klr..right for me??

[Mike Peplinski]

Now for the report you've been anxiously awaiting!. My son just purchased a new Husqvarna 610 SM. Thats the super motard version of their 610 dual sport enduro. As hard as I pushed the KLR the final vote went to the 610. This bike is just plain awesome!. For those of you (us) who like the "sm" look, this is your bike. Forget about the Suzuki, its a paltry 400cc. You'll be winding it out on the freeway like a minibike. The 610 is happily spinning along at 70MPH with no problems. Obviously a more race oriented company, many parts are simply added on or clamped as an afterthought (like the crappy fuel evaporative control system), but they are easily removed with no evidence of their ever being there. The plastic is pretty nice but the headlight is very tiny. The little grill on the headlight is cheesy and the rear fender looks like it could easily be snapped off its mounting. The plastic fuel tank is pretty small at just a couple of gallons but the covers look very nice. The passenger foot pegs are bolted on and they look like an afterthought. I think they are. I don't see a lot of 2-up riding on the skinney seat. Remembert, this is a race bred bike. The entire bike smacks of quality. Unlike the reported "cheap" feel and look of some KLR appointments, the Husky is very classy. Well worth the $7400 pricetag. That's 2 grand more than the KLR, but its got some serious hardware attached to that beautifully welded frame. The forks look like a sumo wrestler's thighs. Inverted "Mar"-something or anothers, Brembo brakes that will do stoppies if you aren't careful, race bred rear shock and spring. Fat spoked wheels that look like they came off a SCA sports car, Pirelli Diablo radial tires-and so on. The speed/tach gage is a little, tiny LCD digital readout with bars. This seems to be the trend in these supermotard bikes. I really don't like it. When I ride I find myself looking at the position of the gage needles rather than the actual numbers. With a digital readout you have to read the numbers. Plus you have to push buttons to get the right settings every time you start it. Its like a treadmill readout, you have choices at the touch of a button. The gage is located below my field of view. I didn't like this, but I suppose you get used to some things. The seat is the proverbial "padded banana". Not all that uncomfortable but then not that bad. Its much better than the Suzuki DR. I can't see 500 miles days! For you "iron butt" riders, you may want to consider "rubber butt" because the seat feels like iron. The carb is sort of wierd. Its a Kehein but it has an accelerator pump and 2 chokes, one for cold start and one for hot start. You need to use them both at the appropriate time. I find this setup sort of goofy. If you don't like the location of the KLR choke wou really won't like the Husky. They are both on the carb, located very near each other. You really have to get used to this bike. So far the idle is very unstable. It wants to idle at 2000 RPM. When we set it lower it re-sets itself to the higher number. So far I've dialled it down 4 times, and it just pulls itself back up to 2000. The dealer was no help. So how does it ride? I got to take the demo bike out and beat it, I mean ride it, a bit. After getting off my KLR and right on the Husky it ffelt much lighter. At 313 pounds, it is. The muffler sounds like a Supertrap, but it isn't. Really barks. Just touch the throttle and it snaps to a higher RPM. I took off at what I thought was a moderate pace, letting the clutch out and twisting the throttle gently in the dealer's lot and promptly pulled a mild wheelie! This thing has Torque, with a capital "T". Reportedly it will hold a wheelies in gears 1 through 3 with no effort. I believe it. On the road the vibration is about the same as the KLR. Maybe a little harsher, but not much. Everything is so tight. Remember, the bike was brand new. The throttle response is just as good on the road as in the lot. Just roll a little and you're there. About 53 horses really gets the work done. HIgh speed acceleration is not neck snapping. Its really similar to the KLR. Faster, but not sport bike land. Handling is pretty much what you'd expect. Actually I was a bit disappointed. My KLR has street tires on it, Dunlop 607's and the handling felt almost the same. I can flick the KLR very nicely through the cones and the Husky was very comparable. I can only imagine what the KRL would do with low profile radial 17 inch tires. To sum up this rather long report, style and looks; SM 610 over KLR; -handling, KLR-equal, engine-SM 610 a bit over KLR, comfort; KLR a bit over SM 610, fit and finish SM 610 over KLR, but the 08 may change this; Riding, KLR over SM 610, dealer support; don't know, I don't go to my dealer for anything but parts, web support; KLR over Husky; "gotta have one" factor Husky over KLR. Overall if style is your thing this may be your bike. If you're a "gotta have" guy or gal, go for Husky. For total performance I"m sure the 610 will outperform the KLR. But then the $2000 should buy something. My choice will be the KLR. Its a little more "together" than the SM. The Husky feels like a racer, but then it really is. The bike is just a little too edgy for me. We haven't gotten to the parts thing yet and we've already found the on line support is rather thin. Dealer support is about non-existant. Our local dealer also sells Harley. That should pretty much expalin things in that department. Husqvarna motorcycle is now owned by Cagiva, the Italian company who also owns MV Augusta. Their influence shows. The bike is a real "machine" in every sense of the word. Loaded with character. Unlike the KLR which is more market driven, more intent on satisfying a broader range of customers and selling in big numbers, the Husky will probably appeal to a small segment. Much like the other European bikes. Its a lot cheaper than the BMW G bike and much better looking, to me. The budding supermotard market should really eat this thing up. Its a great bike. Ducati's new "Hyper motard" is expected to really open up that market as is Aprilia's proposed supermotard. Maybe an "SM-KLR" is in the offing? I doubt it, but then again did we really think we'd get a new KLR in 08? Have fun boys and girls and ride often; ride safe! _________________________________________________________________ Get a preview of Live Earth, the hottest event this summer - only on MSN http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthhm

[Randy S]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Peplinski" wrote:

> > Now for the report you've been anxiously awaiting!. My son just

purchased a

> new Husqvarna 610 SM.

--- Mike, did your son look at Husky's SM510R also? I think that bike is based on their newer platform and is about 50 lbs lighter than the 610. Just curious.

[Russell Scott]

Like I tell all my friends with XRR's. The KLR is as much a dirt bike as an XRR (owned one for 7 years) is a adventure tourer. Same with these Huskies, and any other high strung dirt bike pretending to be a adventure tourer. They both cross into the other bikes territory, but it is still Apples and Oranges, Apples and Oranges, ... R -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Mike Peplinski Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 5:45 AM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR vs Husky SM 610 (LONG) Now for the report you've been anxiously awaiting!. My son just purchased a new Husqvarna 610 SM. Thats the super motard version of their 610 dual sport enduro. As hard as I pushed the KLR the final vote went to the 610. This bike is just plain awesome!. For those of you (us) who like the "sm" look, this is your bike. Forget about the Suzuki, its a paltry 400cc. You'll be winding it out on the freeway like a minibike. The 610 is happily spinning along at 70MPH with no problems. Obviously a more race oriented company, many parts are simply added on or clamped as an afterthought (like the crappy fuel evaporative control system), but they are easily removed with no evidence of their ever being there. The plastic is pretty nice but the headlight is very tiny. The little grill on the headlight is cheesy and the rear fender looks like it could easily be snapped off its mounting. The plastic fuel tank is pretty small at just a couple of gallons but the covers look very nice. The passenger foot pegs are bolted on and they look like an afterthought. I think they are. I don't see a lot of 2-up riding on the skinney seat. Remembert, this is a race bred bike. The entire bike smacks of quality. Unlike the reported "cheap" feel and look of some KLR appointments, the Husky is very classy. Well worth the $7400 pricetag. That's 2 grand more than the KLR, but its got some serious hardware attached to that beautifully welded frame. The forks look like a sumo wrestler's thighs. Inverted "Mar"-something or anothers, Brembo brakes that will do stoppies if you aren't careful, race bred rear shock and spring. Fat spoked wheels that look like they came off a SCA sports car, Pirelli Diablo radial tires-and so on. The speed/tach gage is a little, tiny LCD digital readout with bars. This seems to be the trend in these supermotard bikes. I really don't like it. When I ride I find myself looking at the position of the gage needles rather than the actual numbers. With a digital readout you have to read the numbers. Plus you have to push buttons to get the right settings every time you start it. Its like a treadmill readout, you have choices at the touch of a button. The gage is located below my field of view. I didn't like this, but I suppose you get used to some things. The seat is the proverbial "padded banana". Not all that uncomfortable but then not that bad. Its much better than the Suzuki DR. I can't see 500 miles days! For you "iron butt" riders, you may want to consider "rubber butt" because the seat feels like iron. The carb is sort of wierd. Its a Kehein but it has an accelerator pump and 2 chokes, one for cold start and one for hot start. You need to use them both at the appropriate time. I find this setup sort of goofy. If you don't like the location of the KLR choke wou really won't like the Husky. They