Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 12:17 pm**

Hi everybody, I'm a newbie here and am very interested in the whole dual-sport bike thing. I first considered a motorcycle a few months ago as I'm moving to the Western North Carolina mountains and my commute will increase significantly. I learned about dualsports and was fascinated. I thought that the BMW GS 650 was what I wanted, but I think that the price, style and type of people that own the Kawasakis are making me change my mind. I plan on taking the MSF RiderCourse before even beginning my true search to purchase a bike, but I'm trying to narrow down what I should be looking at. I'm almost 28 years old, 6'2" and weigh about 215 pounds. I plan on using the bike mainly to commute to work and also to gain better access to the backcountry so I can access more remote backpacking and hiking areas faster than I would with a car. I don't plan on doing any serious trail riding (I don't think I am, at least, but you never know). I've been reading some articles about first time motorcycle buyers, and I just want to make sure that if I get the 650, that it's not too much bike for me. I want to have fun, but I don't want to kill myself, either. And on the flip side, if I buy the 250, will I "outgrow" the bike in a matter of months and wish I had bought the 650? I guess I don't want to be stuck climbing a mountain highway going 50 mph. I'd like to have some "oomph." Will the 250 provide that for a guy my size? Any ideas on new bikes vs. used bikes? I'd prefer to buy new. The bikes are relatively inexpensive and that way I'd know what I'm getting, but if I were to find a good deal on a used bike, I'd have more money to better accessorize myself and the bike to my liking. I like what I've read here so far, and I look forward to your responses. Thanks! Rob

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:06 pm**

A writeup I did as a re-entry rider a couple years ago. I basically considered myself a new rider at that point and had taken the MSF before I even got on the road again with the KLR http://www.kingsqueak.org/archives/index.php?loc=klr A 250 will be a lot easier to learn dirt riding on and getting into tight spots on trails. The 650 will give you more comfort margin at highway speeds IMO. You *can* do the highway on a 250, but at your size it will be even more marginal. I'm only just barely comfortable with the 650's power at highway speeds, I'd like more at this point. On roads On 9/1/05, Rob Kaiser wrote: > > Hi everybody, > > I'm a newbie here and am very interested in the whole dual-sport > bike thing. I first considered a motorcycle a few months ago as I'm > moving to the Western North Carolina mountains and my commute will > increase significantly. > > I learned about dualsports and was fascinated. I thought that the > BMW GS 650 was what I wanted, but I think that the price, style and > type of people that own the Kawasakis are making me change my mind. > > I plan on taking the MSF RiderCourse before even beginning my true > search to purchase a bike, but I'm trying to narrow down what I > should be looking at. > > I'm almost 28 years old, 6'2" and weigh about 215 pounds. I plan > on using the bike mainly to commute to work and also to gain better > access to the backcountry so I can access more remote backpacking > and hiking areas faster than I would with a car. I don't plan on > doing any serious trail riding (I don't think I am, at least, but > you never know). > > I've been reading some articles about first time motorcycle buyers, > and I just want to make sure that if I get the 650, that it's not > too much bike for me. I want to have fun, but I don't want to kill > myself, either. And on the flip side, if I buy the 250, will > I "outgrow" the bike in a matter of months and wish I had bought the > 650? I guess I don't want to be stuck climbing a mountain highway > going 50 mph. I'd like to have some "oomph." Will the 250 provide > that for a guy my size? > > Any ideas on new bikes vs. used bikes? I'd prefer to buy new. The > bikes are relatively inexpensive and that way I'd know what I'm > getting, but if I were to find a good deal on a used bike, I'd have > more money to better accessorize myself and the bike to my liking. > > I like what I've read here so far, and I look forward to your > responses. Thanks! > > Rob > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.comhttp://www.dualsportnews.com> > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.htmlhttp://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:35 pm**

Just my personal opinion based on, well based on nothing but my opinion. If you plan to keep the bike a long time, go new. The couple bucks more you spend will quickly dissolve with the satisfaction of owning "new" and giving it the care your way. If you are unsure, buy used. Let someone else take the depreciation hit. Most KLR's are pretty tough and unless the previous owner planned to dump it, he did a good break in. Its a crap shoot. Of course you know that there are no changes over recent years so maybe the decider should be color. I have the olive green one and it is really drab. I really like the new green. I seldom notice the color when riding though so it really doesn't matter. Good luck and don't forget to come back. Riding is only part of the fun. The KLR group is the other part.

>From: "Rob Kaiser" >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] questions about a first bike >Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2005 17:16:43 -0000 > >Hi everybody, > >I'm a newbie here and am very interested in the whole dual-sport >bike thing. I first considered a motorcycle a few months ago as I'm >moving to the Western North Carolina mountains and my commute will >increase significantly. > >I learned about dualsports and was fascinated. I thought that the >BMW GS 650 was what I wanted, but I think that the price, style and >type of people that own the Kawasakis are making me change my mind. > >I plan on taking the MSF RiderCourse before even beginning my true >search to purchase a bike, but I'm trying to narrow down what I >should be looking at. > >I'm almost 28 years old, 6'2" and weigh about 215 pounds. I plan >on using the bike mainly to commute to work and also to gain better >access to the backcountry so I can access more remote backpacking >and hiking areas faster than I would with a car. I don't plan on >doing any serious trail riding (I don't think I am, at least, but >you never know). > >I've been reading some articles about first time motorcycle buyers, >and I just want to make sure that if I get the 650, that it's not >too much bike for me. I want to have fun, but I don't want to kill >myself, either. And on the flip side, if I buy the 250, will >I "outgrow" the bike in a matter of months and wish I had bought the >650? I guess I don't want to be stuck climbing a mountain highway >going 50 mph. I'd like to have some "oomph." Will the 250 provide >that for a guy my size? > >Any ideas on new bikes vs. used bikes? I'd prefer to buy new. The >bikes are relatively inexpensive and that way I'd know what I'm >getting, but if I were to find a good deal on a used bike, I'd have >more money to better accessorize myself and the bike to my liking. > >I like what I've read here so far, and I look forward to your >responses. Thanks! > >Rob > > > > >Archive Quicksearch at: >http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html >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 > > > > > >

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:18 pm**

> and I just want to make sure that if I get the 650, that it's not > too much bike for me. I want to have fun, but I don't want to kill > myself, either. And on the flip side, if I buy the 250, will

I'd think you should be fine. My KLR is my first bike, and you've got quite a bit more size on your side. I think it's a great first bike - easy smooth power, but not too much of it. Tough, cheap, and easy to work on. Nice height and seeating positiion to see over traffic. The list goes on, but I have to go take mine to pick up some sandwiches! erik

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:20 pm**

I've been running that ramp for almost a year now. When I first got it I thought the tabs at the end of the ramp looked a little weak, but it's held up to the KLR and Polaris 600 4wd 4 wheeler multiple times. Greg '95 A9 -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of W Penn Carr Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 11:45 AM To: dsN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Fw: Loading KLR Harbor Freight ramp URL http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90018

> Harbor Freight has been advertising a folding aluminum ramp for > around > $79.xx. > Check them out. > > Penn Carr St. Louis > 2003 KLR650 "ROCKY" > COG 3256 ZG1000 Sadly Sold , but still > a member of "The COG" >

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Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:53 pm**

One thing to consider is that the 250 is a kickstart. I was also considering one of those as my first one until I saw that. I didn't want to mess with having to kick start it every time I stalled it out. Bought a 650 yesterday and I'm looking forward to trying it out as soon as I get my tags and insurance taken care of.

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 11:08 pm**

If your over 5'10" the KLR is the perfect starter bike, it is extremely simple to use and learn on. If you want to use it as a dirt bike, it's a bit hard to handle, but it is extremely capable of being handled. No my freind, you buy a KLR and you have your self the "Swiss army knife of motorcycles" Good choice... Sean A-18 12k miles and ticking --- Brian Smith wrote:

> One thing to consider is that the 250 is a > kickstart. I was also > considering one of those as my first one until I saw > that. I didn't > want to mess with having to kick start it every time > I stalled it out. > > Bought a 650 yesterday and I'm looking forward to > trying it out as > soon as I get my tags and insurance taken care of. > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: >

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html

> 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 > > > DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > >

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Wilsons Sandbox

loading klr harbor freight ramp url

questions about a first bike

questions about a first bike

questions about a first bike

questions about a first bike

loading klr harbor freight ramp url

questions about a first bike

questions about a first bike