klr 650 for sale or trade

[dangus@rmi.net]

Hello list I am a tinkerolic, I can't leave any thing alone and I suffer from a never ending need to see how things work. My ailment causes me to change things that don't need changing or fix things that don't need fixing. I've noticed that several other listers seem to have this disorder and obviously don't know it. Hopefully I can help others identify this condition. I currently own an A-11. I spent a winter painting it black and silver, not because I didn't like the original color, I just felt an urge for a change. Next I removed every hose, box, wire, fuse, cable etc. that didn't have something to do with actually making it run. The next summer I added a Supertrap, K+N air filter, carb kit, springs, steel brake lines, drilled the airbox, and changed the bars four times. The following winter I installed a Mikuni slide carb, changed the bars again and modified the air box some more. I've tried four different types of tires, bought and use all of Tims guards and racks, use all of Kawasaki's bags. Every year I spend as much time changing as I do riding. I am a Tinkerolic. This year is different because I'm aware that most of the mechanical changes I made didn't improve anything enough to make them worthwhile. The KLR still runs best at 4500 to 5000 rpm which won't let it keep up with 85+ mph freeway traffic. The KLR is still to big and tall geared for really technical off road. It vibrates, it's uncomfortable seat is an ass killer, the wind buffeting is overwhelming, it's underpowered. No amount of tinkering is going to change anything to make the KLR perfect. Knowing these things and knowing I suffer from Tinkeritus, like so many others, I've decided just to ride and enjoy the best all around bike ever built. DAngus A-11

[Devon Jarvis]

I suffer from almost the same malaise, except I went through it all with Yamaha SR500 street bikes. 4 different bars, 2 types of fuel tank, supertrapp pipe, 36mm Mik roundslide with K&N clamp-on filter, 3 types of tires, cast wheels, wire wheels, disc brake rear, drum brake rear, gearing changes, rearsets, and that was just the '78. For the '81 I broke out the welder, modified the frame to accept a solo racing seat, clip-ons, most of the same stuff I did to the '78, and ended up with a bike that looks exactly how I wanted, and is really light, fun to ride, and comfortable for about 30 min. The '78 though was used for 300mi Sunday rides, until I crashed it. I still don't know what hurt worse, destroying the $600 handmade aluminum fuel tank, or destroying it with my left shin. So I got the KLR, if only for the amusement of being the sole owner of a new bike, and not spending the first year correcting 20 years of poor maintainance and PO neglect. I reasoned that I would spend more time riding, and less time wrenching. Sort of true so far, but the KLR aftermarket has undermined my strategy. I have bought every guard, bash plate, etc. I could think of because I have never ridden a "dirtbike" before. The weekend after I got the bike I dropped it twice in the dirt, and was almost disappointed that there was nothing to fix when I picked it up. I still have the SR500's, but I am contemplating selling the '81 cafe racer. I did 250 mi today, ending up exactly where I started, touched 3 states, climbed and descended steep dirt hills, rode around huge open grassy fields sliding the back through turns with both feet on the pegs, and then hopped on the highway and shot home at 80-85mph. The last highway bit was what ruled out the other DS bikes for me. Compared to an SR500 (SOHC 500cc single, no balancer, solid mounted motor, air cooled, no electric start) my KLR is smooth, quiet, fast, comfortable, and very suitable for the off-road that I am capable of handling. I don't know what bike you had before, but you just sound a little spoiled. Devon dangus@... wrote:

> Hello list > I am a tinkerolic, I can't leave any thing alone and I suffer from a > never ending need to see how things work. My ailment causes me to > change things that don't need changing or fix things that don't need > fixing. I've noticed that several other listers seem to have this > disorder and obviously don't know it. Hopefully I can help others > identify this condition. > I currently own an A-11. I spent a winter painting it black and > silver, not because I didn't like the original color, I just felt an > urge for a change. Next I removed every hose, box, wire, fuse, cable > etc. that didn't have something to do with actually making it run. > The next summer I added a Supertrap, K+N air filter, carb kit, > springs, steel brake lines, drilled the airbox, and changed the bars > four times. The following winter I installed a Mikuni slide carb, > changed the bars again and modified the air box some more. I've tried > four different types of tires, bought and use all of Tims guards and > racks, use all of Kawasaki's bags. Every year I spend as much time > changing as I do riding. I am a Tinkerolic. > This year is different because I'm aware that most of the mechanical > changes I made didn't improve anything enough to make them > worthwhile. The KLR still runs best at 4500 to 5000 rpm which won't > let it keep up with 85+ mph freeway traffic. The KLR is still to big > and tall geared for really technical off road. It vibrates, it's > uncomfortable seat is an ass killer, the wind buffeting is > overwhelming, it's underpowered. No amount of tinkering is going to > change anything to make the KLR perfect. Knowing these things and > knowing I suffer from Tinkeritus, like so many others, I've decided > just to ride and enjoy the best all around bike ever built. > > DAngus A-11 > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Support Dual Sport News by subscribing at: > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[richard.e@mindspring.com]

Anyone interested in buying a 2001 KLR 650 ? It has 1,900 miles on it and looks like new. I'm asking $4300 OBO for it or trade for a 4x4 Arctic Cat 4-wheeler. I'm located in Lithia Springs Ga. which is about 20 miles west of Atlanta right off I20. This is a great bike, but I've decided that I would rather have a 4-wheeler. This bike is still under warranty and an extended warranty is still available. alternate email is richard.e.browning@... this is my work address which I check all during the day while at work.