side stand length

[RobertWichert]

Does anybody think that the DR650 is remarkably better than the KLR? Although I will admit that the newer KLRs have gained some weight. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 9/2/2012 7:15 AM, Jud wrote: > > I'm not seeing the reply I wrote yesterday, so either I just sent it > to Fred, or I forgot to post it altogether. > > I read the piece, and can't fault him for failing to mention the KLR. > He also failed to say a word about the XR650L, the DR250SE, the > DRZ400S (and I know Peter has adventure toured on one of those), the > Husky 610 and any of the KTM dual sport/adventure singles (like my > much beloved 640 Adventure) > > He wrote a column, as he does every month. He is limited to one page. > He gets to make a couple of points, and he usually does it very well. > > I think his point about the big adventure bikes is that they are like > a Cadillac Escalade, plenty of pimp presence, but just as you would be > foolish to go offroading on your chrome twenties, you would be unwise > to take your 1150 GS past Batopilas. > > Nor can I fault him on his choice to take the DR650 when he leaves his > big whale of a bike at home. One, the DR is the bike he has. Two, the > DR is the bike I took to Mexico when I chose to leave my big whale of > a KLR at home. The difference, of course, is that a lot of guys will > take the KLR when they leave the big whale at home. Egan was talking > more about the big whales, not the bikes you take to Mexico in their > stead. > > The other point he left out, is that there are guys who can take the > big KTMs through the canyons. They aren't necessarily any taller than > Egan (although they are as lot taller than I), but they are better > riders, just as the guys who can take their KLRs through the canyons > are better riders than I am. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > , "Fred Hink" wrote: > > > > Peter Egan is a great and interesting writer but he has struck out > with his article about Adventure-Touring bikes. > > > http://www.cycleworld.com/2012/08/22/why-adventure-touring-bikes-are-so-popular/ > > He mentions most things about Adventure-Touring on motorcycles and > included references to the Long Way Round guys but nothing at all > about the venerable KLR650. booo > > Mr. Egan has obviously drank the BMW & KTM Koolaid. > > > > Fred > > www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[RobertWichert]

What is more dirtbikeish about the DR650? It's lighter than the newer KLRs, but what else? It's still water cooled, right? I'm not sure how to lighten up a KLR, but maybe the new fairings are heavy? I don't think so. Maybe it's the rack. The muffler is pretty heavy. I know from experience that the tank with fuel weighs a LOT. A plastic tank would help. I had a Yamaha with a plastic tank once. It was a 175 and if you didn't make it through the bad parts, you could just drag it. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 9/2/2012 9:30 AM, mushorse1977@... wrote: > > Before I bought my 2011 Klr650 I thought I might enjoy a Dr650 better > . Being more dirtbike'ish , but I have took my Klr some scary places > (vertical climbs) that I probably should not have. I grew up on 250 > -500 cc two stroke dirt bikes. So I needed to get off the pavement a > lot. I love my dirt ninja ... > > Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[James Douglas]

The best upgrade, IMHO, could be a 800CC engine, imagine that, would also need fuel injection probably. Does not need to be those big ass 1200 BMW types as it's simply too much for real off-road, some may disagree.

> What is more dirtbikeish about the DR650? It's lighter than the newer > KLRs, but what else? It's still water cooled, right? > > I'm not sure how to lighten up a KLR, but maybe the new fairings are > heavy? I don't think so. Maybe it's the rack. The muffler is pretty > heavy. I know from experience that the tank with fuel weighs a LOT. A > plastic tank would help. I had a Yamaha with a plastic tank once. It > was a 175 and if you didn't make it through the bad parts, you could > just drag it. > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > =============================================== > > On 9/2/2012 9:30 AM, mushorse1977@... > wrote: > > > > Before I bought my 2011 Klr650 I thought I might enjoy a Dr650 better > > . Being more dirtbike'ish , but I have took my Klr some scary places > > (vertical climbs) that I probably should not have. I grew up on 250 > > -500 cc two stroke dirt bikes. So I needed to get off the pavement a > > lot. I love my dirt ninja ... > > > > Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Eddie]

