nklr mesquite to toroweap point ride suggestions

[usa1911a1]

Traitor! I just got the feeling we were bonding. I thought maybe I had one "real" friend in the group with whom I could share my inner most feelings. Traitor! Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ 2006 A6F KLR Green Tires: Mefo 99 Explorers Country roads (20% dirt), dual tracks. NY State and Northern New England

----- Original Message ----- From: Jim To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 2:18 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Mud ain't no friend of mine. AAAKKKK! I just checked the weather and we are supposed to get snow 6 different days this week! (wintry mix Monday, and snow showers the rest of the week.) I need to move. I hear San Diego is a nice place to ride this time of year. Jim > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "usa1911a1" wrote: > > > > See Jim, I told ya. They don't ride like a man through snow and > mud...damn orange Blossoms, and sweet fragrances. Next thing ya know > they'll admit to eatin that there keeshy stuff. > > > > Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA > > http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ > > 2006 A6F KLR Green > > Tires: Mefo 99 Explorers > > Country roads (20% dirt), dual tracks. NY State and Northern New England > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: C L Cooper > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 10:59 PM > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Mud ain't no friend of mine. > > > > > > ~150 mile ride last weekend thru hills east, north and big loop > back home... > > mid-sixties, sunny, orange trees and many other blossoms are very > fragrant. > > Absolutely beautiful. Not quite so far this weekend. Just a little > cooler. > > Maybe low sixties, sunny, again, beautiful. > > > > Mud.... don't know what you guys are talkin' about ;~) > > > > The new 685 engine is great!!! > > > > Chuck C > > Gloating in Sunny San Diego > > > > On 3/31/07, Jim wrote: > > > > > > Ain't spring fun? Just the other day I was riding home from work, > > > enjoying the feeling of the warm sun (I was still in a low speed > limit > > > area, so the 40 degree temp didn't get to me yet) and decided to > take > > > "the scenic way" and explore a side trail. Once off the road and > under > > > the trees the hard ground gave way to spots of mud. That gradually > > > became deeper mud with large patches of snow and ice. Not > exactly bike > > > terrain, let alone KLR terrain! I was stubborn though and kept going > > > until the snow got deeper (as well as the mud in between!) I finally > > > made the decision to turn around before I had to call for a > truck with > > > a winch. > > > > > > Last nights ride home was later than expected, around 11:30 pm. > All of > > > the places that were wet earlier in the day from the spring > runoff was > > > now frozen into deadly ice patches. It definitely added to the > > > excitement of riding. > > > > > > Jim > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , > > > "usa1911a1" wrote: > > > > > > > > I have discovered a new way to stop, shut off and park the bike. I > > > was out in the woods yesterday...somewhere I should not have > been...on > > > a barely visible two track covered with last autumn's leaves. I had > > > been having a better time then any 61 year old should have with > a 400 > > > lb. bike in the woods, and was feeling pretty good about some of the > > > hills I climbed. Anyway, I was moving about 15 mph on this nearly > > > invisible track and it turned left along the side of a hill and then > > > it dipped and went to the right up the hill. I was in the left track > > > making the uphill right when I went through the dip. > > > > > > > > All of a sudden "Praying Mantis" slowed to a stop, stalled and > just > > > stood there in the mud in this dip. The consistency of the mud was > > > like thick oatmeal, and I was in it up to the chain. I restarted but > > > "forgetaboutit", just deeper in the mud. I dismounted and the bike > > > just stood there, I couldn't have parked it nicer. By now I was hot > > > from horsing the bike back and forth but getting no where. I pulled > > > off my helmet, gloves, jacket and sunglasses, and just studied the > > > situation while I rested. After a few minutes, I tried to lift the > > > tail out of the muck...no go. I finally dug out from behind the rear > > > wheel and was able to horse the bike back about ten feet to > where the > > > mud hardened up a bit and the bike surfaced. Of course at this point > > > he bike tipped over and was belly laughing at me as it lay there. > > > After a few minutes rest, I bench pressed the bike to 45 degrees up > > > and almost had a coronary getting it up all the way. I rode it home > > > and hosed at least ten pounds of mud from everywhere. You would have > > > been very proud of me. > > > > > > > > All that to say this: From experience, this bike "ain't no > mudder". > > > You guys out west must not be riding in deep mud in the woods. The > > > KLR is a hard surface bike that requires an experienced able bodied > > > (read young) person to throw it around, and frankly I don't believe > > > most of what you guys claim. I think you are all a bunch of > lying sobs. > > > > > > > > Ok, I feel better > > > > > > > > > > > > Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA > > > > http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ > > > > 2006 A6F KLR Green > > > > Tires: Mefo 99 Explorers > > > > Country roads (20% dirt), dual tracks. NY State and Northern > New England > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[usa1911a1]

