el burro rojo rolls again!

[Cemal Engin KILIC]

I just bought my KLR 650 2 weeks ago. prior to today my only experience with motorbikes was taking the motorcycle safety course 2 years ago. I didn't have the funds to purchase a bike back then so waited till this summer. Which wasn't a very good idea because 2 years is a long time and I lost my confidence to ride the bike from the dealer to my home. I took the course on a DR 125 and never gone any faster than 30mph. Considering that I never had a real riding in traffic experience and only rode a 125cc bike for 6 hours. I didn't do the smartest thing by jumping on to a 650cc bike. However I believe in one thing; riding a bike or anything for that matter is %70 mental and %30 physical. For the first 100 miles I circled around my neighborhood, did emergency brake exercises. Learned to take off without stalling the bike and so forth so on. Little baby steps hepls a lot to build self confidence. For your case you are physically capable of riding a motorbike, otherwise your state wouldn't give you the license. You just need to start from scratch (start on a 250cc if necessary) and build that confidence again. After all now I am able to ride my bike in real traffic. In order to be able to ride in traffic, one should feel real confident with emergency braking, leaning to the corners, using your signals and mirrors. You will panic in a real life situation just because you don't remember checking your mirrors or using your signals. Just taking off from the lights will be a big issue for you and you will be thinking of the mistake you have done when you are leaning into a corner. So take your time and exercise till you feel %95 because you will never feel %100. Let me tell you biking is a great joy and don't let that joy get out of your life. I read a book about a vietnam vet who completed a tour around the world with only one leg on a harley davidson. It is like against everything what a rational person will tell you. harley is like the worst choice if you will be doing a world tour, and one leg is just outrages... My point is nothing is neither easy nor impossible. I hope you the best luck. Living is no laughing matter: you must live with great seriousness like a squirrel, for example- I mean without looking for something beyond and above living, I mean living must be your whole occupation. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

If you're afraid to ride after such a minor spill, you should sell the bike. No, you shouldn't have even hit the curb unprovoked, but as a rider, you should get over it and move on. You need to expect that falling, crashing, and being flattened by a tractor trailer are always out there. If the thought of this might make you "freeze up with fear, " riding definitely is not for you. If you're convinced you still want to ride, practice lots on a closed course, and once you stomach the idea that you can be turned into hamburger any time, then go out on the open road. Mark (crash-free since 2006)

> From: boniface9491 > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 11:26 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Afraid to Ride > > > I could use some advise of some kind here. I took the MSF last > summer. I bought a '94 Dr650 last summer, and first time on it I > wrecked, tearing myself up pretty good. This was before taking the > MSF. Before I could get back on the bike, it was stolen. This Spring > I bought a "07 KLR 650. My second time on it, I hit a curb and went > down, doing a number on my shoulder. Now, I'm really afraid of the > bike. I'm 58 years old, and my previous riding experience was on an > old Cushman Eagle back in the '60s. > I'm wondering: Should I give up riding? Should I get a smaller > bike? Should I get back on the bike I have, even if I might freeze up > from fear when I'm on it? Any constructive input would be appreciated.

[Andrus Chesley]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Tengai Mark Van Horn wrote:

> > If you're afraid to ride after such a minor spill, you should sell > the bike.

As a 64 year old rider, I agree with Mark on this. I've seen quite a few guys come back to motorcycling after a 30 year or better lay off and get hurt right away. This is the Danger Zone. The first year back on the bike ; riding a bike that's new to you. Most get a big bike when they need to start back on something smaller. I like that you started back on 650 singles. It's just not for some people. Don't feel very bad about it if you decide to leave it at this point. It's a smart decision. You have enough people out there to worry about besides yourself. If you do decide to stay, Practice, practice, practice, Advance Riders "Course, ( even though I don't agree with a few of their teachings ). Good luck and us old guys with lotsa miles will be cool with what ever way you go. '43 Andy in SW Louisiana A14 & K6 & Chevy truck

[Wayne]

