Wilsons Sandbox

I have been reading this list for the last couple of weeks and it has all been very helpfull, with that said here is my question. Ok So Here I sit on the cusp of purchasing a 2005 KLR650 The Local dealer is looking for $5000 for the bike and will give me the extended Warrantee (4 year) for $300. I have some questions about this but first I will give you a little background. I have owned 4 different Bikes The first was a Can-Am 185 Two Stroke 70 s Vintage when I was 15 .When I turned 18 I got a Mid to late 70 s Suzuki 180ish 2 stroke road bike that I passed my Road Test with. I then for about 4 years owned a Yamaha Vision 550 (Sweet Ride sad to let it go.) Then I lapsed for about 14 years without riding. Something got in my head that I wanted to start up again. I looked around and thought an Endure or On Off or as they now say Dual Sport would be cool. I then started looking locally and found a 86 Yamaha XT600. I purchased this from EBAY (After visiting the bike) and was thrilled at its ability both on and off the road (When it was running.) I have been hammering around for the last 2 years on this bike and need a more reliable ride. This brings me to now. I want a NEW bike and have noticed that the KLR seems to be the only true Dual sport Most of the others seem to be more dirt oriented or sold outside the US. The Suzuki 650 seat was narrow and felt like hell. The 400 was even smaller and seemed to be a true dirt bike. The Honda also seemed to be more for Off-road Use. I need to be somewhere around 80% road 20% trail at this time. So here are the questions. 1. Will The KLR handle like my XT600? I know there is much more gas in the tank but is that much heaver? 2. Does the Price seem reasonable? 3. What do people think about the extended warrantee? 4. I weigh 220+ and my girlfriend is 120 +-10 lbs. I have avoided long rides off road with her because I was worried about breaking the XT . Can the KLR handle the 350+lbs ? Stock or do I need to upgrade the suspension? 5. Does anyone know of any Dual Sport rides or groups for New England (Portland Maine area) I can count the number of dual sport bikes on one hand that I have seen in this area for the last 2 years? 6. Should I Pressure wash my Doohickey wearing a DOT or SNELL approved helmet? Thanks In advance Dave. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free! http://my.yahoo.com

> 1. Will The KLR handle like my XT600? I know there is > much more gas in the tank but is that much heaver?

Yes.

> 2. Does the Price seem reasonable? Yes, if that is out the door price. > 3. What do people think about the extended warrantee?.

With this list, and all the resources it provides, you could probably do without it. Besides, we encourage you to do your own work, on the basic maintenance, and there's always a workshop going on somewhere.

> 4. I weigh 220+ and my girlfriend is 120 +-10 lbs. I > have avoided long rides off road with her because I > was worried about breaking the XT . Can the KLR handle > the 350+lbs ? Stock or do I need to upgrade the > suspension?

It would do it, but probably wouldn't like it. Heavier spring, with an upgrade to the subframe bolts.

> 5. Does anyone know of any Dual Sport rides or groups > for New England (Portland Maine area) I can count the > number of dual sport bikes on one hand that I have > seen in this area for the last 2 years?

You might have to travel to MOAB.

> 6. Should I Pressure wash my Doohickey wearing a DOT > or SNELL approved helmet?

The soft flaccid, stock Doohickey won't take pressure washing, but the hardened steel ones from Jake, and AE are stout. You can beat them all you want, and it will keep coming back for more. They work exceptionally well with the right spring. Hope that helps TK

----- Original Message ----- From: "David Libby" To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 3:18 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Digest Number 5945 > > I have been reading this list for the last couple of > weeks and it has all been very helpfull, with that > said here is my question. > > Ok So Here I sit on the cusp of purchasing a 2005 > KLR650 The Local dealer is looking for $5000 for the > bike and will give me the extended Warrantee (4 year) > for $300. > > I have some questions about this but first I will give > you a little background. > > I have owned 4 different Bikes > > The first was a Can-Am 185 Two Stroke 70's Vintage > when I was 15 .When I turned 18 I got a Mid to late > 70's Suzuki 180ish 2 stroke road bike that I passed my > Road Test with. I then for about 4 years owned a > Yamaha Vision 550 (Sweet Ride sad to let it go.) Then > I lapsed for about 14 years without riding. Something > got in my head that I wanted to start up again. I > looked around and thought an "Endure" or "On Off" or > as they now say "Dual Sport" would be cool. I then > started looking locally and found a 86 Yamaha XT600. I > purchased this from EBAY (After visiting the bike) and > was thrilled at its ability both on and off the road > (When it was running.) I have been hammering around > for the last 2 years on this bike and need a more > reliable ride. > > This brings me to now. I want a NEW bike and have > noticed that the KLR seems to be the only true Dual > sport Most of the others seem to be more dirt oriented > or sold outside the US. The Suzuki 650 seat was narrow > and felt like hell. The 400 was even smaller and > seemed to be a true dirt bike. The Honda also seemed > to be more for Off-road Use. I need to be somewhere > around 80% road 20% trail at this time. > > So here are the questions. > > 1. Will The KLR handle like my XT600? I know there is > much more gas in the tank but is that much heaver? > 2. Does the Price seem reasonable? > 3. What do people think about the extended warrantee? > 4. I weigh 220+ and my girlfriend is 120 +-10 lbs. I > have avoided long rides off road with her because I > was worried about breaking the XT . Can the KLR handle > the 350+lbs ? Stock or do I need to upgrade the > suspension? > 5. Does anyone know of any Dual Sport rides or groups > for New England (Portland Maine area) I can count the > number of dual sport bikes on one hand that I have > seen in this area for the last 2 years? > 6. Should I Pressure wash my Doohickey wearing a DOT > or SNELL approved helmet? > > Thanks In advance > > Dave. > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free! > http://my.yahoo.com > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >

LOL!!!! YES! YES! Enquiring minds want to know!!! Great question Dave... - Janna Proud owner of NOTHING yet... -----Original Message----- From: David Libby [mailto:jellono@...] Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 12:19 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Digest Number 5945 6. Should I Pressure wash my Doohickey wearing a DOT or SNELL approved helmet?

