HHHAAAAAARRRR!!!!
I've heard that word Compromise way too many times, and even from
some greatly respected Gurus who forgot more about the Mighty KLR
than I'll ever know.
I choose to substitute the word Freedom though, because of the
Diversity this bike offers.
The lack of enthusiasm expressed by some for this bike makes me
wonder if they have really discovered it's worth, and didn't select
the right bike for their limited needs.
Guess you can tell this is my only bike,
Rod
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Randy Shultz"
wrote:
>
> --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, kdxkawboy@a... wrote:
>
> > If I can pick the stretch of pavement you'll loose that bet. The
> is a 20 > mile section of Sonora Pass, CA SR 108, from Kennedy
> Meadows over the top to > Pickle Meadows where the KLR has
bettered
> my best sportbike time by a good two minutes.
> >
>
> REPLY: My comment was that a fast rider on a KLR would be even
faster
> on a modern supersport bike. That was a general statement. I can
> imagine that one could choose a very specific stretch of pavement
> that would favor a KLR over a supersport. But I don't think that
> would hold generally.
>
> > You know Moose, I think the problem with the folks that just
don't
> get it is that they can't get past what a KLR isn't and see the one
> thing it is, one of the sweetest handling bikes to role off any
> assembly line.
>
> REPLY: I think most all of us "get it". That's why we are happy
> owners of KLRs. Some of us simply don't agree with over-the-top
> statements such as "the KLR is one of the sweetest handling bikes
to
> roll off the assembly line". Or that quote along the same lines
from
> the magazine review that one poster claimed influenced he and his
> son's purchase of a pair of KLRs, followed by buyers remorse when
the
> actual performance failed to live up to their expectations. That
was
> the sentiment of the original post from the sport-tourer forum that
> started these related threads.
>
> Some of us feel that the performance of our KLR is being somewhat
> overstated occasionally, and that might be a reason why some
people's
> expectations are a little high when they first ride their new KLR.
> That's all.
>
> > Randy, would you agree that that is an honest evaluation of
> something the KLR excels at?
>
> REPLY: It has not been my experience that the KLR is one of the
best
> handling bikes ever made. I think it handles very well. Certainly
> well enough for my needs. Certainly very well for a dual sport.
> Exceptionally well for the money I spent.
>
> Stock fork flexes a bit much for my tastes on the street. But I
like
> a springy fork off-road. That's the dual sport compromise. The
> context of most of our comments were street-oriented, by the way.
>
> Stock shock is nothing to write home about. Nor is the stock front
> brake. But suspensions can be tuned and/or upgraded. Stainless
> steel brake lines and aftermarket pads are wonderful things. I
find
> the suspension fine just how it is and haven't spent a dime on
them.
> But my SV650 handles better on the road. And it has a bragin
> basement street suspension as well.
>
> > As corny as it sounds, on the KLR I can make love to the road in
> ways few other bikes have let me.
> >
>
> REPLY: Well, now, I'm old enough to know that you don't talk bad
> about a man's lover. If I'd known how emotionally involved you
were
> with your KLR, I wouldn't have said anything at all. Love is
blind,
> as they say.
>
> And while I don't equate my KLR with sex the way you do, I still
like
> it very much, and won't be parting with it 'til death do us part
(or
> part out). But some of us are taking what we see as a more
objective
> view: a great value of a dual purpose bike, that some very good
> riders can ride very fast, but not the best street bike in the
world,
> and not the fastest bike in the quarter mile, etc., etc. ad nauseum.
>
> For the benefit of the prospective new owners, just tell it like it
> is: any dual sport bike is a compromise. Compromise is inherent in
> making the same bike perform well both on-road and off-road. The
KLR
> is a very very good compromise, an outstanding value. It has
thirty
> something horsepower. And that's all you will need in most
> circumstances. But it has thirty something horsepower, and little
> prospect of getting substantially more with standard
modifications.
> That has implications. That's all.
>
> Randy