are both on the carb, located very near each other. You really have to get used to this bike. So far the idle is very unstable. It wants to idle at 2000 RPM. When we set it lower it re-sets itself to the higher number. So far I've dialled it down 4 times, and it just pulls itself back up to 2000. The dealer was no help. So how does it ride? I got to take the demo bike out and beat it, I mean ride it, a bit. After getting off my KLR and right on the Husky it ffelt much lighter. At 313 pounds, it is. The muffler sounds like a Supertrap, but it isn't. Really barks. Just touch the throttle and it snaps to a higher RPM. I took off at what I thought was a moderate pace, letting the clutch out and twisting the throttle gently in the dealer's lot and promptly pulled a mild wheelie! This thing has Torque, with a capital "T". Reportedly it will hold a wheelies in gears 1 through 3 with no effort. I believe it. On the road the vibration is about the same as the KLR. Maybe a little harsher, but not much. Everything is so tight. Remember, the bike was brand new. The throttle response is just as good on the road as in the lot. Just roll a little and you're there. About 53 horses really gets the work done. HIgh speed acceleration is not neck snapping. Its really similar to the KLR. Faster, but not sport bike land. Handling is pretty much what you'd expect. Actually I was a bit disappointed. My KLR has street tires on it, Dunlop 607's and the handling felt almost the same. I can flick the KLR very nicely through the cones and the Husky was very comparable. I can only imagine what the KRL would do with low profile radial 17 inch tires. To sum up this rather long report, style and looks; SM 610 over KLR; -handling, KLR-equal, engine-SM 610 a bit over KLR, comfort; KLR a bit over SM 610, fit and finish SM 610 over KLR, but the 08 may change this; Riding, KLR over SM 610, dealer support; don't know, I don't go to my dealer for anything but parts, web support; KLR over Husky; "gotta have one" factor Husky over KLR. Overall if style is your thing this may be your bike. If you're a "gotta have" guy or gal, go for Husky. For total performance I"m sure the 610 will outperform the KLR. But then the $2000 should buy something. My choice will be the KLR. Its a little more "together" than the SM. The Husky feels like a racer, but then it really is. The bike is just a little too edgy for me. We haven't gotten to the parts thing yet and we've already found the on line support is rather thin. Dealer support is about non-existant. Our local dealer also sells Harley. That should pretty much expalin things in that department. Husqvarna motorcycle is now owned by Cagiva, the Italian company who also owns MV Augusta. Their influence shows. The bike is a real "machine" in every sense of the word. Loaded with character. Unlike the KLR which is more market driven, more intent on satisfying a broader range of customers and selling in big numbers, the Husky will probably appeal to a small segment. Much like the other European bikes. Its a lot cheaper than the BMW G bike and much better looking, to me. The budding supermotard market should really eat this thing up. Its a great bike. Ducati's new "Hyper motard" is expected to really open up that market as is Aprilia's proposed supermotard. Maybe an "SM-KLR" is in the offing? I doubt it, but then again did we really think we'd get a new KLR in 08? Have fun boys and girls and ride often; ride safe! __________________________________________________________ Get a preview of Live Earth, the hottest event this summer - only on MSN http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthhm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Thor Lancelot Simon]