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, David Libby wrote:

> 1. Will The KLR handle like my XT600? I know there is > much more gas in the tank but is that much heaver?

The KLR is technically on a par with the '86 XT. It won't handle quite as well.

> 2. Does the Price seem reasonable?

Not bad. Some have done better, some worse.

> 3. What do people think about the extended warrantee?

Waste of money.

> 4. I weigh 220+ and my girlfriend is 120 +-10 lbs. I > have avoided long rides off road with her because I > was worried about breaking the XT . Can the KLR handle > the 350+lbs ? Stock or do I need to upgrade the > suspension?

Better to beef it up. New springs front and rear are less than $200.00

> 5. Does anyone know of any Dual Sport rides or groups > for New England (Portland Maine area) I can count the > number of dual sport bikes on one hand that I have > seen in this area for the last 2 years?

That's outside my jurisdiction.

> 6. Should I Pressure wash my Doohickey wearing a DOT > or SNELL approved helmet? >

Always wear appropriate safety gear for critical operations.

Yeehaw! Great ride report. Sandy in TX --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, wrote: > First rideable day in a month due to weather. Forcast > called for 50's with big wind and rain, COOL! > I headed out into my back yard, the Olympic mountains > in Washington State. > I ride the east side of thge mountains, along the > coast of the Hood Canal. A bikers dream road on it's > own, 60 miles of twisties with breathtaking views. > 3 or 4 major rivers flow from the mountains into the > canal, and forest roads line all of the rivers. > Off I went, armored head to toe, off to get dirty. > about 6 miles in and 700 feet up according to Garmin, > The road side is lined with snow, but pavement is just > wet. But about 1/4 mile farther, the road itself is > covered with slush, cool! Up and up I go, sliding and > a slipping. I was riding the track of a 4 wheeler that > has been up here a while back. Snowy ruts. Before > long, the snow is a foot deep, and I keep sliding out > of the ruts. Time to surrender to this road and try > another. > Now the road is a single lane, real rough, and turning > a fat KLR around is fun enough in the summer, much > less the snow, so I am slipping and sliding back and > forth, plowing through boot deep snow, can't remember > if it was a back, or a forth, the motor dies. > No problem, electric start and all, click rrrr rrrrr > rrrrr, uh oh. > Well, I am only about 6 miles in, lets check the cel > phone, nope no signal.. It's cool. Cant kickstand the > bike in the position I'm in, i'm riding on 12-14" of > snow and tires are only in about 6-8". > So I hop off and press a bunch of the wet snow under > the bike to hold it up. Hop off, now what? > I'm thinking perhaps wet snow got on the ignition? > Snow is packed into every square inch if the bottom of > the bike, and under the fenders. Shit. > But wait, What did I read on the KLR FAQ? Something > about clogging a vent tube? > Sure enough, I pull the snow off, the tube is packed. > I knock it around a bit, and booyaa! Vroom Vroom!, > blessing counted. > Off the mountain and a few forest roads later, up I go > again, and again, same thing, snow builds and builds, > I give it up, and head farther down the highway to yet > another forest road, this one on tribal property, up > and up I go, and past a pack of very mean dogs, as I > went past their house I was going too fast to come > close to me, but this is a one way in and out road, > i'll see them again later. > I am doing about 40 down this two track dirt road, and > what the hell, right in the center of the road about > an 8" wide swath of ther nastiest mud in the world, > yikes, luckily it ended as soon as it started, but not > before I and fishrailing with legs flailing for a few > seconds. I am following a river, look over, and there > are hundreds of salmon thrashing everywhere. > I slow down and stop, shut the bike off and watch for > a while, took a few pictures, time to head on. Click > rrrr > rrrr > rrrr Shit! > Um, no snow? No water? No Cel signal? What the? > So I stop, get off, smoke a cigarette and think, WTF? > Ok, think calmly. Kill switch is cool? I try again, > this time nothing, not ever rrrr rrrrr? Yikes? > In fact, when I turn the key, the neutral light wont > even go on? Oh yeah, safety switch, pull clutch in rrr > vroom vroom. > Yeah, your real funny Mr. KLR. > I did 350 miles on the day, only about 50-100 off > road. > Some incredible country, funny how it seems so much > more desolate when theres snow. In the summer you can > get 50-70 miles in and it seems like nothing. WIth the > snow, 5 miles in I felt like I was on another planet. > The pucker factor doubles/triples. > Oh, and the dogs, they were waiting. 3 of em, maybe > malmutes or wolf hybrid. I aproached slow and revved, > they all scooted to the side of the road, but as soon > as I passed, here they come. Shit road too, so I am > nailing 2nd gear and they are in hot pursuit, finally > I hit third and left them in my dust. Thank god I did > not fall off. > A great day. I am sore as hell, a good kind of sore. > If you ever make it to the Great Northwest, gie hwy > 101 a try. Got to be one of the greatest bike rides on > the earth. > Sean Big fat and Red, and so is my Bike. > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. > http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail