nklr: looking for riding amigos for baja and/or copper canyon

[Pat Schmid]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Andrus Chesley" wrote:

> > It's the rider more than the bike. The bike will help out equal riders > only. > >

And your point is? Aren't we talking about all things being considered equal what is the better dirt bike? I mean yea. a good rider will smoke a lesser rider every time. Question is, am I the better rider, or am I the lesser rider? Pat G'ville, NV

[Pat Schmid]

Back in 19 hunert and 69 we were riding Honda 90s, JC Penny 125s, Sears & Roebuck 250s or anything else that we could put knobbies on. Being we had the Stanislaus NF for our back yard we were out in the mud and blood and didn't know our bikes weren't tough enough to be there. We were hill climbing the power line service roads and free falling our way back down. If you got to the bottom still sitting on the saddle you called it a victory. Pat G'ville, NV

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Ron Criswell wrote: > > It wasn't tough dirt riding as > most of us were on Honda 90's, Honda 160's, Suzuki and Duacati 250's > that were street bikes. Just a place to climb the modest levee and drag > race in the dirt. >

[Chris]

> From: "Pat Schmid" > Subject: Re: New KLR > > Stu, > Running the B-t-V DS ride is not all that tough... > But railing a F650 Dakar on a AMA National DS ride with a > level of difficulty that can be mastered by a novice on a showroom new > bike ... that's not saying much.

HAHAHAHA! When is the last time you've been on the B2V, Pat? Krokko -- Dr. J. Christopher Krok Explosion Dynamics Laboratory John Lucas Adaptive Wind Tunnel Caltech MS 205-45, Pasadena, CA 91125

[Stuart Mumford]

> -----Original Message----- > Stu, > Running the B-t-V DS ride is not all that tough. Now if they had done > that on say something like the Bass Lake 250 or Reno 250 I might take > notice. But railing a F650 Dakar on a AMA National DS ride with a > level of difficulty that can be mastered by a novice on a showroom new > bike ... that's not saying much. > > Pat > G'ville, NV >

Having never been on those rides, I can't honestly give a valid opinion.

> I've come across a lot of FS650 Dakars in the AMA DS rides I've done > and every one of them have struggled with the designated route, let > alone trying the 'A' routes with the rest of the big boys. > > Pat > G'ville, NV

Answering your previous post Pat, in which you challenged a F650 rider on an off-road route consisting of "fire roads, quad trails, and single track", I find it hard to believe that a KLR could magically outrun a bike of similar weight and similar design with significantly higher horsepower given the same rider ability. And the same level of modification to operate outside the intended use of the stock machine. The KLR and F650 are aimed at the same category: Single cylinder road bike with enough suspension travel that "special" people will take them off road. I'm a member of the KLR cult too, but I am not one of the "KLRs are the best at everything no matter what" splinter faction. Those guys are out of touch with reality. I'll give you that LA-B-V isn't very technical overall, but "mastered by a novice on a showroom new bike"? Puh-leeze. Maybe a showroom new Husqvarna TE 510. Thanks CA Stu

[Thor Lancelot Simon]

On Fri, Dec 09, 2005 at 10:56:10AM -0800, Stuart Mumford wrote:

> > Answering your previous post Pat, in which you challenged a F650 rider on an > off-road route consisting of "fire roads, quad trails, and single track", I > find it hard to believe that a KLR could magically outrun a bike of similar > weight and similar design with significantly higher horsepower given the > same rider ability. And the same level of modification to operate outside > the intended use of the stock machine.

The F650 is a lot heavier than the KLR and has less suspension travel and less ground clearance. Similar design, yes. But different in a number of the details that matter.

