Wilsons Sandbox

On Dec 2, 2006, at 1:24 PM, dana rector wrote:

> Now shopping for both a sport touring (or adventure tour) road bike > and a smaller lighter dual-sport for off road play.

One of the motorcycle magazines just did a sport tourer comparo and the Ducati ST3 fared very well, much to my surprise. Lots of people love the Yamaha FJR, though that clutchless shifter option sounds dreadful. The article trashed on the new Triumph Sprint ST, though the two people I know with older ones rave about how much they love their bikes. I was disappointed to read that Aprilia has discontinued the Futura, their sport touring model. The Futura I test rode a few years ago was wonderful. My own steed ad the time was a somewhat abused F2 (hence the "cbr" in "mkb_cbr") and the Futura was a real eye opener. At one point it dawned on me that I was happily leaned over farther than I normally did on my own bike, despite being on an unfamiliar machine on an unfamiliar road. At that moment I came to understand what reviewers meant by the phrase "confidence inspiring." Off-idle throttle response was silky smooth, and the riding position was plenty comfortable. (I am 6' 0" naturally, or 6' 2" with my ego.) I've talked to Futura owners who reported 800 mile days with no discomfort. The worst problem I could find was that the clutch required a bit too much strength, but that would likely become unnoticeable after a couple weeks of getting used to it. I have a few friends with VFRs who love them. BMW owners seem devoted though personally I don't like the power- assisted brakes. They are fine for hard stops but irritating when I just want to scrub off a few MPH. --mkb [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I love my KLR dearly, but I just watched "The Long Way Round" 2 times back to back, and am now looking at BWM's on E-Bay. Is this normal? --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Dennis Holm wrote:

> > BMW R1150R and Yamaha WR 450 (licensed for the road). Everyone

needs at least three bikes!

> Bigdroptwo > > dana rector wrote: > > > Satisfied owner of an 01 KLR wishes to upgrade to two bikes. The

KLR works well for most everything but not without compromises and limitations. At 6'4" and 190 lb. The one thing it does do is FIT. Now shopping for both a sport touring (or adventure tour) road bike and a smaller lighter dual-sport for off road play. Would appreciate any recommendations of bikes that will fit like the KLR .lots of leg room and a traditional semi-upright riding position (no cruisers). Lets have fun and pretend money is no object. Have sense of humor and will appreciate insults and sarcasm

> > > --------------------------------- > All new Yahoo! Mail > --------------------------------- > Get news delivered. Enjoy RSS feeds right on your Mail page. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

When I saw it, I was struck by how poorly suited the big beemers seemed to be to the riders and task at hand. I came away from it thinking that they would have been better served by KLRs! 'Course I'm a street guy, so what do I know? doug in dc. rosslindberg wrote:

> I love my KLR dearly, but I just watched "The Long Way Round" 2 > times back to back, and am now looking at BWM's on E-Bay. Is this > normal? > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Dennis Holm > wrote: > >> BMW R1150R and Yamaha WR 450 (licensed for the road). Everyone >> > needs at least three bikes! > >> Bigdroptwo >> >> dana rector wrote: >> >> >> Satisfied owner of an 01 KLR wishes to upgrade to two bikes. The >> > KLR works well for most everything but not without compromises and > limitations. At 6'4" and 190 lb. The one thing it does do is FIT. > Now shopping for both a sport touring (or adventure tour) road bike > and a smaller lighter dual-sport for off road play. Would appreciate > any recommendations of bikes that will fit like the KLR.......lots of > leg room and a traditional semi-upright riding position (no > cruisers). Lets have fun and pretend money is no object. Have sense > of humor and will appreciate insults and sarcasm > >> --------------------------------- >> All new Yahoo! Mail >> --------------------------------- >> Get news delivered. Enjoy RSS feeds right on your Mail page. >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> >> >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> > > > > > 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 > > > > >

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I know what you mean, but the "Red Devil" isn't available in my area. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Douglas Bouley wrote:

> > When I saw it, I was struck by how poorly suited the big beemers

seemed

> to be to the riders and task at hand. I came away from it thinking

that

> they would have been better served by KLRs! > > 'Course I'm a street guy, so what do I know? > > doug in dc. > > rosslindberg wrote: > > I love my KLR dearly, but I just watched "The Long Way Round" 2 > > times back to back, and am now looking at BWM's on E-Bay. Is

this

> > normal? > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Dennis Holm > > wrote: > > > >> BMW R1150R and Yamaha WR 450 (licensed for the road). Everyone > >> > > needs at least three bikes! > > > >> Bigdroptwo > >> > >> dana rector wrote: > >> > >> > >> Satisfied owner of an 01 KLR wishes to upgrade to two bikes.

