klx vs klr again

[Don Bittle]

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry" To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 1:40 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR Question > What problems are You having? No problems so far. My clutch/safety switch acted up from day 1 so I bypassed it. > > Did you find the problems easy to fix? There is way more help on the web with this bike than 90% of the bikes sold. > > Were dealers willing to Help? So far, my 2 dealers have been very good. > > Are these problems common or rare? Some of the concerns are due to the "lets take it apart and see how to make it better". Some are because the many vendors want to sell their wares. Some are legit. I guess what you should be asking is, "Would you buy it again". Yes. As long as they keep making them. 7,000 happy miles so far. I expect to put 50-60,000 on it before my next one. I defy you to buy this much fun for $4700. don a17 > > > >

[Michael T]

-----Original Message----- From: Jerry [mailto:johnsonjw2003@...] Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 11:41 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR Question So many people claim that the KLR is one of the Best Adventure Tour bikes, yet it seems from my readings that the bike is riddled with problems. As outlined on sites like http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html#knownissues. So, I have to ask, How many are having these problems? I do mean beyound the "T" valve for rainy times & the side stand switch. What problems are You having? None - Doohicky/spring was replaced as a precaution. The KLR overall is VERY dependable. It also responds well to crude post-crash corrective measures Did you find the problems easy to fix? Yup. Not so much as to the the "problems" you are concerned about, but working on it and modifying the KLR for improved driveability and survivability is simple and straight forward. Were dealers willing to Help? Yes but I do my own work to make sure it is done correctly. Of the 3 dealers here in Las Vegas, I would trust 2 of them to change my oil and such, and 1 to do real work if I was so inclined. Do you find the electrical switches cheap? Well, the clutch and sidestand switches have been removed and are bypassed. Hav'nt replaced any switchgear as I have yet to present the KLR to Mother Earth in such a way as to allow for my switchgear to attempt to occupy the same physical space as rocks, or a boulder in a creek that tour my centerstand off, or recently a mine shaft entrance (The entrance looked wide enough when I started to enter it...Weged like a size 12 foot in a size 10 boot for a spell...) Are these problems common or rare? No problems, other than with Mother Earth grinding on my armor from time to time. Michael T A16 lasvegasrider

[Randy Shultz]

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

> > So many people claim that the KLR is one of the Best Adventure Tour > bikes, yet it seems from my readings that the bike is riddled with > problems.

--- Having owned many good products and having sometimes participated in product specific forums, I see this kind of post quite often. It always makes me laugh, since I know how good the product actually is by personal experience. Here's what happens. 1. Somebody builds a great product. 2. Many people buy it because it's a great product. 3. The manufacturer keeps making the product because it keeps selling so well. 3. So many people own the product that you find a lot of information about it: discussion boards, FAQs, articles, etc. 4. The fanatics congregate and spend a lot time talking about how to make their great product even better. 5. Newbies come along and read about all the efforts to make the product better and assume the product stinks. Here we are, in the 19th year of KLR production, with one of the best bike-specific user communities in the world, with some of the best aftermarket support that there is, and it looks like all KLR owners do is fight with thier bikes. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have to maintain perspective. If you read two hundred articles about people installing rebuilt engines in 1960's era VW bugs, are you going to think that air-cooled VW bugs were a crappy product? Or do you have the sense to marvel at how many are still on the road, some with a million miles on them, and the fanatics who love to keep them going? When a KLR owner posts information, he doesn't start off each post with: I love my KLR. It's a great bike. If he did, the board would be unreadable. In his mind he's preaching to the choir. For benefit of anyone who doesn't know: the KLR is a great product. We love our KLRs. Some of us like to talk about making them better. Most just spend their time riding them instead. Some of us do both. Randy

[JOHN COLLINS]

I love my KLR. Great bike . No problems at all in the two years I've owned it. 98 model with 76,000 km on it. Still going hard. Randy Shultz wrote:

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jerry" wrote: > > So many people claim that the KLR is one of the Best Adventure Tour > bikes, yet it seems from my readings that the bike is riddled with > problems. --- Having owned many good products and having sometimes participated in product specific forums, I see this kind of post quite often. It always makes me laugh, since I know how good the product actually is by personal experience. Here's what happens. 1. Somebody builds a great product. 2. Many people buy it because it's a great product. 3. The manufacturer keeps making the product because it keeps selling so well. 3. So many people own the product that you find a lot of information about it: discussion boards, FAQs, articles, etc. 4. The fanatics congregate and spend a lot time talking about how to make their great product even better. 5. Newbies come along and read about all the efforts to make the product better and assume the product stinks. Here we are, in the 19th year of KLR production, with one of the best bike-specific user communities in the world, with some of the best aftermarket support that there is, and it looks like all KLR owners do is fight with thier bikes. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have to maintain perspective. If you read two hundred articles about people installing rebuilt engines in 1960's era VW bugs, are you going to think that air-cooled VW bugs were a crappy product? Or do you have the sense to marvel at how many are still on the road, some with a million miles on them, and the fanatics who love to keep them going? When a KLR owner posts information, he doesn't start off each post with: I love my KLR. It's a great bike. If he did, the board would be unreadable. In his mind he's preaching to the choir. For benefit of anyone who doesn't know: the KLR is a great product. We love our KLRs. Some of us like to talk about making them better. Most just spend their time riding them instead. Some of us do both. Randy 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 --------------------------------- Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Russell Dixon]

Randy's right. "Riddled with problems"...no, more like full of opportunities. Outside of the normal maintenance, you can improve, modify, upgrade, till your heart's content. Or you can ride it, as is, for many, many, miles... RD in SC

>From: "Randy Shultz" >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR Question >Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 23:12:10 -0000 > > > >--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jerry" wrote: > > > > So many people claim that the KLR is one of the Best Adventure Tour > > bikes, yet it seems from my readings that the bike is riddled with > > problems. >--- > >Having owned many good products and having sometimes participated in >product specific forums, I see this kind of post quite often. It >always makes me laugh, since I know how good the product actually is >by personal experience. Here's what happens. > >1. Somebody builds a great product. > >2. Many people buy it because it's a great product. > >3. The manufacturer keeps making the product because it keeps selling >so well. > >3. So many people own the product that you find a lot of information >about it: discussion boards, FAQs, articles, etc. > >4. The fanatics congregate and spend a lot time talking about how to >make their great product even better. > >5. Newbies come along and read about all the efforts to make the >product better and assume the product stinks. > > >Here we are, in the 19th year of KLR production, with one of the best >bike-specific user communities in the world, with some of the best >aftermarket support that there is, and it looks like all KLR owners >do is fight with thier bikes. Nothing could be further from the >truth. > >You have to maintain perspective. If you read two hundred articles >about people installing rebuilt engines in 1960's era VW bugs, are >you going to think that air-cooled VW bugs were a crappy product? Or >do you have the sense to marvel at how many are still on the road, >some with a million miles on them, and the fanatics who love to keep >them going? > >When a KLR owner posts information, he doesn't start off each post >with: I love my KLR. It's a great bike. If he did, the board would >be unreadable. In his mind he's preaching to the choir. > >For benefit of anyone who doesn't know: the KLR is a great product. >We love our KLRs. Some of us like to talk about making them better. >Most just spend their time riding them instead. Some of us do both. > >Randy > > > > > >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 > > > > > > >

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[Jim]

I would bet that if enough people had flashlights and micrometers in your ports and mechanisms like we have with our KLRs you too would have a list of things that need fix'n. --Jim A-15

> So many people claim that the KLR is one of the Best Adventure Tour > bikes, yet it seems from my readings that the bike is riddled with > problems. As outlined on sites like > http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html#knownissues. So, I have to ask, > How many are having these problems? I do mean beyound the "T" valve > for rainy times & the side stand switch. > > What problems are You having? > > Did you find the problems easy to fix? > > Were dealers willing to Help? > > Do you find the electrical switches cheap? > > Are these problems common or rare?

[Harry Seifert]

Jerry, The KLR is what you make of it. In 40+ years of owning and riding, this is my most frequently ridden bike. Hey, the bike is admittedly low-tech. It will put up with more abuse and use than any other of the 30+ bikes in my brother's and my possession. If you are having so much difficulty with what this bike is, perhaps you should look elsewhere. I'm going riding to get my bike clean in the rain. Harry Seifert bseifert71@...

