90 w oil for chain:

[Intrigued_Enigma@yahoo.com]

Go with the KLR. It has a TON of torque which will keep you out of trouble as a beginner. For the most part, torque equals control. While I would not advice dropping the bike, especially on the left side due to the radiator fan, the KLR is meant to be punished. In otherwords, little dings are seldom noticed. I can not comment about other bikes since a KLR is all that I have ever owned. Sure sometimes I think about a better 2 up bike such as a Concours or V- Strom, but I am not sure I would have more fun with these bikes than I do with my KLR. I have never had more for $4972.95, out the door price for my 03 in 02, in my life. It does fire trail roads like a mule, and hangs in the twistines with sportsbikes - except for straight aways. It will run 70-80 mph all day long with my 6' 225# self on it. I commute about the same distance as you during the good weather 5 days a week, and I average about 50 MPG. In dual sport/ adventure touring MPG is more important than MPH. It has a natural riding positon which you do not have to fight the bike but rather become one with it. I can't believe I said that - sounds like some Far East religion !!! With a 6.1 gallon tank - which is actually probably about 5.5 of useable fuel- your butt gets sore before you run out of gas. I just laugh at all my DRZ and XL buds who must gas up at every station we pass when we come out of the woods before we go back in somewhere else. It is also easy to work on, and you can get a TON of aftermarket junk for it. The ramblings of a happy A17 owner, Randy P.S. 38 is not OLD !!! --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aztecredklr650" wrote:

> > Hey Guys...looking for your opinions > > I'm 38, 6'1", and have the mc bug. I looked at the ninja > 250/500...nice bikes, have heard good things about them, but

frankly

> I look a little silly on them. Cruisers? Well I just don't feel > comfortable on them. Then I saw the KLR 650! Wow! It was love

at

> first sight. It's up there no doubt, but compresses nicely under

my

> 180 or so lbs. Seating position...comfortable, lending a sense of > control. Reliability ...seems industructable (doohickey aside). > > So heres the question...should a newbie like me buy one? 99% of

the

> time I'll be on blacktop, commuting 35 each way. 70-75 mph ok? > > Thanks in advance > AztecRedKLR650

[klr250not]

I agree, my A19 is a fine street machine and feels quite comfortable on I64 too. It could even keep right up on I95 where 75-80 seems about average but I don't care to drive on it--few motorcyclists do from what Ive seen regardless of what theyre riding. Very aggresive drivers and lots of trucks going up and down that one. The trucks barrel right along at 80+ too. Havent explored the upper reaches but I'll be surprised if theres not a legitimate 100mph up there-- pushing 110 on the dial-- after a long enough run up. Pushing 100 mph is not where its happy though, no doubt about that, but thats not a useful speed around here anyway. For those who want more top end, the Suzuki SV650 and even the quirky looking VSTROM-650 are probably great bikes too with significantly more top end as others have noted. Vibration?? Some reviewers and owners seem more concerned about it than others. Might vary from bike to bike depending on various factors, particularly the condition and adjustment of the balancing chain. Mirrors do vibrate into a blur above 45 or 50 but I don't notice it through the hand grips. OK, enough rambling .

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Intrigued_Enigma@y... wrote: > > > Go with the KLR. It has a TON of torque which will keep you out of > trouble as a beginner. For the most part, torque equals control. > While I would not advice dropping the bike, especially on the left > side due to the radiator fan, the KLR is meant to be punished. In > otherwords, little dings are seldom noticed. I can not comment > about other bikes since a KLR is all that I have ever owned. Sure > sometimes I think about a better 2 up bike such as a Concours or V- > Strom, but I am not sure I would have more fun with these bikes than > I do with my KLR. I have never had more for $4972.95, out the door > price for my 03 in 02, in my life. It does fire trail roads like a > mule, and hangs in the twistines with sportsbikes - except for > straight aways. It will run 70-80 mph all day long with my 6' 225# > self on it. I commute about the same distance as you during the good > weather 5 days a week, and I average about 50 MPG. In dual sport/ > adventure touring MPG is more important than MPH. It has a natural > riding positon which you do not have to fight the bike but rather > become one with it. I can't believe I said that - sounds like some > Far East religion !!! With a 6.1 gallon tank - which is actually > probably about 5.5 of useable fuel- your butt gets sore before you > run out of gas. I just laugh at all my DRZ and XL buds who must gas > up at every station we pass when we come out of the woods before we > go back in somewhere else. It is also easy to work on, and you can > get a TON of aftermarket junk for it. > > The ramblings of a happy A17 owner, > > Randy > > P.S. 38 is not OLD !!! > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aztecredklr650" > wrote: > > > > Hey Guys...looking for your opinions > > > > I'm 38, 6'1", and have the mc bug. I looked at the ninja > > 250/500...nice bikes, have heard good things about them, but > frankly > > I look a little silly on them. Cruisers? Well I just don't feel > > comfortable on them. Then I saw the KLR 650! Wow! It was love > at > > first sight. It's up there no doubt, but compresses nicely under > my > > 180 or so lbs. Seating position...comfortable, lending a sense of > > control. Reliability ...seems industructable (doohickey aside). > > > > So heres the question...should a newbie like me buy one? 99% of > the > > time I'll be on blacktop, commuting 35 each way. 70-75 mph ok? > > > > Thanks in advance > > AztecRedKLR650