+1 for fuel injection. No more choke cable issues, cold start woes, etc... =) eddie

> [Original Message] > From: James Douglas > To: DSN _KLR650 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 9/2/2012 3:04:51 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Cycle World missed the boat > > The best upgrade, IMHO, could be a 800CC engine, imagine that, would > also need fuel injection probably. Does not > need to be those big ass 1200 BMW types as it's simply too much for real > off-road, some may disagree. >

[RobertWichert]

I would be OK with the current engine. I would like another gear. Maybe two. I would really like less weight. Maybe an alloy rider would help too. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 9/2/2012 12:04 PM, James Douglas wrote: > > The best upgrade, IMHO, could be a 800CC engine, imagine that, would > also need fuel injection probably. Does not > need to be those big ass 1200 BMW types as it's simply too much for real > off-road, some may disagree. > > > What is more dirtbikeish about the DR650? It's lighter than the newer > > KLRs, but what else? It's still water cooled, right? > > > > I'm not sure how to lighten up a KLR, but maybe the new fairings are > > heavy? I don't think so. Maybe it's the rack. The muffler is pretty > > heavy. I know from experience that the tank with fuel weighs a LOT. A > > plastic tank would help. I had a Yamaha with a plastic tank once. It > > was a 175 and if you didn't make it through the bad parts, you could > > just drag it. > > > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C > > +1 916 966 9060 > > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > > > =============================================== > > > > On 9/2/2012 9:30 AM, mushorse1977@... > > > wrote: > > > > > > Before I bought my 2011 Klr650 I thought I might enjoy a Dr650 better > > > . Being more dirtbike'ish , but I have took my Klr some scary places > > > (vertical climbs) that I probably should not have. I grew up on 250 > > > -500 cc two stroke dirt bikes. So I needed to get off the pavement a > > > lot. I love my dirt ninja ... > > > > > > Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jud]

The DR650 is air and oil cooled. It is more compact than the KLR, and feels more like a dirt bike. It is a lot lighter. Than the old ones. I don't even consider the new ones in my comparisons; they mean nothing to me. My bikes both get a plastic tank, for different reasons, but both increase the fuel capacity, and both weigh more than stock with a full tank of fuel.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, RobertWichert wrote: > > What is more dirtbikeish about the DR650? It's lighter than the newer > KLRs, but what else? It's still water cooled, right? > > I'm not sure how to lighten up a KLR, but maybe the new fairings are > heavy? I don't think so. Maybe it's the rack. The muffler is pretty > heavy. I know from experience that the tank with fuel weighs a LOT. A > plastic tank would help. I had a Yamaha with a plastic tank once. It > was a 175 and if you didn't make it through the bad parts, you could > just drag it. > > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > > > > > > > =============================================== > > On 9/2/2012 9:30 AM, mushorse1977@... wrote: > > > > Before I bought my 2011 Klr650 I thought I might enjoy a Dr650 better > > . Being more dirtbike'ish , but I have took my Klr some scary places > > (vertical climbs) that I probably should not have. I grew up on 250 > > -500 cc two stroke dirt bikes. So I needed to get off the pavement a > > lot. I love my dirt ninja ... > > > > Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Jud]

Why would it it need a bigger engine? The stock power plant will push it down the road at 80 all day if you can sit up in the wind and ride it. these bikes don't need more power, they need less weight, better seats, better suspension, and a wider spread of gear ratios. Except for weight and gearing, the aftermarket can take care of everything..