I quit riding in 1980. Got hit in Orlando, FL. Nothing serious, few scrapes, bruises, bent up metal, etc, but scared the beejesus out of me. Wife and children begged me to quit. It didn't take much begging. Wanted me to promise I'd never ride a M/C again. I'm glad I didn't give my word. 30 years in the Navy and 27 years later, I bought a 99 KLR. First day I fell over in my yard. "OK, phat balding ol guy, how are you going to pick this up". Rode very carefully in my FL neighborhood for a week. Took every riding course I could find. Passed each. Took the experienced course again, when after 2 weeks, I realized that I hadn't paid attention enough the first time. Practised at low speed almost every day. My off road is limited to gravel and some mud. Scared myself so bad in a backroads turn (riding way past my ability), that it required some time to pick all of the vinyl out of my backside Several times, I said to myself "Self, M/C's are inherently dangerous, The full armor you bought makes a great body bag, etc, etc." Almost forgot....... This Thursday evening, I'm leaving for Alaska on the Butt Ugly KLR with the son who in 1980, begged me to quit riding. He's riding a v-strom, but then again, he's a helo pilot stationed in TX... Same squardon ol Revmartin was in. Nuff said. My bottom line.... If it causes you to feel good, gives you any kind of pleasure, then Just friggin do it. You ever notice how many times a baby falls down, bump their heads and scrape themselves up, learning to walk? If you want to ride to AK with 2 young, buff, Naval Aviators and one retired, overweight, out of shape semi-geezer, catch us either in Salt Lake City NLT May 27th or at Fastoys, Kawii dealer on Rt 2 in Kalispell, MT on May 30th. We're going via the Going to the Sun hwy over Galcier Nat'l park, up the icefields parkway, to Jasper, most likely up 40 thru Grand Praire and NW from there. Wayne Barcomb Cell 352-428-0100 --------------------------------- Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Herm Halbach]

Please bare with me, this is a story from a 62 year old daily rider, and it's not about riding(or, is it?). Many years ago I, on a whim, thought I would go downhill snow skiing after having not for a decade. I got my equipment together and prepared correctly because my past experience was in depth and I knew to ask the right questions relative to any improvements. I took my time getting ready, preparation being key, and was proud to have the coordination necessary to get to the chair lift. Knowing that I had been away for a while I humbly chose to get on the lift to the top of an intermediate slope, rather than the expert slopes. The view was wonderful and invigorating all the way up. My only bother was wondering why I hadn't continued this wonderful outdoor experience. I remembered all that was necessary to perform a coordinated exit from the chair and didn't once embarrass myself. Here I was at the top of the world, just God and me, wow! I negotiated the U-turn necessary to present myself to the slope and my first opportunity to look down. Oh, my God(!), intermediate slopes aren't suppose to be this steep, they weren't before, were they?!?! Every muscle in my body froze even contained within perfectly warm ski clothing. For those who have skied I don't have to tell you what happened next. I couldn't take the lift back down and there was only one egotistical way home, down the cliff. I did not ski that slope, that time, I rolled into a massive snow ball all the way to the bottom. I went into the lodge to warm up and get my wits together. My girl friend, who was not a skier, met me and we had a good recuperative period together. If she had not been there, and I knew no one else there, I would have declared defeat, tail between my legs, and gone home. She said, "well, it's still early you must really want to get back out there!". I humbly went back out to the bunny slope to see if I could regain some semblance of being an adequate skier. I practiced and practiced and found what I forgotten a decade ago, (as with motorcycling) speed and fluidity "are my friend". There is no control when stopped and control is enhanced relative to how much faster you are going, up to the point with which the environment and self able reactions dictate. The slower one goes, skiing or motorcycling, the less control is available. Later that day, I, once again, went to the top of the intermediate slope and skied all the way down without a fall. Because I maintained the correct speed for the situation I was able to faithfully cut the edges of my skis and maintain safe and fun control. What I learned from that day I have applied to my riding, as well. * I have to attempt to maintain the most speed to maintain the most control allowed. * I cannot ever let fear master my need to react, to a perceived emergency, or I am lost. * When in a perceived emergency my survival depends on assessing the situation calculatingly (if I survive, later I can let the fear set in). * If I don't know whether an attempted stop or a hit the throttle is correct, hit the throttle to attempt to maintain control (jump the curb). * Life is a risk that I will always accept utilizing all the education and resources I can muster. * I will make do with what I have if it seems reasonable enough so as to not be denied adventure. * It's better to become a human snowball than to never have tried at all. Herm "Paint" A15 At 11:19 PM 5/22/2007, you wrote:

