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nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 2:18 pm
by mighty_oak1@yahoo.com
Hi All,
I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900 miles on it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my
full fledged Class M license. Sunday I drove over to the course they have laid out next to drivers license beureau (just to practice)
and man is that thing small. I don't know how you could get anything much larger than a 250cc around that course. Is there anything
I can do to make the bike a little easier to handle in a confined area. Pump up the tires? Lower the bike? I don't have access to
anything smaller and now I'm kinda worried. Only in Illinois would they expect you to pass a motorcycle driving test on a course
barely big enough for a bicycle.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
B.J. Morris
A16
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 2:30 pm
by Arden Kysely
For tight turns, you need to keep the bike pretty upright and use a
lot of steering lock to get it around the circle. Be prepared to slip
the clutch a little if the bike tries to stall, but a KLR should putt-
putt around a slow turn pretty well. Try it a few times in your
driveway--it gets easier and easier. You'll be surprised at how tight
that tall bike can turn once you get the hang of it.
Keep practicing, and good luck!
Arden Kysely
A11 "Mr. K"
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., mighty_oak1@y... wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900
miles on it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my
> full fledged Class M license. Sunday I drove over to the course
they have laid out next to drivers license beureau (just to practice)
> and man is that thing small. I don't know how you could get
anything much larger than a 250cc around that course. Is there
anything
> I can do to make the bike a little easier to handle in a confined
area. Pump up the tires? Lower the bike? I don't have access to
> anything smaller and now I'm kinda worried. Only in Illinois would
they expect you to pass a motorcycle driving test on a course
> barely big enough for a bicycle.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
> B.J. Morris
> A16
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 2:50 pm
by RM
On Mon, 12 Nov 2001 mighty_oak1@... wrote:
>Class M license. Sunday I drove over to the course they have laid out
>next to drivers license beureau (just to practice) and man is that
>thing small. I don't know how you could get anything much larger than a
>250cc around that course. Is there anything I can do to make the bike a
>little easier to handle in a confined area.
I avoided this mess by taking the MSF ridercourse. I got to do this kind
of stuff on a TW200.
For the KLR, trying getting your butt off the seat a little (to the
outside), keeping your body upright, and leaning the bike way over. Let
the bike idle in first and go round-and-round until you feel good about
it. Is it possible for the bike to make the u-turn? I don't know..
RM
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 3:20 pm
by Ryan Newman
> I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900 miles on
it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my
> full fledged Class M license.
In Az the MC permit is for 6 months. I rode on the permti for the *whole* 6
months so that I'd be very used to the bike before I went for my license.
After 5.5 months I went a rode the course, I passed with flying colors. I
suggest that you ride the bike till your very comfortable with it. There
aren't any real "tricks" to the course, you just have to be comfortable with
the bike. IMHO 1 month is probably not enough seat time.
Ryan
Phoenix
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 3:30 pm
by Joe
Another classic example of dumb-asses who have never ridden a bike,
setting up the course. These are the same group that pass laws like
the infamous motorcycle seatbelt law that some clown "official" tried
to get passed in NY sometime back. What "skill" does driving around
a bicycle course, translate into operating a motorcycle on the
street/road, in a safe manner?
God help us.....
Joe Blanchard
A15
Kansas
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Ryan Newman" wrote:
> > I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900
miles on
> it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my
> > full fledged Class M license.
>
> In Az the MC permit is for 6 months. I rode on the permti for the
*whole* 6
> months so that I'd be very used to the bike before I went for my
license.
> After 5.5 months I went a rode the course, I passed with flying
colors. I
> suggest that you ride the bike till your very comfortable with it.
There
> aren't any real "tricks" to the course, you just have to be
comfortable with
> the bike. IMHO 1 month is probably not enough seat time.
> Ryan
> Phoenix
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 3:52 pm
by Joe
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 2:18 PM
Subject: [DSN_klr650] NKLR Motorcycle Lincense
> Hi All,
>
> I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900 miles on
it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my
> full fledged Class M license. Sunday I drove over to the course they have
laid out next to drivers license beureau (just to practice)
> and man is that thing small. I don't know how you could get anything much
larger than a 250cc around that course. Is there anything
> I can do to make the bike a little easier to handle in a confined area.
Pump up the tires? Lower the bike? I don't have access to
> anything smaller and now I'm kinda worried. Only in Illinois would they
expect you to pass a motorcycle driving test on a course
> barely big enough for a bicycle.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
> B.J. Morris
> A16
Try experimenting with using the rear break while turning. I keep the
throttle slightly open and use the rear break to control speed. For me this
is smoother then getting on and off the throttle while attempting a tight
turn.