[Al Maurine]

That was me he challenged. But a real dirt rider I am not .. a good person on a mountain bike would probably smoke me. But you are correct .. given riders of equal talents .. I think the F650 will 'smoke' a KLR .. then the next thing you hear is that a DR650 or the Honda 650 will do better then either the KLR or F650 ... again, riders are the key. Last year and the year before at the Death Valley Rally there were guys in there with the big KTM 950's and BMW 1150GS' .. Wow! Those guys would blaze down dirt and fire roads .. and go places I wouldn't care to walk. Yikes! Those are BIG machines! Kawasaki would be smart to do a few things to the KLR .. fuel inject it .. bigger forks .. better brakes .. but then your talking more $$$ ... if I sell my F650 I'd buy another KLR .. it's a platform that you can work on and the support is wonderful .. here I am a F650 rider and I am still loyal to the KLR pages .. and I still use Fred for most of my parts searches. I may show up at the Death Valley Rally on it again for 2006 .. weather and such will make my decision .. might take my R100M .. we'll see. Al Maurine 94 R100M 'Mystic' 01 F650GS 'Dakar' 01 KLR650 'The Mule' (Gone but not forgotten) Answering your previous post Pat, in which you challenged a F650 rider on an off-road route consisting of "fire roads, quad trails, and single track", I find it hard to believe that a KLR could magically outrun a bike of similar weight and similar design with significantly higher horsepower given the same rider ability. And the same level of modification to operate outside the intended use of the stock machine. The KLR and F650 are aimed at the same category: Single cylinder road bike with enough suspension travel that "special" people will take them off road. I'm a member of the KLR cult too, but I am not one of the "KLRs are the best at everything no matter what" splinter faction. Those guys are out of touch with reality. I'll give you that LA-B-V isn't very technical overall, but "mastered by a novice on a showroom new bike"? Puh-leeze. Maybe a showroom new Husqvarna TE 510. Thanks CA Stu <-- needs to sign up for Bass Lake or Reno 250, obviously...

[Pat Schmid]

> HAHAHAHA! When is the last time you've been on the B2V, Pat? >

Back in the day I ran the race, I rode the protest ride and have been back several times over the years since. On the scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is what you can expect from a National Enduro B2V ain't that awesome. Pat G'ville, NV

[Pat Schmid]

> > Thanks > CA Stu

Stu, I've seen you ride. On your best day you couldn't finish the Bass Lake 250. Half the guys on plated dirt bikes typically drop out of that torture test. They have a 6 mile section that is good enough to be used by Red Bull for the Last Man Standing race. Pat G'ville, NV

[revmaaatin]

Hi Rod, Just curious: What did you gain (performance/geomotry) by changing the KLR front wheel to a smaller diameter? (as seen in your link) or was it just an experiment in personal satsifaction? revmaaatin. who is just curious out on the frozen praire Circuit rider, Sioux Empire. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Rodney Copeland" wrote:

> > I ride with 3 Dakars and they have a great time in the same

nonsense

> I take my KLR through. > Rod > >

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zrod73026/detail?.dir=c3ed&.dnm=658c.jp g

> &.src=ph > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Stuart Mumford"

> wrote: > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > Al, > > > I accept the challenge. The next time you are out here along

the

> > > Eastern Sierras around Tahoe we will see which bikes handles

the

> off > > > road better. No pavement, all dirt. A mixture of fire road,

quad

> > > trails and single track that has been used in a national > enduro 'A' loop. > > > > > > I've come across a lot of FS650 Dakars in the AMA DS rides

I've

> done > > > and every one of them have struggled with the designated

route,

> let > > > alone trying the 'A' routes with the rest of the big boys. > > > > > > Pat > > > G'ville, NV > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Al Maurine > wrote: > > > > Not so! THe F650 'Dakar' is only about 30/40 lbs > > > > heavier if that. It carries the fuel under the seat > > > > and is much easier to handle on the trail not having 6 > > > > gals. of gas moving around up high. I have the > > > > Staintune exhaust and did the air box mod on it to get > > > > a good 5/7 hp more .. and it gets an honest 70 mpg on > > > > the trails. Last year I rode it to the Spokane MOA > > > > rally .. 4500 miles RT for me and I was usually > > > > cooking along at 85 mph .. per GPS .. that got me an > > > > overall 60 mpg for the trip average. THe F650 will > > > > litterally run away from a KLR .. all depends on the > > > > rider really though. > > > > > > > > > Hi Pat, > > I'm going to have to agree with Al on this one. I reckon the