>----- Original Message ---- >From: James Flower >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 6:49:04 PM >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Afraid to Ride >James of Humboldt wrote.. > > >.... >2. Your post prompted me to face my own fear. I rode road -- street >really -- for decades, virtually zero dirt experience. Last fall my >buddy took me on some local fire trails. I low-sided twice, once on >each side, hitting hard and fast. Lots of strawberries, a bruised >rib, real sore for a week or two. I could blame it on my Slipsters, >but really it was being too uptight about taking up dirt at 53. For >examples, I suffered obstacle fixation, which I knew about and had >avoided in street riding, and couldn't stop instinctively tucking in >and leaning into turns (hence the low side crashes). The KLR >sustained minor damage. >--James of Humboldt >.... > > >That describes me in a nutshell.... learning to ride dirt at age 55 >after 40 + years on the street. >Got the urge to complete a life long goal of going to the remote, >dirt road only, areas of baja before I get too much older. > >I knew going in that I might fall alot on dirt... so the choice >became ... spend money on dirt bike training versus trying to figure >out how to do it myself.... broken bones...bent bikes etc. > >So I spent the money to go to Admo-tours training and Jimmy Lewis >School.... at my age worth every penny. Key lesson learned. >Starting to learn to ride dirt on KLR is not the best way... it is >buzz kill while learning the basics... but it is a great bike for >running dirt based adventure tours once dirt bike skills are assimilated. > >Even after my first lessons... I fell on the KLR and broke a wrist >and damage my shoulder. This happened on a ride to Death Valley from >Burbank.... rode the KLR to DV... took in in to a remote canyon, >fell and broke wrist... rode it out and home 300 miles. The reason >for this fall... fatigue... every off road get off I have had is >after passing the point of " I'm so tired that I wish I was home" >moment. Did anybody mention that riding dirt is tiring... doing the >squat thrusts from sitting to standing to sitting over and oave >again wears me out at least. BTW the KLR works best in dirt if you >stand on the pegs... > >So I am looking for a "real" dirt bike to buy and practice dirt on. >I am hoping that after a peroid of time the skills acquired much >more easily on a pure dirt bike will naturally transfer to the KLR. > >and the right off road riding gear is key... MX boots, >knee/elbow/wrist/chest protection, etc.. > >HTH > >Randy from Burbank

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Tengai Mark Van Horn wrote:

> If you're afraid to ride after such a minor spill, you should sell > the bike. > If you're convinced you still want to ride, practice lots on a

closed

> course, and once you stomach the idea that you can be turned into > hamburger any time, then go out on the open road. > > > I'm wondering: Should I give up riding? Should I get a smaller > > bike? Should I get back on the bike I have, even if I might

freeze up

> > from fear when I'm on it? Any constructive input would be

appreciated. Well, here's my story. In 1984 I crashed my Honda XL350. Concussion, broken wrist, and worst of all hot oil dripped down on my foot, soaked through my leather boot, and I am now missing a large chunk of my left foot that the burning hot oil literally burned through. Recovery from this took most of a year. By 1986, however, I was riding again. I bought a Honda FT500 Ascot, sweet little bike BTW, sad I had to sell it in 1990 when I moved to Houston but I needed the money more than I needed the bike. I rode that FT500 on many long multi-day trips with a milk crate bungeeded to the tail rack and a bookpack on my back as my "luggage". Its only real drawback was a serious lack of power above 65mph, not a big deal in those days of 55mph speed limits but made passing on two-lane roads sometimes hairier than it should be. Even today, I'm quite a bit more cautious than I was in 1984. The ache from my left foot every time the weather changes is plenty of reminder of pain. There's been places I've ridden where I look at the "road" or trail in front of me, and say "eh, I can ride that, but I don't want to" and just turn around and go elsewhere. My KLR is hardened pretty well, but let's face it, there's some places a 420-pound bike just isn't fun to ride, and I'm not a teenager anymore who has to do things just to somehow "prove" something. I've considered getting a smaller/lighter bike for offroad use simply because I'm not a big enough guy for the KLR to be fun for me on anything other than a reasonable two-track or pavement. If that means that a certain person on this list thinks I'm a wuss, here's my reply to him: ....................../ /) ....................,/ ../ .................../..../ ............./ /'...'/ ` ........../'/.../..../......./... ........('(... ... .... ~/'...') .........\.................'..... ..........''...\.......... _. ............\..............( ..............\.............\.... (If you can't see it, try a fixed-width font . Point being, be careful, ride your ride, and you'll be fine. And ride the proper gear, of course. It doesn't always help, but at least it'll give you some reassurance that if you fall again, you'll likely not break something important... _E

