avon gripsters or metzeler enduro 3 sahara

[fasteddiecopeman]

Rob, Most of my 'dirt' riding is on dirt/gravel roads and two-track and my inseam is 32". I put in 2" lowering links and cut 1 1/2" out of the side stand and re- welded the end back on. Works great. I also put a 'shortened' center stand on and welded a 'foot' to it to "stand" on to get the KLR onto the stand. Even with the shorter center stand it's a reach for me to get on, but dead easy off the shorter side stand. After buying the 2" lower links ($79.95US!!!) I bought some 6061 aluminum, 1/2" x 1 1/2" and a 19/32" drill bit and made three sets of lowering links at 1 1/2, 1 1/4, and 1" lower. If you get one (you SHOULD) e- mail me and I'll give you more measurements so you can make your own. Ed (near Calgary)

[klr250not]

31" and 230 lbs should do it, in terms of touching down on both sides. I'm not sure what people mean by "inseam" though. I'm 6'2 and 1/2 barefoot but take a 32 inseam in pants. Is it the pants inseam everyone is talking about or is it all the way down to the bottom of your foot?, which is a couple of inches further. BTW, I was retired for a long time and bought an A19 recently as my first bike in 35 years. Its been great. I don't know if you're the one who asked about cruising at 60-65, but thats coasting--not even fast enough to get rid of some vibration in the mirrors that crops up between 3000 and 4000 rpm but goes away at higher speeds. ---------------------------------------------

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Rob Long" wrote: > > It's been years since I last rode a bike, but lately I've been > thinking it would be a blast to get another one. I plan on looking > at a used KLR650 (2002 model) at a local dealer this weekend. Could > anyone tell me if this is a good or bad choice for a novice rider? > Also, I've noticed that the quoted seat heights for most DS bikes > are quite high...too high in fact for my short little legs (31" > inseam short!). I'm a little concerned that my feet won't touch > solid ground when I'm on it!! Will the suspension settle enough > under my weight (230 lbs) so that I can put both feet on the ground? > > Thanks in advance, > > Rob Long > Saint John, NB

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/16/2005 10:38:43 AM Pacific Standard Time, bjoggi308@... writes: I'm heading for Alaska from Oregon in 3 months. I'm not planing on any 'real' off road riding. I just have to contend with gravel roads, construction zones, and minor detours. Currently I have Dunlop 607's and they work great on pavement and in the rain, but they are not good for anything non-pavement other than hard-packed and dry gravel roads. I feel that I have it narrowed down to the Gripsters or the Sahara's due to their good performance on pavement (wet and dry), balanced with some ability in gravel and muck. But I have any direct experience with either of them. I'm not looking for any 'real' off-road performance, and the trip to Alaska should be around 80% pavement, More if I don't go to Prudhoe Bay Having tried both tires, and even though the Gripster is not something I would normally use, I think its a good matchup for your trip. From what I've read, it doesn't sound like you need any more of a dirt tire than a Gripster to make the Alaska run and with the Gripster a single set should go the distance without worry while the rear Sahara is going to be worn out around 5500-6000 miles. From my own experience, the Sahara is my tire when I plan a long trip with lots of off roading (its a bit better than the GP110 in the dirt) while something like a Gripster would be my choice for a coast-to-coast run. Pat G'ville, NV [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Joseph Jones]

Rob; I am 5' 11" 32" inseam, the last bike I rode before May of 04, was a honda 450-4. That was in 1977. I decided to get a bike and start riding again in Jan of 04. I wanted a D/S because I always wanted one when I was young, but couldn't afford one. I started watching the papers on-line adds and e-bay. I had decided on the KLR but couldn't get one. Always over bib, or a day late. I found a 2003 DR 200, and being in a hurry to get a bike, after all the dissapointing bids I bought it. After the first couple rides I knew this bike was too small for what I wanted. (it would be a gr8 bike for riding around town) Two weeks after I bought the dr200 my wife and I stopped in a Kawasaki dealership in London Ky. WOW they had a 2004 KLR 650. The first one I had seen (other than pictures), I sat on it (it was tall), and liked it. So I started dealing with the salesman. I got him down to what I thought was a decent price and told him I would buy it right then IF he would throw in a helmet. He said no so I walked out. After a cig. my wife went back in and bought the bike.(I was going home without it) I had to ride it home without a helmet, but I got it home. I put lowering links on it a couple weeks later. I now have a DR200, A18, 2002 DR650, and an A12. I have put 11,600 miles on the A18, my brother rides the DR650, my wife now rides the DR200. She may get the A18 and me the A12. I won't lower the A12 so it will be better off- road. I hope this helps make your decision. Joe A18, A12 DR650, DR200(for sale) SE Ky

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Rob Long" wrote: > > It's been years since I last rode a bike, but lately I've been > thinking it would be a blast to get another one. I plan on looking > at a used KLR650 (2002 model) at a local dealer this weekend. Could > anyone tell me if this is a good or bad choice for a novice rider? > Also, I've noticed that the quoted seat heights for most DS bikes > are quite high...too high in fact for my short little legs (31" > inseam short!). I'm a little concerned that my feet won't touch > solid ground when I'm on it!! Will the suspension settle enough > under my weight (230 lbs) so that I can put both feet on the ground? > > Thanks in advance, > > Rob Long > Saint John, NB