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question
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2001 4:39 pm
by livingarttattoo@yahoo.com
Hello.
I am seriously considering buying a Kawa KLR650. It will be primarily
for the street with maybe a little light off-road thrown in as well.
Aside from their great looks I'm interested in them because I'm 6'4
and am too tall for most motorcycles. My questions are this:
How does it do at regular road use?
Can it carry my wife on the back with me for short trips if need be?
Rate it's overall reliability too.
Thank you very much. Please direct answers to
james_cabel@...
I would really appreciate any and all advice any of you can give me.
question
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2001 6:18 pm
by William Valerio
The modified KLR is great on the road. On the stock bike you'll most likely have problems with the suspension. You'll need to purchase progressively wound springs for the front forks and the rear shock. After the springs are installed, you'll have no problems riding 2 up. The stock springs leave a lot to be desired. Plan on spending another $180.00 or so on springs. I recently rode 3000 miles averaging 70-75 mph without any problems. Now, it's not the smoothest machine in the world but it will get you where you're going and it's a blast off the pavement. I rode a friend's pre 2000 Harley Fatboy and was amazed to find the KLR was a smoother ride.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
question
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2001 9:12 pm
by Ralph E. Hanson
James writes:
>Aside from their great looks I'm interested in them because I'm 6'4
>and am too tall for most motorcycles. My questions are this:
That was the main reason I started looking at the KLR. Most light and
middle weight bikes are just too cramped for me. The bikes that fit me
decently other than DP bikes are big rigs like the Concours or Trophy.
Since then, I've really come to love the bike for its long travel
suspension and light weight (for a street bike).
>
>How does it do at regular road use?
I only use it on the road. I've been delighted with it. It's a little
down on power riding through the mountains here (Northern West Virginia),
but it will keep up decently on the freeway. It can be a bit much in cross
winds, but thats in the nature of the bike.
I've added Progressive springs in front, the tall Kawasaki windshield, and
steel braided lines, and I've replaced the stock tires with Metzeler
Tourances, and I'm very happy with it as a street bike. I'll be headed off
to watch the superbike races at Mid-Ohio this weekend, and I'll be able to
travel comfortably on the KLR.
>Can it carry my wife on the back with me for short trips if need be?
I find that I ride fairly far back on the saddle (the flat saddle was a big
reason the bike works for me) so I don't know that I would care to take a
passenger along.
>Rate it's overall reliability too.
>
If you put an in-line fuel filter on it to keep the #$%^ crap out of the
carb, it's very reliable.
Ralph
Ralph Hanson
1999 KLR 650
rhanson40@...
http://www.wvu.edu/~journal2/west
question
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2001 9:40 pm
by wingrj@aol.com
In a message dated 7/15/01 18:28:44, livingarttattoo@... writes:
<< How does it do at regular road use?
Can it carry my wife on the back with me for short trips if need be?
Rate it's overall reliability too. >>
Let me respond to this point. I'm on my second KLR650, my first (1990) went
for 65,000 miles befor my friends said I was showing smoke out the exauhst
while deacererating. My second (1995) is currently at 34,000 and going strong.
Two up? Ond of the local clubs here hosts a dualsport day run consisting of
approximatly 250 miles, about 25% street, and the rest on 4-wheel drive dirt
roads. For the last several events, my wife and I ride two up. Yes the KLR650
can carry you and your wife, and for longer that short trips.
Road Use? Well I must admit, the only road I use to get from trail to trail.
Viewed best
in the text font
'Courier'
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Wish I could go through life
like I go through traffic
question
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2001 3:57 pm
by Charlie Thompson
James,
I am sure the KLR is an excellent ride. I too am a bit tall for many bikes.
I am 6'4" and ride a Aprilia Pegaso 650. I find it very comfortable (other
than the seat!). I am sure it is not as good off road as the KLR, but for my
riding. 95% street with occasional gravel road and easy trail exploration it
is perfect.
On a twisty road I can easily keep pace with sport bikes. I think a KLR can
do the same.
