nklr suzuki dr650se

[Chris]

For traffic, most important thing is to practice your braking. Get to the point that you have a reflex for the limits of your brakes and use the front brake as much as traction will allow. MSF teaches this, but each bike is different and the KLR brakes ain't what they could be. Beyond that, parking lot practice or riding some trails are fantastic for low-speed handling confidence too. Dirt is a whole other world though so start with it slowly. Use the gas to control your speed, be wary of the front brake, use much much less of it. If you are on loose surface like sand or gravel, keep your weight towards the back of the bike and keep on the gas so the front wheel doesn't 'dig in'.

On Fri, Dec 10, 2004 at 12:31:08AM -0000, klr250not wrote: > Ive got 200 miles on a brand new 2005 KLR 650 and havent scratched > it yet. Dont want to. Love the bike and value my own hide too. But > not afraid. Tips and lessons learned from the experienced would be > appreciated. I'm 51, in good shape, but with little riding > experience except on a Yamaha twin 100 in the late 60s. > > I did pass the MSF and get my Virginia motorcycle endorsement. > -- ___ ______ _____ __ ________ ___ / _ |< < / == / ___/__ / /_ /_ __/ / __ ____ _ ___ /__ \ / __ |/ // / ****/ (_ / _ \/ __/ / / / _ \/ // / ' \/ _ \ /__/ /_/ |_/_//_/ == \___/\___/\__/ /_/ /_//_/\_,_/_/_/_/ .__/ (_) 8600 miles*Russel Lines*Supertrapp Race* /_/ http://www.kingsqueak.org/klr650/

[Don Bittle]

----- Original Message ----- From: "klr6501995" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 8:36 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: New Rider--Advice needed > > > Ride with the bright headlight on during the day. Best Rule #1 . I swear by the $100 strobe? headlight addition. YOu just plug it into the back of the existing bulb. > > Be aware nobody sees you.. > The one that'll get us is cars making left turns in front of bikes. > I plan a escape route at every potential left turning car. I also cover both my brakes when I see a car sitting, waiting to make a left turn in front of me. I did a 30' superman over a car when I was 19 with the help of a 70 year old who shouldn't have been driving. > > You coming to a stop or slow down for a turn. Getting rearended. Always be watching your rear view mirrors for fast approaching vehicles that might rear end you. I bought the flashing, rotating tail light bulb. Works great. On the other hand, the one I just bought off e-bay for my Voyager is crap. I'm trying to get it rectified before leaving negative feedback. > > When coming to lights, don't pull right up the middle of the car in > front you. Pull way to the side. No worries if the car behind now > stops short. And don't pull up close. If you do get rear ended, you won't be the filling for a sandwich. > > Cagers brains just aren't programmed to see bikers, they can see > right through you. > I must say that's it's much better than it was when I quit biking several years ago. I think the huge increase in Harley riders has helped. I might ad one of my own- scan for deer, dogs, possums, armadillos, skunks, moose. Hitting even the smallest of these can ruin your day. don MSF, high school driver ed., 46 years alive on a bike. > > > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "klr250not" > wrote: > > Tips and lessons learned from the experienced would be > > appreciated. I'm 51, in good shape, but with little riding > > experience > >

[el_macho650]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Pat (M)" wrote:

> Keep in mind that if you venture off pavement, expect that you WILL > fall and the bike WILL get scratched. So make sure the head, hands, > knees, elbows, ankles, shins and vital bike parts are protected. This > bike is the best of some 14 or 15 previous dirt/street bikes I've > owned. But as a 1st bike, the KLR is NOT the best off road learning > tool! You probably know that the it's near the high-end limits of > weight, CG & suspension range for aggressive dirt use, especially > single-track. In the hands of an experienced dirt rider, it's a > competent off-road bike, but a good workout. >

I had never ridden a motorcycle offroad until I got my KLR650. I had ridden BMX as a child, and done a little bit of mountain bicycling. The 650 was my only learning tool for ofroad, and you will really learn how to control a bike offroad this way. The KLR is too heavy to muscle, you have to have the right balance, the right line, and the right body position. Where a 125cc dirtbike will respond to a slight shift in your weight on the pegs, the KLR650 needs you to throw your weight way out to either side to really change anything. It's a workout, and every other dirtbike seems easy after the 650. You can learn dirt riding on the 650. Not on stock tires, and you need a few other armor bits for the bike. And you will drop it and bang it up. But after 33,000mi in three years, uncountable offroad falls, several street spills, and all season riding in all weathers, the KLR650 is the most durable, cheap-to-fix bike I've ever seen. Devon PS Don't ride offroad alone, especially on a KLR650. You'll three people to extract it from a mudhole.

[Don Van Dyke]

Has anyone mentioned wearing bright colors? A couple years ago I switched from black leather to an Aerostich bright yellow-green Darien jacket in the cold weather, and a Joe Rocket yellow mesh jacket in warm weather. I swear that drivers see me more easily. I have experienced FAR fewer incidents where, for example, a driver coming from a side street fails to see me when pulling out. Wear bright colors, but don't let it lull you into any sense of security. Some cars will still try to bite you. Get trained in an MSF course. Practice the maneuvers they teach you in empty parking lots. Buy some bright tennis balls on sale, cut them in half, and use them as "cones" to mark a course on the pavement as they do in the MSF class. Take the MSF experienced rider course when you qualify. Whenever you get a new motorcycle, take the "cones" out to the empty parking to get the feel of the new bike. I am about to do this with my new KLR. Don't ever assume, years from now, that you have developed your riding skills as much as you can. At 03:09 AM 12/10/2004 +0000, tls97go wrote:

>Buy the best apparel you can afford. One of the magazines did a study >2 years ago. they dropped a dummy off a truck at 60mph. The dummy >slid for 80'. Leather lasted for 80'. The new textile jackets lasted >40'. jeans lasted 4'. That's 76' of road rash. >Dave > > > > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

Don Van Dyke Sacramento, California Moto@... www.intellection.org

[Bogdan Swider]

> > A couple years ago I switched from black leather to an Aerostich bright > yellow-green Darien jacket in the cold weather, and a Joe Rocket yellow > mesh jacket in warm weather.

For me the problem with this solution is that yes, you're conspicuous on the road but can't choose to be inconspicuous while wearing your jacket off bike on a trip. Sitting on, say, a plaza bench in a small town in Mexico you appear as a giant gay canary. My solution is a removable, yellow Conspicuity vest on top of my black Aerostich. Bogdan

[scttotis]

Hello Robert. I could have written your letter,am 51, leery of what can happen, but also not afraid as that in itself can get you hurt I expect. I have logged about 150 miles on my 2004 KLR650 that I've had some 2 weeks now. I have found the internet to be a great tool. I have searched and read accounts of all the MC accidents in my area that I can find, and true, most involve alcohol, left turning cars, and loss of control in curves due to excessive speed, lack of respect or appreciation for our situation. LAst night (8:30p) there was one that killed a 21 yr old in my area and I looked at the scene this morning. A divided hwy w crossovers in a downtown area(35 mph). The car on the crossover ran the stopsign and hit the MC. There was clear visibility for both vehicles, just plain avoidable. We've got to consider ourselves not only to be invisible, but that they won't stop at the signs if they think no one is around. Today, in my car, I will practice speeding and slowing such that cross traffic will naturally cross the intersections when I am not there. Not trying to be nor am I a know it all. Am a know nothing and want to maintain that attitude throughout my riding career. That link of Connall is great. Learned a lot about high siding that could have gotten me from that link. As a kid with a rear braked bicycle, I felt comfortable locking the rear and later releasing...but your speeds are 15 max and the bike is light. In case you have not found it, this is a great link: http://multisurfacemotorcycling.com/index.htm Mostly KLR mechanics, but read the article "my accident" , a deer strike story. BTY,anybody want to have a doohickey party in S. Texas? Regards, Scott

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "klr250not" wrote: > > Ive got 200 miles on a brand new 2005 KLR 650 and havent scratched > it yet. Dont want to. Love the bike and value my own hide too. But > not afraid. Tips and lessons learned from the experienced would be > appreciated. I'm 51, in good shape, but with little riding > experience except on a Yamaha twin 100 in the late 60s. > > I did pass the MSF and get my Virginia motorcycle endorsement.

