the jakegate affair

[StockDeJour]

Hi KLR Fans, The following is a message that I posted in another group (xrlug) and got quite a bit of good feedback. Generally the feedback was to go with a KLR650 for my style of riding. Since my original posting I've seen some bikes within my price range, but still not close to blue book. Well here's the message. Any additional tips or advise? Thanks, StockDeJour In Las Vegas --------------------------------------------------------------- I'm planning to get back into riding. I haven't owned a bike for 15 years. I'm 57, 6' weighing in at 205. My plan is to get a dual sport for local scenic rides and easy rides on dirt roads. No jumping, jungle or footpath riding for me. I've been doing some research on bikes and came up with the following selections: Kawa KLR650 or Honda XR650L / XR600 / XR400, SUZ DR350SE / DRZ400. I know some of these will require a dualsport kit. It will have to be used (not abused) 1996 2002 because of my income level. My frustration comes from looking up the blue book prices for these and being unable to find a bike less than HIGH blue! I know some of the bikes have mods that would command a higher price. But even 1996 model (all stock, original tires, etc) sellers are asking $500 - $1,000 higher than high blue. I know the aksing prices is nothing more than a starting point, but it seems unlikely to me to offer someone $800 less than asking price on a $3,000 bike and having it accepted. Apparently I have been out of touch with bike prices. Set me straight so I can see if I can afford one. I've looked on cycletrader.com and a couple of others. Went to one dealer here in Las Vegas. He had a 1996 KLR650 for $2,995 (low blue $1,115, high blue $1,485). Is there any relation to blue book????? StockDeJour

[klr650]

StockDeJour wrote:

> Since my original posting I've seen some bikes within my price > range, but still not close to blue book.

I think a lot of it is the bike itself. Some bikes demand higher prices, I don't know if it's justified but people pay, so the demand must be there. The KLR is kind of a 'cult' bike. During my recent Deals Gap trip I went with a buddy who rides a VLX600 Shadow. EVERYONE came up and commented on my bike, top question "Whats the PVC tube for" - nobody said anything about his bike They are both about the same year and mileage and I bet I could get more for my bike come selling time. Just more demand. That being said if you are patient you can usually find a good deal, esp. someone who bought the bike, modded it up and then decides to sell cheap. jim

[Joseph Jones]

There is also the DR 650, my brother just bought a 02 for $3,000. with 2400 miles, book is about 3300. I'm not sure what mods it has other than hand guards, bash plate and black paint on the plastic. It seems to have a little more pep than my stock A18,(motor wise), but not the top end speed, fuel range, comfort, accessories, support group. We have looked for a clymer manual for it, but can't find one. I am HAPPY to have my KLR and him have the dr. Only wish we could have found him a KLR as close and for the same money. Joe A18 SE Ky --- StockDeJour wrote:

> Hi KLR Fans, > > The following is a message that I posted in another > group (xrlug) > and got quite a bit of good feedback. Generally the > feedback was to > go with a KLR650 for my style of riding. > > Since my original posting I've seen some bikes > within my price > range, but still not close to blue book. > > Well here's the message. Any additional tips or > advise? > > Thanks, > > StockDeJour > In Las Vegas > >

---------------------------------------------------------------

> I'm planning to get back into riding. I haven't > owned a bike for 15 > years. I'm 57, 6' weighing in at 205. My plan is to > get a dual > sport for local scenic rides and easy rides on dirt > roads. No > jumping, jungle or footpath riding for me. > > I've been doing some research on bikes and came up > with the > following selections: Kawa KLR650 or Honda XR650L / > XR600 / XR400, > SUZ DR350SE / DRZ400. I know some of these will > require a dualsport > kit. It will have to be used (not abused) 1996 > 2002 because of my > income level. > > My frustration comes from looking up the blue book > prices for these > and being unable to find a bike less than HIGH blue! > I know some of > the bikes have mods that would command a higher > price. But even > 1996 model (all stock, original tires, etc) sellers > are asking > $500 - $1,000 higher than high blue. I know the > aksing prices is > nothing more than a starting point, but it seems > unlikely to me to > offer someone $800 less than asking price on a > $3,000 bike and > having it accepted. > > Apparently I have been out of touch with bike > prices. Set me > straight so I can see if I can afford one. > > I've looked on cycletrader.com and a couple of > others. Went to one > dealer here in Las Vegas. He had a 1996 KLR650 for > $2,995 (low blue > $1,115, high blue $1,485). Is there any relation to > blue book????? > > StockDeJour > > > > > 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 > > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > >

__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

[Sebastian Velez]

I had the same problem when I was looking for the KLR I now own. I bought it in 2003, and was seeing lots of ads going for $4,000, at a time when the local dealer was offering a brand new 2004 for $4,500! What a joke. On that 1996 you saw, I bet you can find one for $1,200 easily. I finally found my ride on ebay. The problem with ebay is that you pay your savings with time. But if you are like me, with more time than money, it might turn out to be a good way to find a good deal. There are three kinds of listings on ebay: 1) fraud, 2) people who value their junk too much and 3) people trying to get rid of things quick. The latter category is the one you want to watch. Put an email alert on ebay so that anytime a listing with the words KLR650 come up you get a message. When I was trying to purchase my bike, I lost about 3 deals by waiting too long. One of them was a 2001 BMW GS650 for about $3,000 with 8K miles. There are tons of people out there just waiting for these deals, so you have to act quick. When I saw an almost new 2003 very cheap I bought it immediately with the 'Buy It Now'. When I picked up the bike, the guy even threw in a ton of accessories he had purchased, including a tall windshield, a helmet locking box, a garage stand and even a bottle of chain lube. Just make sure that you can pick up the bike. I wold never send money and have the bike delivered. I installed a hitch receiver on my car and rented a U-Haul trailer. Best luck, Sebastian. --

> Hi KLR Fans, > > The following is a message that I posted in another group (xrlug) > and got quite a bit of good feedback. Generally the feedback was to > go with a KLR650 for my style of riding. > > Since my original posting I've seen some bikes within my price > range, but still not close to blue book. > > Well here's the message. Any additional tips or advise? > > Thanks, > > StockDeJour > In Las Vegas > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > I'm planning to get back into riding. I haven't owned a bike for 15 > years. I'm 57, 6' weighing in at 205. My plan is to get a dual > sport for local scenic rides and easy rides on dirt roads. No > jumping, jungle or footpath riding for me. > > I've been doing some research on bikes and came up with the > following selections: Kawa KLR650 or Honda XR650L / XR600 / XR400, > SUZ DR350SE / DRZ400. I know some of these will require a dualsport > kit. It will have to be used (not abused) 1996 2002 because of my > income level. > > My frustration comes from looking up the blue book prices for these > and being unable to find a bike less than HIGH blue! I know some of > the bikes have mods that would command a higher price. But even > 1996 model (all stock, original tires, etc) sellers are asking > $500 - $1,000 higher than high blue. I know the aksing prices is > nothing more than a starting point, but it seems unlikely to me to > offer someone $800 less than asking price on a $3,000 bike and > having it accepted. > > Apparently I have been out of touch with bike prices. Set me > straight so I can see if I can afford one. > > I've looked on cycletrader.com and a couple of others. Went to one > dealer here in Las Vegas. He had a 1996 KLR650 for $2,995 (low blue > $1,115, high blue $1,485). Is there any relation to blue book????? > > StockDeJour > > > > > 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 > > > > >

[Steve Hersant]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, ron criswell wrote:

> Well now as a neofacist beer swilling well armed meat eating

mystic ..............Welcome!

> > Criswell

Thanks! Maybe you'd like to help me build a palm frond holster for my KLR ? See, even the Lunatic Fringe has something in common ; beer!