rear brake squeal revisited

[notanymoore]

Yeah, I know.  Beating a dead horse.  My reason is that back in 2006, I was looking for a "standard" bike.  My choice came down to the KLR and WeeStrom.   I bought the KLR asa it was smaller, cheaper and just what I was looking for in a casual ride.   Now it's 2015 and still riding my farkled KLR and I run across a used 2006 fully farkled WeeStrom.  I did a demo ride and "sold".   So now I have a Wee and  KLR in the garage.  Other than pissing off the wife, I am waiting thru his riding season to see if I will continue to own both.         The reason for the purchase? Distance and 2-up riding.  .  I've done 350 miles in one day on the KLR.  Not an experience I would recommend even with my "roadified" KLR (16 tooth sprocket, taller windscreen, seat cover, Trailwing tires). And due to lack of ponies, 2-up riding on he KLR is possible over distance only for anorexia victims.   Having spent some small amount of time on both the XR 650 and DR 650, I can say they are fun, but not much use in my area due to lack of true off-road experience.  Light and flickable, you only run thru a full tank on the stock seat if you don't plan on having children. Which brings me to the Wee - and why not a newer KLR?  First off, with the 2006 "tupperware" plastic, my KLR  is narrower than the newer KLR and the Wee and the off-road scratches don't matter. Which makes it handier off-road than either bike.  But the newer KLR just does't have the horses to make up for the added weight and wind resistance of the new front-end.and shows the scratches on the pretty plastic much faster. Plus it looks almost the same as an older Wee.  So here I sit in both Yahoo Groups.  I'll let you know my decision later this year. Maybe I'll keep both and get rid of the wife.  

[John Biccum]

There are quite a few of us with both the Wee Strom and the KLR. As my English friend says horses for courses . My KLR courses tend towards backcountry self-supported camping trips lately but I ve done 800 miles days (at least two that I recall) on KLRs. The Wee courses tend to have more pavement and tend towards higher speed or longer distance travels but I ve thrashed two of them through some backcountry that would be challenging enough on a KLR. Have the rash on the skidplate and Tupperware to prove it too. So I suggest you keep both bikes. Also If you pencil out the costs of trading the wife on a later model you are likely to find the costs (financial and otherwise) to be prohibitive. So best to keep the wife too, especially if she is willing to tolerate two bikes in the garage. From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] Sent: Friday, June 12, 2015 15:13 To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread Yeah, I know. Beating a dead horse. My reason is that back in 2006, I was looking for a "standard" bike. My choice came down to the KLR and WeeStrom. I bought the KLR asa it was smaller, cheaper and just what I was looking for in a casual ride. Now it's 2015 and still riding my farkled KLR and I run across a used 2006 fully farkled WeeStrom. I did a demo ride and "sold". So now I have a Wee and KLR in the garage. Other than pissing off the wife, I am waiting thru his riding season to see if I will continue to own both. The reason for the purchase? Distance and 2-up riding. . I've done 350 miles in one day on the KLR. Not an experience I would recommend even with my "roadified" KLR (16 tooth sprocket, taller windscreen, seat cover, Trailwing tires). And due to lack of ponies, 2-up riding on he KLR is possible over distance only for anorexia victims. Having spent some small amount of time on both the XR 650 and DR 650, I can say they are fun, but not much use in my area due to lack of true off-road experience. Light and flickable, you only run thru a full tank on the stock seat if you don't plan on having children. Which brings me to the Wee - and why not a newer KLR? First off, with the 2006 "tupperware" plastic, my KLR is narrower than the newer KLR and the Wee and the off-road scratches don't matter. Which makes it handier off-road than either bike. But the newer KLR just does't have the horses to make up for the added weight and wind resistance of the new front-end.and shows the scratches on the pretty plastic much faster. Plus it looks almost the same as an older Wee. So here I sit in both Yahoo Groups. I'll let you know my decision later this year. Maybe I'll keep both and get rid of the wife. ---------- ---------- ---------- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Buddy Eckles]

