icat

[tmhunter49]

Hi guys, I'm a fairly new list member looking for a new bike, so I have some questions. During the past 1 1/2 years I've put about 16,000 miles on a MG Quota. Due to some abnormal vibration problems I'm looking for a different mount. My next real big trip is South America and the KLR is high on my radar screen. I'm 6' 4" and 275 pounds. Will the bike accomodate that type of size at highway speeds? What could I expect in terms of highway speeds? Will it cruise for hours at a time at 70mph? Higher? Lower? Generally, what is a comfortable highway cruising speed? What is typical fuel consumption? I've heard below 40 and over 50. Which is most correct? By the way, is there a larger after-market tank available? Cost? One other fuel question. Will it run OK on 87 octane? In a trip through Central America last May, that was all that was available. What about the shock? How many miles do you expect on the stock shock? Is it rebuildable? I assume that there is a great aftermarket for the shock. I know there is a great selection of aftermarket accessories, but I haven't seen hard bags and racks. Are they available? Cost and vendor? What are the most common mechanical problems that I should be aware of? Sorry to barge in with twenty questions, but you guys are the experts. I'll be out of service and parts range much of the time, and I want to make sure that I'm getting a bike that is dependable. Tom Hunter

[Murray Dochstader]

Kerry: My experience is almost identical to yours (except that I am now almost 60). I was an aggressive off-roader (I silvered the I.S.D.T. in '73, and I have ridden the Baja for years). I bought a used ('93) KLR in '99, and used it hard both on and off road for two years. I then bought a nearly new '99, and started to spend some time (and money) on it to make it more dirt-worthy. I now have a bike that in no way resembles a stock bike, I have spent at least $8000.00 on it, and I consider it marginal at best - I even had to purchase another KLR as a dual-purpose ride for general daily use because the original is so off-road focused, so I suppose you could add another couple of $thousand to the equation! My heartfelt advice? Buy a KLR for recreational use - if you find, like I did, that you are really going to use it hard, off road, don't go there - buy an XR 650R, or a KTM, Husky, or (not that great a choice) a Suz/Kaw 400. I am sure you will get lots of opinion on this subject, but that's mine. Here is a copy of my "creation" to show you how much effort I have gone to. Murray Dochstader B.C. Canada. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr]

> Here is a copy of my "creation" to show you how much effort I have gone

to. Pictures, Murray? Mark My KLR650 Motorcycle Website: http://klr6500.tripod.com/ Our HomePage: http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html Check out Geocaching: http://www.geocaching.com

[bigfatgreenbike]

msaint@... wrote:

>>Here is a copy of my "creation" to show you how much effort I have gone >> >> >to. > >Pictures, Murray? > >Mark > >

216.173.6.149/klr/murray I have not gone as far as Murray has: 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg Besides tires that make a good bit of rolling noise, I haven't sacrificed the everyday usefulness of my KLR. The same bike I use for woods riding, I use for grocery shopping, commuting, etc. The side racks have turned out to really be useful as hard points for tying stuff onto the bike. I have a JCwhitney top box, throw-over soft saddlebags, tank bag etc. But yes, if you want a bike with race-level performance offroad, the KLR isn't it. If you want a bike you can ride and enjoy anywhere, it's perfect for that. -- Devon Brooklyn, NY A15-Z '01 KLR650 '81 SR500 cafe racer "The truth's not too popular these days....." Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man

[Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr]

> 216.173.6.149/klr/murray > > I have not gone as far as Murray has: > > 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg > > Besides tires that make a good bit of rolling noise, I haven't > sacrificed the everyday usefulness of my KLR. The same bike I use for > woods riding, I use for grocery shopping, commuting, etc. The side racks > have turned out to really be useful as hard points for tying stuff onto > the bike. I have a JCwhitney top box, throw-over soft saddlebags, tank > bag etc.