On Wed, Jun 20, 2007 at 07:44:56AM -0500, Mike Peplinski wrote:

> Now for the report you've been anxiously awaiting!. My son just purchased a > new Husqvarna 610 SM. Thats the super motard version of their 610 dual sport > enduro. As hard as I pushed the KLR the final vote went to the 610. This > bike is just plain awesome!. For those of you (us) who like the "sm" look, > this is your bike. Forget about the Suzuki, its a paltry 400cc. You'll be > winding it out on the freeway like a minibike. The 610 is happily spinning > along at 70MPH with no problems.

Did you take a look at the KTM? I have heard good things about the Husky supermoto but have only had a chance to see the KTM and ride it around the dealership lot a bit -- they sound very similar and I'd love to find someone who's tried them both. Thor

[Ronald Criswell]

That's true .... but I still wish KAWA had made a more dirt orientated adventure bike than the new Busa KLR. I don't think that new purty plastic is going to do too well with what we do with them. Tim at Happy Trails must burning the mid night oil making new crash guards. Sure would like a listers report on the suspension mods and engine mods as far as we are concerned on dirt stuff. The seat looks to be an improvement. Criswell

On Jun 20, 2007, at 4:10 PM, Russell Scott wrote: > Like I tell all my friends with XRR's. The KLR is as much a dirt > bike as an > XRR (owned one for 7 years) is a adventure tourer. Same with these > Huskies, > and any other high strung dirt bike pretending to be a adventure > tourer. > They both cross into the other bikes territory, but it is still > Apples and > Oranges, Apples and Oranges, ... > > R > -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com[mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On > Behalf Of Mike Peplinski > Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 5:45 AM > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR vs Husky SM 610 (LONG) > > Now for the report you've been anxiously awaiting!. My son just > purchased > a > new Husqvarna 610 SM. Thats the super motard version of their 610 dual > sport > enduro. As hard as I pushed the KLR the final vote went to the 610. > This > bike is just plain awesome!. For those of you (us) who like the > "sm" look, > this is your bike. Forget about the Suzuki, its a paltry 400cc. > You'll be > winding it out on the freeway like a minibike. The 610 is happily > spinning > along at 70MPH with no problems. > > Obviously a more race oriented company, many parts are simply added > on or > clamped as an afterthought (like the crappy fuel evaporative control > system), but they are easily removed with no evidence of their ever > being > there. The plastic is pretty nice but the headlight is very tiny. The > little > grill on the headlight is cheesy and the rear fender looks like it > could > easily be snapped off its mounting. The plastic fuel tank is pretty > small > at > just a couple of gallons but the covers look very nice. The > passenger foot > pegs are bolted on and they look like an afterthought. I think they > are. I > don't see a lot of 2-up riding on the skinney seat. Remembert, this > is a > race bred bike. The entire bike smacks of quality. Unlike the reported > "cheap" feel and look of some KLR appointments, the Husky is very > classy. > Well worth the $7400 pricetag. That's 2 grand more than the KLR, > but its > got > some serious hardware attached to that beautifully welded frame. > The forks > look like a sumo wrestler's thighs. Inverted "Mar"-something or > anothers, > Brembo brakes that will do stoppies if you aren't careful, race > bred rear > shock and spring. Fat spoked wheels that look like they came off a SCA > sports car, Pirelli Diablo radial tires-and so on. > > The speed/tach gage is a little, tiny LCD digital readout with > bars. This > seems to be the trend in these supermotard bikes. I really don't > like it. > When I ride I find myself looking at the position of the gage needles > rather > than the actual numbers. With a digital readout you have to read the > numbers. Plus you have to push buttons to get the right settings every > time > you start it. Its like a treadmill readout, you have choices at the > touch > of > a button. The gage is located below my field of view. I didn't like > this, > but I suppose you get used to some things. > > The seat is the proverbial "padded banana". Not all that > uncomfortable but > then not that bad. Its much better