gas prices

[aupopescu]

Hi! I am thinking at trading my 2005 for a 2009 modell. So far I have two questions, if anybody know the answer: - is it true that the new engine is more powerful/responsive, as they claim? (one of the reasons to buy the new one, as I sometimes have to accelerate really hard to get away at the traffic lights) - would a 2005 seat fit to the 2009 (the 2009 is the same as 2008)? (I have a new Corbin on my 2005 and I don't want to pay for it again). Thanks! Adrian

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aupopescu" wrote:

> > Hi! > > I am thinking at trading my 2005 for a 2009 modell. So far I have two > questions, if anybody know the answer: > - is it true that the new engine is more powerful/responsive, as they > claim? (one of the reasons to buy the new one, as I sometimes have to > accelerate really hard to get away at the traffic lights) > - would a 2005 seat fit to the 2009 (the 2009 is the same as 2008)? (I > have a new Corbin on my 2005 and I don't want to pay for it again). >

I think your seat will fit, but I don't know why you would trade your '05 unless there is something wrong with it. Newer is not necessarily better.

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aupopescu" wrote:

> > Hi! > > I am thinking at trading my 2005 for a 2009 modell. So far I have

two

> questions, if anybody know the answer: > - is it true that the new engine is more powerful/responsive, as

they

> claim? (one of the reasons to buy the new one, as I sometimes have

to

> accelerate really hard to get away at the traffic lights) > - would a 2005 seat fit to the 2009 (the 2009 is the same as 2008)?

(I

> have a new Corbin on my 2005 and I don't want to pay for it again). > > Thanks! > > Adrian >

Adrian, In the short answer of 'more-powerful, more responsive', ah, no. Other subtle improvements, yes. smile. I think you question is the age-old one, "How do I get more performance out of my bike?" The short, glib answer, is to change the color, yikes, buy an 'orange' bike with 95 HP. But back to the KLR-only, content-crowd: Hard acceleration? Do you mean you can't get a great hole-shot? By that do you mean it requires high RPMS to move from a dead stop? You do remember it is ~38ish HP!!!! and I wonder if you are using a 16T C/S? The 16/43 is a real hole-shot killer For $20, you can get the peppy bike you want by changing out the front C/S to a 14 or 13 T sprocket. I keep a variety of 13/14/15 C/S in the tank bag to mix/match for the 43T rear--swapping to 13 if I am going to be in more difficult conditions, 14 if it is a combination of gravel and paved roads, and 15 if I am going long distances on pavement. I rode the 13/43T sprocket combination during the GDR (Canada to Mexico), and what a great combination that was. (The three KLR riders all agreed that it was the smartest prep item they did for the ride.) We all rode to Kalispell on the 15T, switched to 13 T to ride South, and I switched to the 14 T at the Mexican border and rode 1200 miles home on that. It is much better for a laden bike in the mountains rather than the 15 T. It takes ~20 minutes, start to finish to do a sprocket change--and that includes the time it takes to get out the tools. Others probably can do it faster. NOTE: you will change the RPM's ~400 for every tooth you change for a given MPH. ie, change to the 14 T and you will be ~400 more RPM's at any given speed. Change down to 13T and it will be ~800 more RPMs at any given speed. But you will have better acceleration up to 60- 65mph, etc. and nearly no clutch slipping. It is all a compromise. smile. I rode the 2008 KLR650 ~40 miles at Vintage bike days last summer, followed in trail by a Versys. (The KAWI demo ride is a 'guided' ride and you follow a ride-leader, with a string of ~6 or 7 bikes.) I still chuckle when I remember how the Versys rider walked up and said "WOW--that thing really goes!" The Versys rider was blown away by the appearnt acceleration of the 08 KLR. I had to smile. I didn't tell him that the past 5 years I had ridden KLR's almost exclusively--so I had him at a disadvantage, as he was riding a bike he had never ridden before--or that I kept it wound up pretty tight the entire time. I wouldn't be surprised that the guy didn't go out and buy a KLR650 after that demo--and he only WATCHED the demo. Acceleration on the 08' was crisp, and seemed a lot more peppy than my 98 or 01--but is should have! It was a purely naked bike, no farkle, no armor, no upgrades = an easy 40lbs of extras on my campaign KLR's that include a center-stand, tools, tubes, air compressor, water, chain lube, GPS, luggage rack, saddle bags, tail bags, panniers etc. At that comparison, my KLX 300R is 'better' and faster than my KLR's--as a side by side comparison--without all the hindrance of farkle. But before you trade, try another C/S size. Especially if you now are using a 16T front instead of the OEM 15/43 combination. That $20 could save you a couple of thousand. shrug. Should you buy new, your 05 will find a new home easily in the spring, sooner if you price it to sell as the wx gets colder. Sometimes, a new bike is the only thing that will satisfy you...for a moment.... I don't think the old seat will fit the new bike--look/compare at the Corbin site--it will show a different part number/years if there is difference, etc. I think there is an interference fit with the side covers, as I recall. revmaaatin. 23F this morning in central SD. High of 43.sigh. 69F on Thursday.