[scttotis]

Thanks for the tip Keith. I just ordered Twist of the Wrist vols 1 and 2 on audio cds(for upload to MP3player) and Proficient Motorcycling and More Proficient Motorcycling(amazon.com). Scott

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Saltzer" wrote: > > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "klr250not" > wrote: > > > > Ive got 200 miles on a brand new 2005 KLR 650 and havent scratched > > it yet. Dont want to. Love the bike and value my own hide too. > But > > not afraid. Tips and lessons learned from the experienced would be > > appreciated. I'm 51, in good shape, but with little riding > > experience except on a Yamaha twin 100 in the late 60s. > > > > I did pass the MSF and get my Virginia motorcycle endorsement. > > Go get Keith Codes book on how to ride called "Twist of the wrist > II", not one. Then read it, and read it, and read it. Practice, > read, practice, read, practice, read, practice, read, practice, read, > ask questions, practice, read. > > If you actually buy the book, then actually apply it's lessons, you > will be a bet ter rider than 90% of the riders you see on the road. > > Congrats on your bike purchase. The KLR is an awesome bike to learn > on, very forgiving and easy to ride when your new to riding. > > MrMoose > A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

[dooden]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "el_macho650" wrote:

> > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Pat (M)" wrote: > > Keep in mind that if you venture off pavement, expect that you WILL > > fall and the bike WILL get scratched. So make sure the head, hands, > > knees, elbows, ankles, shins and vital bike parts are protected. This > > bike is the best of some 14 or 15 previous dirt/street bikes I've > > owned. But as a 1st bike, the KLR is NOT the best off road learning > > tool! You probably know that the it's near the high-end limits of > > weight, CG & suspension range for aggressive dirt use, especially > > single-track. In the hands of an experienced dirt rider, it's a > > competent off-road bike, but a good workout. > > > > I had never ridden a motorcycle offroad until I got my KLR650. I had > ridden BMX as a child, and done a little bit of mountain bicycling. > The 650 was my only learning tool for ofroad, and you will really > learn how to control a bike offroad this way. The KLR is too heavy to > muscle, you have to have the right balance, the right line, and the > right body position. Where a 125cc dirtbike will respond to a slight > shift in your weight on the pegs, the KLR650 needs you to throw your > weight way out to either side to really change anything. It's a > workout, and every other dirtbike seems easy after the 650. > > You can learn dirt riding on the 650. Not on stock tires, and you need > a few other armor bits for the bike. And you will drop it and bang it > up. But after 33,000mi in three years, uncountable offroad falls, > several street spills, and all season riding in all weathers, the > KLR650 is the most durable, cheap-to-fix bike I've ever seen. > > Devon > PS Don't ride offroad alone, especially on a KLR650. You'll three > people to extract it from a mudhole.

Ya what he said, except it might take more than 3 people to get it out of a real deep hole, mine took a 4 wheeler giving it all she had tugging the snot outta a large rope. Oh the thing about the stock tires... huh... dry trails and rocky surfaces are fine, but mud is completely out of the question on them OEM tires. Kenda K270 tires are cheap and I am really impressed with them offroad, but they are a tad squirmy on the pavement which only serves in slowing me down on the pavement which is prob. a good thing. Offroading is a workout if your really focused and having fun, hence my bikes nickname... Dooden A15 Green Ape (as in like wrestling one)

[West Hovland]

Well said, I ditto that sentiment. You can read books, watch videos and other riders, even get pointers from other riders. They are all great places to understand the basics. Then ride, ride, ride. Only when your body adopts the basics of staying upright in the dirt as "muscle/mind memory" will you really become a great off-road rider. When something doesn't work, analyze what went wrong and learn from it. After 38 years I'm still learning. West A15 Grasshopper

----- Original Message ----- From: Pat (M) Snip... Consider buying a small used (125-250cc) dirt bike to learn the true 'art of dirt' to start training that all-important 'off-road muscle memory' that will translate to your KLR. Snip... Pat M "VERY late forties . . ." A14 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[West Hovland]

Remind me to never let your friend borrow one of my bikes West

----- Original Message ----- From: nakedwaterskier To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.comDSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 9:06 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] NKLR Suzuki DR650SE my friend has had 2 in 1 yr. Both transmissions blew. No comparison to a KLR650 in reliability. JPG red04 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]