Joe
NW Pa
A13
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 4:22 pm
by Brad Morris
My permit is 1 year, and it only allows me to be
riding alongside someone with a class M license during
daylight hours. It's really frustrating when all of
your friends are fair weather riders and they put
their bikes away after Labor Day like they're friggin'
boats. Please don't flame me but most of the 900 miles
on my bike were done riding by myself out in the
country on the warm Saturday & Sunday afternoons we've
been blessed with this year. Yes I could get busted
for driving without a license, but I'm just too weak
to sit here and stare at my brand new KLR on a sunny,
70 degree day, when the leaves are turning in the
Illinois River Valley and not ride.
I'm going to take my test Wednesday. I spent a couple
of hours over at the Drivers License course today
(they are closed) and was able to complete (without
putting a foot down) the slalom that ends with a 20ft
wide U-turn 7 out of 10 times. It is the hardest of
the 5 tests you have to do. All of the others I can do
pretty easily. Everybody I've talked to said they will
cut you some slack if you just put your foot down, and
will usually let you try the maneuver again (within
reason). The odds should be in my favor. If I fail
then I will take the MSF class at my local community
college next year.
Wish me luck,
B.J.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Find a job, post your resume.
http://careers.yahoo.com
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 4:30 pm
by Arden Kysely
Brad,
Good luck with your test. In the meantime, don't get caught! Years
ago in California the permit was good for daylight only, no
passengers. I'll admit to bending those rules a bit, as well as a few
others. You should take the MSF course whether you pass the test or
not, and take your time learning all you can about motorcycle
control. One thing that everyone on this list will probably agree on
is that you can't be too good a rider for all the situations you're
going to face in traffic.
Arden Kysely
A11 "Mr. K"
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Brad Morris wrote:
> My permit is 1 year, and it only allows me to be
> riding alongside someone with a class M license during
> daylight hours. It's really frustrating when all of
> your friends are fair weather riders and they put
> their bikes away after Labor Day like they're friggin'
> boats. Please don't flame me but most of the 900 miles
> on my bike were done riding by myself out in the
> country on the warm Saturday & Sunday afternoons we've
> been blessed with this year. Yes I could get busted
> for driving without a license, but I'm just too weak
> to sit here and stare at my brand new KLR on a sunny,
> 70 degree day, when the leaves are turning in the
> Illinois River Valley and not ride.
>
> I'm going to take my test Wednesday. I spent a couple
> of hours over at the Drivers License course today
> (they are closed) and was able to complete (without
> putting a foot down) the slalom that ends with a 20ft
> wide U-turn 7 out of 10 times. It is the hardest of
> the 5 tests you have to do. All of the others I can do
> pretty easily. Everybody I've talked to said they will
> cut you some slack if you just put your foot down, and
> will usually let you try the maneuver again (within
> reason). The odds should be in my favor. If I fail
> then I will take the MSF class at my local community
> college next year.
>
> Wish me luck,
> B.J.
>
>
> > In Az the MC permit is for 6 months. I rode on the
> > permti for the *whole* 6
> > months so that I'd be very used to the bike before I
> > went for my license.
> > After 5.5 months I went a rode the course, I passed
> > with flying colors. I
> > suggest that you ride the bike till your very
> > comfortable with it. There
> > aren't any real "tricks" to the course, you just
> > have to be comfortable with
> > the bike. IMHO 1 month is probably not enough seat
> > time.
> > Ryan
> > Phoenix
> >
> >
> > Checkout Dual Sport News at
> >
http://www.dualsportnews.com
> > Be part of the Adventure!
> >
> > Visit the KLR650 archives at
> >
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
> >
> > Post message: DSN_klr650@y...
> > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@y...
> > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@y...
> >
> > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@y...
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> >
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Find a job, post your resume.
>
http://careers.yahoo.com
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 6:14 pm
by Duvall Ed
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., RM wrote:
> Is it possible for the bike to make the u-turn? I don't know..
>
> RM
I just took the test last year out here in WA state (because they
don't have resiprocity with NJ) on my friends brand new R1150 GS and
it handled it, so I'm sure the KLR would be fine too. I imagine the
tests are very similar, with the cones set up closely together and
having to weave through them, making u turns, a quick stop, etc.
If you're really concerned, you could probably get the dimensions of
the course, and lay it out yourself in a parking lot and practice the
hard manuevors.
If you have some basic slow speed skills, you should do fine.
Good luck,
Ed
WouldLoveaR1150GS, WA
nklr motorcycle lincense
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2001 8:33 pm
by BGRDSHARK@aol.com
In California they also have a circle and I practiced when the DMV was
closed. I went back and observed a road test being conducted. The bike was a
900 Honda. He had a little trouble doing the circles. Then the tester told
him that he only had to keep the front wheel between the lines to be
successful at the maneuver. That made it a bit easier.
Good Luck
Bgrdshark
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