Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reports
3,318 miles · Aug 1, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
2006 KAWASAKI KLR 650 BALANCER TENSIONER SPRING FAILURE. SYMPTOMS LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND POOR ENGINE OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS CAUGHT IN TIME BEFORE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE COULD TAKE PLACE. I PURCHASED A BALANCER LEVER UPGRADE KIT FROM EAGLE MANUFACTURING OF CALIFORNIA. THE COST OF THIS KIT WAS APPROXIMATELY $140.00. …
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2006 KAWASAKI KLR 650 BALANCER TENSIONER SPRING FAILURE. SYMPTOMS LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND POOR ENGINE OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS CAUGHT IN TIME BEFORE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE COULD TAKE PLACE. I PURCHASED A BALANCER LEVER UPGRADE KIT FROM EAGLE MANUFACTURING OF CALIFORNIA. THE COST OF THIS KIT WAS APPROXIMATELY $140.00. I ALSO PURCHASED A MOTORCYCLE JACK TO ACCOMPLISH THE REPAIR. MY LABOR WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS, THIS INCLUDED REMOVING THE LEFT SIDE ENGINE COVER FROM THE FLYWHEEL AND STATOR. THEN REMOVING THE INNER FLYWHEEL SIDE COVER TO RETRIEVE THE BROKEN IDLER ADJUSTER SPRING. THE MAIN BODY OF THE SPRING WAS RETRIEVED. THE BROKEN PIECE CIRCULATED THROUGH THE ENGINE, BRAKING OFF SOME OF THE PLASTIC CHAIN TENSIONERS. I RECOVERED A FEW PLASTIC PIECES AND THE MAIN SPRING BODY. THE LEFT SIDE SPRING END WAS BROKEN OFF AND IS SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PARTS AND GASKETS TOOK APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS AND COST ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279022
9,540 miles · Oct 27, 2008
Suspension
PRELOAD ADJUSTER BROKE ON 2006 KLR 650 SECOND TIME I ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST IT WITH LESS THAT 10K MILES ON IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10246814
19,000 miles · Apr 15, 2008
Power Train
2006 KLR 650 KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLE BROKEN BALANCER CHAIN LEVER EVEN THOUGH ADJUSTED REGULARLY BY KAWASAKI DEALER. METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE ENGINE CAUSING POTENTIAL DAMAGE. INCURRED SIGNIFICANT REPAIR COSTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND REPAIR WITH AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENT AS THE KAWASAKI PART IS DEFECTIVE. THIS DEFECT COULD H…
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2006 KLR 650 KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLE BROKEN BALANCER CHAIN LEVER EVEN THOUGH ADJUSTED REGULARLY BY KAWASAKI DEALER. METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE ENGINE CAUSING POTENTIAL DAMAGE. INCURRED SIGNIFICANT REPAIR COSTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND REPAIR WITH AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENT AS THE KAWASAKI PART IS DEFECTIVE. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SEIZED ENGINE AND EVEN DEATH AND/OR INJURY. WOULD LIKE KAWASAKI TO INDEMNIFY ME FOR MY LOSSES AND ALSO ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL BIKES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE MUFFLER MOUNTING BOLTS COULD ALLOW THE BOLTS TO LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN COMPLETELY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE MUFFLER TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN TWO MUFFLER MOUNTING BOLTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2006 Kawasaki KL650A Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year