just so you know

[Randy Shultz]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, ron criswell wrote: I went riding with a friend who has an ST1100 and he couldn't believe how well I was getting off the line against him. ------- I completely agree. A KLR is quicker off the line than most bikes twice its weight. But the criteria keeps changing here in order to show the KLR in its most favorable light. First it was speed through the twisties. Then it was quarter mile times. Now it's speed of the line. Use any SINGLE criteria, and I'll show you a street bike that can beat it. The beauty of the KLR is that it does everything pretty well, and it can go off-road as well. This is the dual-sport advantage, and the dual-sport compromise. I just thin that some of these posts would be misleading to those who have never ridden a KLR, and could develop unrealistic expectations in first time buyers. Randy

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 9:35 AM -0800 1/28/05, ron criswell wrote:

>In my experience the KLR while not blinding fast certainly has a >very usable power >band for the street. I went riding with a friend who has an ST1100 >and he couldn't >believe how well I was getting off the line against him. We weren't >racing but my >KLR who he always was badmouthing had no trouble keeping up with his >speed in real >world traffic. I have not ridden his bike but if his power band is >similar to my >Concourse, the Connie doesn't wake up till about 7 grand right where >the KLR is >finished and it redlines around 10,500 or 11 (I forget). And if I am close to >reline on the Connie, I am going to get either thrown in jail or a big ticket >sooner or later. The last ticket I got was doing 80 in a 70 and that >was $100. Good >he didn't catch me 10 minutes before when I was doing 110 mph.

Like they say, "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast that to ride a fast bike slow." Mark

[klr250not]

If you break it down this way: A) sportbikes and near sportbikes (such as SV-650) vs B) cruisers, dual-sports and adventure bikes-- the KLR is one of the very fastest for its weight or anything close to its weight in category B. I can't see many people being confused about the difference between the two categories. But for the type apt to be misled, they'd be better off ending up on a KLR thinking its a sportbike than on a sportbike thinking its a dualsport. Someone who doesnt have much sense probably wouldnt last too long on a sportbike, neither on an interstate nor a fireroad. -------------------

> I completely agree. A KLR is quicker off the line than most bikes > twice its weight. > > > But the criteria keeps changing here in order to show the KLR in

its

> most favorable light. First it was speed through the twisties.

Then

> it was quarter mile times. Now it's speed of the line. > > Use any SINGLE criteria, and I'll show you a street bike that can > beat it. > > The beauty of the KLR is that it does everything pretty well, and

it

> can go off-road as well. This is the dual-sport advantage, and

the

> dual-sport compromise. > > I just thin that some of these posts would be misleading to those

who

> have never ridden a KLR, and could develop unrealistic

expectations

> in first time buyers. > > Randy

[matteeanne@yahoo.com]

Personally, I don't miss the speed at all, happy to be ticket free, and secure knowing that if I blip the throttle slightly too much, I may lose it. No, the KLR is not for the speed lover, it is for those who have figured out it's not about the power, it's about the adventure. --- Tengai Mark Van Horn wrote:

> > At 9:35 AM -0800 1/28/05, ron criswell wrote: > >In my experience the KLR while not blinding fast > certainly has a > >very usable power > >band for the street. I went riding with a friend > who has an ST1100 > >and he couldn't > >believe how well I was getting off the line against > him. We weren't > >racing but my > >KLR who he always was badmouthing had no trouble > keeping up with his > >speed in real > >world traffic. I have not ridden his bike but if > his power band is > >similar to my > >Concourse, the Connie doesn't wake up till about 7 > grand right where > >the KLR is > >finished and it redlines around 10,500 or 11 (I > forget). And if I am close to > >reline on the Connie, I am going to get either > thrown in jail or a big ticket > >sooner or later. The last ticket I got was doing 80 > in a 70 and that > >was $100. Good > >he didn't catch me 10 minutes before when I was > doing 110 mph. > > Like they say, "It's more fun to ride a slow bike > fast that to ride a > fast bike slow." > > Mark > > > Archive Quicksearch at: >

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html

> 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 > > > DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > >

__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? All your favorites on one personal page Try My Yahoo! http://my.yahoo.com

[Randy Shultz]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "klr250not" wrote:

> > I can't see many people being confused about the difference between > the two categories. But for the type apt to be misled, they'd be > better off ending up on a KLR thinking its a sportbike than on a > sportbike thinking its a dualsport. Someone who doesnt have much > sense probably wouldnt last too long on a sportbike, neither on an > interstate nor a fireroad. > -------------------

The original post was from a sport touring forum and explained that some people are initially disappointed in their KLR purchase, but turn out to enjoy the bike in the long run. At least that's how I read the original post. If that, in fact, is a common occurance, then we should not be misrepresenting the KLRs power. That's all I'm saying. In my original post, I said that I thought that anyone who was disappointed in the KLRs power hadn't done much research prior to their purchase, since it should be obvious what thirty something horsepower in a 335 pound bike will feel. Others responded that the KLR was, in fact, fast. Then some, like yourself, began implying that it was the fastest production bike for its weight in the world. Again, I think this is misleading to those who aren't experienced and may well be one cause of the result referenced in the original post: some initial purchasers being disappointed in the bike's performance. The KLR is a tremendous value in a dual sport. Dual sport riders are a small slice of the motorcycle world. It behooves us to accurately represent the performance compromise that is inherent in building a bike that performs both on-road and off. Randy

[Don Bittle]

> Personally, I don't miss the speed at all, happy to be > ticket free, and secure knowing that if I blip the > throttle slightly too much, I may lose it.