[Ronald Criswell]

Drink more and listen to Carlos Santana when frightened by the montana peaks. Might help. Motorcylcling? Listen to Merle Haggard singing "Going with the Flow." Criswell who is trying to learn how to breath at 12,000 ft. altitude again with boards on my feet. The view es bueno.

On May 23, 2007, at 10:52 AM, Herm Halbach wrote: > Please bare with me, this is a story from a 62 year old daily rider, > and it's not about riding(or, is it?). > > Many years ago I, on a whim, thought I would go downhill snow skiing > after having not for a decade. I got my equipment together and > prepared correctly because my past experience was in depth and I knew > to ask the right questions relative to any improvements. I took my > time getting ready, preparation being key, and was proud to have the > coordination necessary to get to the chair lift. Knowing that I had > been away for a while I humbly chose to get on the lift to the top of > an intermediate slope, rather than the expert slopes. The view was > wonderful and invigorating all the way up. My only bother was > wondering why I hadn't continued this wonderful outdoor > experience. I remembered all that was necessary to perform a > coordinated exit from the chair and didn't once embarrass > myself. Here I was at the top of the world, just God and me, wow! I > negotiated the U-turn necessary to present myself to the slope and my > first opportunity to look down. > > Oh, my God(!), intermediate slopes aren't suppose to be this steep, > they weren't before, were they?!?! Every muscle in my body froze > even contained within perfectly warm ski clothing. For those who > have skied I don't have to tell you what happened next. I couldn't > take the lift back down and there was only one egotistical way home, > down the cliff. > > I did not ski that slope, that time, I rolled into a massive snow > ball all the way to the bottom. I went into the lodge to warm up and > get my wits together. My girl friend, who was not a skier, met me > and we had a good recuperative period together. If she had not been > there, and I knew no one else there, I would have declared defeat, > tail between my legs, and gone home. She said, "well, it's still > early you must really want to get back out there!". > > I humbly went back out to the bunny slope to see if I could regain > some semblance of being an adequate skier. I practiced and practiced > and found what I forgotten a decade ago, (as with motorcycling) speed > and fluidity "are my friend". There is no control when stopped and > control is enhanced relative to how much faster you are going, up to > the point with which the environment and self able reactions > dictate. The slower one goes, skiing or motorcycling, the less > control is available. > > Later that day, I, once again, went to the top of the intermediate > slope and skied all the way down without a fall. Because I > maintained the correct speed for the situation I was able to > faithfully cut the edges of my skis and maintain safe and fun control. > > What I learned from that day I have applied to my riding, as well. > > * I have to attempt to maintain the most speed to maintain the most > control allowed. > * I cannot ever let fear master my need to react, to a perceived > emergency, or I am lost. > * When in a perceived emergency my survival depends on assessing the > situation calculatingly (if I survive, later I can let the fear set > in). > * If I don't know whether an attempted stop or a hit the throttle is > correct, hit the throttle to attempt to maintain control (jump the > curb). > * Life is a risk that I will always accept utilizing all the > education and resources I can muster. > * I will make do with what I have if it seems reasonable enough so > as to not be denied adventure. > * It's better to become a human snowball than to never have tried > at all. > > Herm > "Paint" A15 > > At 11:19 PM 5/22/2007, you wrote: > >----- Original Message ---- > >From: James Flower > >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > >Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 6:49:04 PM > >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Afraid to Ride > >James of Humboldt wrote.. > > > > > >.... > >2. Your post prompted me to face my own fear. I rode road -- street > >really -- for decades, virtually zero dirt experience. Last fall my > >buddy took me on some local fire trails. I low-sided twice, once on > >each side, hitting hard and fast. Lots of strawberries, a bruised > >rib, real sore for a week or two. I could blame it on my Slipsters, > >but really it was being too uptight about taking up dirt at 53. For > >examples, I suffered obstacle fixation, which I knew about and had > >avoided in street riding, and couldn't stop instinctively tucking in > >and leaning into turns (hence the low side crashes). The KLR > >sustained minor damage. > >--James of Humboldt > >.... > > > > > >That describes me in a nutshell.... learning to ride dirt at age 55 > >after 40 + years on the street. > >Got the urge to complete a life long goal of going to the remote, > >dirt road only, areas of baja before I get too much older. > > > >I knew going in that I might fall alot on dirt... so the choice > >became ... spend money on dirt bike training versus trying to figure > >out how to do it myself.... broken bones...bent bikes etc. > > > >So I spent the money to go to Admo-tours training and Jimmy Lewis > >School.... at my age worth every penny. Key lesson learned. > >Starting to learn to ride dirt on KLR is not the best way... it is > >buzz kill while learning the basics... but it is a great bike for > >running dirt based adventure tours once dirt bike skills are > assimilated. > > > >Even after my first lessons... I fell on the KLR and broke a wrist > >and damage my shoulder. This happened on a ride to Death Valley from > >Burbank.... rode the KLR to DV... took in in to a remote canyon, > >fell and broke wrist... rode it out and home 300 miles. The reason > >for this fall... fatigue... every off road get off I have had is > >after passing the point of " I'm so tired that I wish I was home" > >moment. Did anybody mention that riding dirt is tiring... doing the > >squat thrusts from sitting to standing to sitting over and oave > >again wears me out at least. BTW the KLR works best in dirt if you > >stand on the pegs... > > > >So I am looking for a "real" dirt bike to buy and practice dirt on. > >I am hoping that after a peroid of time the skills acquired much > >more easily on a pure dirt bike will naturally transfer to the KLR. > > > >and the right off road riding gear is key... MX boots, > >knee/elbow/wrist/chest protection, etc.. > > > >HTH > > > >Randy from Burbank > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Max Sinklair]

