why a klr650?

[bradmorris64]

It's like the old man who calls his dog ugly, but you'd better not do it. We can bitch about our KLRs because we feed 'em and take care of 'em. Someone who's never owned one might take it all as a warning not to get one. Your loss. If you want to get a dirt bike, then get one. If you want to get a road bike, then get one. If you want to get a bike that feels like it belongs on the highway, but can handle some pretty rugged off roading, then there is no better bike for the money than the KLR650. IMHO. Brad J. Morris A16 Illinois > > Now see how you guys are? Everything in that post came from the > experienced riders of the list. But you make it appear to be my > ideas. They are not. They are your own thoughts gentlemen, slightly > paraphrased. > taf

[Richard Ohnstad]

> Now see how you guys are? Everything in that post came from the > experienced riders of the list. But you make it appear to be my > ideas. They are not. They are your own thoughts gentlemen, slightly > paraphrased. > taf

There's too many guys on this list that over-react to everything.............guns, oil, seats, mirrors, forks, balancers, brakes, etc, etc, etc. Buy it, you'll have fun, I have had mine for 8 years now and when push comes to shove it's my bike of choice for go anywhere fun. (And I've had everything from Enduro bikes to Wings.) Rich in Tucson 94 KLR650 86 VFR750

[RM]

On Thu, 10 Jan 2002, taffrail wrote:

>1. Adjusting balancer chains can be a bit tricky but not to worry >because if anything goes wrong, the whole mess will disintegrate and >you'll know it right away.

My lever was broken for thousands of miles (possibly) and I never knew it until I took the cover off.

>2. With less than a thousand miles on the machine, you should rip it >apart and go through the voodoo sounding exercise of adjusting the >valves.

This is true for the majority of motorcycles. Hydraulic lash adjusters aren't quite mainstream.

>3. The rear view mirrors are great..........if your eyes buzz at the >same frequency.

Switch to aluminum bars with bar-end weights. Your hands will thank you.

>5. The brakes work......but keep you guessing.

Lines and pads help.

>6. A pack of cigarettes gets about the same amount of protection from >it's wrap as the engine does from it's.

Highway pegs help, and I think Dual-Star has some kind of case guard now (?)

>7. No real good idea of what oil works best but everyone agrees you >better use some ...AND......you better refill it often. However, don't >trust the sight glass as it is not calibrated.

Top of the sight glass. Hundreds of KLR owners can't be wrong.

>8. Same goes for lubing the chain.

Chain lubing on this bike has no more or less voodoo than any other chain-driven bike. Just be glad that we can wheelie and countersteer.

>10. It also holds a LOT of gas and should you decide to take advantage >of that capacity you now have even more weight way up there.

The extra weight from a full tank isn't THAT significant. You can feel it, for sure.

>12. When you twist the grip you are not actually opening the throttle >but removing some pressure so it MAY open if it so desires.

You mean the slide? Many bikes have CV carbs. Nothing special here.

>13. Should you drop it, there is a good chance you will hole the case >with the gear shift, but it is ok, just carry JB weld.

Mine's been over probably 10 times and no punch-through yet.

>14. The early colors were not bad but then the bike was updated. >Because Surplus Stores were doing such a good business, Olive Drab must >be a favorite color of the crazy westerners so........here you go. >(Actually I like the color.)

It was to make the bike appeal to the why-too-kay survival nuts. RM

[Tom Roper]

----- Original Message ----- From: "taffrail" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> It was a bare bones Goldwing which eventually was dressed with the whole 9 yards The only thing that was ever wrong with that > bike (yes, I adjusted the valves on it) was that I sold it. That was a > seriously dumb thing to do. That was the last bike I owned. > taf Maybe its my fading memory cells, but I thought the new 1800 Wing was the first without hyd. lifters. Tom Roper '98 Concours '02 KLR 650 Mo.

[Matthew]

Is this true? That would be great. Want to aviod futre probs. Matthew wrote:

> > On Thu, 10 Jan 2002, taffrail wrote: > > >1. Adjusting balancer chains can be a bit tricky > but not to worry > >because if anything goes wrong, the whole mess will > disintegrate and > >you'll know it right away. > > My lever was broken for thousands of miles > (possibly) and I never knew it > until I took the cover off. > > >2. With less than a thousand miles on the machine, > you should rip it > >apart and go through the voodoo sounding exercise > of adjusting the > >valves. > > This is true for the majority of motorcycles. > Hydraulic lash adjusters > aren't quite mainstream. > > >3. The rear view mirrors are great..........if > your eyes buzz at the > >same frequency. > > Switch to aluminum bars with bar-end weights. Your > hands will thank you. > > >5. The brakes work......but keep you guessing. > > Lines and pads help. > > >6. A pack of cigarettes gets about the same amount > of protection from > >it's wrap as the engine does from it's. > > Highway pegs help, and I think Dual-Star has some > kind of case guard now > (?) > > >7. No real good idea of what oil works best but > everyone agrees you > >better use some ...AND......you better refill it > often. However, don't > >trust the sight glass as it is not calibrated. > > Top of the sight glass. Hundreds of KLR owners > can't be wrong. > > >8. Same goes for lubing the chain. > > Chain lubing on this bike has no more or less voodoo > than any other > chain-driven bike. Just be glad that we can wheelie > and countersteer. > > >10. It also holds a LOT of gas and should you > decide to take advantage > >of that capacity you now have even more weight way > up there. > > The extra weight from a full tank isn't THAT > significant. You can feel > it, for sure. > > >12. When you twist the grip you are not actually > opening the throttle > >but removing some pressure so it MAY open if it so > desires. > > You mean the slide? Many bikes have CV carbs. > Nothing special here. > > >13. Should you drop it, there is a good chance you > will hole the case > >with the gear shift, but it is ok, just carry JB > weld. > > Mine's been over probably 10 times and no > punch-through yet. > > >14. The early colors were not bad but then the > bike was updated. > >Because Surplus Stores were doing such a good > business, Olive Drab must > >be a favorite color of the crazy westerners > so........here you go. > >(Actually I like the color.) > > It was to make the bike appeal to the why-too-kay > survival nuts. > > RM > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

===== For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. john 3:16 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/

[RM]

On Thu, 10 Jan 2002, Tom Roper wrote:

>Maybe its my fading memory cells, but I thought the new 1800 Wing was >the first without hyd. lifters.