Let me ask you this Dooden. Should I be airing down for mud? The Mefo's are new and are round, and with my weight I am running them at around 34lbs. Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ 2006 A6F KLR Green Tires: Mefo 99 Explorers Country roads (20% dirt), dual tracks. NY State and Northern New England

----- Original Message ----- From: Dooden To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 7:28 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Mud ain't no friend of mine. Mefo 99 Explorers ? Should have had Kenda K-270's mounted, even mostly worn out mine will pull the ole KLR through alot of swampy yuck. Dooden A15 Green Ape Upper Michigan with lots of mud, but a few years younger. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "usa1911a1" wrote: > > I have discovered a new way to stop, shut off and park the bike. I was out in the woods yesterday...somewhere I should not have been...on a barely visible two track covered with last autumn's leaves. I had been having a better time then any 61 year old should have with a 400 lb. bike in the woods, and was feeling pretty good about some of the hills I climbed. Anyway, I was moving about 15 mph on this nearly invisible track and it turned left along the side of a hill and then it dipped and went to the right up the hill. I was in the left track making the uphill right when I went through the dip. > > All of a sudden "Praying Mantis" slowed to a stop, stalled and just stood there in the mud in this dip. The consistency of the mud was like thick oatmeal, and I was in it up to the chain. I restarted but "forgetaboutit", just deeper in the mud. I dismounted and the bike just stood there, I couldn't have parked it nicer. By now I was hot from horsing the bike back and forth but getting no where. I pulled off my helmet, gloves, jacket and sunglasses, and just studied the situation while I rested. After a few minutes, I tried to lift the tail out of the muck...no go. I finally dug out from behind the rear wheel and was able to horse the bike back about ten feet to where the mud hardened up a bit and the bike surfaced. Of course at this point he bike tipped over and was belly laughing at me as it lay there. After a few minutes rest, I bench pressed the bike to 45 degrees up and almost had a coronary getting it up all the way. I rode it home and hosed at least ten pounds of mud from everywhere. You would have been very proud of me. > > All that to say this: From experience, this bike "ain't no mudder". You guys out west must not be riding in deep mud in the woods. The KLR is a hard surface bike that requires an experienced able bodied (read young) person to throw it around, and frankly I don't believe most of what you guys claim. I think you are all a bunch of lying sobs. > > Ok, I feel better > > > Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA > http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ > 2006 A6F KLR Green > Tires: Mefo 99 Explorers > Country roads (20% dirt), dual tracks. NY State and Northern New England > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Douglas Bouley]

I read Luke's excellent Mexico trip report on ADV and he says pretty much the same thing about Explorers in mud. I'm getting ready to buy tires soon and the MEFOs were on my short list. However, reading this and that and especially Jeff Saline, I'm coming around to the Kenda K270 POV. One sissy question though: how do they compare to other choices for ease of changing/bead breaking? I've read folks talk about some tires being much easier than others to change. Being a wuss, I'd rather have easier, all other things being reasonably equal. I'm a 99/1 street rider/all weather commuter, but would like to try a bit more dirty stuff this year. I imagine almost any tire would be less scary off hard pavement than the stock ones (said by a long-time road rider with no real dirt experience)! doug in dc Dooden wrote:

> Mefo 99 Explorers ? > > Should have had Kenda K-270's mounted, even mostly worn out mine will > pull the ole KLR through alot of swampy yuck. > > Dooden > A15 Green Ape > > Upper Michigan with lots of mud, but a few years younger. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "usa1911a1" wrote: > >> I have discovered a new way to stop, shut off and park the bike. I >> > was out in the woods yesterday...somewhere I should not have been...on > a barely visible two track covered with last autumn's leaves. I had > been having a better time then any 61 year old should have with a 400 > lb. bike in the woods, and was feeling pretty good about some of the > hills I climbed. Anyway, I was moving about 15 mph on this nearly > invisible track and it turned left along the side of a hill and then > it dipped and went to the right up the hill. I was in the left track > making the uphill right when I went through the dip. > >> All of a sudden "Praying Mantis" slowed to a stop, stalled and just >> > stood there in the mud in this dip. The consistency of the mud was > like thick oatmeal, and I was in it up to the chain. I restarted but > "forgetaboutit", just deeper in the mud. I dismounted and the bike > just stood there, I couldn't have parked it nicer. By now I was hot > from horsing the bike back and forth but getting no where. I pulled > off my helmet, gloves, jacket and sunglasses, and just studied the > situation while I rested. After a few minutes, I tried to lift the > tail out of the muck...no go. I finally dug out from behind the rear > wheel and was able to horse the bike back about ten feet to where the > mud hardened up a bit and the bike surfaced. Of course at this point > he bike tipped over and was belly laughing at me as it lay there. > After a few minutes rest, I bench pressed the bike to 45 degrees up > and almost had a coronary getting it up all the way. I rode it home > and hosed at least ten pounds of mud from everywhere. You would have > been very proud of me. > >> All that to say this: From experience, this bike "ain't no mudder". >> > You guys out west must not be riding in deep mud in the woods. The > KLR is a hard surface bike that requires an experienced able bodied > (read young) person to throw it around, and frankly I don't believe > most of what you guys claim. I think you are all a bunch of lying sobs. > >> Ok, I feel better >> >> >> Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA >> http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ >> 2006 A6F KLR Green >> Tires: Mefo 99 Explorers >> Country roads (20% dirt), dual tracks. NY State and Northern New England >> >> >> >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > >

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[dooden]

Stock tires ? = Scary offroad, not too bad on dry hardpack and flatrock (dry) and stuff, grassy areas (wet or dry) and mud are just too scary to ride on. The Kenda 270 is a nice tire for me, mounting was pretty simple I thought, seating the bead was a bit of work, but not sure how to compare to other tires. Honestly if I was a 99/1 rider I would not get the Kenda 270, with the odds of needing more traction/grip on pavement during that 99 part of riding, you are not going to get it with the Kenda 270 IMHO. Check posts, somebody has a website with most all tires that fit and comments for each. Its all about compromise, my riding the 270 fits me, but I am not a 99/1 rider. Good Luck with your choice. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Douglas Bouley wrote: > > I read Luke's excellent Mexico trip report on ADV and he says pretty > much the same thing about Explorers in mud. > > I'm getting ready to buy tires soon and the MEFOs were on my short list. > However, reading this and that and especially Jeff Saline, I'm coming > around to the Kenda K270 POV. > > One sissy question though: how do they compare to other choices for ease > of changing/bead breaking? I've read folks talk about some tires being > much easier than others to change. Being a wuss, I'd rather have easier, > all other things being reasonably equal. > > I'm a 99/1 street rider/all weather commuter, but would like to try a > bit more dirty stuff this year. I imagine almost any tire would be less > scary off hard pavement than the stock ones (said by a long-time road > rider with no real dirt experience)! > > doug in dc > > Dooden wrote: > > Mefo 99 Explorers ? > > > > Should have had Kenda K-270's mounted, even mostly worn out mine

