As part of my scratching of a personal bucket-list itch, I am thinking I need a light weight adventure bike and an 06, KLE 500, Kawasaki, could be mine for a very low price with very low Ks.

Youtube investigations into the brand show mad motorcyclists from Europe doing amazing stuff with this parallel  twin from Kawasaki and I have always admired this motor in GPz form.

However, a wise member of  our group told me, in person, ask 10 people for their opinion on the AMTRA forum you're likely to get 13 different POV.

At the risk of that - and in light of the fact that hard cash has been placed as a holding deposit. Any thoughts?

Peter

PS. Wise AMTRA member, you know who you are, and, in light of your considered opinion when we spoke in person, I have decided I don't ride my DT175 well enough to need a better dirt-bike. Adventure biking is a different question.

Hey Doc , sounds like a good deal for a ripper bike . Another AMTRA Adventure rider , might be time to plan an ADV weekend me thinks ( later in the year when all are back in town ) ,

If its cheap, go for it. 

Hey Peter 
Re KLE   I saw that and thought ill buy 2 of it as i hadnt heard of this model and looks cheap 2nd hand
so i had to do a comparison , KLR 650 
KLR is 10kg lighter ,
has 22lt tank Vs 15  , ( you will need at least the extra 5lt in your rear saddle bags for any trip 
not sure if it has more power ,
Both have comfy seats
KLR is a more recognisable for resale , but just as cheap to buy 2nd hand 

KLE seat height 40mm lower ( good for vertically challenged units)
2 cylinders better for road sections (KLE)

If you buy a cheap ( reliable ) bike  and assume you will have it for say 3-4 years , you have to evaluate if it will owe you anything by then , and what its worth
(EG. i paid 3300 for my DRZ and ive done 3000 ish Ks on it so far , in the bush, it can rot in the back of my shed if i dont ride it anymore now )

 you can put 50,000 Ks on it and have the most fun and just bin it later

Hey Jeff,
I appreciate all your sentiments.

Regarding KLR 650 seat height: This is nosebleed territory for me, I could even qualify for frequent flyer points riding a KLR.

Big tank on KLR in comparison but how often needed is the question?

Agree that there is much road between dirt sections and road orientated engine may be useful in long term.

I like how you amortize the cost of the cheaper bike that makes a lot of sense to me. If  I do buy it I need to make sure I use it in a value-for-money manner.

Adventure biking is a whole new world, and to think, back in the day, it meant I could ride my BMW R90/6 down a dirt road without  sweating. And I did.

Risk a little but stay safe, all.
Peter

Bought the bike.

Hooray and congrats, enjoy

come on Doc, picys!

PS for the rest of us , what is amortize?

Google say that amortize is to:

1. gradually write off the initial cost of (an asset) over a period.

I see it as buying an item and then getting value from the use of that item over a long time.  To where we start to say the item does not owe us anything (It can rot in the shed). We get a head start on value for money when buying an as new item at a considerable discount compared to brand new.

Peter

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Oh come on Doc, this is a motor bike club.

Amore is LOVE - you must have visually been excited by the KLE - go on admit it - sexy bike 

Tize is MUSIC - Bikes make music - twist the throttle under load and just listen (If the KLE isn't musical enough just get a good aftermarket system fitted)

There you go - AmoreTize