long distance klr riding

[Andy Brundrett]

I'm afraid I've joined this list under false pretenses (though the KLR250 is another bike I'm looking into buying). I just bought a beater Honda Transalp and am looking for good sources for spares and accessories. Someone on the Triumph Tiger list suggested I try this list. Thanks for any help, Andy B '96 Triumph Tiger, '89 Transalp,'76 Honda MR175.

[pmdean650@aol.com]

Hello KLR folks! It's winter time up here in Minnesota so I've got time to catch up with email again. Only about 75 more digests to go! In the meantime I wanted to write an update on my KLR experiences. 54,000 miles and still ticking. My bike has no engine, suspension, or exhaust mods. I've grown so confident and comfortable with this bike I didn't even check the valves last year. I religiously change the oil every six months or so with whatever brand is on sale. I just cringe when I see a thread on oil and the like, ignorance is bliss. It's wonderful to just get on and ride and not worry about the little stuff. My bike is one of those dorky colored '94s but I've grown fond of it's uniqueness. It's only real problem is a leaking countershaft oil seal. In '99 I rode my bike in the Butt Lite 5000, a road rally spanning 4-5 thousand miles in 5 days. That was when I finally saw the limits of the KLR. It does seem to vibrate a little after 3 solid days of riding, cross winds toss the bike and rider about, and high temps make the engine miss and cook your left leg. After that I intended to retire the KLR from long distance endurance riding and bought a K1200LT to campaign in 2000. I did a couple long rides with the KLT (SS2000, MN2K, part of IBET - See www.teamstrange.com and www.ironbutt.com for descriptions of these terms) but returned to the KLR in August to finish the IBET. The seating position of the KLT is cramped compared to the KLR, it's stock seat is far less comfortable than the Russell I currently have on the KLR, and the lighting of the KLR, with the addition of a single Night Cutter light, is actually better than the KLT. IBET also required pictures of the bike next to city limit signs. Positioning the KLR in a ditch or shoulder was much easier. I ended up riding a 6000 mile loop in 9 days, keeping pace with the Butt Lite II riders for part of their ride. The KLT is a fine motorcycle and is comfortable for short rides but as yet I'm nowhere near as comfortable on the KLT as I am on the KLR for the real long rides. The changes to the KLR that have helped in long distance riding are; 1. Russell seat (far better than the Corbin). 2. Tall Rifle windscreen (it flexes but has never cracked or broken) 3. Aerostich tank panniers (wind protection and storage) 4. Electric vest connector (comfort in wider temp range) 5. Givi hard bags (more storage than the KLT) 6. Throttle lock, throttle rocker, and a sock (The throttle lock helps rest your wrist and arm but it can't always be used. The throttle rocker helps when conditions require you to modulate speed. The sock is something I used to tie/secure the throttle rocker because it slipped on my skinny stock grip. I learned it also helped by increasing the diameter of the grip.) 7. Scottoiler (after several years it seems to only run full off or full on but it still does the job) 8. Skip's fuel petcock mod (peace of mind between gas stops) 9. Aux. light (aimed close up and to the right, helps in construction zones, mountain roads, and to see critters, not used to extend top speed at night) In summary my basic message about the KLR is; Don't worry about it, just ride and ride and ride. Pete Dean Minnetonka MN KLR & KLT '01 MN1K and Buckeye 1000