[Larry]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote:

> > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aupopescu" wrote: > I rode the 2008 KLR650 ~40 miles at Vintage bike days last summer, > followed in trail by a Versys. (The KAWI demo ride is a 'guided' ride > and you follow a ride-leader, with a string of ~6 or 7 bikes.) I > still chuckle when I remember how the Versys rider walked up and > said "WOW--that thing really goes!" The Versys rider was blown away > by the appearnt acceleration of the 08 KLR.

I had a similar situation on a VStrom rally with my 08. We were riding some high mountain roads that were twisty without long straightaways. Several people were surprised at the apparent power of the KLR. Not one DL650 passed me and I never had to thrash my bike. The KLR has good power and torque between 4-6 rpm and that makes maintaining a pace easy. Stay off the brakes and the KLR is a swift steed indeed. Larry.

[Skypilot]

Aupopescu, that revmaaatin guy must be smoking something. Everybody knows you carry you spare sprockets on the rack and not in the tank bag! Other than that however I am forced to agree with him,,,,,, the tank bag indeed! The 08/09 has no more hp overall than the 07 as far as I could tell. The difference is in how the power is mapped. I think, from the experience of trying them side by side when I went to buy mine, that the 08 had a smoother power curve. That seemed to make it a little more friendly for those not thinking about it sort of rides but it wont help you escape those traffic lights any faster. Yours has the same power overall but in a few different places I think. By the way, why are the traffic lights after you that you need to get away from them in the first place? Take his suggestion and try a few sprockets, maybe one tooth at a time to see if it gets you what you want. There are some improvements to the 08 and 09 over yours but not so much that you cant mod yours up to have the same. It would also happen for loads less money than dumping yours and dishing out for a new one. Besides, now you have the cool seat, you cant sell it now! Skypilot Re: 2009 Modell Posted by: "revmaaatin" mjearl@... revmaaatin Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:08 am (PDT)

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aupopescu" wrote: > > Hi! > > I am thinking at trading my 2005 for a 2009 modell. So far I have two > questions, if anybody know the answer: > - is it true that the new engine is more powerful/responsive, as they > claim? (one of the reasons to buy the new one, as I sometimes have > to accelerate really hard to get away at the traffic lights)

[Shane]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Skypilot" wrote:

>

I have ridden both side by side and I have to say that the '08 is smoother, bolt on some bar end weights to the old style and ya got it too. The real difference is in the headlight! What a difference! Bolt on a $500.- HID and ya got better. I have 3 KLR's and wouldn't drop them for the new rig. If I were in the market, and $ didn't matter, I would still look for a low mile old unit. Shane

>

Aupopescu,

> > that revmaaatin guy must be smoking something. Everybody knows you

carry you

> spare sprockets on the rack and not in the tank bag! Other than

that however

> I am forced to agree with him,,,,,, the tank bag indeed! > > The 08/09 has no more hp overall than the 07 as far as I could

tell. The

> difference is in how the power is mapped. I think, from the

experience of

> trying them side by side when I went to buy mine, that the 08 had a

smoother

> power curve. That seemed to make it a little more friendly for

those "not

> thinking about it" sort of rides but it wont help you escape those

traffic

> lights any faster. Yours has the same power overall but in a few

different

> places I think. By the way, why are the traffic lights after you

that you

> need to get away from them in the first place? > > Take his suggestion and try a few sprockets, maybe one tooth at a

time to

> see if it gets you what you want. There are some improvements to

the 08 and

> 09 over yours but not so much that you cant mod yours up to have

the same.

> It would also happen for loads less money than dumping yours and

dishing out

> for a new one. Besides, now you have the cool seat, you cant sell

it now!

> > Skypilot > > Re: 2009 Modell > Posted by: "revmaaatin" mjearl@... revmaaatin > Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:08 am (PDT) > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aupopescu" wrote: > > > > Hi! > > > > I am thinking at trading my 2005 for a 2009 modell. So far I have

two

> > questions, if anybody know the answer: > > - is it true that the new engine is more powerful/responsive, as

they

> > claim? (one of the reasons to buy the new one, as I sometimes

have

> > to accelerate really hard to get away at the traffic lights) >

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Larry" wrote:

> ---In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "aupopescu" wrote: > > I rode the 2008 KLR650 ~40 miles at Vintage bike days last summer, > > followed in trail by a Versys. (The KAWI demo ride is a 'guided' ride > > and you follow a ride-leader, with a string of ~6 or 7 bikes.) I > > still chuckle when I remember how the Versys rider walked up and > > said "WOW--that thing really goes!" The Versys rider was blown away > > by the appearnt acceleration of the 08 KLR. > > I had a similar situation on a VStrom rally with my 08. We were riding

But if you have a pre-'08 KLR, I think you're better off just doing a big bore kit. It'll give you better low-down power so you don't have to put a 14 tooth sprocket on your KLR to get good acceleration, and as a bonus it includes a lighter piston that gives you less vibration. The '08+ KLR is a nice bike. Better wind protection, smoother engine, better brakes, better seat, etc. But I'm not running out to trade my older KLR for the new one...

[Steve Dyer]

Just filled up at a national brand gas station here in the OKC Metro area for $2.01/gal. Prices probably lower at the independent convenience store/gas stations. Guess our brief foray into forced fuel-efficient living isn't going to last long (or will be set back temporarily). At $2/gal, the Suburbans, Expeditions and Hummers will be back on the road in force. Steve in Norman, OK