balance chain tensioner system upgrade

[Steve Warren]

HI there, I am considering a KLR 650 for a new toy. I want something lighter than what I have now. 1998 Valkyrie Tourer. I used to have a R1100GS, wish I would have never sold it, anyhow I am looking for something affordable this time. We (my girlfriend and I) go on 150 to 300 mile day trips and weekenders here in the Hill Country of Texas, I am a hefty 265#, she is 130#. Is this bike going to work? Any advice would be greatly appreciated before I spend my money. In this time of no ride before you buy motorcycle shops we need to rely on others for good info. Thanks in advance, Steve Warren Austin, Texas

[Kurt Simpson]

> I am considering a KLR 650 for a new toy. I want something lighter > than what I have now. 1998 Valkyrie Tourer. I used to have a R1100GS, > wish I would have never sold it, anyhow I am looking for something > affordable this time. We (my girlfriend and I) go on 150 to 300 mile > day trips and weekenders here in the Hill Country of Texas, I am a > hefty 265#, she is 130#. Is this bike going to work? Any advice would > be greatly appreciated before I spend my money. In this time of no > ride before you buy motorcycle shops we need to rely on others for > good info. Thanks in advance, > > Steve Warren > Austin, Texas

I'm sure there will be people who will tell you it can, but I'm one to tell you it can't. If it could I'd have one right now instead of a Connie and a Guzzi Quota. Elden Carl makes it work by having his wife sit on a pad up and over the rear luggage rack. Otherwise it is just too crowded on the seat. The Aprilia 650, BMW F650 Funduro and the new F650GS all have a great deal more room on the seat and more power than the KLR for two-up riding. Kurt

[John Irvine]

I think the key is to buy 2 KLR's. At 05:03 PM 12/4/2000 +0000, Steve Warren wrote:

>HI there, >I am considering a KLR 650 for a new toy. I want something lighter >than what I have now. 1998 Valkyrie Tourer. I used to have a R1100GS, >wish I would have never sold it, anyhow I am looking for something >affordable this time. We (my girlfriend and I) go on 150 to 300 mile >day trips and weekenders here in the Hill Country of Texas, I am a >hefty 265#, she is 130#. Is this bike going to work? Any advice would >be greatly appreciated before I spend my money. In this time of no >ride before you buy motorcycle shops we need to rely on others for >good info. Thanks in advance, > >Steve Warren >Austin, Texas > > >Visit the KLR650 archives at >http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 >Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... >Let's keep this list SPAM free! > >Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com

[rhefferan@yahoo.com]

Steve, My wife and I ride our KLR650 with no problems, however probably we've never gone more than 200 miles in one trip. Our total 2-up weight is less than yours by about 40 lbs. and I feel the handling could be improved with a aftermarket rear shock/spring. Comfort would definately be improved with a custom seat and there are 3 or 4 good choices out there. Other typical improvements are Progressive fork springs, S/S brake lines, Aluminum bash plate, side racks and bags or Paniers. There's lots more, but the minumum upgrades of seat, suspension and brake lines are a must for your intended use, IMO. Alternately, some generous Lister in your area may be willing to go for a ride with you and you might trade bikes for a test. Rex

--- In DSN_klr650@egroups.com, "Steve Warren" wrote: > HI there, > I am considering a KLR 650 for a new toy. I want something lighter > than what I have now. 1998 Valkyrie Tourer. I used to have a R1100GS, > wish I would have never sold it, anyhow I am looking for something > affordable this time. We (my girlfriend and I) go on 150 to 300 mile > day trips and weekenders here in the Hill Country of Texas, I am a > hefty 265#, she is 130#. Is this bike going to work? Any advice would > be greatly appreciated before I spend my money. In this time of no > ride before you buy motorcycle shops we need to rely on others for > good info. Thanks in advance, > > Steve Warren > Austin, Texas

[LawsonCL@aol.com]

Steve writes:

We (my girlfriend and I) go on 150 to 300 mile day trips and weekenders here in the Hill Country of Texas, I am a hefty 265#, she is 130#. Is this bike going to work?

Yes, it'll work--it'll be working its ass off. Don't even consider the KLR650 for this kind of duty. You'll both hate the bike within a day. Think painfully slow and uncomfortably  cramped. Although you don't want to spend the money, another R1100GS or the new R1150GS would be much better choices. Then, there are other dual-sport-like road bikes from Triumph, Moto Guzzi and whoever makes the Gran Canyon. Chris Lawson KLR650 1995 R100GS/PD Classic (Hey, anybody wanna' buy this bike? Less than 20,000 miles, excellent condition, $8,300.)

[PRBKLR@cs.com]

Two would still be less than one of most of the suggested bikes! DSN_klr650@egroups.com wrote:

> > I think the key is to buy 2 KLR's. > > At 05:03 PM 12/4/2000 +0000, Steve Warren wrote: > >HI there, > >I am considering a KLR 650 for a new toy. I want something lighter > >than what I have now. 1998 Valkyrie Tourer. I used to have a R1100GS, > >wish I would have never sold it, anyhow I am looking for something > >affordable this time. We (my girlfriend and I) go on 150 to 300 mile > >day trips and weekenders here in the Hill Country of Texas, I am a > >hefty 265#, she is 130#. Is this bike going to work? Any advice would > >be greatly appreciated before I spend my money. In this time of no > >ride before you buy motorcycle shops we need to rely on others for > >good info. Thanks in advance, > > > >Steve Warren > >Austin, Texas > > > > > >Visit the KLR650 archives at > >http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > >Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > >Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > > >Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com > > >

[Charles B. Martin]

Steve, you should find a good used R1100GS at Lone Star for that type of riding 2 up. Martin

----- Original Message ----- From: To: DSN_klr650@egroups.com> Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 11:55 AM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: two up riding > Steve, > My wife and I ride our KLR650 with no problems, however probably > we've never gone more than 200 miles in one trip. Our total 2-up > weight is less than yours by about 40 lbs. and I feel the handling > could be improved with a aftermarket rear shock/spring. Comfort would > definately be improved with a custom seat and there are 3 or 4 good > choices out there. Other typical improvements are Progressive fork > springs, S/S brake lines, Aluminum bash plate, side racks and bags or > Paniers. There's lots more, but the minumum upgrades of seat, > suspension and brake lines are a must for your intended use, IMO. > Alternately, some generous Lister in your area may be willing to go > for a ride with you and you might trade bikes for a test. > > Rex > > --- In DSN_klr650@egroups.com, "Steve Warren" wrote: > > HI there, > > I am considering a KLR 650 for a new toy. I want something lighter > > than what I have now. 1998 Valkyrie Tourer. I used to have a > R1100GS, > > wish I would have never sold it, anyhow I am looking for something > > affordable this time. We (my girlfriend and I) go on 150 to 300 > mile > > day trips and weekenders here in the Hill Country of Texas, I am a > > hefty 265#, she is 130#. Is this bike going to work? Any advice > would > > be greatly appreciated before I spend my money. In this time of no > > ride before you buy motorcycle shops we need to rely on others for > > good info. Thanks in advance, > > > > Steve Warren > > Austin, Texas > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com > >

[ron criswell]

I have a Corbin seat and when my wife is on the back we cruise at 75 mph indicated with no problems. I weigh 205 and my wife, well she doesn't weigh what she did when we met 36 years ago. We have taken short trips 100 - 150 miles and it worked fine. I have crashed enough in my years of riding that I really prefer to ride solo anyway. But the KLR has done just fine on the trips we have done. Criswell Kurt Simpson wrote:

> > I am considering a KLR 650 for a new toy. I want something lighter > > than what I have now. 1998 Valkyrie Tourer. I used to have a R1100GS, > > wish I would have never sold it, anyhow I am looking for something > > affordable this time. We (my girlfriend and I) go on 150 to 300 mile > > day trips and weekenders here in the Hill Country of Texas, I am a > > hefty 265#, she is 130#. Is this bike going to work? Any advice would > > be greatly appreciated before I spend my money. In this time of no > > ride before you buy motorcycle shops we need to rely on others for > > good info. Thanks in advance, > > > > Steve Warren > > Austin, Texas > > I'm sure there will be people who will tell you it can, but I'm one to tell > you it can't. If it could I'd have one right now instead of a Connie and a > Guzzi Quota. Elden Carl makes it work by having his wife sit on a pad up and > over the rear luggage rack. Otherwise it is just too crowded on the seat. > The Aprilia 650, BMW F650 Funduro and the new F650GS all have a great deal > more room on the seat and more power than the KLR for two-up riding. > > Kurt > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com

[Alejandro Dominguez]

Criswell, how much is the Corbin seat worth more or less? Do you suggest it as a good buy Iplan to ride mainly alone, but will have some one on the back some times? (I don't expect travels of more then 150-200 miles, as this island isn't much bigger than that...) Ride Safe   Alejandro   Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

[ron criswell]

I forgot what I paid for it 2 years ago. I think you can find them on the web. The seats are wider and I think not as tall as stock. They are firm and it takes a bit to break them in. I had a guy tell me the "Russell Day Long seat is better. The Corbin is certainly better than stock for long rides. What island do you live on? Criswell

Alejandro Dominguez wrote:

  Criswell,how much is the Corbin seat worth more or less?Do you suggest it as a good buy Iplan to ride mainly alone, but will have some one on the back some times? (I don't expect travels of more then 150-200 miles, as this island isn't much bigger than that...)Ride Safe Alejandro 

Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... Let's keep this list SPAM free!

Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com   

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