my top 10 items needed for dual sporting

[laura_zick]

hey guys I'm graduating from school soon and looking for a KLR 650 that I could explore Mexico/Central America(?) on. I'm hoping to spend around $2000 (no more than $2,500) I'm currently living in New York, so one around here would be ideal....though I'm willing to travel, especially for a great deal. If you hear of anything Or know anyone or have one you'd like to sell, Please let me know! Thanks Laura

[Fred Hink]

Hi Laura! Nice to see you on this list (finally). Laura is a friend of mine and I am sure she will get lots of help here as we all know this is the center of the KLR Universe. This would also be a good start to a new thread. Since there are many out there looking to purchase a used KLR, I think we need to develop some guidelines on what to look for when shopping for a used KLR. What would make a bike a good purchase and also what to look for to decide to pass on the deal. The value of a used bike ultimately is determined by how bad the buyer wants the bike and how needy the seller is in selling. First impressions are pretty important. If you find a bike that has had regular maintenance by a competent mechanic, that should be worth more than a bike that has been neglected or looked like some hamfisted goon used pliers and a hammer to adjust the valves. I would check all the nuts and bolts to tell you what might have been worked on and what care the mechanic had in working on the bike. I would also look to see if anything had been replaced and for what reason. Is the general appearance of the machine in good condition? New tires, chain and sprockets are a plus but they do wear out eventually and will need to be replaced. If the gas tank is dented or rusty, this will cause you problems down the road. Has the bike been down and is there damage because of this accident? Check for bent rims, twisted forks, bent handlebars and levers, chewed up hand grips, scratched turnsignals or other body parts. A bike that isn't scratched up has either been well cared for or any damage has been fixed up. I would talk with the owner and get a feel for how the bike has been ridden and maintained. If the owner seems upstanding and the bike suits your needs, then I would take the bike to a professional bike mechanic and have them give it a quick look over to see if they might catch something you may have missed. Laura, you will find lots of specific details on what to look for in a used KLR from this list's archives and in our Frequently Asked Questions page at www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html I wish you luck in your hunt for a KLR. Let me know what you find and once you become a KLRista, I will show you the secret handshake. Best wishes, Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/cmc.html

----- Original Message ----- From: "laura_zick" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 9:39 AM Subject: [DSN_klr650] wanted kLR 650 > hey guys > > I'm graduating from school soon and looking for a KLR 650 that I > could explore Mexico/Central America(?) on. I'm hoping to spend > around $2000 (no more than $2,500) > > I'm currently living in New York, so one around here would be > ideal....though I'm willing to travel, especially for a great deal. > > If you hear of anything Or know anyone or have one you'd like to > sell, Please let me know! > > Thanks > Laura >

[klr650]

Fred Hink wrote:

> guidelines on what to look for when shopping for a used KLR. What would > make a bike a good purchase and also what to look for to decide to pass on

Good idea! Might make a nice addition to the FAQ?

> handlebars and levers, chewed up hand grips, scratched turnsignals or other > body parts. A bike that isn't scratched up has either been well cared for > or any damage has been fixed up. I would talk with the owner and get a feel

I wonder how relevant this is to KLR's however as I'm most of us have scratches just about everywhere, yet I still feel my bike is 'in good shape'... -- Jim - Riding the backroads of central NC ----------------------------------------- KLR650 - A12 - "Gonzo"

[Lujo Bauer]

> I wonder how relevant this is to KLR's however as I'm most of us have > scratches just about everywhere, yet I still feel my bike is 'in good > shape'...

I agree with that. When I bought my bike a couple of years ago it was in excellent cosmetic shape but the PO hadn't kept up with any mechanical maintenance. Now the bike is in poor cosmetic shape but tip-top mechanically. -Lujo [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Arden Kysely]

One way to loosen up an owner about how the bike has been used is to ask questions like "How fast does it go?" and "How does it wheelie?" Some people will tell you more than they meant to if you appeal to their egos. One thing that turns me off right away is too much dirt or grime. I like to look a bike over, take it on a test ride, talk with the owner for awhile longer, then look again to see if the test ride has shown up any leaks (forks, cases, oil connections, seals, coolant hoses, radiator). If you find one thing you think the owner has fibbed about, it's time to leave. No telling what else they're not owning up to. I've bought a lot of used bikes and haven't had a lemon yet (keeping fingers crossed and knocking on wood). Good luck with your search! __Arden

