Wilsons Sandbox

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "ek415" wrote:

> Hi, > I ran across a 2000 KLR 650 with 51,000 miles on it for $2000. The > owner has used it mostly for commuting and had it regularly serviced > at a reputable Kawi dealer. > My question is how long can I expect the motor to last with normal > maintenance?? > Anyone with high mileage experience?? Should I just pass and go for > the typical KLR's that I see for around $3000 to $3500 with less

than

> 5000 miles. > Thanks for any advice.

There is anecdotal evidence of KLRs going a lot longer than that, but no real book on them. I think $2000 is a lot to pay for a KLR with 51k. If well maintained, you might get another 50k, you might get a lot less.

As much as we luv'em...they are essentially throw away bikes. If you have any reason to tear into the motor you'll never regain your investment. That said, if you have one already with 50,000 there is no reason not to believe you won't get many more miles out of it...kind of odd isn't it? I've been paying $2,500-2,800 for 2000 and 2001 KLR's with less than 10,000 miles. You can ride them for a year or two and sell them for what you paid. Best value in motorcycling...Just bought one last week... Kurt

>>> Judson D. Jones 6/24/2003 11:45:37 AM >>> --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "ek415" wrote: > Hi, > I ran across a 2000 KLR 650 with 51,000 miles on it for $2000. The > owner has used it mostly for commuting and had it regularly serviced > at a reputable Kawi dealer. > My question is how long can I expect the motor to last with normal > maintenance?? > Anyone with high mileage experience?? Should I just pass and go for > the typical KLR's that I see for around $3000 to $3500 with less than > 5000 miles. > Thanks for any advice. There is anecdotal evidence of KLRs going a lot longer than that, but no real book on them. I think $2000 is a lot to pay for a KLR with 51k. If well maintained, you might get another 50k, you might get a lot less. List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "ek415" wrote:

> Should I just pass and go for > the typical KLR's that I see for around $3000 to $3500 with less

than

> 5000 miles.

I just went through the purchase process. It actually took much less time than I expected (2 weeks). These are some of the things I found: - There are a lot of KLRs around, so you don't have to be in a hurry for any particular bike. - It's summer, and dual sports are very much in demand. - There are very few KLRs selling for less than $2500, perhaps because they are so durable. - $3000 seems to be the cutoff for a bike in good shape, at least here in the bay area. (I'd originally budgeted $2500 with little idea whether that was reasonable.) Anyway, I got a killer deal and am happy as hell. I don't want to crow to the list, so email me if you're interested and I'll provide details. But I think $2K is WAY too much for a KLR, and perhaps *any* bike, with over 50K miles. (BMW owners, forgive me.) Such a bike is likely to need top-end work at minimum, which could cost you more than the $1000 difference you mentioned. Of course, if you are really strapped for cash and can do the work yourself, YMMV. Paul Dent SF, CA 02 KLR650 01 Duc M750D

Throw away bikes????? Awww jeez that's not very nice of you to say that, LOL! Considering how much I love my killer. Seriously though, if you look at it that way and you were to buy a used BMW for around same price as a new KLR would the BMW then too become a throw away bike? Heck, I figure a KLR should last a good 10-15 years if bought relatively new, even longer if you dont ride the hell out of it and keep it garaged. I disagree with them being throw away bikes, but I wouldn't disagree if you were to say they are a "bargain bike"? hehehe, that so much easier on the ears (eyes in this case)! A new top end wont cost too much if you do it yourself, but then again you have to replace both camshafts, balancer and timing chain. $500-$600 or so to breath new life into one. The bottom end should last to 60k or so if you maintain the bike fairly well. They are fun bikes though, can't dispute that! ;o) -Glenn PS. You've BEEN buying 2000-2001's, does that mean you own multiple?? (gasp) I can dream can't I. Getting them off ebay, where? One hell of a deal, congrats!

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Kurt Simpson wrote: > As much as we luv'em...they are essentially throw away bikes. If you have any reason to tear into the motor you'll never regain your investment. That said, if you have one already with 50,000 there is no reason not to believe you won't get many more miles out of it...kind of odd isn't it? I've been paying $2,500-2,800 for 2000 and 2001 KLR's with less than 10,000 miles. You can ride them for a year or two and sell them for what you paid. Best value in motorcycling...Just bought one last week... > > Kurt > > >>> Judson D. Jones 6/24/2003 11:45:37 AM >>> > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "ek415" wrote: > > Hi, > > I ran across a 2000 KLR 650 with 51,000 miles on it for $2000. The > > owner has used it mostly for commuting and had it regularly serviced > > at a reputable Kawi dealer. > > My question is how long can I expect the motor to last with normal > > maintenance?? > > Anyone with high mileage experience?? Should I just pass and go for > > the typical KLR's that I see for around $3000 to $3500 with less > than > > 5000 miles. > > Thanks for any advice. > > There is anecdotal evidence of KLRs going a lot longer than that, but > no real book on them. I think $2000 is a lot to pay for a KLR with > 51k. If well maintained, you might get another 50k, you might get a > lot less. > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

I recently went through this with a $500 P.O.S. DR650. I got intp it and spent a pile of money in no time on camshaft, rocker arms, piston, rings and gasket set. Now I have a $1000 DR, and it's still a piece of crap.If I bought the new head, cambox and tensioner parts it needs, I'd have $1600 invested in a bike with a value of about $700. Not counting my time. You'd be amazed at how fast the parts bill adds up on one of these motors. Kurt's right. Put 200k on a BMW, and you can rebuild it at a price that will allow you to get another 100k, or sell for a price that will at least recover your parts bill. The current run of Japanese bikes will last longer than ever before, but you will still have to throw them away when they are worn out. If you are good to your KLR, you may coax 100,000 miles out of it., but when it's done, just pull the accessories off, and put them on the next one. --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Glenn" wrote:

> Throw away bikes????? Awww jeez that's not very nice of you

to say

> that, LOL! > Considering how much I love my killer. > Seriously though, if you look at it that way and you were to buy a > used BMW for around same price as a new KLR would the

BMW then too

> become a throw away bike? > > Heck, I figure a KLR should last a good 10-15 years if bought > relatively new, even longer if you dont ride the hell out of it and > keep it garaged. I disagree with them being throw away bikes,

but I

> wouldn't disagree if you were to say they are a "bargain bike"? > hehehe, that so much easier on the ears (eyes in this case)! > > A new top end wont cost too much if you do it yourself, but then > again you have to replace both camshafts, balancer and timing

chain.

> $500-$600 or so to breath new life into one. The bottom end

should

> last to 60k or so if you maintain the bike fairly well. > > They are fun bikes though, can't dispute that! ;o) > > > -Glenn > > > PS. You've BEEN buying 2000-2001's, does that mean you

own multiple??

> (gasp) I can dream can't I. Getting them off ebay, where? > One hell of a deal, congrats! > > > > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Kurt Simpson

wrote:

> > As much as we luv'em...they are essentially throw away

bikes. If

> you have any reason to tear into the motor you'll never regain

your

> investment.

Lots of BMW fans here I see. Of course there's nothing wrong with being a fan of BMW, but if you are going to make a comparison PLEASE try to be remotely fair. You cannot compare a monster 1200LT to a 650cc SINGLE cylinder Kawasaki which costs three times less, it's not even a logical comparison and I don't see any balance there. More than 100k miles on any motorcycle is A LOT, but it depends on how many hours that bike was actually RUNNING. One bike may have fewer miles, but the engine may have many many more hours on it from riding at slower speeds compared to someone who toured around the country putting on a massive amount of miles in a short period of time. Nevertheless, I still wouldn't want a bike with that kind of mileage on it and if I ever own a BMW I will not keep it for 100k. I would keep it for 30-40k miles and upgrade every couple of years. To be more fair, how many miles could you put on a BMW F650GS before it SHOULD have a rebuild? Now Jud, I'm talking to where it still has some power, not burning oil and barely chugging along. hehe.. I say that because who wants to ride an old worn out bike until it is almost unable to run. An F650 will not last like an 1100GS or 1200LT because the larger bikes have opposed twins and it's easier for those engines to do 100k than a sigle cylinder like the KLR650 or F650. I don't know BMW's that well but it makes sense to me that only the larger bikes will have that longevity BMW's are known for. 200k from a 650gs? I really don't think so. From a 1100 or 1200 sure, but from the 650 single???

I think your right about the twins lasting longer than the single I have seen a 90's era PD BMW with over 200K on the OD. the guy just changed the oil and did routine maintenance at regular intervals. I know of a few 50's and 60's era BMW's that have over 400K, but have been rebuilt several times. Overall these bikes last a long.

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Glenn" wrote: > > More than 100k miles on any motorcycle is A LOT, I ever own a BMW I will not keep it for 100k. I > would keep it for 30-40k miles and upgrade every couple of years. > > > > An F650 will not last like an 1100GS or 1200LT because the larger > bikes have opposed twins and it's easier for those engines to do 100k > than a sigle cylinder like the KLR650 or F650. > > I don't know BMW's that well but it makes sense to me that only the > larger bikes will have that longevity BMW's are known for. 200k from > a 650gs? I really don't think so. From a 1100 or 1200 sure, but from > the 650 single???

I'm all for comparing apples, but my point wasn't that BMWs will generally tend to outlast Kawasakis, but that BMWs are more worth rebuilding, for reasons of both rebuild cost and market value. The bottom end on a well-maintained airhead boxer can last 500,000 miles. and there are plenty of running examples that have done so. That means that main and big end bearings do not necessarily have to be included in a rebuild. My R75 went almost 200k without engine work, and now could use a valve job. If I were to spend less than $1000 on the bike, I would have a bike worth more than I paid for it, with at least another 100k in it. Spend $1000 to rebuild a 100k KLR (if you could do it for that), and you have a bike that you couldn't sell for what you just spent on it. And until they start selling replacement cylinder heads for under $150, any bike where the camshaft runs directly in the head will be a "throwaway bike". --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Glenn" wrote:

> Lots of BMW fans here I see. Of course there's nothing wrong

with

> being a fan of BMW, but if you are going to make a comparison

PLEASE

> try to be remotely fair. You cannot compare a monster 1200LT

to a

> 650cc SINGLE cylinder Kawasaki which costs three times

less, it's not

> even a logical comparison and I don't see any balance there. > > More than 100k miles on any motorcycle is A LOT, but it

depends on

> how many hours that bike was actually RUNNING. One bike

may have

> fewer miles, but the engine may have many many more hours

on it from

> riding at slower speeds compared to someone who toured

around the

> country putting on a massive amount of miles in a short period

of

> time. Nevertheless, I still wouldn't want a bike with that kind of > mileage on it and if I ever own a BMW I will not keep it for 100k.

I

> would keep it for 30-40k miles and upgrade every couple of

years.

> > To be more fair, how many miles could you put on a BMW

F650GS before

> it SHOULD have a rebuild? > Now Jud, I'm talking to where it still has some power, not

burning

> oil and barely chugging along. > hehe.. I say that because who wants to ride an old worn out

bike

> until it is almost unable to run. > > An F650 will not last like an 1100GS or 1200LT because the

larger

> bikes have opposed twins and it's easier for those engines to

do 100k

> than a sigle cylinder like the KLR650 or F650. > > I don't know BMW's that well but it makes sense to me that only

the

> larger bikes will have that longevity BMW's are known for. 200k

from

> a 650gs? I really don't think so. From a 1100 or 1200 sure, but

from

> the 650 single???

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Glenn" wrote:

> > > To be more fair, how many miles could you put on a BMW

F650GS before

> it SHOULD have a rebuild? > Now Jud, I'm talking to where it still has some power, not

burning

> oil and barely chugging along. > hehe.. I say that because who wants to ride an old worn out

bike

> until it is almost unable to run.

Glenn, I rode my /5 daily for 26 years and 197k mi. before it succumbed to gearbox woes. With that mikeage, it smoked a little, used a quart in 1500 miles, and still pulled redline in top gear. That's a 750 twin,big in its day, but just small to medium-sized now.

> > larger bikes will have that longevity BMW's are known for. 200k

from

> a 650gs? I really don't think so. From a 1100 or 1200 sure, but

from

> the 650 single???

Actually, the 750s and 800s tend to last longer that the 900 and 1000 airheads. They are smoother and run cooler. I don't know what the book is on the oilhead boxers, or on the F650 singles, which I believe are still based on the Rotax design. The K-bikes, watercooled threes and fours, are really durable, sometimes going over 300k without major engine work. I think the 750 triples may have the better track record there, too. BTW, I paid a lot more for my (used) KLR than I ever paid for another bike, including 3 new ones over the years. As much as I like it, the KLR is still a throwaway bike.