> [Original Message] > From: Jerry > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 2/17/2005 11:42:23 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR Question > > > > So many people claim that the KLR is one of the Best Adventure Tour > bikes, yet it seems from my readings that the bike is riddled with > problems. As outlined on sites like > http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html#knownissues. So, I have to ask, > How many are having these problems? I do mean beyound the "T" valve > for rainy times & the side stand switch. > > What problems are You having? > > Did you find the problems easy to fix? > > Were dealers willing to Help? > > Do you find the electrical switches cheap? > > Are these problems common or rare? > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > >

[Michael T]

Huraw! Michael T A16 lasvegasrider -----Original Message----- From: Randy Shultz [mailto:rshultz@...] Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 3:12 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR Question

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jerry" wrote: > > So many people claim that the KLR is one of the Best Adventure Tour > bikes, yet it seems from my readings that the bike is riddled with > problems. --- Having owned many good products and having sometimes participated in product specific forums, I see this kind of post quite often. It always makes me laugh, since I know how good the product actually is by personal experience. Here's what happens. 1. Somebody builds a great product. 2. Many people buy it because it's a great product. 3. The manufacturer keeps making the product because it keeps selling so well. 3. So many people own the product that you find a lot of information about it: discussion boards, FAQs, articles, etc. 4. The fanatics congregate and spend a lot time talking about how to make their great product even better. 5. Newbies come along and read about all the efforts to make the product better and assume the product stinks. Here we are, in the 19th year of KLR production, with one of the best bike-specific user communities in the world, with some of the best aftermarket support that there is, and it looks like all KLR owners do is fight with thier bikes. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have to maintain perspective. If you read two hundred articles about people installing rebuilt engines in 1960's era VW bugs, are you going to think that air-cooled VW bugs were a crappy product? Or do you have the sense to marvel at how many are still on the road, some with a million miles on them, and the fanatics who love to keep them going? When a KLR owner posts information, he doesn't start off each post with: I love my KLR. It's a great bike. If he did, the board would be unreadable. In his mind he's preaching to the choir. For benefit of anyone who doesn't know: the KLR is a great product. We love our KLRs. Some of us like to talk about making them better. Most just spend their time riding them instead. Some of us do both. Randy 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

[dumbazz_650]

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

> >

A few rambling ADHD thoughts on problems I've had with my KLRs: Once had an oil leak just after an oil change, (I pinched the o-ring on the filter cover). Fixed it on the road and finished the ride. Broke the little plastic mounting tabs on the shrouds and fixed them on with zip ties. Break a zip tie every time I drop the bike, or ever time I ride, whichever comes first. Damn zip ties. My brother got a flat tire once (IRC-GP110). Damn tires. Broke my hip once in 70mph highside riding my '89 KLR. Had to replace the handlebars, a mirror, and the front rim. Damn hip. Threw my '95 down about a hunnerd times, including once in the gravel at 45+mph, snapped the brake mount bracket. Repaced it no problem. It's at 28k miles now, and though I wail on it, the thing is solid. Chewed through the last D606 set in about 2,800 miles, including the LA-B-V dualsport ride and a trip through Death Valley. Dusted a few posers on sportbikes in the tight twisties too. I ride it like a dirt bike, or a sport bike, depending on the surface, or mood. They are easy to work on and fun to ride. You can carry a weeks worth of crap. If you're easy with the throttle you can get 50+ mpg, and with the 5.7gal tank, that's a long ways. (somewhat less mileage if you drive it agressively 8-(. It's rugged and simple and the few weaknesses are well documented and easy to fix. Internet support is the best of all dualsports, maybe all motorcycles. You cannot beat this price / performance comb. The accessories and mods available for the KLR can help you adapt it to make it better at some things than other. It will rarely keep up with liter bikes when sprinting on the interstate, and rarely keep up with the air-cooled lightweights racing on singletrack. But you can beat hell out of it and still ride home. In the LA-B-V ride, we only saw two GS bikes start the ride, and I think only one actually finished. But the truly amazing thing to see was the number of KTMs, in the back of pickup trucks, as we rode back from Vegas to LA. MarkB ** MarkB's unabashed DS Quailifier Scores (tm) ** GS11/1200 Very heavy, mostly street oriented, $$$$$ KTM950 Heavy, very good all rounder, $$$$ DL1000 Heavy, mostly street oriented, $$$ KLR650 Less heavy, good all rounder, $$ XRxxx Lighter, fair all rounder/ dirt bias, $$ DRxxx Lighter, fair all rounder/ dirt bias, $$

[Greg Roberts]

Jerry, The only problem I've had thus far with my KLR is a flat front tire. Greg Roberts Wadley, AL

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry" > > > So many people claim that the KLR is one of the Best Adventure Tour > bikes, yet it seems from my readings that the bike is riddled with > problems. As outlined on sites like > http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html#knownissues. So, I have to ask, > How many are having these problems? I do mean beyound the "T" valve > for rainy times & the side stand switch. > > What problems are You having? > > Did you find the problems easy to fix? > > Were dealers willing to Help? > > Do you find the electrical switches cheap? > > Are these problems common or rare? > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > --- > [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] > >