riders

> you have > > seen on F650s are the limiting factor. I too thought that the

F650s

> were not > > up to snuff, but I had my mind changed for me on LA-B-V a

couple

> of years > > ago. > > Two guys on well sorted F650s absolutley flew the whole time, > including the > > tough stuff. > > One of them I had seen on this ride a couple of times before, on

an

> older > > BMW P/D with a 9 gallon tank. Maybe the lighter weight set him > free, I don't > > know, but those guys were definitely far from "struggling". > > > > Cheers > > CA Stu > >

[Rodney Copeland]

Can't really call it experimental Rev. It's been on there for over 15,000 miles. I'll add that there are no conditions it's proved to be a disadvantage. Although I did it for the rocks, mud and sand, the SuperMoto guys been doin it for the pavement for years. Try it, you'll love it. My Chicky loves hers too! Rod http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zrod73026/detail?.dir=1daa&.dnm=a2b7.jpg &.src=ph http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zrod73026/detail?.dir=1daa&.dnm=91a4.jpg &.src=ph

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > Hi Rod, > > Just curious: What did you gain (performance/geomotry) by changing > the KLR front wheel to a smaller diameter? > (as seen in your link) > > or was it just an experiment in personal satsifaction? > > revmaaatin. who is just curious out on the frozen praire > > Circuit rider, Sioux Empire. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Rodney Copeland" > wrote: > > > > I ride with 3 Dakars and they have a great time in the same > nonsense > > I take my KLR through. > > Rod > > > > > http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zrod73026/detail?.dir=c3ed&.dnm=658c.jp > g > > &.src=ph > > > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Stuart Mumford" > > > wrote: > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > > > Al, > > > > I accept the challenge. The next time you are out here along > the > > > > Eastern Sierras around Tahoe we will see which bikes handles > the > > off > > > > road better. No pavement, all dirt. A mixture of fire road, > quad > > > > trails and single track that has been used in a national > > enduro 'A' loop. > > > > > > > > I've come across a lot of FS650 Dakars in the AMA DS rides > I've > > done > > > > and every one of them have struggled with the designated > route, > > let > > > > alone trying the 'A' routes with the rest of the big boys. > > > > > > > > Pat > > > > G'ville, NV > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Al Maurine > > wrote: > > > > > Not so! THe F650 'Dakar' is only about 30/40 lbs > > > > > heavier if that. It carries the fuel under the seat > > > > > and is much easier to handle on the trail not having 6 > > > > > gals. of gas moving around up high. I have the > > > > > Staintune exhaust and did the air box mod on it to get > > > > > a good 5/7 hp more .. and it gets an honest 70 mpg on > > > > > the trails. Last year I rode it to the Spokane MOA > > > > > rally .. 4500 miles RT for me and I was usually > > > > > cooking along at 85 mph .. per GPS .. that got me an > > > > > overall 60 mpg for the trip average. THe F650 will > > > > > litterally run away from a KLR .. all depends on the > > > > > rider really though. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Pat, > > > I'm going to have to agree with Al on this one. I reckon the > riders > > you have > > > seen on F650s are the limiting factor. I too thought that the > F650s > > were not > > > up to snuff, but I had my mind changed for me on LA-B-V a > couple > > of years > > > ago. > > > Two guys on well sorted F650s absolutley flew the whole time, > > including the > > > tough stuff. > > > One of them I had seen on this ride a couple of times before, on > an > > older > > > BMW P/D with a 9 gallon tank. Maybe the lighter weight set him > > free, I don't > > > know, but those guys were definitely far from "struggling". > > > > > > Cheers > > > CA Stu > > > > >