Wilsons Sandbox

I'm going to be purchasing a new bike in the next week or so and the KLR used to be at the top of the list. With the fact that most of the riding I would do would end up being street I wonder how cut out the KLR really is for that. Maybe I should lean towards the Aprilia Pegaso 650 or the BMW F650. So my question is, what are the strengths of this bike and why should I buy it? Any and all opinions welcome! Tell me why you love it. Thanks, David M. King __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

David, I have owned my KLR650 for two days and I love it. I purchased a 2001 model with 500 miles at a very substantial discount when compared to a new one "out the door" at a dealer. I've owned many motorcycles in the past and now also own a 2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200....and in its own way, the KLR is more fun to ride than any other bike I've owned. It's more than capable on the street, as it handles well and has enough power. The main reason I bought it was for going off-road onto trails and dirt roads. The factory supplied rear tire is totally useless in loose soil or sugar sand, but on anything firm and on pavement it seems to be pretty good. I'll be replacing the rear tire very soon with something much more dirt oriented such as a Pirelli MT21. In the unlikely event I drop the KLR out on a trail, I know that parts are plentiful and relatively inexpensive (something you can't say about the considerably more expensive BMW or Aprilla offerings). If you want "bang-for-the-buck", I think the KLR is among the best of them. It doesn't do anything flawlessly, but it does many things adequately. On the weekends, I ride with a spirited bunch of sport bikes on the Bandit 1200....and I think I'd give many of them a challenge on pavement in the tight curves. Earlier this evening I found that removing the clear windscreen eliminated some severe wind buffeting I was having around the helmet...so I'll probably leave it off permanently. Ultimately, I think I want a KTM LC8, but for now I know I'll get my money's worth of fun from this KLR. Remember: You can do a lot with the money you save by not buying an $8k+ dual-purpose machine. Jerry -----Original Message----- From: David King [mailto:dmatking@...] Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 11:48 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Why buy a KLR? I'm going to be purchasing a new bike in the next week or so and the KLR used to be at the top of the list. With the fact that most of the riding I would do would end up being street I wonder how cut out the KLR really is for that. Maybe I should lean towards the Aprilia Pegaso 650 or the BMW F650. So my question is, what are the strengths of this bike and why should I buy it? Any and all opinions welcome! Tell me why you love it. Thanks, David M. King __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... Let's keep this list SPAM free! Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Hello David, I owned a 97 KLR for a few years it was like everyone on the list said. In one word a great bike. But just last month I sold the bike and wanted a new one. I was seriously looking at a 2001 KLR, but I seen the BMW F-650GS Dakar and fell in love with the bike. There where a few things that made my choice easier. The three year road side assistance and warranty. The test ride made the deal close. The power and the lack of vibration, such a smooth bike. When I got the bike at home I took the beast apart to see how it was put together. In one word I WAS IMPRESSED. I am a mechanic and found that the technology is at the same standards if not more advanced as what we drive everyday. The engine is also rubber mounted to keep the vibrations from hitting the rider. The power is sooo much more than the KLR. As for price a few dollars more, I think the Dakar will hold it's value due to the fact of such a small production run to dealers. They have had trouble with stalling and surging with the US models. I haven't put any KM on mine due to old man winter, so I couldn't tell you if this has effected my bike yet. If you can find a Dakar around your area, take it for a test ride then take a KLR. Take your time and test ride a few bikes. Hope that HELPS David. Rick. Nothern BC Canada.

----- Original Message ----- From: David King To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 8:47 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Why buy a KLR? > I'm going to be purchasing a new bike in the next week > or so and the KLR used to be at the top of the list. > With the fact that most of the riding I would do would > end up being street I wonder how cut out the KLR > really is for that. Maybe I should lean towards the > Aprilia Pegaso 650 or the BMW F650. > > So my question is, what are the strengths of this bike > and why should I buy it? > > Any and all opinions welcome! Tell me why you love it. > > > Thanks, > > David M. King > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 > a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com > >

>Hello, >I have replaced my stock springs with Progressives.Do I need to use a >shorter spacer or are the stock spacers used?

The instructions call for a cut, but I wanted more preload and put the stock spacer, full length, back in. I have had no problems and the prelaod is good for my two-up riding. == Rev. Chuck :^)>+ A13 http://klr650.www.50megs.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ _____________________________________________________________