was "first & second gear" now "oil inspection on a budget"

[Jefferson Johnson]

Ouch! Up until now, I thought this was just a thread of "my bike is better than your bike". Every bike I have owned has had its own idiosyncrasies and it was just a matter of correcting or adapting to them. The classic KLR's are no exception. Actually, I normally buy used so the first owner can deal with correcting the known issues. However, when an owner of the bike in question posts such scathing remarks, I can't help but be curious. Details of you dependability issues? Thanks Jeff Houston, TX

On Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 5:57 AM, wrote: > If the dependibility of my 08 is any example, I have to agree 100%. I > have been stranded 7 times now due to breakdown. Did I mention I had a > blowout when the stock tube ripped on the seam? At freeway speed? > While the handling and braking are far superior, I do not trust the bike at > all. Wondering what I am going to do for my Arctic circle ride next year, > cant imagine taking this piece of crap? And I was stupid enough to buy every > upgrade money can buy..... > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: nakedwaterskier > > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:02:21 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Sounds like the 08 is JUNK > > Turn signals just fall off. Shorts/opens are common. And the new for > 08 piston rings are no good which causes heavy oil consumption. > > I think I will stick with my 04 and the $200 front rotor upgrade kit. > > Jeffrey > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[nakedwaterskier]

And that there are even other common problems besides the faulty rings causing too much oil consumption. Ouch! Up until now, I thought this was just a thread of "my bike is better than your bike". Every bike I have owned has had its own idiosyncrasies and it was just a matter of correcting or adapting to them. The classic KLR's are no exception. Actually, I normally buy used so the first owner can deal with correcting the known issues. However, when an owner of the bike in question posts such scathing remarks, I can't help but be curious. Details of you dependability issues? Thanks If the dependibility of my 08 is any example, I have to agree 100%. I have been stranded 7 times now due to breakdown. Did I mention I had a blowout when the stock tube ripped on the seam? At freeway speed? While the handling and braking are far superior, I do not trust the bike at all. Wondering what I am going to do for my Arctic circle ride next year, cant imagine taking this piece of crap? And I was stupid enough to buy every upgrade money can buy.....

[thewildmanrides650]

the 08 klr is the nimblest best handling and most reliable machine i have ever owned. traded in my brand spankin new vstrom 650 and rode away smiling. I did this after following my buddie on a 2500 mile ride to mount washington. i was blown off the road twice on that vstrom and it was'nt my ridin ability either.I have 6000 miles on mine and I let my brother ride it on a 100 mile ride the next week he bought one.you can say what you want about the 08 klr but nowbody is ever getting mine by the way my buddie was riding a 08 klr. i also broke it in at 80 mph any body that ownes one knows it is impossible not to do 80 on this bike.people look at it and say nice dirt bike and i laugh.Mean Green or bust.

[Mike Hilton]

Mean Green, I'll Amen your story. I've had my 08 for 2 months and nearly 3,000 miles with no problems. The only thing I decided to change was the spring on the rear shock. When I added Pelican cases, side and top, it seemed to squat more than I wanted. I had owned 3 KLRs in the past 10 years, and would not trade this one of any of the others. Mike H.

----- Original Message ----- From: thewildmanrides650 To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 1:26 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Sounds like the 08 is JUNK the 08 klr is the nimblest best handling and most reliable machine i have ever owned. traded in my brand spankin new vstrom 650 and rode away smiling. I did this after following my buddie on a 2500 mile ride to mount washington. i was blown off the road twice on that vstrom and it was'nt my ridin ability either.I have 6000 miles on mine and I let my brother ride it on a 100 mile ride the next week he bought one.you can say what you want about the 08 klr but nowbody is ever getting mine by the way my buddie was riding a 08 klr. i also broke it in at 80 mph any body that ownes one knows it is impossible not to do 80 on this bike.people look at it and say nice dirt bike and i laugh.Mean Green or bust. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ed Dobson]

Sometimes we cause our own problems. Sometimes our ability to resolve problems is due to our own limitations.

[Jim Douglas]

matteeanne@... wrote:

> > If the dependibility of my 08 is any example, I have to agree 100%. I > have been stranded 7 times now due to breakdown. Did I mention I had a > blowout when the stock tube ripped on the seam? At freeway speed? > While the handling and braking are far superior, I do not trust the > bike at all. Wondering what I am going to do for my Arctic circle ride > next year, cant imagine taking this piece of crap? And I was stupid > enough to buy every upgrade money can buy..... > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: nakedwaterskier > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:02:21 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Sounds like the 08 is JUNK > > Turn signals just fall off. Shorts/opens are common. And the new for > 08 piston rings are no good which causes heavy oil consumption. > > I think I will stick with my 04 and the $200 front rotor upgrade kit. > > Jeffrey > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >

In warranty? Sounds like you have gotten a apple, or lemon, or whatever. How many miles? There are 1000's of folks who consider the KLR-650 one of the most reliable designs for Arctic type trips.

