welcome to the group. just be sure not to ask about oil, and stay away from
environmentist/anti-environmentalist topics.
>
> hello all-
> I just joined up today, as I am contemplating buying my first
> dual sport, and
> I am thinking about the KLR650.
> Why do you like the KLR above all others? Does it routinely
> win in the trade
> mags? Is it bulletproof, as the Beemers claim to be?
it certainly doesn't win in the trade mags. those guys are idiots (imho).
they only seem to be happy aboard competitive race machinery, be it track or
dirt.
as far as i know, the klr650 is the ONLY bike that can be seriously ridden
across the continent and still perform on real trails. the bikes that are
slightly better off-road pretty much suck pondwater on long paved stretches.
likewise, the bikes that are better on pavement are best kept to easy dirt
roads. i fantasize about baja-kitting a new xr650r, or even a smaller dirt
bike (klx300, xr400), but i have no illusion that i'll be able to pile it up
and go camping like on my klr, and it'll only be a little more fun in the
dirt. right now i can load up the whole kitchen sink, tent, etc on my bike,
go camping, unpack when i get there, and go play on dirt trails that a more
road oriented DS bike would be unlikely to survive, at least with me driving
it. that's the kind of riding i like to do, so most other bikes just don't
work as well.
one of the coolest things about the klr is that no one buys them for the
image. it's unlikely that any klr owner will ever look down his nose at you
for not having "the right bike." it's a real blue-collar bike, and the
people that ride them seem to just like to ride, rather than pose.
now if they'd only find a way to make it 30-50 lbs lighter and give it 6
gears (lower first) without losing all the stuff that makes it work so well
on road.....
-mark weaver