Anyone with stock gearing knows what it's like to cruise at 70mph indicated on our bike. You're at 7k, can be buzzy but that depends on your handlebars too. 7k is my "happy place" while cruising.

I've heard that the DRZ400 is very similar in this respect since it only has 5 gears. I know a certain member who has owned both.

Would you put them both on par as far as 70 mph cruising goes?

 

Both similar when cruising, OK but a bit too much like hard work.
The DRZ certainly needs another gear IMO.
But it hasn't got one.

 

Neither is a good choice for cruising at 70MPH. If you want 70MPH indicated, tweak your speedometer so you are doing ~5K-6K RPM. Good handlebars help with the buzz but, my 250 mile round trip was a little too much at ~6500 RPM. Anything more then 6500 RPM and the buzz and bark really increase disproportionately IMHO.

 

There is a big difference on smaller bore bikes between 60mph & 70 mph. I'm very happy at 60, and I'm not so happy at 70. I think the only true way to make 70 a little more comfortable on one of these bikes would be to go with a big bore kit and taller gearing to bring the rpms down & a windscreen b/c the wind seems to increase dramatically at anything over around 60.

 

Not sure of the output ratio but I know 5th gear on a DRZ is actually TALLER than 6th on the KLX... as in, it is a smaller-numbered overdrive gear than our 6th... again I'm not sure of the output and the stuff on the other end. I could dig out my dad's manual and get all those exact numbers again after work today.

70 isn't realistic on this bike. Yeah you can hit it with stock gearing but you're buzzing pretty bad, the wind would be bad. 55 is the highest comfortable cruising speed IMHO... following my dad on the DRZ, who likes to speed, SUCKS the big one. He always wants to do 60-65 out the highway but I think it feels horribly uncomfortable.

 

Well, I have a D-tracker and it had no problem doing 60mph with stock displacement and gearing. It didn't feel uncomfortable at all...in fact, I felt that was the sweet spot, but that's probably because the bike has 17" rims and street tires.

Presently I am running with 300cc, Wiseco piston, aftermarket cams and a 15t CS sprocket. The bike is very comfortable a 70mph in this configuration, but definitely could use a wind screen. I have the MRA Vario in my cross hairs right now.

It all depends on what you do most. You can't expect this bike to be totally comfy doing freeway speeds with knobbies, stock displacemet and gearing, but if all you want to do is connect the trails, that might be acceptable.

 

When I say 70 I mean 70 indicated. That is probably 65mph or so true speed. Regardless, at 7k, it's really not buzzy in the bars too much. Any faster, and it is. But that is only for passing and short speed runs.

 

I usually cruise at around 110-115kph (~70miles)

Seems to buzz fine, but then again, maybe I've gotten used to it?

 

I guess it's good to know that the DRZ is similar at these speeds. I don't think I would get a DRZ. A DR650 is looking to be a better choice for me.

 

Seriously guys, the KLX runs great at 70 indicated. If you need to go faster, go down a gear and rev it some more. I am amazed at the way my bike runs on the road. My 1100 (Guzzi) has way more bottom end, but the KLX holds it's own with most traffic and is so entertaining. Every time I think about a bigger bike, I think about dragging it up a cliff face or tossing it in the back of a truck. Maybe it's because I ride Mountain bikes, or maybe it's just the full face helmet and ear plugs, but I say the KLX is a kickass way to go down any road and is much more manageable than a big bike if you get over your head off-road. Rev it hard and go fast!