This is the best sign I saw all day. I did a doubletake when I passed it and just had to circle back for a photo. (Photo: Mark Mitchell) » More Photos

The first thing you notice about the Parkway is the feeling of solitude and peacefulness, the roadway surface is smooth and well engineered and the turns seem to wander through the hilltops with a sense of grace and respect for the natural beauty and God given lay of the land. I settled into a nice rhythm right away, anxious to see how the new front and rear suspension components might help the KLR650 expand it’s reputation as a true multi-purpose motorcycle. According to Kawasaki the static sag has been reduced in the new 41mm front forks and the suspension has been reworked at both ends for a more stable and smooth ride on the tarmac. In fact front suspension travel has been reduced from 9.1 to 7.9 inches while the rear wheel travel is reduced from 8.1 to 7.3 inches via a redesigned UNI-TRAK® linkage that reduces sag and compliments the new front suspension setup, keeping the bike feeling well balanced overall. Contributing again to the stability and predictability of the ride the KLR brakes received an upgrade on both ends thanks to a new 280mm petal-style front brake rotor and an all-new rear brake caliper. The results are impressive with the KLR feeling solid and predictable on a variety of road surfaces and conditions. In fact, when the road gets rough the KLR really shines and can make quick work of those really bumpy corners that would justifiably annoy the average sport bike rider and force them to back off the pace just a bit.

Satisfied that the revised suspension setup was working just fine on the road I started looking for an interesting looking side road to test the off-road setup. It didn’t take long to spot a tempting gravel road disappearing off the hillside and I quickly discovered that despite the lowered suspension the big KLR still feels very stable and predictable when you head off-road. The revised suspension settings are spot on for two track dirt and gravel roads and when those run out and the path narrows to a single track the big KLR keeps right on going as long as you slow down a bit and stay focused on the task at hand. I had no trouble at all fording several streams and challenging a couple of long and rocky uphill climbs I encountered along the way. In my mind solid off-road predictability is one of the keys to a safe and enjoyable adventure riding experience. As any of you who have been there can attest there is nothing worse than getting in over your head on a winding gravel road or challenging trail with the additional weight of a full load of camping gear strapped to the bike. Specific off-road refinements are not as widespread as the touring modifications but the bike still features a U.S. Forest Service-approved spark arrestor to keep it legal in off-road situations and a tough engine guard to protect the motor from flying rocks and the occasional log crossing.