Why I Chose the Kawasaki KLR650 – A Rider’s Story of Rebuilding and Adventure

Built Not Bought: How the KLR Took Me Full Circle

By Chris van Latum

Before I could even walk, I was hooked on the throttle.

When I was just a toddler, my dad would sit me on the tank of his bike, his giant helmet dropping over my shoulders. He’d let me twist the throttle and feel the engine roar. That sensation? It never left me.

First Rides and First Lessons

At 15, I got serious. I bought a completely trashed Suzuki ER50. It ran sort of. Eventually, the spark plug shot out while I was riding, and I resorted to tying it in with a bloudraad just to keep the thing going. Later, my dad and I did a full nuts-and-bolts rebuild together. It was more than just a fix-up—it was a rite of passage.

Most afternoons I’d sprint home from school, ditch my bag, and head straight for the river near our home. Hours would pass as I rode, jumped, explored, and dreamed. Homework always came second. Then came the early Honda MT5, a real game-changer for me. I learned to wheelie, jump, and tinker. It was a simple machine I could fix myself, and it taught me how to understand motorcycles, not just ride them.

The Accident That Changed Everything

After school, bikes became my only transport. Street bikes came and went. But in 2011, everything stopped.

I was hit from behind by a car and thrown into a street pole. I woke up in an ambulance with a bilateral occipital fracture, shattered collarbones, crushed fingers, broken ribs, you name it. It was a long, agonizing recovery. I didn’t ride for years.

Rediscovering the Joy of Riding

Then life threw me a lifeline.

While living on a nature reserve just north of Lanseria, I got a chance to ride a Yamaha TW200. My neighbour sold it to me and, with that, I rediscovered what I had loved all along: the simplicity, the scrambler vibes, the connection. It reminded me of the old ER50 and MT5, a machine I could work on myself. No screens, no gimmicks, just raw riding.

The KLR Enters the Story

I’d always had a soft spot for the original Gen 1 Kawasaki KLR650, mostly for nostalgic reasons. So when I got the chance to buy a 2008 Gen 2 model with 35,000 km on the clock, I didn’t hesitate. I fell in love. I rode it like I was 15 again, reckless, joyful, dirty. And when something broke? I fixed it. I MacGyvered it back together.

That’s the thing about the KLR, it invites you to be resourceful, to learn, to earn the ride.

The Community and the Cult

I followed YouTube pages, joined forums, and realised I was far from alone. The KLR isn’t just a bike, it’s a cult. A global community of riders who share tools, stories, failures, and fixes.

The COVID Setback

But then COVID hit. I had to sell the bike. It was falling apart anyway, but letting it go cut deep. I swore I’d find another one that could become my long-term build.

The Second KLR

Years passed. Then, as if the universe was listening, I found a 2014 Gen 2 with only 17,000 km on the clock, barely run-in, in KLR terms. I paid for it sight unseen, trusting the seller, a Cape Town KLR legend. I stressed hard until it arrived at my home in Johannesburg. But when it did… no regrets.

She was perfect.

A clean, stable, mechanically sound platform ready for my vision. I started with SW-Motech crash bars, an aluminium bash plate, Barkbusters, off-road pegs, handlebar risers, you name it. Stripping her down to install those parts felt like reconnecting with a long-lost friend. My garage became my man cave, and wrenching became therapy.

I’ve added spots, a windscreen riser, and all the little “bush mechanic” essentials. My toolkit fits neatly into the tail bag. I carry tubes, a compressor, fuses, spare bolts, everything I need to get myself out of trouble. This bike is a kan-nie-dood machine if you look after it. If I break down in the middle of nowhere, I’m not panicking, I’m problem-solving.

The Birth of @KLR_ADVENTURES

And that’s where @KLR_ADVENTURES was born.

It’s not about going fast. I’m 51 now, 120 km/h is plenty. It’s about going far and going well. It’s about sharing the journey, the fixes, the rides, and the soul of this bike that brought me full circle.

Follow along on Instagram as I document each ride, fix, and adventure. I’ll be posting stories, guides, gear reviews, and behind-the-scenes builds as I continue turning my KLR into the adventure machine I always dreamed of.

This isn’t the end of the road. It’s just the start of the next chapter.

Follow the story: @KLR_ADVENTURES
KLR Adventures South Africa