Wilsons Sandbox

tingram2 wrote:

> I will pick up a new 650 V-Strom tomorrow. I am buying through the > local dealer here in western Colorado. Basically, I am paying list for > the motorcycle; decent pricing (same as best on Internet) on > accessories; no setup, freight or doc fees, etc. I shopped all over > Colorado and found comparable pricing or worst. Apparently, the V- > Strom is selling very well. There are quite a few riders in this area > with the 650 V-Strom, and they are using them on the dirt roads in > western Colorado and easterm Utah. I am keeping my 1992 KLR650, > though, for the rougher jeep roads of the San Juans. > > Tom Ingram > Montrose, CO > > > >

Hi Tom, I too recently bought a 650 V-Strom, it's like entering the 21st Century I also have kept my 2004 KLR and will use that for the more interesting dirt roads and will pop on a 14 tooth sprocket and some D606's. I went through Montrose last year after visiting with Fred in Moab, a beautiful part of the country you live in there. Are you aware of Verle Nelson, he is from nearby and has a very interesting motorcycle web site at:- http://www.verlenelson.com -- Gavin Broadford Victoria Australia KLR650A18 DL650K6 Home of the DSN-KLR650 searchable archive at:- http://dsnklr650.gavinmac.com

>they all pay the same price from Kawasaki right?

Probably true, but they don't all pay the same in rent/taxes/labour/utilities etc etc. The KLR is sticker $5,199 around here, I had an offer on a new one from Toledo at $4,670 OTD whilst my local guy here in Northern MA stood firm at $4,900 OTD I ended up buying it locally, it was just going to cost too much to ride it back from Toledo and I like my local guy. They did a good job of looking after my ZRX when I had it and even change the tyres on my ST for around $30 the pair unmounted without complaining, I do the rest of the maintenance myself. You pays your money and takes your choice. Andy

----- Original Message ----- From: "tingram2" To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 5:16 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] V-Strom pricing >I will pick up a new 650 V-Strom tomorrow. I am buying through the > local dealer here in western Colorado. Basically, I am paying list for > the motorcycle; decent pricing (same as best on Internet) on > accessories; no setup, freight or doc fees, etc. I shopped all over > Colorado and found comparable pricing or worst. Apparently, the V- > Strom is selling very well. There are quite a few riders in this area > with the 650 V-Strom, and they are using them on the dirt roads in > western Colorado and easterm Utah. I am keeping my 1992 KLR650, > though, for the rougher jeep roads of the San Juans. > > Tom Ingram > Montrose, CO > > > > > > 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 > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

> > I went through Montrose last year after visiting with Fred in

Moab, a

> beautiful part of the country you live in there. > > Are you aware of Verle Nelson, he is from nearby and has a very > interesting motorcycle web site at:- > > http://www.verlenelson.com > > -- > Gavin > > Broadford Victoria Australia > KLR650A18 > DL650K6 > > Home of the DSN-KLR650 searchable archive at:- > http://dsnklr650.gavinmac.com >

Verle put on sweet move on my KLR out East of Montrose last August. His Mean Streak went by with ease. We stopped at an overlook along the black Canyon and had lunch. Definitely an interesting fella and a great rider. Don't think he would have had much luck getting by if we were off-road. Ken

Just spent a day the the Chi cycle show and did a lot of sit-and-compares. Sat on the KLR, the XR, the DL and the Vstrom. Clearly the v strom is in a different catagory than a real DS. I felt a much closer relaltionship to a suzuki SV, their naked 650 street bike, than to a real dual sport like the Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki singles. By the way, has anyone seen the HusqvarnaTE 610? This baby really knocked my socks off. It is very similar to the Suzy and Honda with the small tank and skinny but-crack seat but has some real dirt heritage. Way cool. 576cc, 53HP, 308 LBs and a retail of $7199 USD. Very interesting for the single track oriented dual sporter.