I wonder just how long the moto mfr's could extend those valve adjustment intervals if they really tried. There are many OHC car engines these days with solid lifters that don't need their first adjustment until 40k-60k miles. Granted, moto engines have a higher specific output and are high-revving but still... 60k intervals versus 6-10k with the first at only 600 miles? RM

[janekfr]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Devon Jarvis wrote:

> > 9. This thing is really tall so you can look 18 wheeler drivers

in the

> > face and shake your finger at them BEFORE they spit that chaw of

Redman.

> > YES! you can also see over the roof of the car in front of you, and

get

> a better (and safer) view of the road ahead.

The "taller is better" scheme doesn't work anymore, since the entire country is in a furious pursuit of trying to be taller (and bigger) on the road than anyone else. Human stupidity knows no bounds. But sometimes, standing up on the pegs helps... Janek '00 KLR650

[tebklr]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., taffrail wrote:

> Ok, I've been watching (and talking) for a while now. The main

purpose

> being to get a drift as to what the KLR650 is about. I think I've

pretty

> well got it but if you don't mind please look over this list and

see if it

> fairly correct.

....blah, blah, blah....

> > These are just a few of the things I've picked up from this list.

I have

> never owned a KLR650 nor have I ridden one. I have sat on one if

that counts.

> taf

Taf - Sounds like you hit the nail on the head, got all the facts right, and are not a candidate for KLR ownership. It's dual-sport, complete with all the attendant compromises. ANY road bike is better on the road, and ANY dirt bike is better in the dirt, but the KLR does a pretty fair job of balancing the two (although it IS a bit hefty in the rough stuff). By the way, I've done many 500 mile days on the stock saddle, use the top of the sight glass for oil level, haven't punched any holes in anything, and really dig the tall seat height! Oh yeah, my balancers still work, too. Best of luck in finding The One True Motorcycle. Sitting on one doesn't count......RIDING one (a lot!) does. All the best, Tom

[Ralph Hanson]

>> 2. With less than a thousand miles on the machine, you should rip it apart >> and go through the voodoo sounding exercise of adjusting the valves. > >This is necessary for any new motor.

And if you find yourself a decent mechanic, you don't have to do it yourself. They do exist. You do have to look a bit. I have heard of as many people who have broken their KLR's themselves as have had them broken by mechanics.

>> 3. The rear view mirrors are great..........if your eyes buzz at the same >> frequency.

Singles buzz

>> 4. No need to replace the front forks on this machine so long as you don't >> ride it in the dirt.. > >The front forks work just fine nearly everywhere. Not excellent, but >just fine.

Some of us are ... uh... a bit larger than the bike's spring's were designed for. Custom springs are almost always better than stock.

>> 7. No real good idea of what oil works best but everyone agrees you better >> use some ...AND......you better refill it often. However, don't trust the >> sight glass as it is not calibrated.

Only the paranoid worry about the sight glass. (beyond being able to see oil through it.)

>> 9. This thing is really tall so you can look 18 wheeler drivers in the >> face and shake your finger at them BEFORE they spit that chaw of Redman. >

Not to mention the Brain Dead Cagers in SUVs!

>> 10. It also holds a LOT of gas and should you decide to take advantage of >> that capacity you now have even more weight way up there.

Bought it for the big tank.

>> 11. Most people will be on tiptoe at a stop light but if you are 6'1" or >> taller you can really stretch out. Put both heels down.

There are way too many bikes out there for short people. Tall folks should have a choice other than the Concours and the ST1100 (the bikes other than the KLR that fit me decently).

>> 15. The seat is a wonderful appliance. Just don't spend more than 60 >> minutes with it at any one time.

I take frequent 300 mile trips on mine with fewer additions than lots of people make to their turn key touring bikes. I like my Corbin, but I would have bought an aftermarket seat for almost any bike. Then, Lamar says:

>Most all good points, BUT if you want a "Jack of all Trades" ride and can >accept the "Master of None" part, AND don't want to/can't spend a pile of >$$$, the KLR is THE bike to own. I agree that KHI could spend a FEW lousy >bucks on the thing and make it a GREAT bike,

Absolutely right. For $1,000 worth of mods you can have a lightweight touring rig that will take you anywhere. There comes a point, though, where I would stop 'improving' things and just buy a different bike. But custom is always cool, especially if it's functional custom. I've built mine into a great street bike, others have a great adventure bike, and some have a pretty good dirt bike. Ralph Ralph E. Hanson rhanson40@... 99 KLR 650 http://www.wvu.edu/~journal2/west

[Klx650rider@aol.com]

Pay them no mind Taf, some of these guys just get a little "funny" when they think anyone else might have something less than flattering to say about their mighty KLRs. Kind of like parents protecting their children, if you know what I mean. grinning Marshall in Slidell, La 95 KLXC3 "Blackhorse" (in honor of those who served) the bike with no faults (ha ha)