I agree  with  John. I have  both  and have similar  riding patterns. The guy I bought  my Wee-Strom  from, put knobbies on and rode the  Oregon Backroad  Discovery  Route.  Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "'John Biccum' johnbiccum@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Date: 06/15/2015 12:53 AM (GMT-06:00) To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, RJTaylor@... Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread There are quite a few of us with both the Wee Strom and the KLR.   As my English friend says horses for courses .  My KLR courses tend towards  backcountry self-supported camping trips lately but I ve done 800 miles days (at least two that I recall) on KLRs.  The Wee courses tend to have more pavement and tend towards higher speed or longer distance travels but I ve thrashed two of them  through some backcountry that would be challenging enough on a KLR. Have the rash on the skidplate and Tupperware to prove it too.   So I suggest you keep both bikes.  Also If you pencil out the costs of trading the wife on a later model  you are likely to find the costs (financial and otherwise) to be prohibitive.  So best to keep the wife too, especially if she is willing to tolerate  two bikes in the garage.   From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] Sent: Friday, June 12, 2015 15:13 To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread     Yeah, I know.  Beating a dead horse.  My reason is that back in 2006, I was looking for a "standard" bike.  My choice came down to the KLR and WeeStrom.   I bought the KLR asa it was smaller, cheaper and just what I was looking for in a casual ride.   Now it's 2015 and still riding my farkled KLR and I run across a used 2006 fully farkled WeeStrom.  I did a demo ride and "sold".   So now I have a Wee and  KLR in the garage.  Other than pissing off the wife, I am waiting thru his riding season to see if I will continue to own both.          The reason for the purchase? Distance and 2-up riding.  .  I've done 350 miles in one day on the KLR.  Not an experience I would recommend even with my "roadified" KLR (16 tooth sprocket, taller windscreen, seat cover, Trailwing tires). And due to lack of ponies, 2-up riding on he KLR is possible over distance only for anorexia victims.    Having spent some small amount of time on both the XR 650 and DR 650, I can say they are fun, but not much use in my area due to lack of true off-road experience.  Light and flickable, you only run thru a full tank on the stock seat if you don't plan on having children.   Which brings me to the Wee - and why not a newer KLR?  First off, with the 2006 "tupperware" plastic, my KLR  is narrower than the newer KLR and the Wee and the off-road scratches don't matter. Which makes it handier off-road than either bike.  But the newer KLR just does't have the horses to make up for the added weight and wind resistance of the new front-end.and shows the scratches on the pretty plastic much faster. Plus it looks almost the same as an older Wee.   So here I sit in both Yahoo Groups.  I'll let you know my decision later this year. Maybe I'll keep both and get rid of the wife.    ----------   ----------   ---------- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Posted by: "John Biccum" ------------------------------------ List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Members Map https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212558560286766214899.0004d0fa9f1732283bb6f&msa=0&ll=38.522384,-109.489746&spn=6.831383,9.624023 ------------------------------------ Yahoo Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/ Your email settings:     Individual Email | Traditional To change settings online go to:     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/join     (Yahoo! ID required) To change settings via email:     DSN_KLR650-digest@yahoogroups.com     DSN_KLR650-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:     DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo Groups is subject to:     https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/

[Randall Marbach]

Havent posted here for quite a while, but its amazing how things come around full circle. I have been riding for close to 50 years.. all sorts of bikes from small and large  Hondas, to BMWs, Triumphs and Harleys. In 2000, my Honda Valkyrie was my only vehicle,  until I got the urge to do some back roads riding in the southwest and baja, and so I added an A13 to the stable. Boy I had fun on that motorcycle..  I farkled the snot out of that bike and road it everywhere putting about 15K on it the first year I owned it. About 8-10 years ago, my son joined the KLR family and used his to commute to work in Long Beach.   After a couple of years, he needed some money so I bought his A11 from him, with an eye towards adding a DMC Enduro sidecar to make off road riding a little easier for this old fart.... but thats another story. About 2011, two things happened...  my son decided he wanted his KLR back, but since it had a sidecar (in the process of being) attached, we decided he would buy my A13 instead.  So I sold my favorite motorcycle. The second major event was we retired and moved to Wrightwood from Burbank and started a two year construction project. The A11/Enduro, DRZ and one of the Urals went into storage, keeping one Ural for running around Wrightwood.   The other DRZ SM  and the Valkyrie were sold as they were now redundant for this retired guy. A year ago, my son decided he and his family would relocate to the Vancouver WA area.. every thing they needed to move north fit on their trailer except for his KLR with I offered to store for him along with my bikes. Fast forward past the construction phase and winter to last month and I find my self looking for a road trip so I decided I would get my son's KLR out of storage and ride it up to Washhington. The trip took 3 days, stopping at relatives along the way, 460 miles the first day, 340 the second, and 300 the third.  The bike was a blast to ride and it handled very well with the after market suspension and road tires and with a 16t sprocket, was able to pretty much maintain 80mph indicated.  I had so much fun on this trip I decided I am in the market to buy another bike and I think I am down to either a used Gen 2 or a Weestrom. I already have a 10/90 street/dirt bike in the DRZ so I am looking for a 90/10 street/bike. The pros for the KLR are the we are already a KLR family and are very familiar with the bikes plus I have always been a thumper guy. OTOH, since I do have a Suzuki, I am at their parts place on occasion, but otherwise I have zero experience with the 'strom, However, I have a new neighbor who has one and has offered to let me ride it.  It will be interesting to see how this will all turn out in the coming months, but if I had to make a decision right now, I would probably go for a well farkled Gen 2 with a big bore kit. In any case, it has been nice to drop in on this forum again.Randy from (formally) Burbank, now Wrightwood [b]From:[/b] "Buddy Eckles buddyeckles@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> [b]Sent:[/b] Monday, June 15, 2015 6:10 AM [b]Subject:[/b] RE: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 -- .ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485ygrp-photo-title{ clear:both;font-size:smaller;height:15px;overflow:hidden;text-align:center;width:75px;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485ygrp-photo{ background-position:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-color:white;border:1px solid black;height:62px;width:62px;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485photo-title a, #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485photo-title a:active, #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485photo-title a:hover, #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485photo-title a:visited { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485attach-table div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485attach-row { clear:both;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485attach-table div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485attach-row div { float:left;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 p { clear:both;padding:15px 0 3px 0;overflow:hidden;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485ygrp-file { width:30px;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485attach-table div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485attach-row div div a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485attach-table div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485attach-row div div span { font-weight:normal;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 #ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485 div.ygrps-yiv-1025098549yiv0048502485ygrp-file-title { font-weight:bold;} #ygrps-yiv-1025098549 I agree  with  John. I have  both  and have similar  riding patterns. The guy I bought  my Wee-Strom  from, put knobbies on and rode the  Oregon Backroad  Discovery  Route.  Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "'John Biccum' johnbiccum@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Date: 06/15/2015 12:53 AM (GMT-06:00) To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, RJTaylor@... Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread There are quite a few of us with both the Wee Strom and the KLR.   As my English friend says horses for courses .  My KLR courses tend towards  backcountry self-supported camping trips lately but I ve done 800 miles days (at least two that I recall) on KLRs.  The Wee courses tend to have more pavement and tend towards higher speed or longer distance travels but I ve thrashed two of them  through some backcountry that would be challenging enough on a KLR. Have the rash on the skidplate and Tupperware to prove it too.   So I suggest you keep both bikes.  Also If you pencil out the costs of trading the wife on a later model  you are likely to find the costs (financial and otherwise) to be prohibitive.  So best to keep the wife too, especially if she is willing to tolerate  two bikes in the garage.   From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] Sent: Friday, June 12, 2015 15:13 To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread     Yeah, I know.  Beating a dead horse.  My reason is that back in 2006, I was looking for a "standard" bike.  My choice came down to the KLR and WeeStrom.   I bought the KLR asa it was smaller, cheaper and just what I was looking for in a casual ride.   Now it's 2015 and still riding my farkled KLR and I run across a used 2006 fully farkled WeeStrom.  I did a demo ride and "sold".   So now I have a Wee and  KLR in the garage.  Other than pissing off the wife, I am waiting thru his riding season to see if I will continue to own both.          The reason for the purchase? Distance and 2-up riding.  .  I've done 350 miles in one day on the KLR.  Not an experience I would recommend even with my "roadified" KLR (16 tooth sprocket, taller windscreen, seat cover, Trailwing tires). And due to lack of ponies, 2-up riding on he KLR is possible over distance only for anorexia victims.    Having spent some small amount of time on both the XR 650 and DR 650, I can say they are fun, but not much use in my area due to lack of true off-road experience.  Light and flickable, you only run thru a full tank on the stock seat if you don't plan on having children.   Which brings me to the Wee - and why not a newer KLR?  First off, with the 2006 "tupperware" plastic, my KLR  is narrower than the newer KLR and the Wee and the off-road scratches don't matter. Which makes it handier off-road than either bike.  But the newer KLR just does't have the horses to make up for the added weight and wind resistance of the new front-end.and shows the scratches on the pretty plastic much faster. Plus it looks almost the same as an older Wee.   So here I sit in both Yahoo Groups.  I'll let you know my decision later this year. Maybe I'll keep both and get rid of the wife.    ----------   ----------   ---------- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Posted by: "John Biccum" ------------------------------------ List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Members Map https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212558560286766214899.0004d0fa9f1732283bb6f&msa=0&ll=38.522384,-109.489746&spn=6.831383,9.624023 ------------------------------------ Yahoo Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/ Your email settings:     Individual Email | Traditional To change settings online go to:     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/join     (Yahoo! ID required) To change settings via email:     DSN_KLR650-digest@yahoogroups.com     DSN_KLR650-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:     DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo Groups is subject to:     https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/

[Paul Streeter]

 Randy from (formally) Burbank, now Wrightwood posted:

>I had so much fun on this trip I decided I am in the market to buy another bike and I think I am down to either >a used Gen 2 or a Weestrom. >I already have a 10/90 street/dirt bike in the DRZ so I am looking for a 90/10 street/bike.

You might also consider a Versys.    It's not much of a dirt-bike, but it's a much better paved road bike than the KLR.   I have ridden a Wee Strom, I prefer my Versys, but not everyone will.    The Versys (with street biased dual sport tires) will handle a graded gravel road just fine.    It's very comfortable, with a couple of tweaks.   I have an aftermarket seat, peg lowering blocks and handlebar risers on mine.   The Wee Strom might be a better long distance touring bike, but the Versys is a much more fun around town bike, and perfectly good for longer rides too. Paul Streeter

[achesley43@ymail.com]

I often wonder, that if I had bought a Wee Strom instead of the 1000 back in '07 , that I might still have it with near 100 k miles on it. Instead of trading the 1000 off after about 12 months and 14,000 miles cause I didn't like the way the engine worked at around 2800 to 3000 rpm and the height/weight of it. Replacing it with an '07 Suzy Bandit that I now have over 75K miles on the clock. And, actually over 80K on it due to speedohealer to get the speedo right. 

But, my 15 yr old KLR A14 ain't going anywhere. It's like a new love affair after doing some work on it this spring. And, so far , this half of 2015, it's been more miles with me than the Bandit and twice the saddle time. Still remember breaking it in in 2000 on a trip to Arkansas to do some more of the TAT. 

[RobertWichert]

I read lots of moto magazines, and they do lots of comparisons. They almost never mention the KLR. Every so often somebody will do a "KLR 650 - Been around forever" story and say how old fashioned it is and suchlike. But they never compare it to any of the "ADV" bikes. Huge 1100 and 1200 bikes that weigh quite a bit more with triple the power. Some even have underslung exhausts. That's not an off-road bike. But the KLR is still out there making miles. I am also kind of tired of hearing how the KTMs are "off-road fantastic". Maybe the 500/550/600/650 and they have lots of power. They beat me down the block, for sure. But 900/1000/11000? Gotta be a bit too heavy, really. I'll stick with the KLR. Mine is my commuter vehicle every single day it isn't raining when I leave home. In the summer, all the other bikes come out. Mine is there every day. If it rains on it, oh well. Doesn't snow hereabouts, so no excuses for ice. I am so happy that this is the bike I have. I still get compliments from people. Maybe because I keep it shiny (Thank you Pledge). And knobbies are always appreciated. So on I roll... Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C HERS I/II CEPE CEA BPI CERTIFIED SF/MF GREEN POINT RATER +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 =============================================== On 7/11/2015 3:29 AM, achesley43@... [DSN_KLR650] wrote:

I often wonder, that if I had bought a Wee Strom instead of the 1000 back in '07 , that I might still have it with near 100 k miles on it. Instead of trading the 1000 off after about 12 months and 14,000 miles cause I didn't like the way the engine worked at around 2800 to 3000 rpm and the height/weight of it. Replacing it with an '07 Suzy Bandit that I now have over 75K miles on the clock. And, actually over 80K on it due to speedohealer to get the speedo right. But, my 15 yr old KLR A14 ain't going anywhere. It's like a new love affair after doing some work on it this spring. And, so far , this half of 2015, it's been more miles with me than the Bandit and twice the saddle time. Still remember breaking it in in 2000 on a trip to Arkansas to do some more of the TAT.

[John Theilgard]

Not sure if this is how to respond to this thread, but here goes. I've been quietly enjoying all the KLR info/stories (could't agree more about the lousy placement of the battery) here. Have an '01 which is my main ride and also a '96 which I got to diagnose an electrical problem on the '01 (and kept). I live in central NC and make it to the mountains from time to time for some dirt road riding (also rode it to Barber Museum vintage event).  What I like most about the KLR is the seat to peg distance is great: I tell people it's like riding a bar stool. Also have a wee-strom which is nice and an Ducati MTS 620. My legs feel cramped on the 620 after a spell but I can raise the seat on the wee to make it tolerable. Tempting to ride across country to visit parents in Seattle and trying to decide which bike to take. John in Pittsboro, NC [b]From:[/b] "RobertWichert robert@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com; achesley43@... Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2015 11:14 AM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread   I read lots of moto magazines, and they do lots of comparisons.  They almost never mention the KLR.  Every so often somebody will do a "KLR 650 - Been around forever" story and say how old fashioned it is and suchlike.  But they never compare it to any of the "ADV" bikes.  Huge 1100 and 1200 bikes that weigh quite a bit more with triple the power.  Some even have underslung exhausts.  That's not an off-road bike. But the KLR is still out there making miles. I am also kind of tired of hearing how the KTMs are "off-road fantastic".  Maybe the 500/550/600/650 and they have lots of power.  They beat me down the block, for sure.  But 900/1000/11000?  Gotta be a bit too heavy, really. I'll stick with the KLR. Mine is my commuter vehicle every single day it isn't raining when I leave home.  In the summer, all the other bikes come out.  Mine is there every day.  If it rains on it, oh well.  Doesn't snow hereabouts, so no excuses for ice.  I am so happy that this is the bike I have.  I still get compliments from people.  Maybe because I keep it shiny (Thank you Pledge).  And knobbies are always appreciated. So on I roll... Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C HERS I/II CEPE CEA BPI CERTIFIED SF/MF GREEN POINT RATER +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 =============================================== On 7/11/2015 3:29 AM, achesley43@... [DSN_KLR650] wrote:

  I often wonder, that if I had bought a Wee Strom instead of the 1000 back in '07 , that I might still have it with near 100 k miles on it. Instead of trading the 1000 off after about 12 months and 14,000 miles cause I didn't like the way the engine worked at around 2800 to 3000 rpm and the height/weight of it. Replacing it with an '07 Suzy Bandit that I now have over 75K miles on the clock. And, actually over 80K on it due to speedohealer to get the speedo right.  But, my 15 yr old KLR A14 ain't going anywhere. It's like a new love affair after doing some work on it this spring. And, so far , this half of 2015, it's been more miles with me than the Bandit and twice the saddle time. Still remember breaking it in in 2000 on a trip to Arkansas to do some more of the TAT. 

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[John Biccum]

I rode the WeeStrom and the VStrom back to back and liked the smaller bike better: smoother and more flickable. I'm on my second Wee (wanted ABS for my rainy commute) and think the Wee  is  an amazing "all-arounder", nearly as versatile as the KLR. But it would lose to the Gen1 KLR if I could only have one bike.From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: 7/ 11/ 2015 3:29 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread   I often wonder, that if I had bought a Wee Strom instead of the 1000 back in '07 , that I might still have it with near 100 k miles on it. Instead of trading the 1000 off after about 12 months and 14,000 miles cause I didn't like the way the engine worked at around 2800 to 3000 rpm and the height/weight of it. Replacing it with an '07 Suzy Bandit that I now have over 75K miles on the clock. And, actually over 80K on it due to speedohealer to get the speedo right. But, my 15 yr old KLR A14 ain't going anywhere. It's like a new love affair after doing some work on it this spring. And, so far , this half of 2015, it's been more miles with me than the Bandit and twice the saddle time. Still remember breaking it in in 2000 on a trip to Arkansas to do some more of the TAT. 

[The entire original message is not included.]

[Martin Earl]

Hi John,Two things will make your KLR a good commuting bike to Seattle.A proper seat,the right gears/gear ratiosmoother tires that are balanced (at least statically)and good raingear. I have done several 5K plus trips; I got 1/2 of the above suggestions 'correct'. grin. m1

On Sat, Jul 11, 2015 at 10:40 AM, John Theilgard jthouses@... [DSN_KLR650] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> wrote: Not sure if this is how to respond to this thread, but here goes. I've been quietly enjoying all the KLR info/stories (could't agree more about the lousy placement of the battery) here. Have an '01 which is my main ride and also a '96 which I got to diagnose an electrical problem on the '01 (and kept). I live in central NC and make it to the mountains from time to time for some dirt road riding (also rode it to Barber Museum vintage event). What I like most about the KLR is the seat to peg distance is great: I tell people it's like riding a bar stool. Also have a wee-strom which is nice and an Ducati MTS 620. My legs feel cramped on the 620 after a spell but I can raise the seat on the wee to make it tolerable. Tempting to ride across country to visit parents in Seattle and trying to decide which bike to take. John in Pittsboro, NC [b]From:[/b] "RobertWichert robert@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com; achesley43@... [b]Sent:[/b] Saturday, July 11, 2015 11:14 AM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Another KLR 650 comparison thread I read lots of moto magazines, and they do lots of comparisons. They almost never mention the KLR. Every so often somebody will do a "KLR 650 - Been around forever" story and say how old fashioned it is and suchlike. But they never compare it to any of the "ADV" bikes. Huge 1100 and 1200 bikes that weigh quite a bit more with triple the power. Some even have underslung exhausts. That's not an off-road bike. But the KLR is still out there making miles. I am also kind of tired of hearing how the KTMs are "off-road fantastic". Maybe the 500/550/600/650 and they have lots of power. They beat me down the block, for sure. But 900/1000/11000? Gotta be a bit too heavy, really. I'll stick with the KLR. Mine is my commuter vehicle every single day it isn't raining when I leave home. In the summer, all the other bikes come out. Mine is there every day. If it rains on it, oh well. Doesn't snow hereabouts, so no excuses for ice. I am so happy that this is the bike I have. I still get compliments from people. Maybe because I keep it shiny (Thank you Pledge). And knobbies are always appreciated. So on I roll... Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C HERS I/II CEPE CEA BPI CERTIFIED SF/MF GREEN POINT RATER +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 =============================================== On 7/11/2015 3:29 AM, achesley43@... [DSN_KLR650] wrote: I often wonder, that if I had bought a Wee Strom instead of the 1000 back in '07 , that I might still have it with near 100 k miles on it. Instead of trading the 1000 off after about 12 months and 14,000 miles cause I didn't like the way the engine worked at around 2800 to 3000 rpm and the height/weight of it. Replacing it with an '07 Suzy Bandit that I now have over 75K miles on the clock. And, actually over 80K on it due to speedohealer to get the speedo right. But, my 15 yr old KLR A14 ain't going anywhere. It's like a new love affair after doing some work on it this spring. And, so far , this half of 2015, it's been more miles with me than the Bandit and twice the saddle time. Still remember breaking it in in 2000 on a trip to Arkansas to do some more of the TAT.