big nklr - rm's klr replacement

[John Lyon]

RM, The little wicker basket is a very nice touch, a good storage area for picnic goodies when tackling the Imogene Pass. :> John --- RM wrote:

> > I found it... > > http://makeashorterlink.com/?N18962651

===== John __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com

[John A. Pastore]

I'm new to the list, as of yesterday, and haven't actually purchased a KLR yet (just sold my FJ1100 that I had for 17 years). Apparently, this is an interesting time to be lurking. I'm looking for a bike that I can live with for a long time and poke about New England on whether the roads be dirt or paved. I've narrowed my choices down to a new(ish) KLR or an early 90's R100GS. I've heard good things about the KLR's reliability and like the idea of the simplicity, "light weight", and low cost of a single. The aftermarket support also seems to be outstanding. This is something that I sorely missed in my FJ. Interesting color schemes, though. I guess I would go with a 2000 or 2003 based on the petty issue of paint job. Mechanically they are the same. Right? By the way, the R100GS's "doohickey-like" issue appears to be the drive shaft. Apparently, (you can learn a lot by lurking) the universal joints on both ends of the shaft are nonservicable, nonreplacable and prone to failure. These are the paralever type shafts used in the early 90's. BMW apparently never addressed the issue and now there's a guy in Germany who will remanufacture the shaft and put grease fittings in the universal joints so that they can be kept lubed. Sound familiar? Oh yeah, apparently the nonBosch starters that they used near the end of the model run were not great either. Anyway, thanks for all the information and opinion. I can use all that I can get. Did I mention the second gear problem of Yamaha FJs! John Pastore Massachusetts [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]