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote: > Hi Laura! > > Nice to see you on this list (finally). > > Laura is a friend of mine and I am sure she will get lots of help here as we > all know this is the center of the KLR Universe. > > This would also be a good start to a new thread. Since there are many out > there looking to purchase a used KLR, I think we need to develop some > guidelines on what to look for when shopping for a used KLR. What would > make a bike a good purchase and also what to look for to decide to pass on > the deal. > > The value of a used bike ultimately is determined by how bad the buyer wants > the bike and how needy the seller is in selling. First impressions are > pretty important. If you find a bike that has had regular maintenance by a > competent mechanic, that should be worth more than a bike that has been > neglected or looked like some hamfisted goon used pliers and a hammer to > adjust the valves. I would check all the nuts and bolts to tell you what > might have been worked on and what care the mechanic had in working on the > bike. I would also look to see if anything had been replaced and for what > reason. Is the general appearance of the machine in good condition? New > tires, chain and sprockets are a plus but they do wear out eventually and > will need to be replaced. If the gas tank is dented or rusty, this will > cause you problems down the road. Has the bike been down and is there > damage because of this accident? Check for bent rims, twisted forks, bent > handlebars and levers, chewed up hand grips, scratched turnsignals or other > body parts. A bike that isn't scratched up has either been well cared for > or any damage has been fixed up. I would talk with the owner and get a feel > for how the bike has been ridden and maintained. If the owner seems > upstanding and the bike suits your needs, then I would take the bike to a > professional bike mechanic and have them give it a quick look over to see if > they might catch something you may have missed. > > Laura, you will find lots of specific details on what to look for in a used > KLR from this list's archives and in our Frequently Asked Questions page at > www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > I wish you luck in your hunt for a KLR. Let me know what you find and once > you become a KLRista, I will show you the secret handshake. > > Best wishes, > > Fred > http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/cmc.html > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "laura_zick" > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 9:39 AM > Subject: [DSN_klr650] wanted kLR 650 > > > > hey guys > > > > I'm graduating from school soon and looking for a KLR 650 that I > > could explore Mexico/Central America(?) on. I'm hoping to spend > > around $2000 (no more than $2,500) > > > > I'm currently living in New York, so one around here would be > > ideal....though I'm willing to travel, especially for a great deal. > > > > If you hear of anything Or know anyone or have one you'd like to > > sell, Please let me know! > > > > Thanks > > Laura > >

[Chris]

Another tip is, if the motor is warm when you show up, it might indicate the bike has issues starting properly. They shouldn't have been warming it up before your arrival if it was running o.k..

> One way to loosen up an owner about how the bike has been used is to > ask questions like "How fast does it go?" and "How does it wheelie?" > Some people will tell you more than they meant to if you appeal to > their egos. One thing that turns me off right away is too much dirt > or grime. I like to look a bike over, take it on a test ride, talk > with the owner for awhile longer, then look again to see if the test > ride has shown up any leaks (forks, cases, oil connections, seals, > coolant hoses, radiator). If you find one thing you think the owner > has fibbed about, it's time to leave. No telling what else they're > not owning up to. I've bought a lot of used bikes and haven't had a > lemon yet (keeping fingers crossed and knocking on wood). > > Good luck with your search! > > __Arden >

[Devon]

I'm getting one of these (good old fashioned magnetic compass) because my GPS (recently acquired Garmin eTrex) does not work as a static compass- it will only give you your heading when in motion. Since you need a map and compass anyway, I got a cheap GPS with limited map storage ability. Haven't had a chance to photograph my "mount", but it dealt with the worst rock gardens I could find last Saturday. Devon arden646@... wrote:

>Oops. I think I sent a blank reply somewhere. > >Anyway, the reason I carry an analog compass is the worst-case >scenario: riding alone, lost, broken down, bike battery dead, GPS >batteries dead, flashlight batteries dead. Prepare for the worst, >hope for the best! > >__Arden >--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, EbarDP48@a... wrote: > > >>I got a hardwire kit with my GPS and it has compass with backup >>bateries...but I also carry my digital compass as a backup >>Bert >> >>I'd also add a compass. GPS is great as long as the batteries last, >>but I wouldn't bet my life on one. A small flashlight, a first aid >>kit, and an emergency space blanket are also good companions. >> >>__Arden >> >> >>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> > > > >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 > > > > > > >