[Jim Douglas]

Jefferson Johnson wrote:

> > Ouch! Up until now, I thought this was just a thread of "my bike is better > than your bike". Every bike I have owned has had its own > idiosyncrasies and > it was just a matter of correcting or adapting to them. The classic KLR's > are no exception. Actually, I normally buy used so the first owner can > deal > with correcting the known issues. > > However, when an owner of the bike in question posts such scathing > remarks, > I can't help but be curious. > > Details of you dependability issues? > > Thanks > > Jeff > Houston, TX > > On Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 5:57 AM, > wrote: > > > If the dependibility of my 08 is any example, I have to agree 100%. I > > have been stranded 7 times now due to breakdown. Did I mention I had a > > blowout when the stock tube ripped on the seam? At freeway speed? > > While the handling and braking are far superior, I do not trust the > bike at > > all. Wondering what I am going to do for my Arctic circle ride next > year, > > cant imagine taking this piece of crap? And I was stupid enough to > buy every > > upgrade money can buy..... > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: nakedwaterskier > > > > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:02:21 AM > > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Sounds like the 08 is JUNK > > > > Turn signals just fall off. Shorts/opens are common. And the new for > > 08 piston rings are no good which causes heavy oil consumption. > > > > I think I will stick with my 04 and the $200 front rotor upgrade kit. > > > > Jeffrey > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >

Don't believe everything you read on the internet..........Do the research and you will find that the bike is quite reliable, I have had three, now an 08 with 5K miles, other than a small tear in the seat, which the dealer replaced I have had no issues, furthermore I had NOT SEEN anyone on this particular group give details about oil consumption, not saying it does not happen but I have asked numerous time during these KLR is a POS posts........ Research adventure motorcycle riding and you won't find complaints from folks who have gone all around the world on these things!

[Larry]

I bought an 08 last year and have not had a single issue with it in 3500 miles. I have also talked to several other owners out on the road and their experiences are similiar. This is my 1st KLR so I joined a group to get some knowledge but found the general atmosphere so negative, it was ruining my enjoyment of my bike. This group seems much more positive. Larry. -- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jim Douglas wrote:

> > Jefferson Johnson wrote: > > > > Ouch! Up until now, I thought this was just a thread of "my bike

is better

> > than your bike". Every bike I have owned has had its own > > idiosyncrasies and > > it was just a matter of correcting or adapting to them. The

classic KLR's

> > are no exception. Actually, I normally buy used so the first

owner can

> > deal > > with correcting the known issues. > > > > However, when an owner of the bike in question posts such

scathing

> > remarks, > > I can't help but be curious. > > > > Details of you dependability issues? > > > > Thanks > > > > Jeff > > Houston, TX > > > > On Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 5:57 AM, > > wrote: > > > > > If the dependibility of my 08 is any example, I have to agree

100%. I

> > > have been stranded 7 times now due to breakdown. Did I mention

I had a

> > > blowout when the stock tube ripped on the seam? At freeway

speed?

> > > While the handling and braking are far superior, I do not trust

the

> > bike at > > > all. Wondering what I am going to do for my Arctic circle ride

next

> > year, > > > cant imagine taking this piece of crap? And I was stupid enough

to

> > buy every > > > upgrade money can buy..... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > From: nakedwaterskier > > > > > > > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com

40yahoogroups.com>

> > > > > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:02:21 AM > > > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Sounds like the 08 is JUNK > > > > > > Turn signals just fall off. Shorts/opens are common. And the

new for

> > > 08 piston rings are no good which causes heavy oil consumption. > > > > > > I think I will stick with my 04 and the $200 front rotor

upgrade kit.

> > > > > > Jeffrey > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > Don't believe everything you read on the internet..........Do the > research and > you will find that the bike is quite reliable, I have had three,

now an

> 08 with > 5K miles, other than a small tear in the seat, which the dealer

replaced

> I have > had no issues, furthermore I had NOT SEEN anyone on this particular

group

> give details about oil consumption, not saying it does not happen

but I have

> asked numerous time during these KLR is a POS posts........ > Research adventure motorcycle riding and you won't find complaints

from

> folks who have gone all around the world on these things! >

[matteeanne@yahoo.com]

12,000 miles so far. Most problems stem from electrical. Sean Brown Looking for the perfect gift for the wife/Mom/or "the person who has everything?" www.brownsbirdestates.com To: matteeanne@... Cc: nakedwaterskier ; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 3:32:37 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Sounds like the 08 is JUNK matteeanne@... wrote:

> > If the dependibility of my 08 is any example, I have to agree 100%. I > have been stranded 7 times now due to breakdown. Did I mention I had a > blowout when the stock tube ripped on the seam? At freeway speed? > While the handling and braking are far superior, I do not trust the > bike at all. Wondering what I am going to do for my Arctic circle ride > next year, cant imagine taking this piece of crap? And I was stupid > enough to buy every upgrade money can buy..... > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: nakedwaterskier > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:02:21 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Sounds like the 08 is JUNK > > Turn signals just fall off. Shorts/opens are common. And the new for > 08 piston rings are no good which causes heavy oil consumption. > > I think I will stick with my 04 and the $200 front rotor upgrade kit. > > Jeffrey > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >

In warranty? Sounds like you have gotten a apple, or lemon, or whatever. How many miles? There are 1000's of folks who consider the KLR-650 one of the most reliable designs for Arctic type trips.

[matteeanne@yahoo.com]

And sometimes a manufacturer puts a seam on a seat that is right where every rider will be dragging their foot across the seat causing the seam to rip. And some times they build a stater switch that captures water and shorts out. And sometimes they install rings that allow oil consumption. And sometimes they they buy tubes from a less than reputable manufacturer, and sometimes that mount the main wiring harnass too close to the tank causing shorts. Look, my previous KLR's were 100% bullet proof and I had no complaints. My 08 is possessed by Satan. I dont trust it a bit. I am 12,000 dollars in between upgrades and repairs, so dont even say its me. I am Mr. KLR. 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: Thursday, July 31, 2008 1:52:20 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Sounds like the 08 is JUNK Sometimes we cause our own problems. Sometimes our ability to resolve problems is due to our own limitations. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]