de-bugging old klr600 kick start

[gonzomup]

Good afternoon, everyone! I'm a new member to the group and would like to introduce myself as well as pose a few questions. I haven't had a chance to dig through the archives and do lots of searching through the archives, so please let me know if these questions are addressed there. I live in NW WI and commute down to a suburb of the Twin Cities, 50 miles each way. My commute is on mostly rural roads with little traffic (except for the deer at different times of year). I'm seriously considering buying a bike for myself for a number of reasons -- gas mileage, riding a scooter (my euphemism for a motorcycle) is a lot of fun, and it just seems wrong to be driving 2500 pounds of steel and aluminum to carry just me (most of the time). Because my commute necessitates several miles of dirt/gravel/sand roads and I'd like to explore some more remote corners of the world, I think a dual-sport/adventure-tourer would be my best option. To that end, I'm considering the KLR650 (probably new 08) along with the f650GS (used probably) and the f650 Dakar (also used). I'd like to stick with a thumper for the simplicity of the engine as well as the efficiency. By the way, this will be my first bike; I've ridden very little and never owned a bike of my own. So besides all the regular advice that I can hear you giving me, I'm wondering what you think about my choices, particularly from the perspective of using them as a long-ish haul commuter bike. Then my specific questions: Since I'm going to be using this as a commuter, I'd like to outfit it with panniers (maybe something from Touratech or similar), fog lamps and/or HID lamps, grip warmers, and, if at all possible, a long-range tank. (With the tank, I know that for the Bimmer I can get a 33-35 litre tank for monster range. The only extended tank I know of for the KLR is the IMS tank which only adds 2 litres to the stock size.) How much aftermarket stuff like adventure kit is available for the KLR? (I've found lots for the f650 but not so much for the KRL, although I'm guessing I just haven't looked hard enough.) How 'bout riding two-up for longer rides? One of the things I'm not sure of either is about the fairings on either set of bikes. It sounds like either f650 has a better fairing (offerring more protection) than the KLR. Obviously, the KLR provides a potentially better value, especially since it's likely I'll use the bike like I use my cars -- drive them till the wheels fall off; in other words, I'd like to plan on at least 100k-150k from the bike. Thanks, everyone! I'm sure you'll give me more help than I can imagine! Bohdan

[Jim Priest]

On 5/5/07, gonzomup wrote:

> efficiency. By the way, this will be my first bike; I've ridden very > little and never owned a bike of my own.

In my opinion don't buy a new bike for a first bike. You WILL drop it. Hopefully just in a parking lot. Possibly while riding. Do you want to drop a $5000 bike or a $1500 bike?

> So besides all the regular advice that I can hear you giving me, I'm > wondering what you think about my choices, particularly from the > perspective of using them as a long-ish haul commuter bike.

Any motorcycle will do what you want - that said I think the KLR is a great first bike IF you are tall enough to feel comfortable on it (and there are ways to shorten it) When I got back into riding after taking a few years off - I picked up a used KLR.

> Then my specific questions: Since I'm going to be using this as a > commuter, I'd like to outfit it with panniers (maybe something from > Touratech or similar), fog lamps and/or HID lamps, grip warmers, and, > if at all possible, a long-range tank. (With the tank, I know that for

Catalog shopping is fun but I'd get some mileage under your belt first. Buying a gas tank that will give you 500 mile range is probably not a good idea for a rookie. I usually suggest new riders do the following: 1) find and take a motorcycle safety course 2) buy some good gear 3) buy a cheap bike 4) ride for a year If you are still around take an advanced rider course and re-evaluate your bike and your gear. The KLR is a great bike, and you can pick up a cheap one - possibly decked out with some good accessories for usually around 1/2 what a new one costs. Spend those savings on some good gear! And have fun! Jim

[gonzomup]

Thanks, Jim! I should have mentioned that I've already registered for a MSF basic rider course and am planning on spending the funds on good protective kit -- brain bucket, jacket, probably pants, too. Very good points, too, Jim. I'm going to add those to the list of things I'm considering. Thanks again! Bohdan

