How Much Power Does the 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure Make?

The new 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 is an awaited return of Team Green’s iconic, do-it-all dual sport following a two-year hiatus of production. It isn’t just reintroduced to the lineup, but boasts a number of significant changes that expand its adventuring capabilities while addressing the shortcomings of the previous-generation KLR.

So what’s new? The KLR650 and the KLR650 Adventure and Traveler submodels continue to be powered by the same 652cc DOHC single-cylinder as before, but utilizes electronic fuel injection for the first time. A new 40mm throttle body promotes smoother running and rids the KLR of the need to rejet the carburetor for varying riding conditions. Kawasaki also claims a boost in midrange power and torque characteristics as a result of revised cam profiles and the exhaust pipe diameter has been reduced for similar results. The transmission has also been reworked with several updates for better shift feel

As part of the Cycle World testing protocol, we placed our 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure on our in-house Dynojet 250i dynamometer, recording horsepower and torque figures. The KLR produced a peak 34.61 hp at 5,910 rpm and 33.52 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. A combination of smooth, tractor-like power delivery from 2,000 rpm until its redline of 7,000 rpm, and a notably flat torque curve makes the KLR a docile adventure machine and offers flexibility in various riding scenarios.