The

> >> > > KLR works well for most everything but not without compromises

and

> > limitations. At 6'4" and 190 lb. The one thing it does do is

FIT.

> > Now shopping for both a sport touring (or adventure tour) road

bike

> > and a smaller lighter dual-sport for off road play. Would

appreciate

> > any recommendations of bikes that will fit like the

KLR.......lots of

> > leg room and a traditional semi-upright riding position (no > > cruisers). Lets have fun and pretend money is no object. Have

sense

> > of humor and will appreciate insults and sarcasm > > > >> --------------------------------- > >> All new Yahoo! Mail > >> --------------------------------- > >> Get news delivered. Enjoy RSS feeds right on your Mail page. > >> > >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> --------------------------------- > >> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. > >> > >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

On Dec 2, 2006, at 6:20 PM, rosslindberg wrote:

> I love my KLR dearly, but I just watched "The Long Way Round" 2 > times back to back, and am now looking at BWM's on E-Bay. Is this > normal?

I've never been a fan of BMWs, but I hardly found that movie an endorsement of them. Especially for how they were riding them. Matt Knowles - Ferndale, CA - http://www.knowlesville.com/matt/motorcycles '99 Sprint ST - for going fast and far (2CZUSA) '01 KLR650 (A15) - for exploring the North Coast backroads '97 KLX300 & '01 Lakota - for playing in the dirt '79 KZ400 - just because it was the first vehicle I ever owned

I had the exact same thought. They should have used the 650 Beemers they practiced on....or the KLR. What the hell was up with them carrying so much gear? Wasn't that the purpose of the support vechicles? Great show, I bought the DVD, but it had me shaking my head a few times. Steve

----- Original Message ----- From: "Douglas Bouley" > When I saw it, I was struck by how poorly suited the big beemers seemed > to be to the riders and task at hand. I came away from it thinking that > they would have been better served by KLRs! > > 'Course I'm a street guy, so what do I know? > > doug in dc. > > rosslindberg wrote: >> I love my KLR dearly, but I just watched "The Long Way Round" 2 >> times back to back, and am now looking at BWM's on E-Bay. Is this >> normal?

On 12/2/06, dana rector wrote:

> > > > Satisfied owner of an 01 KLR wishes to upgrade to two bikes. The KLR works > well for most everything but not without compromises and limitations. At > 6'4" and 190 lb. The one thing it does do is FIT. Now shopping for both a > sport touring (or adventure tour) road bike and a smaller lighter dual-sport > for off road play. Would appreciate any recommendations of bikes that will > fit like the KLR .lots of leg room and a traditional semi-upright riding > position (no cruisers). Lets have fun and pretend money is no object. Have > sense of humor and will appreciate insults and sarcasm > > >

Take a look at the Buell Ulysses. Most every review I've read contained a statement to the effect that it would be a great bike if the review was 6' 4''. Sounds like it was made for you! -- Kevin Powers White Bear Lake, MN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Kevin Powers said:

> Take a look at the Buell Ulysses. Most every review I've read > contained a statement to the effect that it would be a great bike > if the review was 6' 4 ''. Sounds like it was made for you!

My rather tall neighbor has a Ulysses. I would concur - it is a very nice bike. Fuel-injected 1350 V-Twin. Quiet. Tall. He and I do a lot of dirt roads, and have seen many minor washouts - very wet year in NM. I've seen him fishtail it through small mud, but I wouldn't want to do that myself. It goes WAY faster than a KLR on the highway. He keeps the OEM Dunlops on his and is very pleased all around. The only thing I ask myself when he's out with me is: how much would an exhaust cost for that beast. The exhaust runs beneath the frame and is rather exposed, IMO. CHEERS -- Jack Bates Placitas, NM, USA I play Texas Hold'Em at http://www.fulltiltpoker.com