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Priest" wrote: > > On 5/5/07, gonzomup wrote: > > efficiency. By the way, this will be my first bike; I've ridden very > > little and never owned a bike of my own. > > In my opinion don't buy a new bike for a first bike. You WILL drop > it. Hopefully just in a parking lot. Possibly while riding. Do you > want to drop a $5000 bike or a $1500 bike? > > > So besides all the regular advice that I can hear you giving me, I'm > > wondering what you think about my choices, particularly from the > > perspective of using them as a long-ish haul commuter bike. > > Any motorcycle will do what you want - that said I think the KLR is a > great first bike IF you are tall enough to feel comfortable on it (and > there are ways to shorten it) When I got back into riding after > taking a few years off - I picked up a used KLR. > > > Then my specific questions: Since I'm going to be using this as a > > commuter, I'd like to outfit it with panniers (maybe something from > > Touratech or similar), fog lamps and/or HID lamps, grip warmers, and, > > if at all possible, a long-range tank. (With the tank, I know that for > > Catalog shopping is fun but I'd get some mileage under your belt > first. Buying a gas tank that will give you 500 mile range is > probably not a good idea for a rookie. > > I usually suggest new riders do the following: > > 1) find and take a motorcycle safety course > 2) buy some good gear > 3) buy a cheap bike > 4) ride for a year > > If you are still around take an advanced rider course and > re-evaluate your bike and your gear. > > The KLR is a great bike, and you can pick up a cheap one - possibly > decked out with some good accessories for usually around 1/2 what a > new one costs. Spend those savings on some good gear! And have fun! > > Jim >

[Jud Jones]

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

> > Good afternoon, everyone! > > I'm a new member to the group and would like to introduce myself as > well as pose a few questions. I haven't had a chance to dig through > the archives and do lots of searching through the archives, so please > let me know if these questions are addressed there. > > I live in NW WI and commute down to a suburb of the Twin Cities, 50 > miles each way. My commute is on mostly rural roads with little > traffic (except for the deer at different times of year). I'm > seriously considering buying a bike for myself for a number of reasons > -- gas mileage, riding a scooter (my euphemism for a motorcycle) is a > lot of fun, and it just seems wrong to be driving 2500 pounds of steel > and aluminum to carry just me (most of the time). > > Because my commute necessitates several miles of dirt/gravel/sand > roads and I'd like to explore some more remote corners of the world, I > think a dual-sport/adventure-tourer would be my best option. To that > end, I'm considering the KLR650 (probably new 08) along with the > f650GS (used probably) and the f650 Dakar (also used). I'd like to > stick with a thumper for the simplicity of the engine as well as the > efficiency. By the way, this will be my first bike; I've ridden very > little and never owned a bike of my own. > > So besides all the regular advice that I can hear you giving me, I'm > wondering what you think about my choices, particularly from the > perspective of using them as a long-ish haul commuter bike. > > Then my specific questions: Since I'm going to be using this as a > commuter, I'd like to outfit it with panniers (maybe something from > Touratech or similar), fog lamps and/or HID lamps, grip warmers, and, > if at all possible, a long-range tank. (With the tank, I know that for > the Bimmer I can get a 33-35 litre tank for monster range. The only > extended tank I know of for the KLR is the IMS tank which only adds 2 > litres to the stock size.) How much aftermarket stuff like adventure > kit is available for the KLR? (I've found lots for the f650 but not so > much for the KRL, although I'm guessing I just haven't looked hard > enough.) How 'bout riding two-up for longer rides? One of the things > I'm not sure of either is about the fairings on either set of bikes. > It sounds like either f650 has a better fairing (offerring more > protection) than the KLR. Obviously, the KLR provides a potentially > better value, especially since it's likely I'll use the bike like I > use my cars -- drive them till the wheels fall off; in other words, > I'd like to plan on at least 100k-150k from the bike. > > Thanks, everyone! I'm sure you'll give me more help than I can imagine! >

I like the KLR better than the F650 or Dakar. Having said that, I'm not sure the KLR would be the best bike for your needs. The BMW is better 2-up, and has better weather protection. The '08 KLR is an improvement in this regard, however. As for range, my (nominal) 6.6 gallon IMS holds 7.2 gallons, and gives me about 300 miles range, 260 or so if I leave a safety margin. The BMW gets substantially better mileage. The alternator outputof the KLR is probably not up to running a lot of lights together with electric heated clothing. You can expect it to last 60-100k, but I have not heard of many KLRs going 150k. If you ride it 800 miles a week for seven months of the year (about all you can expect to ride around here) and maintain it, you might be able to reach that mileage before too long. You are asking a lot of your proposed bike - range, longevity, versatility. The bike that can do everything you ask hasn't yet been built. When you say you want 150k out of a bike that can run Wisconsin sand roads on the way to the freeway, a boxer GS comes to mind. For six or seven bills you could turn a low-mileage R80ST into almost what what you need. Or you could spend >$15k for a 1200 GS Adventure. My inclination would be to build the R80. Or save a lot of effort and just buy a Wee Strom.

[C L Cooper]

Bohdan, My $0.02... I agree with Jim on all points, and like the suggestion of Motorcycle Safety Rider Course follow by and advanced course at the end of a year of riding. Great suggestion! There is a young gal I work with that asked the same questions about a year ago - and got just about the same advice from me. She liked the racy style though, and bought a brand new yamaha 500 thumper rocket for her first bike - even after several fairly direct cautions not to. She has dumped the bike several times, removed the fairings, replaced the headlight with an aftermarket cheapie, has had it in the shop a number of times for both real and perceived problems. Expensive lessons. Looking back, I should have somehow really driven the point home that she should get a cheapie, small displacement dirt bike and take it and beat it till she knew how to push the thing to its limit. The learning experience would have been much cheaper and much more thorough. She's getting there, but some of the stories she tells make me pucker.... Get something light, cheap, underpowered. Beat it till it's done for. You will learn just a bunch about the machines limits, your limits, and how to fix and keep going something that should have died long ago. Take the Motorcycle Safety class.... more than once if you feel you need to - don't be male about it (more ego than good sense), Good luck, ride safe! Chuck C San Diego, CA

On 5/5/07, Jim Priest wrote: > > On 5/5/07, gonzomup > > wrote: > > efficiency. By the way, this will be my first bike; I've ridden very > > little and never owned a bike of my own. > > In my opinion don't buy a new bike for a first bike. You WILL drop > it. Hopefully just in a parking lot. Possibly while riding. Do you > want to drop a $5000 bike or a $1500 bike? > > > So besides all the regular advice that I can hear you giving me, I'm > > wondering what you think about my choices, particularly from the > > perspective of using them as a long-ish haul commuter bike. > > Any motorcycle will do what you want - that said I think the KLR is a > great first bike IF you are tall enough to feel comfortable on it (and > there are ways to shorten it) When I got back into riding after > taking a few years off - I picked up a used KLR. > > > Then my specific questions: Since I'm going to be using this as a > > commuter, I'd like to outfit it with panniers (maybe something from > > Touratech or similar), fog lamps and/or HID lamps, grip warmers, and, > > if at all possible, a long-range tank. (With the tank, I know that for > > Catalog shopping is fun but I'd get some mileage under your belt > first. Buying a gas tank that will give you 500 mile range is > probably not a good idea for a rookie. > > I usually suggest new riders do the following: > > 1) find and take a motorcycle safety course > 2) buy some good gear > 3) buy a cheap bike > 4) ride for a year > > If you are still around take an advanced rider course and > re-evaluate your bike and your gear. > > The KLR is a great bike, and you can pick up a cheap one - possibly > decked out with some good accessories for usually around 1/2 what a > new one costs. Spend those savings on some good gear! And have fun! > > Jim > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Blake Sobiloff]

On May 5, 2007, at 12:57 PM, gonzomup wrote:

> I should have mentioned that I've already registered for a MSF basic > rider course and am planning on spending the funds on good protective > kit -- brain bucket, jacket, probably pants, too.

Bohdan, you've received very good advice already, so I won't repeat what's been said. I would encourage you, however, to add gloves and boots to your above list of gear. The extremities are the most frequently injured in any motorcycling accident; you stick your hands out to catch your fall, and your feet bounce all around as you slide and tumble. As for my vote on which bike, I think the '08 KLR might have improved its wind protection to be comparable with the BMWs, but I'm guessing that the KLR is easier and less expensive to work on than the BMWs, so I'd favor the KLR. The FAQ has a list of vendors with plenty of accessories (commonly called "farkle"). Enjoy! -- Blake Sobiloff http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> San Jose, CA (USA) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Norm Keller]

"Light, cheap and under powered"....... If you had said "Overweight, cheap and underpowered I could have helped out out". If that's what you meant, email me off list and I'll give you my ex-wife's number. (LOL) Norm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Norm Keller" wrote:

> > "Light, cheap and under powered"....... > > If you had said "Overweight, cheap and underpowered I could have

helped out out".

> > If that's what you meant, email me off list and I'll give you my ex-

wife's number. (LOL)

> > Norm

Norm, Besides Sunday services, visitation, funerals and helicopter rides, I also available for marriage counseling, PRN, etc. HTH revmaaatin.

[C L Cooper]

"...the bike dear, I meant the bike!!!!" ;~)

On 5/5/07, Norm Keller wrote: > > "Light, cheap and under powered"....... > > If you had said "Overweight, cheap and underpowered I could have helped > out out". > > If that's what you meant, email me off list and I'll give you my ex-wife's > number. (LOL) > > Norm > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Mike Frey]

You don't want to take a ride in his helicopter unless you are sitting next to him.

----- Original Message ----- From: "revmaaatin" To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 5:58 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: New Member with some questions > Norm, > Besides Sunday services, visitation, funerals and helicopter rides, I > also available for marriage counseling, PRN, etc. > HTH > revmaaatin. > > > > > 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 > > >