>From: Gavin Macfarlane >To: tingram2 >CC: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] V-Strom pricing >Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 11:12:59 +1100 > >tingram2 wrote: > > I will pick up a new 650 V-Strom tomorrow. I am buying through the > > local dealer here in western Colorado. Basically, I am paying list for > > the motorcycle; decent pricing (same as best on Internet) on > > accessories; no setup, freight or doc fees, etc. I shopped all over > > Colorado and found comparable pricing or worst. Apparently, the V- > > Strom is selling very well. There are quite a few riders in this area > > with the 650 V-Strom, and they are using them on the dirt roads in > > western Colorado and easterm Utah. I am keeping my 1992 KLR650, > > though, for the rougher jeep roads of the San Juans. > > > > Tom Ingram > > Montrose, CO > > > > > > > > >Hi Tom, >I too recently bought a 650 V-Strom, it's like entering the 21st Century >:) I also have kept my 2004 KLR and will use that for the more >interesting dirt roads and will pop on a 14 tooth sprocket and some D606's. > >I went through Montrose last year after visiting with Fred in Moab, a >beautiful part of the country you live in there. > >Are you aware of Verle Nelson, he is from nearby and has a very >interesting motorcycle web site at:- > >http://www.verlenelson.com > >-- >Gavin > >Broadford Victoria Australia >KLR650A18 >DL650K6 > >Home of the DSN-KLR650 searchable archive at:- >http://dsnklr650.gavinmac.com > > > >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 >Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Peplinski" wrote:

> By the way, has anyone seen the HusqvarnaTE 610? This baby really

knocked my socks off. It is very similar to the Suzy and Honda with the small tank and skinny but-crack seat but has some real dirt heritage. Way cool.

>

That bike is very interesting to me. Wish I had a local dealer where I could check one out, and a parts source. As an SV naked owner, I too have trouble with folks describing the Vee Strom/ Wee Strom as a dual sport. I just don't see it. The longer wheelbase makes it significantly different than the SV also, at least in terms of handling in tight stuff, which is one of the things a lot of us really love about the SV. That bike highlights a common dilemma for me: whether to try to bundle all my riding needs into one bike or buy multiple, less expensive, more single purpose bikes. I'm officially in the latter category, though KLR ownership has opened my eyes to the single, do- it-all option as well, complete with the compromises that entails.

When ever riding in strong winds, discussions on replacing the stock KLR front fender come to mind. Friday, while being slammed by 50 mph side gusts, I enjoyed the way the KLR reacts. Most of the other (35) bikes I have owned would be moved sideways by the wind but the KLR simply heels over and keeps to the same line. Having a such a tall, light machine was a worry for the first while because it seemed obvious that it would react to wind to a much greater degree than my Wing. It also seems that wind should cause the machine to bank to the leeward side since the force is applied above the tire contact point which would be the fulcrum or reaction point. It seems, therefore that what is occurring is much like during counter steering where the bike initially turns to the outside of the corner which causes it to try to "fall" into to the corner. "Falling" into the corner sets up the cornering banking turn which is balanced by centrifugal force during the turn. The part which doesn't seem obvious is that it remains leaning into the wind so as to maintain the same line as before the gust. I have tried closing my eyes when entering an area where a gust of wind will strike and find, on opening after a few seconds, the KLR in the same line as before. I can see that the "counter steer" could set the KLR into an "upwind" turn which would balance the wind but still can't perceive that I am maintaining that line. It seems to simply maintain the bank and line of travel on its own.... Has anyone thought about this? Time to shower and ride over to my folks, Norm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Randy Shultz wrote:

> --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Peplinski" > wrote: > > >> By the way, has anyone seen the HusqvarnaTE 610? This baby really >> > knocked my socks off. It is very similar to the Suzy and Honda with > the small tank and skinny but-crack seat but has some real dirt > heritage. Way cool. > > > That bike is very interesting to me. Wish I had a local dealer where > I could check one out, and a parts source. > > As an SV naked owner, I too have trouble with folks describing the > Vee Strom/ Wee Strom as a dual sport. I just don't see it. The > longer wheelbase makes it significantly different than the SV also, > at least in terms of handling in tight stuff, which is one of the > things a lot of us really love about the SV. >

I agree, although I have only got 1500Km on the WeeStrom I don't think I would ever think about taking it where the KLR will happily go, It hasn't even been on dirt yet, other than my driveway (about 300 metres).

> That bike highlights a common dilemma for me: whether to try to > bundle all my riding needs into one bike or buy multiple, less > expensive, more single purpose bikes. I'm officially in the latter > category, though KLR ownership has opened my eyes to the single, do- > it-all option as well, complete with the compromises that entails. >

I voted for the multiple, I found the single option had too many compromises. Last year I rode the KLR up to some friends two states away about 2000Km, loaded the KLR was still fine on the back highways, but most of our main highways are still only two laners and some of our trucks are 50 metres long and travelling at 110Kmh and on the KLR if you're trying to overtake it takes toooo long This year it will be WeeStrom based and oodles of power (by comparison) for overtaking. Gavin [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]