desoto parish ride-abouts

[jthiii24283]

www.happytrails.com has 1" and 2" lowering links. I also saw a 3" lowering link on another website (I can't remember the website. The 3" lowering link was actually adjustable so that you could drop the bike 1", 2", or 3". I just put on the 2" lowering link on my KLR650 from Happy Trails and wow, I can finally get my feet flat on the ground. I love it! One warning.... if you lower the bike you will have to get a welder to shorten the kickstand for you. I paid $ 20.00 here in Virginia to get my kickstand shortened. If you don't get the kickstand shortened when you lower the bike it will sit up too straight making it somewhat unstable to climb on and off of. Thad Harris

[Sean Smith]

The last few weekends, I've been exploring a plethora of dirt roads in DeSoto Parish Louisiana on my KLR. While most have shown up on my GPS, none are on the map. Yesterday morning I installed a new pair of grips and a Duro H904 front tire. The Duro seams a little more streetable than the OEM Dunlop K750 but a touch less grippy in gravel. This morning I loaded my saddle bags with food and water (as I generally get hungry or thirsty in the middle of nowhere). Occasionally I'd find a relatively scenic spot to stop and munch on an apple or banana and chug some water. It's amazing how remote one can be, and yet still be only 20 or 30 miles from a town. Locals wave while slowing on a 1-lane dirt road as the two of you pass each other, kids wave with a look of bewilderment as you pass by their rarely traveled road and stray dogs chase you with the hopes of capture, while lacking the forethought of what to do when you stop. It really amazes me how much fun one can have, and how much time one can spend covering only 150 miles of dirt roads on a Sunday... -- Sean Smith Louisiana '04 R1150RT (For Sale Again) '03 KLR650