how good is good?

[John]

I've had an interesting couple of weeks on the road. It started at the Lone Star Bike Rally in Galveston, TX. I had to do an inspection on a ship Saturday morning down there right in the middle of everything. I rode the KLR down early and saw many bikes. (They were estimating 300,000 bikes, don't know what the official count was). How many KLR's did I see? Zero. How many other DS bikes? Zero. There were a few sport bikes and Gold Wings but it was definitely at least 90% cruisers. On Tuesday, I left for a short trip to West Africa. On the way there, I had an 8 hour lay-over in Paris, so I jumped on a train and went downtown for a quick walk through the touristy areas. Paris is a DS bike mecca. Scooters are the predominant ride, but I saw quite a few DS bikes, far more than in the US. There was one C-Model KLR at Notre Dame, it was a ratty bike with brushed on Navy blue paint. There were quite a few Suzuki DR's, Honda XLR's (that's what was on the tank), Honda Trans-Alps, and BMW GS's. I saw a few bikes I didn't recognize (the tank said "TD"). DS bikes were definitely not unusual there. That night I flew to Malabo in Equitorial Guinea. It's an island on the West coast, just off Cameroon. I figured there would be plenty of bikes there but it was mostly old Renaults, pickups and Land Rovers. I saw a total of three bikes in Malabo. One cruiser style bike and two yellow DS bikes (they said "Dingo" on the tank). I was driven to Luba (about 25 miles from Malabo). It was supposed to be an hour and a half drive but they recently paved the road and it only took an hour (a beautiful wide highway with a 30 mph speed limit!) Anyway, it was interesting. It's funny that in the urban jungle of Paris, there were loads of DS bikes but in the actual jungles of Africa, there were very few. (At least that I saw) John A18- Houston, TX

[E.L. Green]

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

> Anyway, it was interesting. It's funny that in the urban jungle of > Paris, there were loads of DS bikes but in the actual jungles of > Africa, there were very few. (At least that I saw)

Not so funny. A DS bike is great in the urban jungle because it's tall, narrow, and can jump curbs and pound through potholes without a problem. Especially on narrow European streets it's very practical for getting from point A to point B. In the real jungle, on the other hand, it sinks into the mud and you won't ever see it again, and the limited carrying capacity in a land where you must carry *everything* with you means it really isn't practical.

[Donald Dickerson]

Gee, ever try finding another KLR here in America? I have a long commute that takes me from outside of Houston, Texas, every weekday, about 130 miles per day total. I pass lots of bikes, mostly Harleys and clones, a few BMW DS bikes, LOTS of crotch rockets. I've had my KLR since May of this year. Saw one KLR, on the back of an RV. The dealer (whom I am quite sure is FOS on a number of issues) says he sells a few a month. Really? I guess they don't ride them on the street. Or only when I'm at work. Those of us that ride KLR's must really be a small number. Never saw one before I bought mine, never seen one since, either! --- John wrote:

> I've had an interesting couple of weeks on the road. > > It started at the Lone Star Bike Rally in Galveston, TX. I had to do > an inspection on a ship Saturday morning down there right in the > middle of everything. I rode the KLR down early and saw many bikes. > (They were estimating 300,000 bikes, don't know what the official > count was). How many KLR's did I see? Zero. How many other DS bikes? > Zero. There were a few sport bikes and Gold Wings but it was > definitely at least 90% cruisers. > > On Tuesday, I left for a short trip to West Africa. On the way > there, I had an 8 hour lay-over in Paris, so I jumped on a train and > went downtown for a quick walk through the touristy areas. Paris is > a DS bike mecca. Scooters are the predominant ride, but I saw quite > a few DS bikes, far more than in the US. There was one C-Model KLR > at Notre Dame, it was a ratty bike with brushed on Navy blue paint. > There were quite a few Suzuki DR's, Honda XLR's (that's what was on > the tank), Honda Trans-Alps, and BMW GS's. I saw a few bikes I > didn't recognize (the tank said "TD"). DS bikes were definitely not > unusual there. > > That night I flew to Malabo in Equitorial Guinea. It's an island on > the West coast, just off Cameroon. I figured there would be plenty > of bikes there but it was mostly old Renaults, pickups and Land > Rovers. I saw a total of three bikes in Malabo. One cruiser style > bike and two yellow DS bikes (they said "Dingo" on the tank). I was > driven to Luba (about 25 miles from Malabo). It was supposed to be > an hour and a half drive but they recently paved the road and it > only took an hour (a beautiful wide highway with a 30 mph speed > limit!) > > Anyway, it was interesting. It's funny that in the urban jungle of > Paris, there were loads of DS bikes but in the actual jungles of > Africa, there were very few. (At least that I saw) > > John > A18- Houston, TX > > >

Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who didn't. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sponsored Link Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $310k for $999/mo. Calculate new payment! www.LowerMyBills.com/lre>

[Neil Doane]

Interestingly, here in CO, I've probably seen another KLR on the road about once out of every three rides. Neil Longmont, CO

On 11/20/06, Donald Dickerson wrote: > Gee, ever try finding another KLR here in America? I have a long > commute that takes me from outside of Houston, Texas, every weekday, > about 130 miles per day total. I pass lots of bikes, mostly Harleys and > clones, a few BMW DS bikes, LOTS of crotch rockets. I've had my KLR > since May of this year. Saw one KLR, on the back of an RV. The dealer > (whom I am quite sure is FOS on a number of issues) says he sells a few > a month. Really? I guess they don't ride them on the street. Or only > when I'm at work. > > Those of us that ride KLR's must really be a small number. Never saw > one before I bought mine, never seen one since, either! > > > > --- John wrote: > > > I've had an interesting couple of weeks on the road. > > > > It started at the Lone Star Bike Rally in Galveston, TX. I had to do > > an inspection on a ship Saturday morning down there right in the > > middle of everything. I rode the KLR down early and saw many bikes. > > (They were estimating 300,000 bikes, don't know what the official > > count was). How many KLR's did I see? Zero. How many other DS bikes? > > Zero. There were a few sport bikes and Gold Wings but it was > > definitely at least 90% cruisers. > > > > On Tuesday, I left for a short trip to West Africa. On the way > > there, I had an 8 hour lay-over in Paris, so I jumped on a train and > > went downtown for a quick walk through the touristy areas. Paris is > > a DS bike mecca. Scooters are the predominant ride, but I saw quite > > a few DS bikes, far more than in the US. There was one C-Model KLR > > at Notre Dame, it was a ratty bike with brushed on Navy blue paint. > > There were quite a few Suzuki DR's, Honda XLR's (that's what was on > > the tank), Honda Trans-Alps, and BMW GS's. I saw a few bikes I > > didn't recognize (the tank said "TD"). DS bikes were definitely not > > unusual there. > > > > That night I flew to Malabo in Equitorial Guinea. It's an island on > > the West coast, just off Cameroon. I figured there would be plenty > > of bikes there but it was mostly old Renaults, pickups and Land > > Rovers. I saw a total of three bikes in Malabo. One cruiser style > > bike and two yellow DS bikes (they said "Dingo" on the tank). I was > > driven to Luba (about 25 miles from Malabo). It was supposed to be > > an hour and a half drive but they recently paved the road and it > > only took an hour (a beautiful wide highway with a 30 mph speed > > limit!) > > > > Anyway, it was interesting. It's funny that in the urban jungle of > > Paris, there were loads of DS bikes but in the actual jungles of > > Africa, there were very few. (At least that I saw) > > > > John > > A18- Houston, TX > > > > > > > > > Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. > > Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who didn't. > > "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Sponsored Link > > Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. > $310k for $999/mo. Calculate new payment! > www.LowerMyBills.com/lre > > > 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 > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > >

[Moose]

Here in Durham, NC I see about 5 other KLR's on a regular basis. One guy as a 1987 that looks like it was dropped here by plane...no parachute, all the way up to a 2007 with 1500 miles on it. They seem to be a lot more popular in the winter then about any bike, including maybe BMW G and K bikes. Neil Doane wrote: Interestingly, here in CO, I've probably seen another KLR on the road about once out of every three rides. Neil Longmont, CO

On 11/20/06, Donald Dickerson wrote: > Gee, ever try finding another KLR here in America? I have a long > commute that takes me from outside of Houston, Texas, every weekday, > about 130 miles per day total. I pass lots of bikes, mostly Harleys and > clones, a few BMW DS bikes, LOTS of crotch rockets. I've had my KLR > since May of this year. Saw one KLR, on the back of an RV. The dealer > (whom I am quite sure is FOS on a number of issues) says he sells a few > a month. Really? I guess they don't ride them on the street. Or only > when I'm at work. > > Those of us that ride KLR's must really be a small number. Never saw > one before I bought mine, never seen one since, either! > > > > --- John wrote: > > > I've had an interesting couple of weeks on the road. > > > > It started at the Lone Star Bike Rally in Galveston, TX. I had to do > > an inspection on a ship Saturday morning down there right in the > > middle of everything. I rode the KLR down early and saw many bikes. > > (They were estimating 300,000 bikes, don't know what the official > > count was). How many KLR's did I see? Zero. How many other DS bikes? > > Zero. There were a few sport bikes and Gold Wings but it was > > definitely at least 90% cruisers. > > > > On Tuesday, I left for a short trip to West Africa. On the way > > there, I had an 8 hour lay-over in Paris, so I jumped on a train and > > went downtown for a quick walk through the touristy areas. Paris is > > a DS bike mecca. Scooters are the predominant ride, but I saw quite > > a few DS bikes, far more than in the US. There was one C-Model KLR > > at Notre Dame, it was a ratty bike with brushed on Navy blue paint. > > There were quite a few Suzuki DR's, Honda XLR's (that's what was on > > the tank), Honda Trans-Alps, and BMW GS's. I saw a few bikes I > > didn't recognize (the tank said "TD"). DS bikes were definitely not > > unusual there. > > > > That night I flew to Malabo in Equitorial Guinea. It's an island on > > the West coast, just off Cameroon. I figured there would be plenty > > of bikes there but it was mostly old Renaults, pickups and Land > > Rovers. I saw a total of three bikes in Malabo. One cruiser style > > bike and two yellow DS bikes (they said "Dingo" on the tank). I was > > driven to Luba (about 25 miles from Malabo). It was supposed to be > > an hour and a half drive but they recently paved the road and it > > only took an hour (a beautiful wide highway with a 30 mph speed > > limit!) > > > > Anyway, it was interesting. It's funny that in the urban jungle of > > Paris, there were loads of DS bikes but in the actual jungles of > > Africa, there were very few. (At least that I saw) > > > > John > > A18- Houston, TX > > > > > > > > > Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. > > Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who didn't. > > "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller > > > > __________________________________________________________ > Sponsored Link > > Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. > $310k for $999/mo. Calculate new payment! > www.LowerMyBills.com/lre > > > 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 > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > --------------------------------- Sponsored Link $420,000 Mortgage for $1,399/month - Think You Pay Too Much For Your Mortgage? Find Out! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Arden Kysely]

Here in SoCal I see them frequently. Just saw a cherry Tengai toodling along today. __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Moose wrote: > > Here in Durham, NC I see about 5 other KLR's on a regular basis. One guy as a 1987 that looks like it was dropped here by plane...no parachute, all the way up to a 2007 with 1500 miles on it. They seem to be a lot more popular in the winter then about any bike, including maybe BMW G and K bikes. > > Neil Doane wrote: Interestingly, here in CO, I've probably seen another KLR on the road > about once out of every three rides. > > Neil > Longmont, CO >

[Greg Roeder]

There are six KLR 650 owners in my office and at least three others who own off-brand dual sports. That's nine out of about 350 people. Not bad for SW Missouri. Greg; Willard, MO; 2007 KLR 650

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Neil Doane" wrote: > > Interestingly, here in CO, I've probably seen another KLR on the road > about once out of every three rides. > > > Neil > Longmont, CO

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Neil Doane" wrote:

> > Interestingly, here in CO, I've probably seen another KLR on the road > about once out of every three rides. > > > Neil > Longmont, CO >

Neil, I applaud your ability to count the KLR's on the road, but really, you don't get to count the one that you see (over and over again) in the mirrored store windows. revmaaatin. reflecting deeply on what the count is...

[Ronald Criswell]

When I bought mine in 1999 in the DFW area, I didn't see any. Now I see them quite a bit and when you go to Natl Park areas and mountain areas you start seeing a good number. Houston is a big city with horrible traffic. The KLR is a great commuter bike. KLR's seem to be more popular now than ever. Criswell

On Nov 20, 2006, at 12:53 PM, Donald Dickerson wrote: > Gee, ever try finding another KLR here in America? I have a long > commute that takes me from outside of Houston, Texas, every weekday, > about 130 miles per day total. I pass lots of bikes, mostly Harleys > and > clones, a few BMW DS bikes, LOTS of crotch rockets. I've had my KLR > since May of this year. Saw one KLR, on the back of an RV. The dealer > (whom I am quite sure is FOS on a number of issues) says he sells a > few > a month. Really? I guess they don't ride them on the street. Or only > when I'm at work. > > Those of us that ride KLR's must really be a small number. Never saw > one before I bought mine, never seen one since, either! > > --- John wrote: > > > I've had an interesting couple of weeks on the road. > > > > It started at the Lone Star Bike Rally in Galveston, TX. I had to do > > an inspection on a ship Saturday morning down there right in the > > middle of everything. I rode the KLR down early and saw many bikes. > > (They were estimating 300,000 bikes, don't know what the official > > count was). How many KLR's did I see? Zero. How many other DS bikes? > > Zero. There were a few sport bikes and Gold Wings but it was > > definitely at least 90% cruisers. > > > > On Tuesday, I left for a short trip to West Africa. On the way > > there, I had an 8 hour lay-over in Paris, so I jumped on a train and > > went downtown for a quick walk through the touristy areas. Paris is > > a DS bike mecca. Scooters are the predominant ride, but I saw quite > > a few DS bikes, far more than in the US. There was one C-Model KLR > > at Notre Dame, it was a ratty bike with brushed on Navy blue paint. > > There were quite a few Suzuki DR's, Honda XLR's (that's what was on > > the tank), Honda Trans-Alps, and BMW GS's. I saw a few bikes I > > didn't recognize (the tank said "TD"). DS bikes were definitely not > > unusual there. > > > > That night I flew to Malabo in Equitorial Guinea. It's an island on > > the West coast, just off Cameroon. I figured there would be plenty > > of bikes there but it was mostly old Renaults, pickups and Land > > Rovers. I saw a total of three bikes in Malabo. One cruiser style > > bike and two yellow DS bikes (they said "Dingo" on the tank). I was > > driven to Luba (about 25 miles from Malabo). It was supposed to be > > an hour and a half drive but they recently paved the road and it > > only took an hour (a beautiful wide highway with a 30 mph speed > > limit!) > > > > Anyway, it was interesting. It's funny that in the urban jungle of > > Paris, there were loads of DS bikes but in the actual jungles of > > Africa, there were very few. (At least that I saw) > > > > John > > A18- Houston, TX > > > > > > > > Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat > them. > > Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who > didn't. > > "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not > exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience > it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- > Helen Keller > > __________________________________________________________ > Sponsored Link > > Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. > $310k for $999/mo. Calculate new payment! > www.LowerMyBills.com/lre > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Donald Dickerson]

Funny thing is, I live in a semi rural area with lots of true dirt bikes and ATV's. But I never see another KLR. And just to offset what my dealer had to say, I've been watching that new black 2007 (that replaced my red 2006) in the showroom and so far it's been there 3 months. From what I've seen on the list, most of the Texas KLR riders seem to be north and west of me. --- Moose wrote:

> Here in Durham, NC I see about 5 other KLR's on a regular basis. > One guy as a 1987 that looks like it was dropped here by plane...no > parachute, all the way up to a 2007 with 1500 miles on it. They > seem to be a lot more popular in the winter then about any bike, > including maybe BMW G and K bikes. > > Neil Doane wrote: Interestingly, here > in CO, I've probably seen another KLR on the road > about once out of every three rides. > > Neil > Longmont, CO > > On 11/20/06, Donald Dickerson wrote: > > Gee, ever try finding another KLR here in America? I have a long > > commute that takes me from outside of Houston, Texas, every > weekday, > > about 130 miles per day total. I pass lots of bikes, mostly Harleys > and > > clones, a few BMW DS bikes, LOTS of crotch rockets. I've had my KLR > > since May of this year. Saw one KLR, on the back of an RV. The > dealer > > (whom I am quite sure is FOS on a number of issues) says he sells a > few > > a month. Really? I guess they don't ride them on the street. Or > only > > when I'm at work. > > > > Those of us that ride KLR's must really be a small number. Never > saw > > one before I bought mine, never seen one since, either! > > > > > > > > --- John wrote: > > > > > I've had an interesting couple of weeks on the road. > > > > > > It started at the Lone Star Bike Rally in Galveston, TX. I had to > do > > > an inspection on a ship Saturday morning down there right in the > > > middle of everything. I rode the KLR down early and saw many > bikes. > > > (They were estimating 300,000 bikes, don't know what the official > > > count was). How many KLR's did I see? Zero. How many other DS > bikes? > > > Zero. There were a few sport bikes and Gold Wings but it was > > > definitely at least 90% cruisers. > > > > > > On Tuesday, I left for a short trip to West Africa. On the way > > > there, I had an 8 hour lay-over in Paris, so I jumped on a train > and > > > went downtown for a quick walk through the touristy areas. Paris > is > > > a DS bike mecca. Scooters are the predominant ride, but I saw > quite > > > a few DS bikes, far more than in the US. There was one C-Model > KLR > > > at Notre Dame, it was a ratty bike with brushed on Navy blue > paint. > > > There were quite a few Suzuki DR's, Honda XLR's (that's what was > on > > > the tank), Honda Trans-Alps, and BMW GS's. I saw a few bikes I > > > didn't recognize (the tank said "TD"). DS bikes were definitely > not > > > unusual there. > > > > > > That night I flew to Malabo in Equitorial Guinea. It's an island > on > > > the West coast, just off Cameroon. I figured there would be > plenty > > > of bikes there but it was mostly old Renaults, pickups and Land > > > Rovers. I saw a total of three bikes in Malabo. One cruiser style > > > bike and two yellow DS bikes (they said "Dingo" on the tank). I > was > > > driven to Luba (about 25 miles from Malabo). It was supposed to > be > > > an hour and a half drive but they recently paved the road and it > > > only took an hour (a beautiful wide highway with a 30 mph speed > > > limit!) > > > > > > Anyway, it was interesting. It's funny that in the urban jungle > of > > > Paris, there were loads of DS bikes but in the actual jungles of > > > Africa, there were very few. (At least that I saw) > > > > > > John > > > A18- Houston, TX > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat > them. > > > > Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who > didn't. > > > > "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not > exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. > Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen > Keller > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > > Sponsored Link > > > > Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. > > $310k for $999/mo. Calculate new payment! > > www.LowerMyBills.com/lre > > > > > > 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 > > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Sponsored Link > > $420,000 Mortgage for $1,399/month - Think You Pay Too Much For > Your Mortgage? Find Out!

Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who didn't. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sponsored Link Rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Loan for $1698/mo. Calcuate new payment. www.LowerMyBills.com/lre>