2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Dyno Test

After being discontinued in 2019, the Kawasaki KLR650 made its triumphant return to the market this year with one very notable update—the addition of fuel injection. Team Green’s highest-displacement dual sport boasts other changes too, but the switch from a carburetor to a 40mm throttle body means fluctuations in elevation no longer result in richer or leaner running conditions, and that rejetting and cleaning a carburetor is a thing of the past.

As soon as the KLR650 models returned from the reintroduction of the bike in New Mexico, we picked one up and ran it on the Dirt Rider dyno. It’s immediately clear this is not a high-revving engine by any means as it hits the rev limiter just shy of 7,000 rpm. The horsepower curve is mostly linear, especially after 2,000 rpm and hits a peak of 34.6 hp at 5,900 rpm. The torque curve climbs quickly and steeply from 1,800 rpm to 2,200 rpm, then is mostly flat before it begins declining slightly after hitting its peak of 33.5 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. Now it’s time to hit the open road; whether they be dirt or asphalt, we’re looking forward to seeing how the resurrected KLR650 handles it.