what's a doohickey then?

[Edmund]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "symme7ry" wrote:

> > > First of all, thank you very much to everyone who replied to my > earlier post.

(snip)

> but here is my question which I think is > determinative of whether I get a KLR: > > Is the benefit of getting a bike which I can practice with on dirt > (so I can be familiar with limits of traction, etc) greater than

the

> benefit of getting a low-powered sportbike (so I can get familiar > with the sportbike riding style early), if my ultime goal is 100%

on-

> road, fast sportbike riding (but not at race tracks, unless just to > practice)? > > Thanks again, > Elliot >

Elliot: I missed this discussion up to now. FWIW here's my story: My first bike: KLR-650 after I took MSF class. Before class I had grandiose ideas of what I wanted. After class me and others in class all decided something smaller and lighter than our first choice was the way to go. (FYI my 1st choice was a Vulcan 800 Classic). I picked the KLR650 because it has forgiving power, light weight (compared to street bikes), and a huge owner base to work with. Also, a dual-sport isn't too pretty to drop during practice. Did anyone mention you'll probably drop your first bike? I did, twice in one day even after passing MSF class and promising myself I'd never drop a bike again. Get some handguards and maybe engine/radiator guards and you're bike will only look "seasoned" after you drop it. I commute on my bikes. Most of my practice is on pavement. I don't regret that. I aim for zero falls so planning on falling on dirt practice is not in my game plan. How was the KLR as my first bike? GREAT. I started with zero experience so the first time I got it going in 3rd gear I thought I was breaking the sound barrier or something. ha ha Nowadays I can really lean into turns on the KLR putting shock and awe into onlookers. (exaggeration) Almost exactly 2 years after I got the KLR I got my second bike: 2005 Kawasaki Z-750S which is very similar in some ways to the Yammie FZ6. Matter of fact I would have gotten an FZ6 if I hadn't found such a great deal on a used Z-750S. With 2 years of riding time I adapted to the Zee pretty easily BUT I still took it very slow and cautiously with slow rides around the neighborhood to get the feel of the bike. Yes it's much smoother and more powerful and better feeling than the KLR650. But within 5 minutes of taking it around the block I realized "I'm real glad this wasn't my first bike". The Z-750S is more mellow than most sport bikes but it still has a bunch of horses and other powerful aspects. The first time I applied the double disk front brake I jolted to a stop and realized "WHOA, strong brakes!" Another time I bumped my throttle rocker at a traffic light and the engine revved VAAAAAAAAMM and I thought "glad it wasn't in gear when I did that". Long story short: I'm glad I got the KLR-650 as my first bike. I still own the KLR and it parks right next to my Z-750S. Matter of fact I rode it today. Summary advice: get a small, not so hot horsepower used beater bike as your first bike. KLR650, EX250, EX500, GS500, DR400, TW200 are all good first bikes. My advice is worth every penny you paid for it Edmund "The Green Monster" A17 in the GI Joe colors "The Blue Bullet" 2005 Z-750S

[Mike Peplinski]

If speed and power are your main considerations forget about the KLR. You'll never be satisfied until you get it out of your system. As you can see on the list, most of the KLRista are not first time bikers. They (I include myself here) got that "speed and acceleration is all that matters" out of their system several bikes ago. That doesn't mean we don't care, it means we can wring plenty of thrills from the KLR. We realize that no matter how fast you go, you will never go "fast enough". Speed can be addictive and you will either get to the point where you find satisfactions better than top speed, or you crash. The KLR is not a compromise as much as it is a best-of-all-worlds bike. No matter what your quest there will always be "biggerbetterfaster". Get the FZ6 and have fun. When you become older and wiser oh little one, c'mon over to the "dark side". (I can hardly wait to hear the rebuttles on this one)

>From: "symme7ry" >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] thoughts after test-rides, FZ6 and KLR650 >Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 10:17:48 -0000 > > >First of all, thank you very much to everyone who replied to my >earlier post. > >Today I got a chance to test both of these bikes. I rode them only >in residential areas, less than 35 mph and no higher than 3rd gear. >The experience leads me to a specific question at the end of this >post. Here are my impressions: > >-Throttle in first gear on the KLR seems less continuous than on the >FZ6. On the KLR I'd try to go slow in first gear, then I'd try to >increase the throttle a little bit and I would always get a sudden >jerk. I noticed this happening on 1st gear on the dual sport (yamaha >XT) that I rode in the MSF class too. With both of those dualsports >the throttle seems to roll on smoother in higher gears. This may be >just because I am new and lack precise throttle control, but for >some reason it felt much smoother on the FZ6 (I did try the FZ6 >after the KLR, so maybe I was just better at it by then). > >-the KLR650 is extremely comfortable in terms of ergonomics, the FZ6 >seemed a bit less comfortable (basically just the seat), but not >that bad. > >-KLR650 seemed to vibrate much more, making the mirrors shake and >hard to use. I've seen comments about this in this forum so I >expected it, but not to that degree and not at such low speeds. It >seems like there is no speed (0-35) on the KLR that is more smooth >than any speed I tried (0-35) on the FZ6. > >-Maybe it is because I was sort of expecting this, but the FZ6 felt >more fun to drive, I think partially because it gave more of a sense >of speed. On the KLR when I got to around 35mph I wasn't really >nervous. I didn't seem to be going that fast. On the FZ6 I would >think I was going 40mph and look down and the speedometer said 25. >Maybe because the ride is lower to the ground? Whatever it was, it >felt a lot less like a bicycle and I must admit the knowledge that I >COULD open up the throttle and unleash all sorts of scary power if I >wanted to (which I didn't, and don't plan to for a while) was >exciting. Even if I never use that power, just the knowledge that it >is there seems to add to the enjoyment of the ride for me. > > >...However, I take the comments that the FZ6 can get me into trouble >seriously. Supposedly it delivers 84 horsepower to the rear wheel >and has a 140mph top speed. The thing is though, I felt completely >in control of the FZ6 when testing it so it is hard to resist the >belief that I could always do that. (Something giving a false sense >of security could be that the FZ6 engine is designed to have its >power at high RPM, and I was riding at fairly low RPM) > >On the one hand, I think I should just listen to the advice of those >that say the FZ6 is too powerful since I realize I really know very >little about motorcycling. > >On the other, the sense of power and smoothness that the FZ6 gave >seems almost too nice for me to deny myself for a year or more >(UNLESS... see question below). > >I suppose I could always compromise by looking into the vstrom >DL650, or a underpowered sportbike like the GS500F (but I am 6'3 so >I think my options are somewhat limited). > >I neglected to mention in my other post that my ultimate goal in >motorcycling is to get to the point where I can handle a high- >performance sport bike. In my earlier thread people mentioned the >benefits of learning on dirt (getting comfortable with the limits of >your traction, etc), but here is my question which I think is >determinative of whether I get a KLR: > >Is the benefit of getting a bike which I can practice with on dirt >(so I can be familiar with limits of traction, etc) greater than the >benefit of getting a low-powered sportbike (so I can get familiar >with the sportbike riding style early), if my ultime goal is 100% on- >road, fast sportbike riding (but not at race tracks, unless just to >practice)? > >Thanks again, >Elliot > > > > > > >Archive Quicksearch at: >http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[John Kokola]

Fixed that for you. --John Kokola Just Kidding Edmund wrote:

> The first time I applied the >double disk front brake I jolted to a stop and realized "WHOA, *real* >brakes!" >

[Randall Marbach]

--- Edmund wrote:

> Elliot: I missed this discussion up to now. FWIW > here's my story: > My first bike: KLR-650 after I took MSF class.

... After over 40 years of street riding and 17+ different bikes including Honda 50-90-305s- V45s-GL1000s-xl 500, 600,650s; Bonnevilles, 3 Harleys, 2 BMWs and now a Valkyrie plus an A17 and a rat A9.. I can see my KLR being my LAST bike. Since my wife gave up long distance riding, I no longer have a requirement for a "2-up" motorcycle, and I no longer have a desire to do the "ton" on bike. That leaves commuting and "expediton" riding. From 2000-2004, my sole transportation (no car) was my Valkyrie, and outside of commuting during that time, the only trips I took on the Valk were to Yosemite with my wife and a quick solo run to Tijuana. Since I got the KLR, I've been to San Felipe, Baja twice, the bay area twice, Julian 3-4 times, Death Valley, Anza Borrego, Kernville and all over the Angeles Forest area including Wrightwood several times. With the aftermarket front and rear suspension upgrades plus the corbin seat, the ride is much better than the Valk. THe KLRs power on the open road is "adequate"... I was moving faster than a lot of traffic, but I never felt like jail bait. With the proliferation of freeway traffic and associated congestion, potholes, speed bumps, rising gas prices, etc. I now prefer to commute on the KLR versus the Valk. I am so sorry I did not do more dirt riding during this time. To make up for this, I took an Admo-Tours dirt riding class, which was excellent, and next month, I am looking forward to Jimmy Lewis dirt bike school. After this class, bring on Baja Sur, Mojave, Monument Valley, Creel etc and dare I say Alaska. So I can see my A17 being my expediton bike and my A9 (assuming it restores OK) as my supermoto style commuter. I can see that mastering the ZEN of KLR (learning how to ride it proficiently on dirt and street, doing all maintenance (including engine/trans rebuild)myself) can be a fulfilling, life time preoccupation.. hence the KLR could easily be my LAST motorcycle. HTH Randy from Burbank __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

[Ed Chait]

> Get the FZ6 and have fun. When you become older and > wiser oh little one, c'mon over to the "dark side". (I can hardly wait to > hear the rebuttles on this one)

No rebutal from me. I think you're right on the money. There is another thing at play for me also. I've owned a whole slew of bikes over the years, and I've come to prefer singles and twins. I like the power pulses they make, how they sound, and the frequencies at which they vibrate. Multis are fun, but they just don't stir my soul the same way. ed A17

[Fred Hink]

That's what Verle Nelson says: http://verlenelson.com/KLR/ (X 4) Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/cmc.html

----- Original Message ----- From: "Randall Marbach" To: "KLR Group" DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 11:00 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: thoughts after test-rides, FZ6 and KLR650 > > --- Edmund wrote: >> Elliot: I missed this discussion up to now. FWIW >> here's my story: >> My first bike: KLR-650 after I took MSF class. > ... > > After over 40 years of street riding and 17+ different > bikes including Honda 50-90-305s- V45s-GL1000s-xl 500, > 600,650s; Bonnevilles, 3 Harleys, 2 BMWs and now a > Valkyrie plus an A17 and a rat A9.. I can see my KLR > being my LAST bike. > > Since my wife gave up long distance riding, I no > longer have a requirement for a "2-up" motorcycle, and > I no longer have a desire to do the "ton" on bike. > That leaves commuting and "expediton" riding. > > From 2000-2004, my sole transportation (no car) was my > Valkyrie, and outside of commuting during that time, > the only trips I took on the Valk were to Yosemite > with my wife and a quick solo run to Tijuana. > > Since I got the KLR, I've been to San Felipe, Baja > twice, the bay area twice, Julian 3-4 times, Death > Valley, Anza Borrego, Kernville and all over the > Angeles Forest area including Wrightwood several > times. > With the aftermarket front and rear suspension > upgrades plus the corbin seat, the ride is much better > than the Valk. THe KLRs power on the open road is > "adequate"... I was moving faster than a lot of > traffic, but I never felt like jail bait. > > With the proliferation of freeway traffic and > associated congestion, potholes, speed bumps, rising > gas prices, etc. I now prefer to commute on the KLR > versus the Valk. > > I am so sorry I did not do more dirt riding during > this time. To make up for this, I took an Admo-Tours > dirt riding class, which was excellent, and next > month, I am looking forward to Jimmy Lewis dirt bike > school. > > After this class, bring on Baja Sur, Mojave, Monument > Valley, Creel etc and dare I say Alaska. > > So I can see my A17 being my expediton bike and my A9 > (assuming it restores OK) as my supermoto style > commuter. I can see that mastering the ZEN of KLR > (learning how to ride it proficiently on dirt and > street, doing all maintenance (including engine/trans > rebuild)myself) can be a fulfilling, life time > preoccupation.. hence the KLR could easily be my LAST > motorcycle. > > HTH > > Randy from Burbank

[Jeff Saline]

Elliot, Tony, Udder KLR Listers, I stopped at the local Yamaha and Kawasaki dealer this afternoon to check out the FZ6. I had a brief but informative talk with a salesman I've known for a few years. He's a dedicated sportbike rider and has 18 years of street experience under his belt. He's also pretty fast at the track which he tries to do twice a year. His thoughts are the FZ6 is a better bike to learn on than the KLR if the rider's intentions are to ride sportbikes. The FZ6 has more road traction than the KLR and you can get killed just as easily on either bike. He reminded me it's not the bike but the rider. Then he said he thought a better bike than the FZ6 for a first time rider would be a Kawasaki Ninja 650. It has a better power band and shifting should be a bit easier. The FZ6 will have to be rev'd more to stay in a happy place. Just for comparison the KLR650 in Red or Green is going here for $5,399. The FZ6 was Red and was going for $6,999 and the 650 Ninja was Silver looking and is going for $6,499. I guess when it comes to sport type bikes I just can't see much difference in riding positions. I could tell the R1 was a serious leaned forward position and could tell the Ninja and FZ6 were both more upright. The salesman suggested that any of the bikes would be ok for extended riding once the rider got conditioned to the riding position. So... maybe the FZ6 or Ninja would be a better bike to learn on when the ultimate goal is to ride a sport type bike at a fast pace off the track. Thanks to the folks that pointed out I wasn't familiar with the FZ6. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[revmaaatin]

Now we're talking baby. I think I just got "more" religion reading these posts at the DSNsixfiddy site. At least some good stuff for my next Sunday's lesson, ie. the daaark side, fun, stir my soul, etc. sigh...11F tomorrow, etc., no dark side for me tomorrow, how about you? What is missing in this discussion is the medicinal quality of the KLR vs. other M/C's, all Zen aside. When I need to clear my head, a stout dose of KLR650, bugs optional, is the medicine I choose. Now with heated grips and a power plug for the heated vest, I can now ride (short rides) down to 30-ish degrees. A quiet moment in a secluded area, park, or semi-remote roadside will work wonders for you, especially at sunset or sunrise. Just watch out for the wild ruminants. (deer). revmaaatin. Methodist Circuit Rider, Sioux Empire.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Ed Chait" wrote: > > > > > Get the FZ6 and have fun. When you become older and > > wiser oh little one, c'mon over to the "dark side". (I can hardly wait to > > hear the rebuttles on this one) > > > No rebutal from me. I think you're right on the money. > > There is another thing at play for me also. I've owned a whole slew of > bikes over the years, and I've come to prefer singles and twins. I like the > power pulses they make, how they sound, and the frequencies at which they > vibrate. > > Multis are fun, but they just don't stir my soul the same way. > > ed > A17 >

[Mike Peplinski]

Refusing to give in to the winter blahs I sought out (seeked out?) ways to ride my KLR in the winter. I don't like added complexity so took heated items off my list. Next up was shelter. I began by acquiring flannel lined jeans, but snowmobile type pants work well as does an entire SMB suit. That will keep the chest warm. Then blocking the wind. I have a +4" shield that keeps the wind off my face. I taped pieces of rubber to the cutout in the shield so the wind doesn't whip around and hit me in the chest. It hits right at the shoulder. Then the fairing. Using a piece of 10" PVC pipe, I cut out a 6 inch section about 32 inches long and bent it with heat . I bent 2 flanges at right angles to the pipe radius that bolt to the KLR plastic tank wings. It took 2 holes. I bent the top and bottom so it moved the wind out. Then I made a sort of bash plate from a piece of 55 gallon plastic drum. I cut out a flat section, to block the air from coming under and onto my feet. It bolts to the frame down tube and goes under the skid plate. Net result-I can ride in comfortably in the teens. Now the only thing that slows me is snow and ice. I'll try to attach pictures but so far have been unsuccessful (thanks AOL).

>From: "revmaaatin" >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: thoughts after test-rides, FZ6 and KLR650 >Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2006 02:08:42 -0000 > >Now we're talking baby. I think I just got "more" religion reading >these posts at the DSNsixfiddy site. At least some good stuff for >my next Sunday's lesson, ie. the daaark side, fun, stir my soul, etc. > >sigh...11F tomorrow, etc., no dark side for me tomorrow, how about >you? > >What is missing in this discussion is the medicinal quality of the >KLR vs. other M/C's, all Zen aside. When I need to clear my head, a >stout dose of KLR650, bugs optional, is the medicine I choose. Now >with heated grips and a power plug for the heated vest, I can now >ride (short rides) down to 30-ish degrees. A quiet moment in a >secluded area, park, or semi-remote roadside will work wonders for >you, especially at sunset or sunrise. Just watch out for the wild >ruminants. (deer). > >revmaaatin. >Methodist Circuit Rider, Sioux Empire. > > >--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Ed Chait" wrote: > > > > > > > > > Get the FZ6 and have fun. When you become older and > > > wiser oh little one, c'mon over to the "dark side". (I can >hardly wait to > > > hear the rebuttles on this one) > > > > > > No rebutal from me. I think you're right on the money. > > > > There is another thing at play for me also. I've owned a whole >slew of > > bikes over the years, and I've come to prefer singles and twins. >I like the > > power pulses they make, how they sound, and the frequencies at >which they > > vibrate. > > > > Multis are fun, but they just don't stir my soul the same way. > > > > ed > > A17 > > > > > > > > >Archive Quicksearch at: >http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[Matt]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Peplinski" wrote:

> > Refusing to give in to the winter blahs I sought out (seeked out?) >ways to ride my KLR in the winter. I don't like added complexity so I >took heated items off my list.

Big Mistake! You haven't lived until you've ridden in the cold with heated grips and a heated vest. At my age it is almost better than sex. Heated gear does NOT add complexity ... it simplifies things and makes riding in the cold much safer. JMOPO. Matt P.S. As that great philosopher Mr. Widder once said: "YBCOLD".