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klr suitability
Posted: Sat May 18, 2002 3:07 pm
by tmhunter49
Hi guys,
I'm a fairly new list member looking for a new bike, so I have some
questions. During the past 1 1/2 years I've put about 16,000 miles
on a MG Quota. Due to some abnormal vibration problems I'm looking
for a different mount. My next real big trip is South America and
the KLR is high on my radar screen.
I'm 6' 4" and 275 pounds. Will the bike accomodate that type of size
at highway speeds? What could I expect in terms of highway speeds?
Will it cruise for hours at a time at 70mph? Higher? Lower?
Generally, what is a comfortable highway cruising speed?
What is typical fuel consumption? I've heard below 40 and over 50.
Which is most correct? By the way, is there a larger after-market
tank available? Cost? One other fuel question. Will it run OK on
87 octane? In a trip through Central America last May, that was all
that was available.
What about the shock? How many miles do you expect on the stock
shock? Is it rebuildable? I assume that there is a great
aftermarket for the shock.
I know there is a great selection of aftermarket accessories, but I
haven't seen hard bags and racks. Are they available? Cost and
vendor?
What are the most common mechanical problems that I should be aware
of?
Sorry to barge in with twenty questions, but you guys are the
experts. I'll be out of service and parts range much of the time,
and I want to make sure that I'm getting a bike that is dependable.
Tom Hunter
klr suitability
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:49 am
by Murray Dochstader
Kerry:
My experience is almost identical to yours (except that I am now almost 60).
I was an aggressive off-roader (I silvered the I.S.D.T. in '73, and I have
ridden the Baja for years). I bought a used ('93) KLR in '99, and used it
hard both on and off road for two years. I then bought a nearly new '99,
and started to spend some time (and money) on it to make it more
dirt-worthy.
I now have a bike that in no way resembles a stock bike, I have spent at
least $8000.00 on it, and I consider it marginal at best - I even had to
purchase another KLR as a dual-purpose ride for general daily use because
the original is so off-road focused, so I suppose you could add another
couple of $thousand to the equation!
My heartfelt advice? Buy a KLR for recreational use - if you find, like I
did, that you are really going to use it hard, off road, don't go there -
buy an XR 650R, or a KTM, Husky, or (not that great a choice) a Suz/Kaw 400.
I am sure you will get lots of opinion on this subject, but that's mine.
Here is a copy of my "creation" to show you how much effort I have gone to.
Murray Dochstader B.C. Canada.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
klr suitability
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 5:29 am
by Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr
> Here is a copy of my "creation" to show you how much effort I have gone
to.
Pictures, Murray?
Mark
My KLR650 Motorcycle Website:
http://klr6500.tripod.com/
Our HomePage:
http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html
Check out Geocaching:
http://www.geocaching.com
klr suitability
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 5:58 am
by bigfatgreenbike
msaint@... wrote:
>>Here is a copy of my "creation" to show you how much effort I have gone
>>
>>
>to.
>
>Pictures, Murray?
>
>Mark
>
>
216.173.6.149/klr/murray
I have not gone as far as Murray has:
216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg
Besides tires that make a good bit of rolling noise, I haven't
sacrificed the everyday usefulness of my KLR. The same bike I use for
woods riding, I use for grocery shopping, commuting, etc. The side racks
have turned out to really be useful as hard points for tying stuff onto
the bike. I have a JCwhitney top box, throw-over soft saddlebags, tank
bag etc.
But yes, if you want a bike with race-level performance offroad, the KLR
isn't it. If you want a bike you can ride and enjoy anywhere, it's
perfect for that.
--
Devon
Brooklyn, NY
A15-Z '01 KLR650
'81 SR500 cafe racer
"The truth's not too popular these days....."
Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man
klr suitability
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:40 am
by Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr
> 216.173.6.149/klr/murray
>
> I have not gone as far as Murray has:
>
> 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg
>
> Besides tires that make a good bit of rolling noise, I haven't
> sacrificed the everyday usefulness of my KLR. The same bike I use for
> woods riding, I use for grocery shopping, commuting, etc. The side racks
> have turned out to really be useful as hard points for tying stuff onto
> the bike. I have a JCwhitney top box, throw-over soft saddlebags, tank
> bag etc.
Both you guys have some beastly looking machines - pretty cool!
Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like that
since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything
that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like
what I had in mind.
Thanks for posting the links,
Mark
My KLR650 Motorcycle Website:
http://klr6500.tripod.com/
Our HomePage:
http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html
Check out Geocaching:
http://www.geocaching.com
klr suitability
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:32 pm
by bigfatgreenbike
msaint@... wrote:
>Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like that
>since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything
>that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like
>what I had in mind.
>
Happy-trails OSR racks. Not the cheapest thing around, and the powder
coat chips easily. But the metal, while not stainless, seems to corrode
very slowly. These will easily outlast the bike. Very convenient, and
with a little brute force (and a scratch or two) you CAN get the
sidecovers and air airbox cover off without removing them.
Well worth what I paid for them.
--
Devon
Brooklyn, NY
A15-Z '01 KLR650
'81 SR500 cafe racer
"The truth's not too popular these days....."
Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man
klr suitability
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:49 pm
by Mike Torst
I am late on this 'date' - I went to 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg - I am
missing something - it looks like a modified KLR, but not 8k worth.
What am I missing? I am going through 100 emails, so, I probably missed
everything~~!
Damn, I hate having fun in Vegas and missing the action on the web (I am not
halve kidding).
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr [mailto:msaint@...]
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 4:40 AM
> To: 1 - KLR650 List; bigfatgreenbike
> Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] KLR Suitability
>
> > 216.173.6.149/klr/murray
> >
> > I have not gone as far as Murray has:
> >
> > 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg
> >
> > Besides tires that make a good bit of rolling noise, I haven't
> > sacrificed the everyday usefulness of my KLR. The same bike I use for
> > woods riding, I use for grocery shopping, commuting, etc. The side racks
> > have turned out to really be useful as hard points for tying stuff onto
> > the bike. I have a JCwhitney top box, throw-over soft saddlebags, tank
> > bag etc.
>
> Both you guys have some beastly looking machines - pretty cool!
>
> Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like that
> since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything
> that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like
> what I had in mind.
>
> Thanks for posting the links,
> Mark
>
>
>
> My KLR650 Motorcycle Website:
>
http://klr6500.tripod.com/
>
> Our HomePage:
>
http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html
>
> Check out Geocaching:
>
http://www.geocaching.com
>
>
>
>
> 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 .
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
icat
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 10:10 pm
by KJ
Anyone tried one of these things?
http://www.icatusa.com
Karl
A14
klr suitability
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 10:20 pm
by Ramey
Look closely. closer. Hugely modified. 8K CD. No sweat. Prolly includes bike
and mods with no labor. Anyone remember the motard pictures, maybe in
Denver-now that looked like 20K USD.
As far as removing the oil filter cover I epoxied a chunk of steel on the
outside and got a Harbor Frieght Massive Magnet and Bob's your uncle.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Torst [mailto:vegasklr@...]
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 7:49 PM
To: 'Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr'
Cc:
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] KLR Suitability
I am late on this 'date' - I went to 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg - I am
missing something - it looks like a modified KLR, but not 8k worth.
What am I missing? I am going through 100 emails, so, I probably missed
everything~~!
Damn, I hate having fun in Vegas and missing the action on the web (I am not
halve kidding).
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr [mailto:msaint@...]
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 4:40 AM
> To: 1 - KLR650 List; bigfatgreenbike
> Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] KLR Suitability
>
> > 216.173.6.149/klr/murray
> >
> > I have not gone as far as Murray has:
> >
> > 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg
> >
> > Besides tires that make a good bit of rolling noise, I haven't
> > sacrificed the everyday usefulness of my KLR. The same bike I use for
> > woods riding, I use for grocery shopping, commuting, etc. The side racks
> > have turned out to really be useful as hard points for tying stuff onto
> > the bike. I have a JCwhitney top box, throw-over soft saddlebags, tank
> > bag etc.
>
> Both you guys have some beastly looking machines - pretty cool!
>
> Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like that
> since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything
> that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like
> what I had in mind.
>
> Thanks for posting the links,
> Mark
>
>
>
> My KLR650 Motorcycle Website:
>
http://klr6500.tripod.com/
>
> Our HomePage:
>
http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html
>
> Check out Geocaching:
>
http://www.geocaching.com
>
>
>
>
> 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 .
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
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 .
Yahoo! Groups Links
klr suitability
Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 12:02 am
by Mike Torst
The acronym - OSR - So many correlations to it - which one of them is being
referenced?
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bigfatgreenbike [mailto:bigfatgreenbike@...]
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 4:31 PM
> To: msaint@...
> Cc: 1 - KLR650 List
> Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] KLR Suitability
>
>
>
> msaint@... wrote:
>
> >Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like
> that
> >since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything
> >that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like
> >what I had in mind.
> >
> Happy-trails OSR racks. Not the cheapest thing around, and the powder
> coat chips easily. But the metal, while not stainless, seems to corrode
> very slowly. These will easily outlast the bike. Very convenient, and
> with a little brute force (and a scratch or two) you CAN get the
> sidecovers and air airbox cover off without removing them.
>
> Well worth what I paid for them.
>
> --
> Devon
> Brooklyn, NY
>
> A15-Z '01 KLR650
> '81 SR500 cafe racer
>
> "The truth's not too popular these days....."
>
> Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man
>
>
>
> 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 .
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>