I suffer from almost the same malaise, except I went through it all with
Yamaha SR500 street bikes. 4 different bars, 2 types of fuel tank,
supertrapp pipe, 36mm Mik roundslide with K&N clamp-on filter, 3 types of
tires, cast wheels, wire wheels, disc brake rear, drum brake rear, gearing
changes, rearsets, and that was just the '78. For the '81 I broke out the
welder, modified the frame to accept a solo racing seat, clip-ons, most of
the same stuff I did to the '78, and ended up with a bike that looks exactly
how I wanted, and is really light, fun to ride, and comfortable for about 30
min. The '78 though was used for 300mi Sunday rides, until I crashed it. I
still don't know what hurt worse, destroying the $600 handmade aluminum fuel
tank, or destroying it with my left shin.
So I got the KLR, if only for the amusement of being the sole owner of a new
bike, and not spending the first year correcting 20 years of poor
maintainance and PO neglect. I reasoned that I would spend more time riding,
and less time wrenching. Sort of true so far, but the KLR aftermarket has
undermined my strategy. I have bought every guard, bash plate, etc. I could
think of because I have never ridden a "dirtbike" before. The weekend after
I got the bike I dropped it twice in the dirt, and was almost disappointed
that there was nothing to fix when I picked it up.
I still have the SR500's, but I am contemplating selling the '81 cafe racer.
I did 250 mi today, ending up exactly where I started, touched 3 states,
climbed and descended steep dirt hills, rode around huge open grassy fields
sliding the back through turns with both feet on the pegs, and then hopped
on the highway and shot home at 80-85mph. The last highway bit was what
ruled out the other DS bikes for me.
Compared to an SR500 (SOHC 500cc single, no balancer, solid mounted motor,
air cooled, no electric start) my KLR is smooth, quiet, fast, comfortable,
and very suitable for the off-road that I am capable of handling. I don't
know what bike you had before, but you just sound a little spoiled.
Devon
dangus@... wrote:
> Hello list
> I am a tinkerolic, I can't leave any thing alone and I suffer from a
> never ending need to see how things work. My ailment causes me to
> change things that don't need changing or fix things that don't need
> fixing. I've noticed that several other listers seem to have this
> disorder and obviously don't know it. Hopefully I can help others
> identify this condition.
> I currently own an A-11. I spent a winter painting it black and
> silver, not because I didn't like the original color, I just felt an
> urge for a change. Next I removed every hose, box, wire, fuse, cable
> etc. that didn't have something to do with actually making it run.
> The next summer I added a Supertrap, K+N air filter, carb kit,
> springs, steel brake lines, drilled the airbox, and changed the bars
> four times. The following winter I installed a Mikuni slide carb,
> changed the bars again and modified the air box some more. I've tried
> four different types of tires, bought and use all of Tims guards and
> racks, use all of Kawasaki's bags. Every year I spend as much time
> changing as I do riding. I am a Tinkerolic.
> This year is different because I'm aware that most of the mechanical
> changes I made didn't improve anything enough to make them
> worthwhile. The KLR still runs best at 4500 to 5000 rpm which won't
> let it keep up with 85+ mph freeway traffic. The KLR is still to big
> and tall geared for really technical off road. It vibrates, it's
> uncomfortable seat is an ass killer, the wind buffeting is
> overwhelming, it's underpowered. No amount of tinkering is going to
> change anything to make the KLR perfect. Knowing these things and
> knowing I suffer from Tinkeritus, like so many others, I've decided
> just to ride and enjoy the best all around bike ever built.
>
> DAngus A-11
>
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>
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>
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