"The reason for this fall... fatigue... every off road get off I have had is after passing the point of " I'm so tired that I wish I was home" moment. Did anybody mention that riding dirt is tiring..." Just a side comment. I'm not sure how much you were hydrated at the time. I found a bottle of water on the trail has help with my fatigue... ____________________________________________________________________________________ No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail

[Kerry Stottlemyer]

Good point Caffeine intake, lack of food and/or water alcohol intake will all exaggerate fatigue (yes even caffeine. Although it give you a "pick me up" you have to land sometime and usually without landing gear) Well fed and rested is the way to go. Oh and if you are in an area that the weather is make you sweat more then normal eat something with some salt in it it could save your life. Kerry

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Max Sinklair wrote: > > "The reason for this fall... fatigue... every off road > get off I have had is after passing the point of " I'm > so tired that I wish I was home" moment. Did anybody > mention that riding dirt is tiring..." > > Just a side comment. I'm not sure how much you were > hydrated at the time. I found a bottle of water on > the trail has help with my fatigue... > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go > with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail >

[L Lovering]

Without a doubt, a KLR 650 is NOT the bike on which to resume riding after many years of abstinence. . Have to just put in my two cents worth here by relating my experience with returning to riding . After a twenty year hiatus which followed only about two years of riding a 450 Honda Nighthawk, I purchased a brand new 2005 KLR 650. It is a tall and awkward bike I will admit but so much fun to ride. I had never taken a MSR course but two weeks after I got the bike I was able to take a dual sport course, and I think that this really improved my confidence. I think it is a personal thing. It's nice to see a topic other than oil, tires and doohickey... By the way I'm only 5'61/2" and I'm a woman for what it's worth. Lesley KLR650 A19 _,_._,___ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]