Both you guys have some beastly looking machines - pretty cool! Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like that since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like what I had in mind. Thanks for posting the links, Mark My KLR650 Motorcycle Website: http://klr6500.tripod.com/ Our HomePage: http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html Check out Geocaching: http://www.geocaching.com

[bigfatgreenbike]

msaint@... wrote:

>Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like that >since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything >that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like >what I had in mind. >

Happy-trails OSR racks. Not the cheapest thing around, and the powder coat chips easily. But the metal, while not stainless, seems to corrode very slowly. These will easily outlast the bike. Very convenient, and with a little brute force (and a scratch or two) you CAN get the sidecovers and air airbox cover off without removing them. Well worth what I paid for them. -- Devon Brooklyn, NY A15-Z '01 KLR650 '81 SR500 cafe racer "The truth's not too popular these days....." Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man

[Mike Torst]

I am late on this 'date' - I went to 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg - I am missing something - it looks like a modified KLR, but not 8k worth. What am I missing? I am going through 100 emails, so, I probably missed everything~~! Damn, I hate having fun in Vegas and missing the action on the web (I am not halve kidding). Mike Torst Las Vegas

> -----Original Message----- > From: Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr [mailto:msaint@...] > Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 4:40 AM > To: 1 - KLR650 List; bigfatgreenbike > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] KLR Suitability > > > 216.173.6.149/klr/murray > > > > I have not gone as far as Murray has: > > > > 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg > > > > Besides tires that make a good bit of rolling noise, I haven't > > sacrificed the everyday usefulness of my KLR. The same bike I use for > > woods riding, I use for grocery shopping, commuting, etc. The side racks > > have turned out to really be useful as hard points for tying stuff onto > > the bike. I have a JCwhitney top box, throw-over soft saddlebags, tank > > bag etc. > > Both you guys have some beastly looking machines - pretty cool! > > Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like that > since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything > that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like > what I had in mind. > > Thanks for posting the links, > Mark > > > > My KLR650 Motorcycle Website: > http://klr6500.tripod.com/ > > Our HomePage: > http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html > > Check out Geocaching: > http://www.geocaching.com > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[KJ]

Anyone tried one of these things? http://www.icatusa.com Karl A14

[Ramey]

Look closely. closer. Hugely modified. 8K CD. No sweat. Prolly includes bike and mods with no labor. Anyone remember the motard pictures, maybe in Denver-now that looked like 20K USD. As far as removing the oil filter cover I epoxied a chunk of steel on the outside and got a Harbor Frieght Massive Magnet and Bob's your uncle. -----Original Message----- From: Mike Torst [mailto:vegasklr@...] Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 7:49 PM To: 'Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr' Cc: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] KLR Suitability I am late on this 'date' - I went to 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg - I am missing something - it looks like a modified KLR, but not 8k worth. What am I missing? I am going through 100 emails, so, I probably missed everything~~! Damn, I hate having fun in Vegas and missing the action on the web (I am not halve kidding). Mike Torst Las Vegas

> -----Original Message----- > From: Mark J. St.Hilaire, Sr [mailto:msaint@...] > Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 4:40 AM > To: 1 - KLR650 List; bigfatgreenbike > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] KLR Suitability > > > 216.173.6.149/klr/murray > > > > I have not gone as far as Murray has: > > > > 216.173.6.149/klr/modded_klr.jpg > > > > Besides tires that make a good bit of rolling noise, I haven't > > sacrificed the everyday usefulness of my KLR. The same bike I use for > > woods riding, I use for grocery shopping, commuting, etc. The side racks > > have turned out to really be useful as hard points for tying stuff onto > > the bike. I have a JCwhitney top box, throw-over soft saddlebags, tank > > bag etc. > > Both you guys have some beastly looking machines - pretty cool! > > Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like that > since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything > that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like > what I had in mind. > > Thanks for posting the links, > Mark > > > > My KLR650 Motorcycle Website: > http://klr6500.tripod.com/ > > Our HomePage: > http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html > > Check out Geocaching: > http://www.geocaching.com > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . Yahoo! Groups Links

[Mike Torst]

The acronym - OSR - So many correlations to it - which one of them is being referenced? Mike Torst Las Vegas

> -----Original Message----- > From: bigfatgreenbike [mailto:bigfatgreenbike@...] > Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 4:31 PM > To: msaint@... > Cc: 1 - KLR650 List > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] KLR Suitability > > > > msaint@... wrote: > > >Whose racks are those, Devon? I've been thinking about something like > that > >since I was given a set of saddlebags, but haven't stumbled into anything > >that seemed useful without being in the way. The ones you have look like > >what I had in mind. > > > Happy-trails OSR racks. Not the cheapest thing around, and the powder > coat chips easily. But the metal, while not stainless, seems to corrode > very slowly. These will easily outlast the bike. Very convenient, and > with a little brute force (and a scratch or two) you CAN get the > sidecovers and air airbox cover off without removing them. > > Well worth what I paid for them. > > -- > Devon > Brooklyn, NY > > A15-Z '01 KLR650 > '81 SR500 cafe racer > > "The truth's not too popular these days....." > > Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >