Wilsons Sandbox

Hiya Tom. I'm about the same age height but out weigh you by a bit, ok a lot.285#. I just cranked in max preload on the spring and same on the shock on my 05, and it worked fine. I've bottomed out this bike a time or two but that was on some pretty rough back road. After 43,000 miles, the rear shock lost its seal and gave me a oil slick in my garage last week so it looks like I get to try out a new progressive spring set up. I'm still trying to unpucker from what the dealer said his price was for a stock one. Sorry, I've not ridden a new bike and I can't tell you a lot about it but they do look tasty. If you would like a 07 and wouldn't mind a trip to Kansas, the dealer that I go to in Topeka has both setting on the floor and my guess is that at this time of year, they will be there till guys start thinking about ridding next spring....but I'd call them before I made the trip. -------Original Message------- From: Tom Schmitz Date: 11/21/2007 11:06:27 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Need real-world advice Hi - I'm going to get a KLR in a couple of months and need some advice and thoughts, hopefully based upon your actual experience and expertise. The bike will be solely for recreational use - not a commuter. It will be ridden on pavement, but the final destination will be off-pavement. I live in Redondo Beach, CA (near LAX). A typical trip would be to head out I-10 to Chiriaco Summit, then turn right and head for Yuma, going across the desert on gravel roads and double track, or heading out the 2 over to Wrightwood, then across the desert to Kern County/Death Valley, or out the 14 to Edwards AFB and then across to Adelanto. You get the idea. The bike will see a fair amount of dirt, but it will not be really technical stuff. Add in the fact that I'm middle aged (if I live to be 104) and am not too likely to ride really aggressively. I think I've procrastinated long enough that I probably won't have to decide between a 2007 and the 2008. What I've read about the changes to the 2008 I like, except for the reduced travel. I think the KLR was already a bit short on travel compared to its competitors, and losing another inch is something I'd have preferred not to see. However, I'm 6'2" and weigh 220 lbs, so I'm pretty well on the large side for what the bike was probably designed for. I suspect that I will have to make some changes to the suspension, perhaps along the lines of new springs, perhaps cartridge emulators. So, here are the real-world questions: If you have ridden both the old and the new KLR, do you find the new KLR really any less capable off-road than the old one? Does the loss of an inch of travel really make a big difference? Is there any practical way to get some of that travel back? If you are similar in size to me, what changes have you had to make to the KLR suspension, if any? Is the red one really faster? Thanks, Tom 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]

Saw 2 red 07's at the dealer in Bartlett Tn(Memphis) last week priced at $4350. There's still a few out there... Joe --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Schmitz" wrote:

> > Hi - > > I'm going to get a KLR in a couple of months and need some advice

and

> thoughts, hopefully based upon your actual experience and expertise. > > The bike will be solely for recreational use - not a commuter. It

will

> be ridden on pavement, but the final destination will be off-

pavement.

> > I live in Redondo Beach, CA (near LAX). A typical trip would be to > head out I-10 to Chiriaco Summit, then turn right and head for Yuma, > going across the desert on gravel roads and double track, or heading > out the 2 over to Wrightwood, then across the desert to Kern > County/Death Valley, or out the 14 to Edwards AFB and then across to > Adelanto. You get the idea. The bike will see a fair amount of dirt, > but it will not be really technical stuff. Add in the fact that I'm > middle aged (if I live to be 104) and am not too likely to ride

really

> aggressively. > > I think I've procrastinated long enough that I probably won't have

to

> decide between a 2007 and the 2008. > > What I've read about the changes to the 2008 I like, except for the > reduced travel. I think the KLR was already a bit short on travel > compared to its competitors, and losing another inch is something

I'd

> have preferred not to see. > > However, I'm 6'2" and weigh 220 lbs, so I'm pretty well on the large > side for what the bike was probably designed for. I suspect that I > will have to make some changes to the suspension, perhaps along the > lines of new springs, perhaps cartridge emulators. > > So, here are the real-world questions: > > If you have ridden both the old and the new KLR, do you find the new > KLR really any less capable off-road than the old one? Does the loss > of an inch of travel really make a big difference? > > Is there any practical way to get some of that travel back? > > If you are similar in size to me, what changes have you had to make

to

> the KLR suspension, if any? > > Is the red one really faster? > > Thanks, > > Tom >

Wow! Great price! -------Original Message------- From: rockiedog2 Date: 11/22/2007 7:28:56 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Need real-world advice Saw 2 red 07's at the dealer in Bartlett Tn(Memphis) last week priced at $4350. There's still a few out there... Joe --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Schmitz" wrote:

> > Hi - > > I'm going to get a KLR in a couple of months and need some advice

and

> thoughts, hopefully based upon your actual experience and expertise. > > The bike will be solely for recreational use - not a commuter. It

will

> be ridden on pavement, but the final destination will be off-

pavement.

> > I live in Redondo Beach, CA (near LAX). A typical trip would be to > head out I-10 to Chiriaco Summit, then turn right and head for Yuma, > going across the desert on gravel roads and double track, or heading > out the 2 over to Wrightwood, then across the desert to Kern > County/Death Valley, or out the 14 to Edwards AFB and then across to > Adelanto. You get the idea. The bike will see a fair amount of dirt, > but it will not be really technical stuff. Add in the fact that I'm > middle aged (if I live to be 104) and am not too likely to ride

really

> aggressively. > > I think I've procrastinated long enough that I probably won't have

to

> decide between a 2007 and the 2008. > > What I've read about the changes to the 2008 I like, except for the > reduced travel. I think the KLR was already a bit short on travel > compared to its competitors, and losing another inch is something

I'd

> have preferred not to see. > > However, I'm 6'2" and weigh 220 lbs, so I'm pretty well on the large > side for what the bike was probably designed for. I suspect that I > will have to make some changes to the suspension, perhaps along the > lines of new springs, perhaps cartridge emulators. > > So, here are the real-world questions: > > If you have ridden both the old and the new KLR, do you find the new > KLR really any less capable off-road than the old one? Does the loss > of an inch of travel really make a big difference? > > Is there any practical way to get some of that travel back? > > If you are similar in size to me, what changes have you had to make

to

> the KLR suspension, if any? > > Is the red one really faster? > > Thanks, > > Tom >

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]

At 7:19 AM -0600 11/22/07, Eric Rickel wrote:

>After 43,000 miles, the rear shock lost its seal and gave me a oil slick in >my garage last week so it looks like I get to try out a new progressive >spring set up. I'm still trying to unpucker from what the dealer said his >price was for a stock one.

I think you can still get new stock take-offs on ebay for about $125. At your mileage, I'd buy one of those and at most, possibly add a new spring for $75. Mark

Hey Mark. Thanks, I never thought of that. Think I'll start looking today. -------Original Message------- From: Tengai Mark Van Horn Date: 11/22/2007 8:43:27 AM To: Eric Rickel Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Need real-world advice At 7:19 AM -0600 11/22/07, Eric Rickel wrote:

>After 43,000 miles, the rear shock lost its seal and gave me a oil slick in >my garage last week so it looks like I get to try out a new progressive >spring set up. I'm still trying to unpucker from what the dealer said his >price was for a stock one.

I think you can still get new stock take-offs on ebay for about $125. At your mileage, I'd buy one of those and at most, possibly add a new spring for $75. Mark [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> So, here are the real-world questions: > > If you have ridden both the old and the new KLR, do you find the new > KLR really any less capable off-road than the old one? Does the loss > of an inch of travel really make a big difference?

No.

> Is there any practical way to get some of that travel back?

No.

> > If you are similar in size to me, what changes have you had to make to > the KLR suspension, if any?

Should work GREAT stock!

> > Is the red one really faster?

Yes.

> > Thanks, > > Tom

You're welcome, Ed

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, jokerloco9@... wrote:

> > All you have to do is smell the exhaust from a bike and compare it

to a car.

> I kind of assumed everyone knew this. Then add the guys that

rejet and put

> aftermarket exhaust. I assure you they are not cleaning up their

exhaust by

> doing that! The regulations have always been far behind on

motorcycles.

> How about diesel trucks? Been behind any Los Angeles Unified

School District

> busses lately?? You choke on the black smoke from the school

buses.

> > I'm not aware of any bikes that are sold with only the claim they

are great

> commuter bikes that get great mileage. Sure, you CAN use a bike

for

> commuting, but as most people recognize, there is nothing cheap

about operating a

> motorcycle. Many bikes approach the cost of a cheap car, and bikes

have high

> maintenance (tires, chains, etc). So bikes are usually sold with

the idea of

> pleasure and sporting use. Kind of like my drag racing truck - it

goes

> through 1 gallon of 110 octane race gas for each 1/4 mile drag

strip pass. Wanna

> guess how much emissions it puts out??? > > > Jeff A20

Emissions amount for a 'drag-truck'? I'll venture a guess. I would imangine that the driver emits about 1000smiles/quarter mile. More when he wins. revmaaatin.