"Ralph E. Hanson" wrote:
> Second, it's really easy to drop a bike. I was just pulling into the
> dealership's parking lot, and I simply fell over. Not really sure what I
> did wrong other than probably stop moving forward. The entrance to the lot
> was bumpy with scattered gravel, but I don't think that anything other than
> rider error was to blame.
I dropped mine the second time I had it out. I got on a muddy downhill
dirt road that kept getting steeper and steeper. I figured I'd better
turn around before I got down too far and couldn't get back up. As I
was attempting to get turned around on the narrow road, the bike started
to tilt and all I could do was get the hell out of the way. I must say
that the sucker is a lot heavier than I thought it was. Fortunately,
like your drop, I didn't break anything either.
> Fourth, there are some really good dealers around.
I can't find one in the Pittsurgh area. With very few exceptions, the
shops I've been to seem to usually have the attitude that you have no
business being there; that they're doing YOU a big favor by letting you
in. From now on, I'm doing as much of my business as possible by mail
order or the Internet.
>
> Sixth, I'm *really* happy with the KLR. It's got plenty of power to have
> fun, but not enough to get you into big trouble. And it's light. I was
> able to ride the bike reasonably aggresively (by my standards, wussy +1)
> without scaring myself. I've decided I like the tall windshield. There is
> some buffeting, but I like the overall protection it provides. I haven't
> decided yet on whether I want a 16-tooth front sprocket. I'm going to give
> that some thought in the weeks to come. I do know that I kept reaching for
> a sixth gear. Does that consitute evidence that I want the higher gearing?
> It strikes me that the real power on the bike is between 2500 and 5000.
> I've been commuting to work for the last last week, and it's perfect for
> that.
I agree with you, Ralph. I kept going for the missing Sixth Gear, too.
I wonder why they didn't put one on the KLR 650? My A7 seems to be most
comfortable running at 3000 - 4500 rpm. Going 70 mph I'm hitting about
5000+ rpm. But in the woods, on a tight trail, first gear is almost too
high of a gear ratio, so I have no intention of putting on a bigger
front sprocket. The sixth gear would make the bike much better, if you
ask me.
I still do love the bike, though. I'd be out right now, but I got my
first flat tire ever in over 15 years of riding within the first two
weeks of ownership of my KLR :^( I'm going to make a trip in to one of
the dreaded dealers tomorrow to get the tube changed. Hopefully I'll
have a pleasant experience.
-Dave Kleber
1994 KLR 650
Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.city-net.com/~davekle/