I agree. I had a hotrod bike (for me anyway) a few years ago. I had a constant fear that I was either going to get a ticket or crack up. It just "wanted" to go too fast. The KLR feels as comfortable as an old pair of shoes. And btw, if you think it's fast off the line with a 15 tooth, try a 14. don a17

[Mike Hagen]

I had an 80's Yamaha 650 Twin. A British COPY! XS650? XJ650?? It was like new (6500mi) and beautiful until a WOMEN turned LEFT IN FRONT OF ME. I went to the Hospital and It went for $200! Of course, an immigrant without insurance. I paid for me and the bike. This bike WAS faster and smoother shifting than my KLR! And it had good TOP END TOO! This was the prettiest stock bike I have ever seen! Medium Blue and lots of shiny chrome. Yes, I am an OLD Fart! eBay Red - A18 Mike Hagen Crestline, Ca Mike@... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[klr250not]

-------------------------- Well, if Ive misled anyone into buying a KLR on account of its speed, let me just clarify matters: The KLR is not a sportbike and you will be disappointed in the KLR if you want sportbike speed at your fingertips (0 to 60 in 3s v. 4.8s for the KLR and a topend of 160+ v 95-105 for the KLR). It is, however, far from slow on the street compared to 4 wheeled vehicles and most motorcycles other than sportbikes. In fact, for its weight it happens to be just about the fastest, streetlegal production bike in the world, 0 to 60. Thats a true statement but shouldnt be said out loud because of its misleading potential. I myself can see the draw of sportbikes and hope someday to ride something like an FZ1 out on the open freeway in South Dakota or somewhere where theres not likely to be too many troopers hanging around. Have to stay mighty alert for deer and pronghorn antelope though. Bob The

> > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "klr250not" > wrote: > > > > I can't see many people being confused about the difference

between

> > the two categories. But for the type apt to be misled, they'd

be

> > better off ending up on a KLR thinking its a sportbike than on a > > sportbike thinking its a dualsport. Someone who doesnt have

much

> > sense probably wouldnt last too long on a sportbike, neither on

an

> > interstate nor a fireroad. > > ------------------- > > The original post was from a sport touring forum and explained

that

> some people are initially disappointed in their KLR purchase, but > turn out to enjoy the bike in the long run. At least that's how I > read the original post. > > If that, in fact, is a common occurance, then we should not be > misrepresenting the KLRs power. That's all I'm saying. > > In my original post, I said that I thought that anyone who was > disappointed in the KLRs power hadn't done much research prior to > their purchase, since it should be obvious what thirty something > horsepower in a 335 pound bike will feel. Others responded that

the

> KLR was, in fact, fast. Then some, like yourself, began implying > that it was the fastest production bike for its weight in the

world.

> Again, I think this is misleading to those who aren't experienced

and

> may well be one cause of the result referenced in the original

post:

> some initial purchasers being disappointed in the bike's

performance.

> > The KLR is a tremendous value in a dual sport. Dual sport riders

are

> a small slice of the motorcycle world. It behooves us to

accurately

> represent the performance compromise that is inherent in building

a

> bike that performs both on-road and off. > > Randy

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "klr250not" wrote: In fact, for its weight > it happens to be just about the fastest, streetlegal production bike > in the world, 0 to 60. Thats a true statement but shouldnt be said > out loud because of its misleading potential. I could hardly fail to disagree with you less. Don't take this personally, but it shouldn't be said out loud because it's idiotic, as meaningless as the first sentence in this reply.

[Bill Watson]

Agreed with Randy and almost everyone else - We didn't buy the KLR because it's "fast". It isn't. The KLR doesn't do a 13.9 second quarter mile, that one specification that has no backing keeps driving one poster to think it's that fast. They aren't. As noted by a number of people, KLR's are lucky to do anything under 15.00 second quarter miles. As noted by Jud Jones, his XL600R is faster. I also have an 83 XL600R. I have run it at the track and did a 14.01 second pass, the magazines (at sea level) all got 13.8-14.0 second passes. Makes sense. My buddy brought his stock 1978 Yamaha DT400 to the track too. His best run was 14.54. Both faster than a KLR. The real quest should be "Show me a bike that's SLOWER" than the KLR 650 in the quarter mile. The Honda XL600 (14.00 Cycle 8/83, 13.79 Cycle World 9/83)...faster. Honda XR650L (low 14s)... faster. Honda Transalp 600 (13.31, cycle world 2/89)... faster. Yamaha DT400 (14.54, my friend Rich in Phoenix)... faster. Yamaha XT600 (13.76, cycle world 8/84)... faster. Suzuki 650, BMW F650 (50 HP, do I need a timeslip?), KTM are all quicker. There are no other bikes that anyone would compare to the KLR. It's last. Hey, and I still bought one. This offends some people because this implies they made a bad choice. Not at all. We all chose the KLR for what it does well, and we all enjoy it. Dual-purpose bikes by nature get off the line well which is fun. The KLR does a great 0-30, which leads some people to believe it's a rocket. Enjoy it as a great adventure bike, because it is. Bill Watson Next on the list: discussions of how Paris Hilton is truly a great humanitarian. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]