[dsn_klr650] lane splitting (color me newbie)

[Wontco@yahoo.com]

New listmember here. I'm not a KLR owner YET. I WILL be though. I'll probably wait till the end of the season to buy. This'll give me plenty of time to save some more money, find a good bike near my location and hopefully prices will be down a bit more, though I wonder if this theory really holds true. I'll be going for a 98 or 99 model to avoid some of the depreciation, plus I think I like the old Bluish-Green a little more than the olive (oh Vanity!). So, here are my questions and I hope they're not repeats (I have been scouring the archives though): I'm assuming the A designations are particular to each year and go up one as each new year comes out . i.e. 1999 is A13- 2000 is A14. If this is wrong correct me. But, the real question is: What does the California version, designated L I believe,have that the regular models don't. Is this undesireable? Is it a performance robber? Or is there really not much of a difference? I ask because I've heard that the L models still wind up at dealers in other parts of the country. Secondly, other than the usual things to look for and be wary of when buying a used bike, are there quirks particular to the KLR that should be checked before I buy. Or are the things just bulletproof, and I should settle for low milage, shut-up, and buy?! Any input is appreciated, or refer me to the archive if you know it's there, and I'll look harder. Thanks, Kevin B. in FL

[Conall O'Brien]

>From: "Sarah Barwig" >To: "DSN_klr650@egroups. com" DSN_klr650@egroups.com> >Subject: FW: Re: [DSN_klr650] Lane Splitting (color me Newbie) >Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 21:21:01 -0700

Conall wrote:

> > It's legal for bikes to share lanes with cars, but > > not vice-versa.

Sarah says

> >That's not what I've been led to understand from reading the vehicle >code... >Where did you hear that?

That's how I interpreted the law myself, nobody told me. Wishful thinking? It may be a double standard but I'm not willing to give up my space to an aggressive 4 wheeler just for the right to lane share myself. Cycles are just too vulnerable.

>It's perfectly legal to put as many vehicles as will fit abreast in a lane >with all vehicles completely contained with that lane. > >It's illegal for a car to force you out of a lane. > >It's your job to shift around in your lane so as to prevent lane sharing >from happening to you.

I'll pull to the side if a faster lanesplitter wants to go past but I hope the intent of the lanesharing law was not to let autos move past bikes. Just my opinion.

> > next thing I > > know he's trying to pass me in my lane. > >Yup. There's a lot of wackos out there. > >That recent event (pickup truck mows down (literally) KTM rider) just plain >made me sick to my stomach. Any update on what happened to the truck >driver? >

I haven't heard anything, Citybike will keep us updated, I'm sure. TTYL Conall ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com