stiffer suspension. The Terra is more fun to ride due to better handling and horsepower. As far as reliability...I don't have a clue, LOL. the Terra is not yet tested over the long haul...but the rotax 650 is known for it's reliability.
The terra feels much more at home at hiway speeds; with the KLR I would constantly be shifting for the phantom 6th gear...and I don't do that with the Terra.

Edit: Ah, the seat....the KLR stock seat was not that good, I ended up with a Sargent replacement seat. I don't think the stock Terra seat needs to be replaced - it feels pretty good.

Yesterday I went looking for a KLR photo to compare to the Strada from the front view. Couldn't find one. Today I remembered that I had taken some of my KLR. :-) If you look at these two photos, you can see a lot of differences in the breadth of the headlight area. You can also see the little wind channels on the sides of the TR650 that I think are key to reducing buffeting as well as making your thighs freeze when it's much below 40.

Note that the KLR has silver Jesse sidecases that you should ignore. The Strada is shown on the jack just to be upright, the wheels are barely off the ground.

Update: I bought a 2011 KLR with 617 miles on it for $4,000 today. He wanted $4,500 minimum but a wad of cash for a quick sale is good incentive. The guy lived 20 minutes from my house, and the Kawi dealer is even closer for service. The closest Husky dealer is 1 hour away, and they didn't have a Terra available for a demo ride. The KLR deal was just too good to pass up, and the motor/tranny was smooth & powerful enough for me. I'm gonna ride a Terra as soon as I can though. Hope I made the right decision, but if not will be selling a low mileage KLR very soon! Thanks everyone for all the posts and help.

That's a great deal. You'll easily sell it for that if you decide you like the Terra. Enjoy the new bike!

Thanks KRussell. Enjoy the Strada.

Well...I figure this thread is about dead since the op bought a bike...but I'll throw my 2 cents in..I have owned 3 KLRs a 1990 Barbie bike that I'll keep probably for ever...an 08 bought in '07 ..only put 2700 miles on in 4 years....I dont know for Sure if it was oil user or not. Sold a 2012 KLR this past Saturday after putting 3500 miles on the bike in about 3 months.

The dealer I bought my last KLR from (the 2012) was a Husky dealer and told me in September that a "new DS from husky was right around the corner." So the mistake I made was going back for a test ride once he got the demo in. I agree with a lot of what's been said. The husky does not "feel" like a big adventure bike. The KLR feels a lot heavier IMHO...not as nimble as the husky. The husky feels more like a SMR...sorta to me. I have owned a KTM smr990... Feels like a baby SMR to me....that could be good...or bad depending on what you want.. The huskys motor is stronger everywhere. Continues to pull strong when the KLR says .."shift shift...you fool"...the H just goes on. The H sounds better...IMHO'..

I do think the wind/rain protection is better on the KLR. (i 6'1" 190#)The fuel tank is bigger...the handlebars have a cross bar to mount stuff on...I reckon that's it. The husky wins everywhere else. Now we will just have to wait. Some time/ miles will need to pass before we declare the H better everywhere else.
Oh...one other area...parts availability ...parts for KLRs are everywhere...as in anywhere you sling a dead cat you can find KLR parts..Lol...always ymmv.

I laughed aloud at the thought of trading a DRZ on a KLR to get a bit more power.
Stock DRZ is 38 HP, stock KLR is I think 32... plus the KLR is heavier.
Better bike on the long distance paved road, I suppose.

I was thinking the same thing. The seller of that KLR is probably making a mad dash to the Husky dealership to put down a $4k down payment.

maybe u should buy a ktm 690 enduro r

I must say I was surprised too at the OP's decision. I have a DRZ and a KLR. For mostly road, the KLR would be my choice, but for anything else, the DRZ weighs 100# less has much better and longer travel suspension, etc. I just bought a Strada after selling a XR650R probably = HP but with ABS and tubless tires for 80/20 road/dirt road, I think the Strada will be the cats meow.

what about ktm 690 enduro r

but at least I have a dealer in area. that will actually work on bike....I took my te 511 new to dealer and he refuses to give me warranty work.....hows that for service?