Wilsons Sandbox

beanpolio@... wrote:

> I have always loved the look of the KLR, especially the new >red, and wanted to get some personal opinions about the machine. How >is it for highway touring, passing, twisty roads, jeep roads, single >track etc. One of my biggest fears of the bike is it having a lack >of power. >

It's not fast. But it definitely seems fast enough. Worse than not powerful, there's very little you can do about it. A pipe and jet kit will get a few HP. Nobody makes a big-bore kit anymore, or even a high-comp piston.

> My buddy is buying a lc4 adventure, >

Great when they're running. If you think it's hard to find one, try finding PARTS once it breaks.

>I have friends with >the bmw650 dakar, but they all have paid a lot for a bike that is >going to get banged around. the bmw is underpowered and 80 pounds >heavier. >

The F650 seems like a nice bike. But they seem to have their own problems, and I don't want the complexity of fuel injection on a bike I'm going to bounce off trees and rocks.

>KLR >owners are like a fanatic cult that seem to be totally in love with >the machine and all others don't seem to understand. I just need a >hint as to why this love affair...then maybe I'll buy one and know >first hand. Any help GREATLY appreciated. >

The aftermarket has all the bolt-ons to turn the KLR into whatever bike you want. Unless you want it to be really fast, then you have a problem. I sort of made mine into a woods bike, but I can still ride hundreds of miles on the highway to get somewhere, then pull off the mirrors and ride trails. Parts are plentiful and cheap. The motor, while not very powerful, has a power delivery that makes the bike extremely easy to ride. Of all the bikes I've ridden, the KLR is hands-down the easiest to slide around. The minimal design changes are a turn-off to those excited by "new" stuff, but a big selling point for the DIY mechanic. The lack of updates was one of the reasons I got a KLR. The thing I like most is durability. Once you have a few basic things added (bash plate, real handguards, radiator bar) the bike will tolerate a pretty serious beating. The "best" example would be a Sunday ride I took last fall- 100mi each way to the riding area. Lowsided on wet pavement at 40mph on the way there, picked up the bike, bent the shifter straight and rode the rest of the way. Rode rocky single-track for a couple hours, then high-tailed it home at 75mph on the highway, for the entire 100miles. This was back when I had the stock fairing and front end. http://216.173.6.149/modded_klr.jpg Devon

H> I am thinking about purchasing a new KLR650. I currently ride a Zr- H> 7S and have become board and/or tired with riding on the street. I Ha. Funny. For a few months I've been thinking of selling my KLR and getting something a bit more street oriented (I don't do much off road). I was looking at the ZR-7s as it appeared to be similar to the KLR, mechanically simple, affordable, etc. A week or so ago however I had a little incident in my neighbors steep driveway. I won't go into the embarrassing details but I dropped it. Total damage was a busted clutch lever. $9. And a few scratches which on a bike like the KLR are expected. So then I got thinking what would happen if I dropped something like the ZR-7s. I saw $$$$ flashing before my eyes, crunched plastic and expensive repair bills. At that point I realized there wasn't much my KLR doesn't do now that I'm not happy with. The good points far outweigh the bad ones. In regards to power - I routinely whiz to work on the local beltline. 65-75mph stretches. I wouldn't do this all day but for the 30 minute jaunt to work it's fine. You just need to be aware that once you are in the 80+ area there ain't much left I've taken it off road a bit, mostly dirt roads, farms, etc. Nothing too technical but there are several folks on this list who do scary things with their KLR's And unless you are dead set on the 2004, you can pick up a used one very reasonably and toss the money you save towards accessories. I bought mine used and probably by the time I'm done with upgrades I'll still have less invested in it that what a new one costs. One of the biggest reasons I decided to keep my KLR is the great resources available for it. I know when I did my doohickey, or eventually tear into my valves at some point (!) - if I run into trouble I can simply ask the list for help. That's a great plus IMO. jim

Hey hammer, I actually just bought an 04 KLR about a month ago. I LOVE IT!!! I mainly ride highways and what not and there is no lack of power at all. As you have probably heard it does everything averagely. Its really fun on twisty roads and I have only been offroad a little bit but it is so much fun offroad. I looked at the KTM adventure also, but I decided to go with the KLR for these reasons:1)the price is a lot cheaper 2)The adventure needs so much maintenance, kind of like a motocross bike I have heard 3)I don't know how long the Adventure has been out, but the KLR hasn't changed since like 15 years ago... THAT SAYS SOMETHING 4)KTM parts are really expensive and if you are planning on doing offroading you are going to have some damages. Those are just a few of the reasons. I say this honestly if you offered to trade me an adventure straight up for my bike with the same amount of miles as mine and everything for no extra cost I wouldn't do it. Granted I have never ridden a KTM, but I know I love my KLR. I am not trying to be bias toward my bike, and I think KTMs are an awesome machine but I think you will have as much fun on the KLR if not more. I guess I would take a KTM adventure on a straight up trade, sell it, then buy a KLR again and get some nice saddle bags and add-ons for it haha. Good luck man and let me know about any questions you have. Matt -----Original Message----- From: Hammer [mailto:beanpolio@...] Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 11:27 AM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Thinking of buying 04 KLR I am thinking about purchasing a new KLR650. I currently ride a Zr- 7S and have become board and/or tired with riding on the street. I have found that I have explored all the streets, roads, highways, and byways within 200 miles of home (and many more up to 700 miles away). I have always loved the look of the KLR, especially the new red, and wanted to get some personal opinions about the machine. How is it for highway touring, passing, twisty roads, jeep roads, single track etc. One of my biggest fears of the bike is it having a lack of power. My buddy is buying a lc4 adventure, I have friends with the bmw650 dakar, but they all have paid a lot for a bike that is going to get banged around. the bmw is underpowered and 80 pounds heavier. The KTM is fantastic, $7800, and hard as hell to find. KLR owners are like a fanatic cult that seem to be totally in love with the machine and all others don't seem to understand. I just need a hint as to why this love affair...then maybe I'll buy one and know first hand. Any help GREATLY appreciated. 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/

mattdurtsche@... wrote:

> Granted >I have never ridden a KTM, but I know I love my KLR. >

I've ridden a KTM LC-4 "hard enduro". The offroad-ergonomics, suspension, and outright horsepower are excellent, far superior to the KLR. The small fuel tank, parts availibility, on-road ergonomics, and fragility of the engine cases to crash damage are inferior enough that I prefer the KLR. Devon

>>>>

In regards to power - I routinely whiz to work on the local beltline. 65-75mph stretches.

There's no better all-rounder out there, especially for the money. The previous owner of my current KLR sold it to buy the LC-4. He had it lowered, rode it to Utah from the Bay Area...and sold it. Couldn't take the vibration. Two friends now have the LC-8's. A great bike if you're tall enough and flush with cash. __Arden

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Hammer" wrote: > I am thinking about purchasing a new KLR650. I currently ride a Zr- > 7S and have become board and/or tired with riding on the street. I > have found that I have explored all the streets, roads, highways, and > byways within 200 miles of home (and many more up to 700 miles > away). I have always loved the look of the KLR, especially the new > red, and wanted to get some personal opinions about the machine. How > is it for highway touring, passing, twisty roads, jeep roads, single > track etc. One of my biggest fears of the bike is it having a lack > of power. My buddy is buying a lc4 adventure, I have friends with > the bmw650 dakar, but they all have paid a lot for a bike that is > going to get banged around. the bmw is underpowered and 80 pounds > heavier. The KTM is fantastic, $7800, and hard as hell to find. KLR > owners are like a fanatic cult that seem to be totally in love with > the machine and all others don't seem to understand. I just need a > hint as to why this love affair...then maybe I'll buy one and know > first hand. Any help GREATLY appreciated.

The KTM is the finished full-on near-race quality product. Nifty as hell, but expensive and tough to get parts for (or so they say). And pretty much complete when you roll it off the showroom floor. The KLR is the DIY kit, the underdog. Tons of accessories, cheap and easy to work on, very reliable, and enables an exclusive membership in a group with other opinionated assholes that will gladly help you out. Probably a bit underpowered, but still very capable. I would'nt plan on touring 2-up across US interstates. But you can beat the crap out of them and still ride them home. I don't really know much about them though, as I only have three. Keep the ZR for your speed fix, and grab a used KLR for real fun. They're cheap and easy to come by this time of year. MarkB

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Hammer" wrote: > I am thinking about purchasing a new KLR650. I currently ride a Zr- > 7S and have become board and/or tired with riding on the street. I > have found that I have explored all the streets, roads, highways, and > byways within 200 miles of home (and many more up to 700 miles > away). I have always loved the look of the KLR, especially the new > red, and wanted to get some personal opinions about the machine. How > is it for highway touring, passing, twisty roads, jeep roads, single > track etc. One of my biggest fears of the bike is it having a lack > of power. My buddy is buying a lc4 adventure, I have friends with > the bmw650 dakar