AI Damage2006 Kawasaki Kl650a6f: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Kawasaki Kl650a6f filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 56% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (56% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (33% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Visibility: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
It was also evident that had the spring not broken, the very poorly made tensioner quadrant would have broken instead leading to catastrophic engine damage and most likely a crash at the time of engine failure. The factory parts were replaced with upgraded aftermarket parts.
2006 kawasaki klr650 motorcycle. Balancer chain tensioner commonly referred to as the klr650 "doohickie". Coasting down a sleight grade with motorcycle in gear, motor suddenly made rapping noise and stopped.
Tl contact owns a 2006 kawasaki klr650 (na). While performing maintenance on the vehicle, the contact noticed that the idler shaft spring failed. The contact removed a piece of the idler shaft spring from the engine. The dealer was notified. The contact will be repairing the vehicle.
When the vehicle was shifted into neutral it lunged forward and produced a grinding noise. The contact possessed video footage of the failure. The contact stated that the clutch must be held in or the vehicle will always lunge forward when in neutral. The dealer stated that nothing was wrong with the vehicle.
Failure: the idler shaft spring (kawasaki part no. 92144-1860) was broken and unable to maintain tension on the balancer idler lever. This creates a situation where the balancer chain could become loose, jump off the gearing, and cause the engine and final drive system to lock-up.
Dt*: the contact stated the motorcycle fuses blew out three times. Also, the motorcycle started in neutral which when starting throws it off the kickstand. The service dealer was unwilling to assist the contact with these concerns. Year, make and model: 2006 kawasaki kl650a6f.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling above 30 mph, the rear view mirrors vibrate and nothing can be seen. The dealership was unable to offer any repairs. The contact installed mirror snubbers in an attempt to correct the problem, but the problem persisted. Updated 10/6/2006 -
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,366 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Kawasaki Kl650a6f?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (11%), headlights and tail lights (11%), knocking, grinding or other noise (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 Kawasaki Kl650a6f?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2006 Kawasaki Kl650a6f from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2006 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.