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, James Douglas wrote: > > The best upgrade, IMHO, could be a 800CC engine, imagine that, would > also need fuel injection probably. Does not > need to be those big ass 1200 BMW types as it's simply too much for real > off-road, some may disagree. > > > > What is more dirtbikeish about the DR650? It's lighter than the newer > > KLRs, but what else? It's still water cooled, right? > > > > I'm not sure how to lighten up a KLR, but maybe the new fairings are > > heavy? I don't think so. Maybe it's the rack. The muffler is pretty > > heavy. I know from experience that the tank with fuel weighs a LOT. A > > plastic tank would help. I had a Yamaha with a plastic tank once. It > > was a 175 and if you didn't make it through the bad parts, you could > > just drag it. > > > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C > > +1 916 966 9060 > > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > > > =============================================== > > > > On 9/2/2012 9:30 AM, mushorse1977@... > > wrote: > > > > > > Before I bought my 2011 Klr650 I thought I might enjoy a Dr650 better > > > . Being more dirtbike'ish , but I have took my Klr some scary places > > > (vertical climbs) that I probably should not have. I grew up on 250 > > > -500 cc two stroke dirt bikes. So I needed to get off the pavement a > > > lot. I love my dirt ninja ... > > > > > > Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Jud]

Not if you are sitting in traffic on a 90 day, I suppose, but there is nothing wrong with the DR on long road rides.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "mushorse1977@..." wrote: > > Dirtbike'ish , the Dr 650 is air cooled.not so good for long street rides. > > Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Jud]

Another way the DR650 resembles a dirt bike, is that you can ride it over rough ground without all the squeaks, clanks and rattles that accompany any offroad excursion on a KLR. The KLR is superior to the DR in two respects: 1. because it is liquid-cooled, the KLR powerplant will tend to go longer between rebuilds. My experience with both bikes confirms this. 2. The KLR is roomier, allowing for more flexibility in packing. If I am going to a rally where I need a tent and sleeping bag, and if I want to pack my Kermit chair, the KLR gets the nod. If I am going to Mexico, the land of $10.00 hotel rooms, I don't need a tent or Kermit chair, so I will take the more maneuverable DR650, and will get pretty much everything I need into one medium duffle.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, RobertWichert wrote: > > What is more dirtbikeish about the DR650? It's lighter than the newer > KLRs, but what else? It's still water cooled, right? > > I'm not sure how to lighten up a KLR, but maybe the new fairings are > heavy? I don't think so. Maybe it's the rack. The muffler is pretty > heavy. I know from experience that the tank with fuel weighs a LOT. A > plastic tank would help. I had a Yamaha with a plastic tank once. It > was a 175 and if you didn't make it through the bad parts, you could > just drag it. > > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > > > > > > > =============================================== > > On 9/2/2012 9:30 AM, mushorse1977@... wrote: > > > > Before I bought my 2011 Klr650 I thought I might enjoy a Dr650 better > > . Being more dirtbike'ish , but I have took my Klr some scary places > > (vertical climbs) that I probably should not have. I grew up on 250 > > -500 cc two stroke dirt bikes. So I needed to get off the pavement a > > lot. I love my dirt ninja ... > > > > Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Tam a'Rack]

I have one of each, and have had many dirt bikes over the years. IMO the DR650 looks and 'feels' MUCH more like a dirt bike than the KLR does. Riding stance, balance, handling, seat feel, everything. That said, I love the Kawa for what it is. If I want to go play on the trails for an afternoon, I take the DR650. If I want to spend a weekend ride in the National Forest and camp out, I take the KLR650. If I want to run the roads in the Ozarks, I take my V-Strom...(Yes, I have a DL650 and a DR650) Different bikes for different moods. Insurance is under $100 a year on each, so why not? Tam ________________________________ From: Jud To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, September 2, 2012 9:52 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Cycle World missed the boat The DR650 is air and oil cooled. It is more compact than the KLR, and feels more like a dirt bike. It is a lot lighter. Than the old ones. I don't even consider the new ones in my comparisons; they mean nothing to me. My bikes both get a plastic tank, for different reasons, but both increase the fuel capacity, and both weigh more than stock with a full tank of fuel.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, RobertWichert wrote: > > What is more dirtbikeish about the DR650? It's lighter than the newer > KLRs, but what else? It's still water cooled, right? > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]