[dooden]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aztecredklr650" wrote:

> > Hey Guys...looking for your opinions > > I'm 38, 6'1", and have the mc bug. I looked at the ninja > 250/500...nice bikes, have heard good things about them, but frankly > I look a little silly on them. Cruisers? Well I just don't feel > comfortable on them. Then I saw the KLR 650! Wow! It was love at > first sight. It's up there no doubt, but compresses nicely under my > 180 or so lbs. Seating position...comfortable, lending a sense of > control. Reliability ...seems industructable (doohickey aside). > > So heres the question...should a newbie like me buy one? 99% of the > time I'll be on blacktop, commuting 35 each way. 70-75 mph ok? > > Thanks in advance > AztecRedKLR650

Maybe search for a used bike that has farkle added already and save yourself some $$, but otherwise the KLR-650 is the only bike I have and want, since I only have room for one bike right now, it does everything I need it to. I am not a commuter, other than back and forth to work which is really close by, takes me longer to get my helmet and gear on than it takes to get to work. Right now as it stand the only thing I can say remotely bad about the KLR is it is pretty heavy for the type of off-road riding I like to do, but I made do with it by changing the sprockets to 14/45 and running Kenda K-270's typically aired down to be acceptable on the pavement, but yet still can claw at any terrain I ride it over or through. The Doohickey is nothing hard to do, cost is reasonable, at least it was when I got mine from Jake, at about the cost of a metal bash plate just consider it upgrade/protection. This might sound like KHI should address this, but in the real world until they have many failures that are reported and paid for under thier pocketbook, I would expect to see any changes. Heck too much whinning and they might just drop the bike and rebadge the DR-650 since Kawi and Suzuki are sleeping together these days. Good luck in your selection, too bad its a shame that they went Pink... the 2001 (A15) is the best color/year made. Dooden A15 Green Ape

[georgew@dnet.aunz.com]

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 10:19:42 -0800 (PST), you wrote:

>Not to mention that the SV's have a bit less vibration. What nobody here >will mention to you, because it's something they've become accustomed to, >is just how much vibration the big KLR thumper puts out. If you squeeze >the gas tank with your knees as you might do at high speed to help deal >with the wind blast, you'll get a good buzz with the KLR. Your hands will >get numbed by the vibration unless put in a Bar Snake, gel grips, gel >gloves, and even then it's merely tolerable. Luckily the throttle tube >takes some of the vibration off of your right hand and wrist, else it >would be absolutely intolerable (since you can't remove your right hand >from the bars occasionally to wring the buzzing out of them, because it >has to hold the throttle open!).

I've heard a lot about this vibration on the KLR. I must have bought a Wednesday model, because I simply do not have this problem. On the contrary the engine is very smooth and the power curve just right after about 2000 or so RPM. I can easily get to and sit on 150kph all day if I can find a stretch of road safe enough to do that. There's plenty of overtaking power at legal speeds too. I don't claim that the KLR has the performance of a pure sports bike and nor should it, but it's no slouch either. Is all of this just characteristic of the C model only, or am I just too uncritical? -- GW

[klr250not]

I don't sense any bothersome vibration on my A19 either. The mirrors vibrate between about 3000 and 4000 rpm but not on either side of that range. Its all relative and I'm sure there are multi- cylinder bikes that are smoother, but I don't need absolute smoothness. I do have my handlebars mounted about 3 inches below the top of the forks, the way it came from the dealership, and that might possibly reduce vibration. Also, condition and adjustment of counterbalancing system no doubt plays a big role in variations from bike to bike. ------------------------------------------------

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, georgew@d... wrote: > On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 10:19:42 -0800 (PST), you wrote: > > >Not to mention that the SV's have a bit less vibration. What nobody here > >will mention to you, because it's something they've become accustomed to, > >is just how much vibration the big KLR thumper puts out. If you squeeze > >the gas tank with your knees as you might do at high speed to help deal > >with the wind blast, you'll get a good buzz with the KLR. Your hands will > >get numbed by the vibration unless put in a Bar Snake, gel grips, gel > >gloves, and even then it's merely tolerable. Luckily the throttle tube > >takes some of the vibration off of your right hand and wrist, else it > >would be absolutely intolerable (since you can't remove your right hand > >from the bars occasionally to wring the buzzing out of them, because it > >has to hold the throttle open!). > > I've heard a lot about this vibration on the KLR. I must have bought a > Wednesday model, because I simply do not have this problem. On the > contrary the engine is very smooth and the power curve just right > after about 2000 or so RPM. I can easily get to and sit on 150kph all > day if I can find a stretch of road safe enough to do that. There's > plenty of overtaking power at legal speeds too. > I don't claim that the KLR has the performance of a pure sports bike > and nor should it, but it's no slouch either. > Is all of this just characteristic of the C model only, or am I just > too uncritical? > > -- > GW

[jc]

"any opinions on using 90 weight oil for chain lube, someone said it gives extended chain and back sprocket life" - yes, it will probably make a mess, spraying oil all over your rear frame, muffler, etc. this oil is meant to run in a gearbox, not exposed to the elements, and it will be a dirt magnet. you could buy a good chain lube, which is what I use or WD40. JC