My wife even finds the passenger accommodations, well accommodating.
So far it has been reliable. Rotax has an excellent reputation for engine
durability.
Negatives? Expensive like a BMW, limited aftermarket, and limited number of
dealers.
One other thing, often wherever you park somebody will come up to you and
says "What's an Aprilia?" or "Who makes Aprilia?" But I think of this as a
positive.
Good Luck
Charlie T.
00 Peg
> > Hello.
> > I am seriously considering buying a Kawa KLR650. It will be primarily
> > for the street with maybe a little light off-road thrown in as well.
> > Aside from their great looks I'm interested in them because I'm 6'4
> > and am too tall for most motorcycles. My questions are this:
> >
> > How does it do at regular road use?
> > Can it carry my wife on the back with me for short trips if need be?
> > Rate it's overall reliability too.
> >
> > Thank you very much. Please direct answers to
> > james_cabel@...
> >
> > I would really appreciate any and all advice any of you can give me.
> >
> >
question
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2001 11:43 am
by TLrydr@aol.com
QUESTION
Do you lose the fork covers with the fork brace installed, ? I do not want to
lose my new fork covers.
Mike
question
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2001 11:53 am
by Devon Jarvis
I have the K9 fork brace from Happy trails, it has collars machined on
so you fit the boots to the top of the brace, no problems. Don't know
about the other KLR650 braces, but every fork brace on every other bike
I've had one on, was designed to do the same thing.
Devon
A15
TLrydr@... wrote:
question
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2001 2:37 pm
by guymanbro@excite.com
> TLrydr@a... wrote:
> >
> > QUESTION
> > Do you lose the fork covers with the fork brace installed, ?
> >
> > Mike
Not if you're careful during installation. ;'/
dat brooklyn bum
question
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2001 10:39 am
by Laurent Apffel
I would like to know if you can give me a few tips on changing the shift
pedal on a klr 650. mine just broke.... i ordered the part but i was
wondering if there was anything i should know before i stat fixing it
myself. In other words... is it hard to fix?
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question
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2001 11:49 am
by Guest
> I would like to know if you can give me a few tips on changing the shift
> pedal on a klr 650. mine just broke.... i ordered the part but i was
> wondering if there was anything i should know before i stat fixing it
> myself. In other words... is it hard to fix?
It's a very easy fix. Hopefully, you didn't just order another stock shift
lever, because to be honest, it's going to break again. Fred Hink at
www.arrowheadmotorsports.com (fred@...) sells quality
replacement shift levers that work as they should - if you crash, they
bend, not break. Then you can just bend them back into position.
On the new shift lever, I would put it in place and fool with the position
of the lever on the splines until you get that "just right" setting. My
stock lever came so that if I was sitting more forward than normal because
my wife was with me, I had to lift my entire foot/leg up to upshift. Once
you find the best position for the new lever, use at least blue Locktite,
if not the red. It WILL come loose without it eventually.
In fact, go through the all the fasteners and Locktite them. For example,
the exhaust heat shield bolts came loose and the shield fell off as I was
travelling along. Metric stainless steel replacement bolts & nuts can be
found at most hardware stores, and should be considered as a "must-do."
The brake reservoir cover screws WILL strip out on you, as will a number
of other regular maintenance bolts. Look for the Allen head ones. Dave
"Jake" Jakeman sells SS bolt kits with all the ones you'll need in labeled
baggies, which is a much quicker and easier way:
jake_sagebrush@...
I hope that helps.
Wise men still seek Him...
Mark St.Hilaire, Sr
A15
HomePage:
http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html
KLR650 Pages:
http://klr6500.tripod.com/
Valve Check & Adjustment Guide:
http://klr6500.tripod.com/valves.html
Wise men still seek Him...
Mark St.Hilaire, Sr
A15
HomePage:
http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html
KLR650 Pages:
http://klr6500.tripod.com/
Valve Check & Adjustment Guide:
http://klr6500.tripod.com/valves.html