[Norm Keller]

K270's are no problem to mount and dismount if you use some sort of bead lube. Even a bit of water from a mud puddle has worked for me. (Don't ask). 35+ bikes, bike licence since 1965 and the only flat tires I can recall have been on this KLR..... No memory jokes, Captain Bob, you already called me a slob or something like that....I forget exactly what you said but I seem to recall that I resented it at the time......... It was you, wasn't it? You're going to get your leg well pulled over this one 'cause we Westerners are real tetchy. Norm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Greg May]

I can definitely agree with the sinkhole thing, a few years ago a me and a buddy stopped for a break on a power line that we travelled very frequently to get to the various trails we rode. There was a wet spot in front of my bike I noticed when we stopped but thought nothing about, he left first with me just behind. I moved about a foot and my front end just dropped. He arrived back about 15 minutes later looking for me, by now I had both wheels and a bike up past it's frame in mud. If I remember right we spend close to an hour getting the bike unstuck and out, the more we worked the bigger the sink hole got...oh yeah did I metion that I wasn't riding a KLR, it was instead my 200KDX which is about the same weight as me so about 1/2 a KLR. Before I got stuck there was nothing but a wet spot by the time I got out there was a sinkhole about 6 feet long and probably 3 feet wide. We marked it with for future reference but from what I heard and later saw the sign of some guys in their 4x4's found it tried to cross it and wound up getting a dozer in to extract the 1st truck that tried it. Have a great day all....Greg Russell Scott wrote: Last year, I was out in the middle of nowhere on some single track on my XR. I came across this mud hole in the middle of the trail that was created from the Spring runoff. It looked totally rideable, like stuff I have ridden through numerous times, including a couple of earlier holes that day. When I hit it my bike sank like a rock up to axles and skid plate. I could not get it to budge no matter which way I pushed and pulled it. It was the closest thing to quicksand I have ever encountered. It was getting late, and I was already thinking about the ten mile hike down the mountain to the nearest ranch home. Luckily my riding buddies started backtracking the trails in the area, found me, and helped me pull it out. But this mud had its claws dug in, and it took all three of us everything we had to pull it out. The other problem was because of the narrowness of the trail, we could not get good leverage on it. And that bike weighs one hundred pounds less then the KLR. R -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of matteeanne@... Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 2:08 PM To: usa1911a1; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Mud ain't no friend of mine. One more reason I carry a couple hundred feet of rope, carbiners and pullies. It's got me unstuck a few times..... Sean Brown Looking for the perfect gift for the wife/Mom/or "the person who has everything?" www.brownsbirdestates.com To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 11:52:40 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Mud ain't no friend of mine. I have discovered a new way to stop, shut off and park the bike. I was out in the woods yesterday... somewhere I should not have been...on a barely visible two track covered with last autumn's leaves. I had been having a better time then any 61 year old should have with a 400 lb. bike in the woods, and was feeling pretty good about some of the hills I climbed. Anyway, I was moving about 15 mph on this nearly invisible track and it turned left along the side of a hill and then it dipped and went to the right up the hill. I was in the left track making the uphill right when I went through the dip. All of a sudden "Praying Mantis" slowed to a stop, stalled and just stood there in the mud in this dip. The consistency of the mud was like thick oatmeal, and I was in it up to the chain. I restarted but "forgetaboutit" , just deeper in the mud. I dismounted and the bike just stood there, I couldn't have parked it nicer. By now I was hot from horsing the bike back and forth but getting no where. I pulled off my helmet, gloves, jacket and sunglasses, and just studied the situation while I rested. After a few minutes, I tried to lift the tail out of the muck...no go. I finally dug out from behind the rear wheel and was able to horse the bike back about ten feet to where the mud hardened up a bit and the bike surfaced. Of course at this point he bike tipped over and was belly laughing at me as it lay there. After a few minutes rest, I bench pressed the bike to 45 degrees up and almost had a coronary getting it up all the way. I rode it home and hosed at least ten pounds of mud from everywhere. You would have been very proud of me. All that to say this: From experience, this bike "ain't no mudder". You guys out west must not be riding in deep mud in the woods. The KLR is a hard surface bike that requires an experienced able bodied (read young) person to throw it around, and frankly I don't believe most of what you guys claim. I think you are all a bunch of lying sobs. Ok, I feel better Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA http://www.essexste amtrain.com/ 2006 A6F KLR Green Tires: Mefo 99 Explorers Country roads (20% dirt), dual tracks. NY State and Northern New England [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --------------------------------- Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Yahoo! Answers. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dooden" wrote:

> > > > The Kenda 270 is a nice tire for me, mounting was pretty simple I > thought, seating the bead was a bit of work, but not sure how to > compare to other tires.

.

> > Dooden > A15 Green Ape > >

I'm with Dooden, the bead seating K270 can/could be painful. Odd thing during the last tire change on or friend-Dan Stuart's 00' KLR..., 1) set the new tires (K270's) in the sun to warm (they were almost hot/touch) 2) we thoroughly cleaned the inner rim of all tire residue, 3) lubed the tire with 'proper' bead lube, ie tire bead lube 4)had 3 tire spoons (followed all generally accepted tire changing techniques for installation, talc, etal 5) used a NASHBAR professional model hand pump (don't have a compressor) 5a) tires seated at 40psi indicated. What was the secret? 1) set the new tires in the sun to warm (they were almost hot/touch) 2) we thoroughly cleaned the inner rim of all tire residue, 3) lubed the tire with 'proper' bead lube, ie tire bead lube 4)had 3 tire spoons (followed all generally accepted tire changing techniques for installation, talc, etal 5) used a NASHBAR professional model hand pump (don't have a compressor) 5a) tires seated at 40psi indicated. Steps 1-5. repeat as necessary revmaaatin. got to go, time to Rev....

[Norm Keller]

>I don't believe most of what you guys claim. I >think you are all a bunch of lying sobs. >Ok, I feel better >Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA

You seem to have overlooked the rules in terms of insults, name calling and the like Captain Bob! I'll have you know I resent the "lying" part. In future I suggest you substitute "creative" or "optimistic" when labelling we Western......hey! Did you just call us "slobs"......aw, and I just had a shower..... (running for cover) Better wash that bike before you try to cross the border. (VBG) Keep me posted as to when you are coming out to Portland. Norm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[fasteddiecopeman]

Capt Bob, YES! Anytime you're in a tricky traction situation, either DON'T be there..., or air down! Without rim locks, you should be safe at 18psi. Ed

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "usa1911a1" wrote: > > Let me ask you this Dooden. Should I be airing down for mud? The Mefo's are new and are round, and with my weight I am running them at around 34lbs. > > Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA

[Jim]

Portland? I've been there by KLR from NH. As well as Paris, Norway, Sweden, Peru, Poland, Denmark, and Athens. My bike is very well traveled. Did I mention all of these places are in Maine? Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Norm Keller" wrote: > > >I don't believe most of what you guys claim. I >think you are all a bunch of lying sobs. > > >Ok, I feel better > > >Capt. Bob in Durham, CT. USA > > You seem to have overlooked the rules in terms of insults, name calling and the like Captain Bob! > > I'll have you know I resent the "lying" part. > > In future I suggest you substitute "creative" or "optimistic" when labelling we Western......hey! Did you just call us "slobs"......aw, and I just had a shower..... (running for cover) > > Better wash that bike before you try to cross the border. (VBG) > > Keep me posted as to when you are coming out to Portland. > > Norm > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >