Wilsons Sandbox

Its a thumper so you should look forward to feeling something. Actually, after 8 hours in the saddle its my butt not my hands that are feeling the effect. I had an XT600 before and the KLR is smooth as can be by comparison. I changed out the stock footpegs for metal ones that shed mud better and feel no effect on my feet at all. Of course, with size 14's it would probably take a while to work its way up my cortex anyway. At 120KPH to130 KPH this thing is very smooth. And off-road capable is an understatement. Just remember how much it weighs and get a real dirt bike for enduro or trials riding. For street at speed and yet still having the capability for trails (dirt road, fire trails, cart paths, hydro lines, etc) its hard to find anything else as capable. ..................davep....................A17

----- Original Message ----- From: "gjlugris" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 19:43 Subject: [DSN_klr650] klr650 Vibration > I am very interested in purchasing a klr650 here in Australia. I am > looking for a long distance touring bike that doesn't break the bank. > From my place to the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island is > 4500kms. I did it in 2002 on my brothers 85 SP1000 Guzzi which was > great but would like to do it on my own bike. The ability to go off- > road would be a bonus with the klr. > > My major concern is with vibration. How bad is it. I have read about > using lead plugs or lead shot in the bars etc. which worries me. I > have a Suzuki GS500 twin at the moment which at 100-110kms per hour > causes a buzz in the bars which affects feeling in the fingers. > > Does the klr numb the hands or arms after a period of time? How much > does it feed back up through the footpegs to the feet and legs? > > I would appreciate any comments which could help describe the effect. > I realise the difficulty of this but neverthelss would appreciate any > feeback. > > Loogs. > > > > 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 > > > > > >

I don't think the buzz from the KLR is that bad. I mean, it is if you compare it to a GoldWing or something, but overall it is fine for me. The bars buzz more than the pegs. Many have used lead shot, etc. Just try it first and it may be fine for your taste. Pat

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "gjlugris" wrote: > I am very interested in purchasing a klr650 here in Australia. I am > looking for a long distance touring bike that doesn't break the bank. > From my place to the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island is > 4500kms. I did it in 2002 on my brothers 85 SP1000 Guzzi which was > great but would like to do it on my own bike. The ability to go off- > road would be a bonus with the klr. > > My major concern is with vibration. How bad is it. I have read about > using lead plugs or lead shot in the bars etc. which worries me. I > have a Suzuki GS500 twin at the moment which at 100-110kms per hour > causes a buzz in the bars which affects feeling in the fingers. > > Does the klr numb the hands or arms after a period of time? How much > does it feed back up through the footpegs to the feet and legs? > > I would appreciate any comments which could help describe the effect. > I realise the difficulty of this but neverthelss would appreciate any > feeback. > > Loogs.

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

> I am very interested in purchasing a klr650 here in Australia. I

am

> looking for a long distance touring bike that doesn't break the

bank.

> From my place to the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island is > 4500kms. I did it in 2002 on my brothers 85 SP1000 Guzzi which was > great but would like to do it on my own bike. The ability to go

off-

> road would be a bonus with the klr. > > My major concern is with vibration. How bad is it. I have read

about

> using lead plugs or lead shot in the bars etc. which worries me. I > have a Suzuki GS500 twin at the moment which at 100-110kms per

hour

> causes a buzz in the bars which affects feeling in the fingers. > > Does the klr numb the hands or arms after a period of time? How

much

> does it feed back up through the footpegs to the feet and legs? > > I would appreciate any comments which could help describe the

effect.

> I realise the difficulty of this but neverthelss would appreciate

any

> feeback. > > Loogs.

The KLR will serve you well. I would recommend a few changes to enhance the long distance capabilities of the bike. Ron's long distance mods: 1. Aluminum (aluminium?) bars. There are two advantages here. First, they substantially reduce vibration. Second, you can usually find a bend that is more comfortable than the original bars. This is very important if you spend many hours at a time on the bike. I use Renthal R6151 bars. They were originally intended for a Honda TRXZ250R quad. 2. Better seat. Some people seem to like the original seat. I was uncomfortable after 45 minutes with mine and in pain after 1 1/2 hours. You just can't enjoy the ride if your butt hurts. 3. 16 tooth countershaft sprocket Calms the engine down at road speed. This makes for a more comfortable ride at road speed which reduces the fatigue factor. Some complain of a lack of power/torque with a 16 tooth c/s. With proper jetting, your bike should perform similarly to a stock bike (one with stock jetting and 15 tooth c/s). Your mileage should also be similar. 4. Throttle lock A lifesaver. This allows you to take your right hand off the throttle, if even for a few seconds. It prevents numbness (yes, even with aluminum bars, there is some vibration), and allows you to move around and stretch a little. I use a Vista Cruise. Don't get the "universal" model. 5. Headlight improvement If you are riding long distances, you will probably be riding after dark. Anytime away from cities, you will find the headlight inadequate. This can really add to your fatigue. Some install higher wattage headlamp bulbs. I found it wasn't necessary. I had originally intended to, but after rewiring my headlight directly to the battery with larger gauge wiring (through relays), I found it was bright enough to not to have to go to a higher wattage bulb. 6. Ear plugs (OK, it's not a bike modification) I don't leave town without them. The constant noise (not from the bike, but from the wind) really adds to the fatigue factor. So, in addition to protecting your hearing, they make the ride much more relaxing. I use E.A.R. Blasts. They have a 33dB rating and are the softest I have found. Enjoy Ron, Gilbert, AZ IBA # 13188