2000 klr 650 in stillwater, oklahoma * sold ! * sold ! sold! *

[ocpianoman]

Had a little incident on my KLR this evening. Doing about 15mph, I attempted to swing around a car that was in the way (aren't they all) and got the front wheel into some water running across the intersection, perhaps from a car wash. Around these parts the gutters are concrete, not asphalt. The front wheel lost traction and before I could get a foot down it was all over. My left kneecap took a wallop, didn't so much slide along the asphalt as just smack down hard. The road rash sort of looks like little impressions from the gravel used in the pavement. The jeans held because I didn't slide far, maybe three feet. Wish I had been wearing riding pants with armor though. To add insult to injury, I pulled a hamstring and some lower back muscles picking the bike up. I was glad I was on the KLR with its extra sturdy Barkbuster type hand guards or I might have had some broken fingers to go with it, and I was heading to a big band rehearsal to play piano! Damage to the bike includes a seriously scraped up left hand guard and left foot peg, tweaked handlebars and a smashed left rear blinker. Any other of my bikes would have been much worse off. As it was I rode to the rehearsal, played piano for three hrs. and rode home afterward. It was spooky riding at night without a left blinker. At least I know I'm in the habit of using them now. Ironic that I just completed a 1300 mile solo trip up Highway 1 to Tomales Bay and back without incident, and I was riding on some very narrow dirt roads. Search for Nacimiento Rd. off Highway 1 about 10 miles north of Gorda CA. That is a beautiful ride. Once you get up to the ranger station there are three dirt roads that just head off into the mountains. I didn't venture far off the pavement as I had no safety net and that was only the second day of a five day trip. No way was I going to f*** up and not get to complete the trip!! Interesting that the young bastard that was blocking the intersection and who necessitated my swerving around him didn't even stop to see if I was all right. Another young guy in a pickup truck did stop and I at least remembered to thank him. Be careful out there fellow motorcyclists!! They say it's not a matter of if you'll crash but when. Some get back on, some don't, and some can't. I was certainly a very careful old man on the way home tonight and may not be able to ride on wet pavement at speeds greater than 5mph for a while. ian

[Dave]

I sold this bike last nite. Thanks Rob!