cabot trail dual-sport gathering
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- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2001 1:28 pm
list newbie
Hello All,
I'm new to the list and I'm new to motorcycles. I'm looking into getting
my first bike and the KLR 650 seems to be a good choice. I'm looking to do
mostly riding on the street, but I have a friend that has an older Honda
XL250 that I want to do some trail riding with. I'm not looking to do any
fancy moto jumping or to burn up the trails, I'm just looking to get off
road and explore at a very slow pace. The pure dirt guys I have talked to
tell me that the KLR won't cut it in the dirt, but I think they are thinking
that I want to burn up the trails with my hair on fire....
I guess what I'm asking is, can the KLR get me deep into the N. GA
mountains without me being a drag on my buddy with his made for dirt bike?
So far everything I have read about the KLR seems to make it the bike for
me. I'm 6'6" so the tall seating seems ideal, being able to ride on the
street out to the trails sounds great, the large gas tank is a plus. Since
I'm new to motorcycles a sportbike seems out (that and you can't take it off
road), and I'm not really into cruisers. Anyway, thanks in advance for any
advice.
Mike Stanton
Atlanta GA
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- Posts: 188
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2000 7:35 am
list newbie
Mike,
Just my opinion but here goes...
I lived in Greenville SC and rode that area as much as possible last year.
If you go out by yourself, be very careful. The trails you find can drop off
pretty fast and the KLR is monstrous when you are attempting to drag it back
up a hill or get it upright when its pointed seat-south. I have a recovered
seat and 3 hours of sweat left near Table Rock to prove the above. If you go
out with buddies on lighter bikes just stay on the juice when going up hills
and you'll be fine.
Oh yeah, take off the windshield and keep an extra set of 20.00 Bikemaster
GP mirrors handy. Also, a good bet is a second shifter lever for another 20
bones. That was another three hour lesson along the side of the road...
Good luck!
Jim Jackson II
A13 "Gonzo"
Baltimore MD
----Original Message Follows----
From: Zappa
To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [DSN_klr650] List Newbie
Date: Sat, 02 Jun 2001 15:28:50 -0400
Hello All,
I'm new to the list and I'm new to motorcycles. I'm looking into getting
my first bike and the KLR 650 seems to be a good choice. I'm looking to do
mostly riding on the street, but I have a friend that has an older Honda
XL250 that I want to do some trail riding with. I'm not looking to do any
fancy moto jumping or to burn up the trails, I'm just looking to get off
road and explore at a very slow pace. The pure dirt guys I have talked to
tell me that the KLR won't cut it in the dirt, but I think they are thinking
that I want to burn up the trails with my hair on fire....
I guess what I'm asking is, can the KLR get me deep into the N. GA
mountains without me being a drag on my buddy with his made for dirt bike?
So far everything I have read about the KLR seems to make it the bike for
me. I'm 6'6" so the tall seating seems ideal, being able to ride on the
street out to the trails sounds great, the large gas tank is a plus. Since
I'm new to motorcycles a sportbike seems out (that and you can't take it off
road), and I'm not really into cruisers. Anyway, thanks in advance for any
advice.
Mike Stanton
Atlanta GA
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- Posts: 163
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2001 5:23 pm
list newbie
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Zappa wrote:
getting> Hello All, > > I'm new to the list and I'm new to motorcycles. I'm looking into
looking to do> my first bike and the KLR 650 seems to be a good choice. I'm
Honda> mostly riding on the street, but I have a friend that has an older
do any> XL250 that I want to do some trail riding with. I'm not looking to
get off> fancy moto jumping or to burn up the trails, I'm just looking to
talked to> road and explore at a very slow pace. The pure dirt guys I have
thinking> tell me that the KLR won't cut it in the dirt, but I think they are
dirt bike?> that I want to burn up the trails with my hair on fire.... > > I guess what I'm asking is, can the KLR get me deep into the N. GA > mountains without me being a drag on my buddy with his made for
***** Depends on how good he is! You'll be smiling when you come to a paved road and he can't ride on it (legally)! Or you're blowing his doors (fenders?) off on a nice long, fast dirt road! :-> After a few months you're gonna have to tell him to get his "own" when he wants to ride your KLR all the time!>
bike for> So far everything I have read about the KLR seems to make it the
the> me. I'm 6'6" so the tall seating seems ideal, being able to ride on
He'll be whining when he has to go back to his truck/trailer to gas up and you haven't even started riding! )) Of course depending on how smart he is, you may be whining when he figures out he can just get gas from his "forest gas station".... YOUR TANK! )) Regardless, it's a great bike and everyone on here loves theirs; street and/or dirt! Greg in Dallas> street out to the trails sounds great, the large gas tank is a plus.
can't take it off>Since I'm new to motorcycles a sportbike seems out (that and you
for any> road), and I'm not really into cruisers. Anyway, thanks in advance
> advice. > > Mike Stanton > Atlanta GA
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- Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2000 2:58 pm
list newbie
Hi Mike.
I've been taking some dirt-inexperienced riders out to do some enduro
riding. What I've found is that in the dirt there is not much
difference between a road rider that hasn't ridden in the dirt much
and someone who hasn't been riding much.
One of the first and most important things you should do is add Moose
bars to your handlebars. This will protect your levers in case of a
dump - and it only takes one dump. You can get the Moose bars from
Fred at Arrowhead Motorsports in Moab. Don't buy them from
Dualstar. You will never get them.
The next important note is to practice your balance. Find some
slightly bumpy terrain and practice going as slow as you can whilst
standing up with your knees slightly bent and thighs near your
handlebars. Your arms should be straight and you should be able to
look down and see your front wheel. If you can ride comfortably in
this position, your balance will be much better because all your
weight is down low on the foot pegs. If you are sitting on the seat
your weight is applied high on the bike and and the wheels can come
out from under you very quickly. You will notice that while you are
standing, the bike can move all it wants from side to side underneath
you and you will still remain confident and upright. When you get
this down really well, you will be able to stop and balance the bike
while standing on the pegs for long periods of time. That comes in
handy when you bump up against a big rock and want to blip the
throttle to hop over it. After awhile this will probably be your
normal riding position on the trails. It also gives your glutes a
rest.
Third: Wear riding boots, elbow and kneepads, and maybe even a chest
protector! They will protect you from the times your balance fails
you and rocks and limbs sticking out.
Fourth: Tires should be DOT approved knobbies so they don't slide out
from under you. The stock tires don't cut it. Take em off and save
them for a long road trip some day.
Fifth: Don't do drugs!
The thing I really like about the KLR on the trails is; it has enough
weight to give you traction when you need it most (climbing slick
hills), and enough power to overcome the weight. All those guys that
tell you "it ain't a dirt bike" are full of ..it. It isn't quite as
manuevarable as an enduro, but that can be overcome with finesse.
Once you get really good on the KLR, you will be able to hop on an XR
and ride circles around its owner. Have fun and stay out of trouble.
-Lance
A14 in Tucson
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Zappa wrote: > Hello All, > > I'm new to the list and I'm new to motorcycles. I'm looking into getting > my first bike and the KLR 650 seems to be a good choice. I'm looking to do > mostly riding on the street, but I have a friend that has an older Honda > XL250 that I want to do some trail riding with. I'm not looking to do any > fancy moto jumping or to burn up the trails, I'm just looking to get off > road and explore at a very slow pace. The pure dirt guys I have talked to > tell me that the KLR won't cut it in the dirt, but I think they are thinking > that I want to burn up the trails with my hair on fire.... > > I guess what I'm asking is, can the KLR get me deep into the N. GA > mountains without me being a drag on my buddy with his made for dirt bike? > > So far everything I have read about the KLR seems to make it the bike for > me. I'm 6'6" so the tall seating seems ideal, being able to ride on the > street out to the trails sounds great, the large gas tank is a plus. Since > I'm new to motorcycles a sportbike seems out (that and you can't take it off > road), and I'm not really into cruisers. Anyway, thanks in advance for any > advice. > > Mike Stanton > Atlanta GA
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- Posts: 50
- Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2000 2:58 pm
list newbie
...and just in case you don't know, your bike has to be running to
give him gas because of the vacuum operated petcock. That one took
me awhile to figure out.
-Lance
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Greg Paul" wrote: > --- In DSN_klr650@y..., Zappa wrote: > > Hello All, > > > > I'm new to the list and I'm new to motorcycles. I'm looking into > getting > > my first bike and the KLR 650 seems to be a good choice. I'm > looking to do > > mostly riding on the street, but I have a friend that has an older > Honda > > XL250 that I want to do some trail riding with. I'm not looking to > do any > > fancy moto jumping or to burn up the trails, I'm just looking to > get off > > road and explore at a very slow pace. The pure dirt guys I have > talked to > > tell me that the KLR won't cut it in the dirt, but I think they are > thinking > > that I want to burn up the trails with my hair on fire.... > > > > I guess what I'm asking is, can the KLR get me deep into the N. GA > > mountains without me being a drag on my buddy with his made for > dirt bike? > > > > ***** Depends on how good he is! You'll be smiling when you come to a > paved road and he can't ride on it (legally)! Or you're blowing his > doors (fenders?) off on a nice long, fast dirt road! :-> After a few > months you're gonna have to tell him to get his "own" when he wants > to ride your KLR all the time! > > > So far everything I have read about the KLR seems to make it the > bike for > > me. I'm 6'6" so the tall seating seems ideal, being able to ride on > the > > street out to the trails sounds great, the large gas tank is a plus. > > He'll be whining when he has to go back to his truck/trailer to gas > up and you haven't even started riding! )) Of course depending on > how smart he is, you may be whining when he figures out he can just > get gas from his "forest gas station".... YOUR TANK! )) > > Regardless, it's a great bike and everyone on here loves theirs; > street and/or dirt! > > Greg in Dallas > > > >Since I'm new to motorcycles a sportbike seems out (that and you > can't take it off > > road), and I'm not really into cruisers. Anyway, thanks in advance > for any > > advice. > > > > Mike Stanton > > Atlanta GA
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- Posts: 50
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list newbie
Oops
I need to retract the statement I made about Dualstar and offer an
apology. I was thinking about another dealer when I made that
statement and should not have said anything about Dualstar. They
have been fair and honest with me and did not take too long to get me
the parts I've ordered from them. "...if you can't say anything
nice, don't say it at all". They also have some unique stuff. Check
it out if you get a chance. http://www.dual-star.com
-Lance ;>}
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Lance Collier" wrote: > Hi Mike. > -Snip > dump - and it only takes one dump. You can get the Moose bars from > Fred at Arrowhead Motorsports in Moab. Don't buy them from > Dualstar. You will never get them.
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- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2000 10:49 pm
list newbie
While your buddies and their lightweight dirt-bikes will fare better than a
KLR650 offroad, they most likely will have a limited perimeter from home.
Mind you a KLR is no slouch offroad. It can literally go anywhere without
needing to be Harleyed to get there. When it comes to highways, a 250 just
ain't. The KLR650 is a total compromise but it does so in exactly the right
proportions and then adds bomb-proof reliability at a reasonable price with
great aftermarket support. There is no substitute, every other motorcycle
is a bigger compromise.
-svt-
98 KLR650
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- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2000 9:10 pm
cabot trail dual-sport gathering
Anyone interested in attending the first Cabot Trail Dual-Sport
Gathering in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia please reply to my hotmail
address. The event will take place during the second/third weeks of
August. Riders are encouraged to look at their schedules and submit
the dates that work best for them. Also include lodging
preferences...fixed roof or full service camping, and any other
special preferences regarding cooking/eating-out, riding, tourist
attractions etc. Photos of C.B and tourism links can be found at
www.ClansmanMotel.com . - Everett
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