Right now, the KLR is new and neither of the other bikes are, so I tend to want
to ride the KLR.
For a long haul tour on mostly good roads, I expect that I'll prefer the GS when
the KLR is not so new anymore. You can't beat the GS for hard core long haul
touring. For hard core exploring, I will prefer the KLR. I got the KLR because
I want something that is easier to pick up. Most of the time that is not a
problem, and I've hauled the GS through some seriously gnarly shit where guys on
125's were looking at me like I was nuts.
But last summer I was on a couple of rides where I decided I had had enough and
needed to build better skills on a smaller bike.
1) Doing a face plant down a 30 degree slope of orange and grapefruit size
cobbles was no fun. That was not the hardest spot on that ride. I would have
been seriously screwed if I had been alone. I had passed a point of no return
even before going down the cobble slope. I was with 3 other guys, two of whom
had GS's and both were more skilled than I.
2) The time I was going down a steep hillside on a 2 foot wide track with a
1000+ foot drop and the bike kept trying to go too fast and follow the sandy
washouts towards the edge, I didn't like that either.
I'm only 140 lbs. (but 6' tall) and the GS is a bit large for me for some of
these things. On the other hand, I know a guy who is smaller than me who was
riding a loaded GS Adventure on #1 above and described the route I took as "not
too bad." But then, he used to be a nationally ranked dirt rider, so he is just
the tiniest bit more skilled than I am
I am often riding by myself, so being able to get the bike out of a tight spot
by myself is pretty important. I can handle the GS on anything that is actual
road, but there is a lot of "not road" on the maps that call to me with an
irresistable siren's song.
Right now I enjoy the KLR more than the GS, but that's a combination of newness
and having dropped about 20 lbs. since last summer so the GS seems even more
heavy to me now. But I feel a little safer on the GS because of the power,
handling, braking with ABS, and visibility.
And I love the RS because it's like a sport bike. But it's waiting for me to
fix it. The ABS isn't working and the front brakes are binding a bit which
screws up the cornering something fierce!
I should also mention that as much as I like the KLR right now, I keep looking
at the other bikes and wondering if I will end up letting one of them go. I
doubt that there is a better value in motorcycling than the KLR.
I hope this is useful in some way.
Cheers!
On Tue, 06 May 2003 19:24:33 -0000, "hens_p" wrote:
>
> Andy:
>
> What criteria decides if you will take the GS or the KLR out for a
> spin on any given outing?
>
> Pat
> (wishing the GS was the cost of a KLR...)
>
> --- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Nicholson" wrote:
> > What it all ultimately comes down to is:
> >
> > Ride what you like
> > How you like
> > Everybody else's opinions be damned.
> >
> > I totally love my KLR, and my 1150 GS, and my 1100 RS.
> >
> > Cheers!
> >