Ok, I still have my highly modified 2003 KLR and I sold my 2006 Wee this year. Both have been great bikes and I have enjoyed them. They have limitations. I got a great deal on a BMW F800GS (2013) earlier this year and went this route. Not sure if I would regret it. The bike is great. It does the highway as good as the wee and it does the off road better than my highly modified KLR. The only problem, I still spent more money on the BMW than I did on both of the other bikes. (KLR bought in 2004 with 2,000 miles on it for $3000 and the mighty wee bought in 2008 with 8,000 miles on it for $4000) (about $1500 more for the BMW). . I have another $3000 worth of mods on both bikes I have not spent that much on the mods on the BMW yet , because it came with about $2500 worth of mods already. I just came back from Colorado where I did the first two days of the COBDR and the Gunnison Adventure Rally. Rode up and back. I put over 2600 smiles on the bike. It performed perfectly both on rode and off rode. I had about 4 days of the trip were highway speed of 80+ miles an hour and I could still throttle it and get out of peoples way. The KLR and the Wee, for the money, are great deals. I have numerous riding buddies with over 70,000 smiles on there KLR (one had over 95,000 before it gave up and he is working on his third one now). But if you want one bike that can do both the BMW is hard to beat. The KTM 1190R and the new triumph may be another good choice, but now we are getting into more money.
The best bike out there is the one that let's you to get out and ride.
On Sunday, August 2, 2015 4:53 PM, "'John Biccum' johnbiccum@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
The 685 kit is the way to fix the oil burning. I d advise replacing the valves with the oversize stainless valves when you are in there. I didn t do that and ended up having to put the bike down again when the stock valves tuliped shortly after doing the 685 overbore. [b]From:[/b]
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]
[b]Sent:[/b] Sunday, August 02, 2015 12:19
[b]To:[/b]
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
[b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR versus WeeStrom I mostly agree. I have a Gen 1 KLR. Then got the V Strom. The Wee Strom gets most of my miles ridden, can't beat the highway comfort ( w/ the 1000 seat). Fire roads it does fine, more than that I'm wishing for the KLR. KLR'S down ( using too much oil) V Stom's not been apart at 140k ( yes it uses some oil). Good to have both.On Jul 31, 2015 8:02 PM, "RJTaylor@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Just got back from a warm summer evening ride thru the local forest preserves, on the KLR. Ten years ago I was looking for a new two wheel ride again after 20 years on 4. . Being 50 and a recent empty-nester, I wasn't looking for a crotch rocket. And since it wasn't a mid-life crisis, I wasn't looking for a Harley to impress anyone. I'm old enough that the only person I have to impress is myself. So I was looking for a mid-size "standard" bike I was comfortable on. .
My choice came down to two bikes - a Weestrom and a KLR 650. I went with the KLR, a bright red tupperware 2006. After the first two years and 15K miles I was ready to dump that POS. Mushy front fork, buzzy handlebar grips, OEM Dunlops squirrelly on and off road, too much chain slop, 15 tooth front sprocket was good neither on or off road, slow throttle response, sweaty seat, - and the battery died after two seasons.
So after getting the valve adjustment and tuneup at the dealership, I decided on some upgrades - Nerf bars, 16 tooth front sprocket, superbike X-chain, Bridgestone Trailwings, fork brace, grip puppies, bar end weights, seat cover, K&H air filter, glass matte battery. What a revelation! It was like a new bike. Sharp handling, no front fork flex, snappier throttle response, comfortable enough to ride all day, on the highway and off. A great ride for the next years.
Fast forward 8 years and 40K miles this spring and I'm picking up a new pair of riding gloves and glasses at a dealership when out front is an "adventurized" Weestrom. A week later, it's still there. I ask the dealership what year and what they wanted for it. After checking KBB price for the price of a 2006 stock Weestrom and checking the odometer (25K), I took it for a spin.. I talked them down to a reasonable price and they hung the "Sold" sign on it.
After 4 months riding, these are my observations:
1) The Weestrom may be an "adventure" bike, it's not a dual-sport. It's wider, heavier than the KLR by at least one size, It has highway sized tires and cast wheels. You have to be more conscious of your momentum in corners. It handles slowly compared to the KLR. The highway size wheel significantly affects off-road handling. Nothing that inspires confidence in more than dirt two tracks or fire trails.
I've ridden a Tiger XC800, sat on a Yamaha Tenere 1200, BMW 1200 Adventure GS. No one can convince me anything 500 LBs or more is a "dual sport". The "adventure" is 300 miles of highway riding and 20 miles of forest fire trails; and that's about it. The only exception in this category MIGHT be the KTM Adventure. But I have neither the money or the the dealerships to deal with that brand..
2) The KLR is definitely a dual-sport, that can (kind of) be converted to an adventure bike, with limitations. The biggest limitation being lack of horsepower. And the stock drivetrain is crap. Having said that it's competitors are even more limited. The XR650 and DR650 are fine bikes I've ridden offroad. Lighter than the KLR, over torqued and under-geared air cooled off road bikes, they're good for about 1 hour of highway riding before you better hit the trail. Otherwise you'll not be expecting any grandchildren. And they cannot be "roadified like the KLR. I'm not a KLRista, but I will say this. The KLR 650 may be a "compromise" bike. And IMHO, the stock bike needs a lot of improvement and I have no use for the 2007+ 40 Lbs more plastic and minimal motor changes that are not an upgrade But given the price point, self-service and upgrades that are available, the KLR 650 is the best damn "dual sport" value out there. Problem is, I just don't need a dual sport all the time.
So when I go on long trips at highway speeds, I wheel out the Weestrom. When I want a lone, secluded ride along forest and 2-lane roads at my own pace; just me and the wind, I use the KLR. If I were riding from Chicago to Alaska via Seattle, I'd take the Weestrom to Seattle and the KLR from Seattle to Alaska. If the KLR had just 5 more HP and more lungs at the top end, it would be the only bike I own. As it is, I'm keeping both. If only because it pisses off the ball-and-chain. Besides, I deserve it. :
#ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 -- #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mkp { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:10px 0;padding:0 10px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mkp hr { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708hd { color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:700;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ads { margin-bottom:10px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ad { padding:0 0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ad p { margin:0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ad a { color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-lc { font-family:Arial;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-lc #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708hd { margin:10px 0px;font-weight:700;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-lc .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ad { margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708actions { font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;padding:10px 0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708activity { background-color:#e0ecee;float:left;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;padding:10px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708activity span { font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708activity span:first-child { text-transform:uppercase;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708activity span a { color:#5085b6;text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708activity span span { color:#ff7900;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708activity span .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708underline { text-decoration:underline;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708attach { clear:both;display:table;font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;padding:10px 0;width:400px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708attach div a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708attach img { border:none;padding-right:5px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708attach label { display:block;margin-bottom:5px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708attach label a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 blockquote { margin:0 0 0 4px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708bold { font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708bold a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 dd.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708last p a { font-family:Verdana;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 dd.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708last p span { margin-right:10px;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 dd.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708last p span.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708yshortcuts { margin-right:0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708attach-table div div a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708attach-table { width:400px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708file-title a, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708file-title a:active, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708file-title a:hover, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708file-title a:visited { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708photo-title a, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708photo-title a:active, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708photo-title a:hover, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708photo-title a:visited { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 div#ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mlmsg #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-msg p a span.ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708yshortcuts { font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;font-weight:normal;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708green { color:#628c2a;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708MsoNormal { margin:0 0 0 0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 o { font-size:0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708photos div { float:left;width:72px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708photos div div { border:1px solid #666666;height:62px;overflow:hidden;width:62px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708photos div label { color:#666666;font-size:10px;overflow:hidden;text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;width:64px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708reco-category { font-size:77%;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708reco-desc { font-size:77%;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 .ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708replbq { margin:4px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-actbar div a:first-child { margin-right:2px;padding-right:5px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mlmsg { font-size:13px;font-family:Arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mlmsg table { font-size:inherit;font:100%;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mlmsg select, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 input, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 textarea { font:99% Arial, Helvetica, clean, sans-serif;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mlmsg pre, #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 code { font:115% monospace;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mlmsg * { line-height:1.22em;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-mlmsg #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708logo { padding-bottom:10px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-msg p a { font-family:Verdana;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-msg p#ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708attach-count span { color:#1E66AE;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-reco #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708reco-head { color:#ff7900;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-reco { margin-bottom:20px;padding:0px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ov li a { font-size:130%;text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ov li { font-size:77%;list-style-type:square;padding:6px 0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ov ul { margin:0;padding:0 0 0 8px;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-text { font-family:Georgia;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-text p { margin:0 0 1em 0;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-text tt { font-size:120%;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708 #ygrps-yiv-295915150yiv0624580708ygrp-vital ul li:last-child { border-right:none !important;} #ygrps-yiv-295915150