than the Suzuki DR. I can't see 500 > miles > days! For you "iron butt" riders, you may want to consider "rubber > butt" > because the seat feels like iron. > > The carb is sort of wierd. Its a Kehein but it has an accelerator > pump and > 2 > chokes, one for cold start and one for hot start. You need to use them > both > at the appropriate time. I find this setup sort of goofy. If you don't > like > the location of the KLR choke wou really won't like the Husky. They > are > both > on the carb, located very near each other. You really have to get > used to > this bike. So far the idle is very unstable. It wants to idle at > 2000 RPM. > When we set it lower it re-sets itself to the higher number. So far > I've > dialled it down 4 times, and it just pulls itself back up to 2000. The > dealer was no help. > > So how does it ride? I got to take the demo bike out and beat it, I > mean > ride it, a bit. After getting off my KLR and right on the Husky it > ffelt > much lighter. At 313 pounds, it is. The muffler sounds like a > Supertrap, > but > it isn't. Really barks. Just touch the throttle and it snaps to a > higher > RPM. I took off at what I thought was a moderate pace, letting the > clutch > out and twisting the throttle gently in the dealer's lot and promptly > pulled > a mild wheelie! This thing has Torque, with a capital "T". > Reportedly it > will hold a wheelies in gears 1 through 3 with no effort. I believe > it. On > the road the vibration is about the same as the KLR. Maybe a little > harsher, > but not much. Everything is so tight. Remember, the bike was brand > new. > The > throttle response is just as good on the road as in the lot. Just > roll a > little and you're there. About 53 horses really gets the work done. > HIgh > speed acceleration is not neck snapping. Its really similar to the > KLR. > Faster, but not sport bike land. Handling is pretty much what you'd > expect. > Actually I was a bit disappointed. My KLR has street tires on it, > Dunlop > 607's and the handling felt almost the same. I can flick the KLR very > nicely > through the cones and the Husky was very comparable. I can only > imagine > what > the KRL would do with low profile radial 17 inch tires. > > To sum up this rather long report, style and looks; SM 610 over KLR; > -handling, KLR-equal, engine-SM 610 a bit over KLR, comfort; KLR a bit > over > SM 610, fit and finish SM 610 over KLR, but the 08 may change this; > Riding, > KLR over SM 610, dealer support; don't know, I don't go to my > dealer for > anything but parts, web support; KLR over Husky; "gotta have one" > factor > Husky over KLR. > > Overall if style is your thing this may be your bike. If you're a > "gotta > have" guy or gal, go for Husky. For total performance I"m sure the 610 > will > outperform the KLR. But then the $2000 should buy something. My choice > will > be the KLR. Its a little more "together" than the SM. The Husky > feels like > a > racer, but then it really is. The bike is just a little too edgy > for me. > > We haven't gotten to the parts thing yet and we've already found > the on > line > support is rather thin. Dealer support is about non-existant. Our > local > dealer also sells Harley. That should pretty much expalin things in > that > department. > > Husqvarna motorcycle is now owned by Cagiva, the Italian company > who also > owns MV Augusta. Their influence shows. The bike is a real > "machine" in > every sense of the word. Loaded with character. Unlike the KLR > which is > more > market driven, more intent on satisfying a broader range of > customers and > selling in big numbers, the Husky will probably appeal to a small > segment. > Much like the other European bikes. Its a lot cheaper than the BMW > G bike > and much better looking, to me. The budding supermotard market should > really > eat this thing up. Its a great bike. Ducati's new "Hyper motard" is > expected > to really open up that market as is Aprilia's proposed supermotard. > Maybe > an > "SM-KLR" is in the offing? I doubt it, but then again did we really > think > we'd get a new KLR in 08? > > Have fun boys and girls and ride often; ride safe! > > __________________________________________________________ > Get a preview of Live Earth, the hottest event this summer - only > on MSN > http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthhm > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Randy S]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Russell Scott" wrote:

> > Like I tell all my friends with XRR's. The KLR is as much a dirt

bike as an

> XRR (owned one for 7 years) is a adventure tourer. Same with these

Huskies,

> and any other high strung dirt bike pretending to be a adventure

tourer. --- To be fair, a super-moto isn't trying to be an adventure tourer. I think the original poster said his son wanted a super-moto, and he was trying to talk him into a KLR. To me, the KLR is the one trying to be something it's not in that particular case.

[Russell Scott]

Ok, high strung dirt bikes with street tires and big rotor in front. Apples and Oranges, Apples and Oranges, ... R -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Randy S Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 8:50 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR vs Husky SM 610 (LONG)

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Russell Scott" wrote: > > Like I tell all my friends with XRR's. The KLR is as much a dirt bike as an > XRR (owned one for 7 years) is a adventure tourer. Same with these Huskies, > and any other high strung dirt bike pretending to be a adventure tourer. --- To be fair, a super-moto isn't trying to be an adventure tourer. I think the original poster said his son wanted a super-moto, and he was trying to talk him into a KLR. To me, the KLR is the one trying to be something it's not in that particular case. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Mike Peplinski]

The KLR makes for a pretty good "street" super moto if properly dressed up. The Husky is a race bike with lights. This bike was designed and built to race. The KLR has been acknowledged as a Swiss Army Knife. Its excells at nothing in particular but does everything well. The comparison of KLR to Husky is strictly categorical in that both are motorcycles. But then many KLRista ride KLR's and farkle them up to be more enduro-like, even though they will only see the trail from a paved road. Apples and oranges? From a performance view, they are not in the same category. From a "fun ride" perspective they are oranges to oranges, or maybe more like persimmons to persimmons.

>From: "Russell Scott" >To: "KListeRs" DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> >Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR vs Husky SM 610 (LONG) >Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:31:07 -0700 > >Ok, high strung dirt bikes with street tires and big rotor in front. >Apples >and Oranges, Apples and Oranges, ... > >R > -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On >Behalf Of Randy S > Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 8:50 PM > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR vs Husky SM 610 (LONG) > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Russell Scott" wrote: > > > > Like I tell all my friends with XRR's. The KLR is as much a dirt > bike as an > > XRR (owned one for 7 years) is a adventure tourer. Same with these > Huskies, > > and any other high strung dirt bike pretending to be a adventure > tourer. > --- > > To be fair, a super-moto isn't trying to be an adventure tourer. I > think the original poster said his son wanted a super-moto, and he was > trying to talk him into a KLR. To me, the KLR is the one trying to be > something it's not in that particular case. > > > > > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > >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 > > >

_________________________________________________________________ Like puzzles? Play free games & earn great prizes. Play Clink now. http://club.live.com/clink.aspx?icid=clink_hotmailtextlink2

[tlh]

I found the Zuke seat to be a wee bit narrow for long trip comfort.... albatross

----- Original Message ----- From: Randy S To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 8:32 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re:Klr..right for me?? Take the two extremes of your intended use, trails to the fishing hole and occasional long trips. The KLR may be one of the very few best bikes to span those two extremes. A more dirt oriented dual sport, like a Suzuki DRZ400 will handle tougher trails, but isn't going to be as comfortable on long trips, in my opinion, while a Suzuki baby Strom (DL650) will be better for long trips but not (nearly) as capable on trails, again in my opinion. There are a couple of other bikes that fit in approximately teh KLR niche or span of capabilities. The Suzuki DR650SE and the BMW 650 dual sport come to mind. The first has a more limited aftermarket, which may or may not matter, while the second is significantly more money. I think they are both very nice bike, though, and both have some pluses versus the KLR, especially for those of us who are inseam challenged. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]