On Sat, 12 Mar 2005, aztecredklr650 wrote:
> Hey Guys...looking for your opinions
>
> I'm 38, 6'1", and have the mc bug. I looked at the ninja
> 250/500...nice bikes, have heard good things about them, but frankly
> I look a little silly on them. Cruisers? Well I just don't feel
> comfortable on them. Then I saw the KLR 650! Wow! It was love at
> first sight. It's up there no doubt, but compresses nicely under my
> 180 or so lbs. Seating position...comfortable, lending a sense of
> control. Reliability ...seems industructable (doohickey aside).
>
> So heres the question...should a newbie like me buy one? 99% of the
> time I'll be on blacktop, commuting 35 each way. 70-75 mph ok?
It'll run all day at 70-75mph (well, you'll have to fill it with gas every
250 miles or so, but you knew that). It's a great newbie bike if you're
big enough to handle its height (which you are), because it is light (by
street bike standards), has a mild power curve, is comfortable, and has a
relaxed seating position. The only real issue you'll face at 70-75mph is
comfort -- the upright seating position, at your height, will result in a
lot of wind blast slamming you in the chest. That is easily fixed with an
aftermarket windshield to move the wind blast upwards.
If you're going to do 100% road stuff, you might want to look at the
Suzuki SV-650 and V-Strom 650, they are excellent small V-twin bikes
(Naked and pseudo-dual-sport styling) that similarly have a pleasant power
curve, but more high end umph than the KLR so that they don't run out of
gas at around 80mph like the KLR does (the KLR will top out around 90, but
that last 15mph is hard to eke out of the KLR), street-oriented tires that
stick a teensy bit better than the KLR's skinny shoes, and MUCH better
brakes (hell, a skateboard has better brakes than a KLR). They are very
popular with (relatively) beginner motorcyclists, for good reason --
unlike the buzzy 4-cylinder 500's they have a fairly wide power curve, the
seating position is relaxed rather than crouched over like a constipated
monkey, and it's a power curve that doesn't have the "oh shit!" factor
where it just kicks in suddenly and you see death rearing its ugly head.
Not to mention that the SV's have a bit less vibration. What nobody here
will mention to you, because it's something they've become accustomed to,
is just how much vibration the big KLR thumper puts out. If you squeeze
the gas tank with your knees as you might do at high speed to help deal
with the wind blast, you'll get a good buzz with the KLR. Your hands will
get numbed by the vibration unless put in a Bar Snake, gel grips, gel
gloves, and even then it's merely tolerable. Luckily the throttle tube
takes some of the vibration off of your right hand and wrist, else it
would be absolutely intolerable (since you can't remove your right hand
from the bars occasionally to wring the buzzing out of them, because it
has to hold the throttle open!).
So: If you think you'll hit some dirt from time to time, the KLR is an
excellent choice. If you're going 100% street, though, those small Suzuki
SV and DL 650 are excellent choices that have some of the traits of the
KLR (relative simplicity by street bike standards, pleasant power curve,
relatively relaxed seating position) without some of the liabilities
(vibration, lack of high end umph).
-E
-
Kip
A8, 59,000 miles and counting