glen heggstad-"locked up abroad"

[Tom Wojick]

Hola, I"m on the return leg of a trip that took me from Toronto, to Alaska, then to Ushuaia at the bottom of South America. After 40,000 reliable kilometers, the mighty KLR needs some service after I dropped it on Ruta 40 in Patagonia. The gauge cluster was sheered off and all but turned to dust. I don"t understand it, I"m sure I cushioned the bike as it flipped onto my back. At least, that is how my back feels. If any members can help me source a used gauge cluster, it would be greatly appreciated. I would like to replace this unit for my return leg home. I have quickly checked eBay and some local to me sources, without luck. I am a newbie poster, but have used this great forum to prep my KLR before the trip. I would have preferred to post a positive message about how reliable the KLR has been and how it took all forms of abuse without complaint. Which it has... until two days ago. Once I get through this incident, I promise I will post that message. I need to go rest my back. Tom Perito Moreno Patagonia, Argentina --------------------------------- Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[wayne adamson]

Hola Tom,I am in Buenos Aires right now with 36000 kilometers on my 07 KLR 650.More or less the same story except I am from Williams Lake B.C.I can't provide you with a cluster but I would suggest you contact these two web sites in B.A. http://www.dakarmotos.com/index1.htm and http://www.motocare.com.ar/rental/ .I will be leaving for Ushuaia on Feb 2/08.If I can help you out in any way just let me know. -Wayne" The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude"(unknown)-2007A-21 KLR650(it's a manly Fire Engine Red)-1995 R100RT-1991VW Westy GL-ABC 6461 MOA-71007 http://wayneadamson.blogspot.com/

----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Wojick" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 3:15 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Spill in Patagonia ruined my day... gauge cluster needed. > Hola, > > I"m on the return leg of a trip that took me from Toronto, to Alaska, > then to Ushuaia at the bottom of South America. After 40,000 reliable > kilometers, the mighty KLR needs some service after I dropped it on Ruta > 40 in Patagonia. The gauge cluster was sheered off and all but turned to > dust. I don"t understand it, I"m sure I cushioned the bike as it flipped > onto my back. At least, that is how my back feels. > > If any members can help me source a used gauge cluster, it would be > greatly appreciated. I would like to replace this unit for my return leg > home. I have quickly checked eBay and some local to me sources, without > luck. > > I am a newbie poster, but have used this great forum to prep my KLR > before the trip. I would have preferred to post a positive message about > how reliable the KLR has been and how it took all forms of abuse without > complaint. Which it has... until two days ago. Once I get through this > incident, I promise I will post that message. > > I need to go rest my back. > > Tom > Perito Moreno > Patagonia, Argentina

[Tom Wojick]

Thanks for the info Wayne... Yes, Dakar in BA is a good choice. I met Javier, the owner on my way down, good guy and excellent mechanic. I"ve emailed him. I"ll also check out motocare. Have a good ride south and watch out for those winds... gusts upto 120km/hr were reported at the Chile border in Tierra del Fuego when I was there. Just about carried me off the road, rather exiting. Keep an eye out for a red (the fastest color) 05 on your way down. Be good to talk. Either way, keep in touch, and if I can help you with anything, just ask. Tom "The test of an adventure is that when you re in the middle of it, you say to yourself, 'Oh, now I ve got myself into an awful mess; I wish I were sitting quietly at home.' And the sign that something s wrong with you is when you sit quietly at home wishing you were out having lots of adventure." - Thornton Wilder --- Wayne Adamson wrote:

> Hola Tom,I am in Buenos Aires right now with 36000 > kilometers on my 07 KLR > 650.More or less the same story except I am from > Williams Lake B.C.I can't > provide you with a cluster but I would suggest you > contact these two web > sites in B.A. http://www.dakarmotos.com/index1.htm > and > http://www.motocare.com.ar/rental/ .I will be > leaving for Ushuaia on Feb > 2/08.If I can help you out in any way just let me > know. > -Wayne" The difference between an adventure and an > ordeal is > attitude"(unknown)-2007A-21 KLR650(it's a manly Fire > Engine Red)-1995 > R100RT-1991VW Westy GL-ABC 6461 MOA-71007 > http://wayneadamson.blogspot.com/ > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tom Wojick" > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 3:15 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Spill in Patagonia ruined my > day... gauge cluster > needed. > > > > Hola, > > > > I"m on the return leg of a trip that took me from > Toronto, to Alaska, > > then to Ushuaia at the bottom of South America. > After 40,000 reliable > > kilometers, the mighty KLR needs some service > after I dropped it on Ruta > > 40 in Patagonia. The gauge cluster was sheered off > and all but turned to > > dust. I don"t understand it, I"m sure I cushioned > the bike as it flipped > > onto my back. At least, that is how my back > feels. > > > > If any members can help me source a used gauge > cluster, it would be > > greatly appreciated. I would like to replace this > unit for my return leg > > home. I have quickly checked eBay and some local > to me sources, without > > luck. > > > > I am a newbie poster, but have used this great > forum to prep my KLR > > before the trip. I would have preferred to post a > positive message about > > how reliable the KLR has been and how it took all > forms of abuse without > > complaint. Which it has... until two days ago. > Once I get through this > > incident, I promise I will post that message. > > > > I need to go rest my back. > > > > Tom > > Perito Moreno > > Patagonia, Argentina > >

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[Jim Douglas]

> > > That's no surprise either. BMW has worldwide support, K does not. > Kawasaki is heavy machinery company at heart. BMW is exclusively a > vehicle company. If I didn't think a BMW was going to strand me in the > middle of nowhere, I'd own one too, but I know my KLR like the back of > my hand, and short of needing parts I could probably fix it anywhere in > the world. >

When I was researching BMW vs Kawasaki for trip to AK and across Canada found that the BMW motorcycle support was lacking in the USA where Kawasaki seemed to be in pretty much every larger city! Also pricing for stuff that was typically replaced on distance rides was quite large for a poor bastard!