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passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2001 9:49 pm
by Guest
Hello,
I am thinking of buying a bike after 15 years. The KLR650 looks like
a good value, as well as a blast to ride. Last bike was a street bike
(KZ650). I have no experience with a thumper type bike - will the KLR
tote a rider 180 lb and a passenger 13? suitably around town?
Also, does the seat height cause many problems with average height
people? 5'8", that is. Thanks.
Scot
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2001 10:15 pm
by Lance Collier
Scot,
The seat could be a little high, but if you soften the suspension or
get the lowering links, the KLR650 would come down to your height.
It rides passengers really well. The seat is comfortable and the
passenger footpegs are frame-mounted not swingarm mounted. It has
really nice grab handles on the luggage rack for the passenger.
Lance
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., oscot_bumgarner@h... wrote:
> Hello,
> I am thinking of buying a bike after 15 years. The KLR650 looks like
> a good value, as well as a blast to ride. Last bike was a street
bike
> (KZ650). I have no experience with a thumper type bike - will the
KLR
> tote a rider 180 lb and a passenger 13? suitably around town?
> Also, does the seat height cause many problems with average height
> people? 5'8", that is. Thanks.
> Scot
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2001 10:55 pm
by Scott Adams
thumper type bike - will the KLR
> tote a rider 180 lb and a passenger 13? suitably around town?
> Also, does the seat height cause many problems with average height
> people? 5'8", that is. Thanks.
> Scot
Scot - I am 5'9 and the seat does not cause me any problems - but I am used
to a fairly tall and a lot heavier BMW.
The KLR will have more than enough power to haul you and your young'un
around town. My wife and I are not the lightest (say 350 total and let the
chips fall where they may) and it does fine for general crusing. I would
not want to go for a long trip that way.
What might be a problem is the seating room. Granted, my wife is 5 months
pregnant right now so last weekend was not quite the norm, but we were out
for quite a bit and I found the seating position to be quite wrong for two
up. I usually want to sit dead center in the seat leaving not a lot of room
for a passenger. With Frances on the back I was pushed up against the tank
too much.
It occurs to me that I probably ought to stop now before I get in...more?...
trouble....
-Scott
Scott C. Adams
Scott@... or
www.attorneyadams.com
20565 S.W. Tualatin Valley Hwy., #301, Aloha, Oregon 97006
(503) 324-0111 or fax (503) 324-1127
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 10:18 am
by kysely@comptek.com
Hi Scot,
I have a KLR and a Honda VFR 750 for those days when I need some real
speed. My wife much prefers riding on the KLR. The upright position
and plenty of leg room are big plusses to her. The KLR hauls us
around town just fine, but I do leave more room for braking (and I
have the Braking front disk mod, which is a big help). Together we
weigh close to 300 pounds. It's not a road rocket, but will handle
the freeway two-up for as long as you're comfortable sitting there.
As to height, I'm a touch over 5'8" myself, with a 31-inch inseam.
I'm on my tip-toes at stoplights, but have ridden KLRs for 12 years
with no height related problems--it's a balance thing. Putting a
passenger or a load of camping gear on the back squishes the
suspension down enough to get the balls of my feet to the tarmac. Sit
on one at the dealer's and see how it feels (and don't forget that
people sell lowering links). They really are great bikes.
__Arden Kysely
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., oscot_bumgarner@h... wrote:
> Hello,
> I am thinking of buying a bike after 15 years. The KLR650 looks like
> a good value, as well as a blast to ride. Last bike was a street
bike
> (KZ650). I have no experience with a thumper type bike - will the
KLR
> tote a rider 180 lb and a passenger 13? suitably around town?
> Also, does the seat height cause many problems with average height
> people? 5'8", that is. Thanks.
> Scot
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 10:49 am
by Miata Myk
> I am thinking of buying a bike after 15 years. The KLR650 looks like
> a good value, as well as a blast to ride. Last bike was a street bike
> (KZ650). I have no experience with a thumper type bike - will the KLR
> tote a rider 180 lb and a passenger 13? suitably around town?
I don't have one yet (hopefully this week!) but a 13lb passenger shouldn't
cause any problems at all. The babyseat might be knocked around by the wind
a bit though.
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 1:35 pm
by BGRDSHARK@aol.com
My situation is similar. I returned to riding after 20 years last April. I'm
6'1" and 250. The KLR gets me around town, on freeways with no problem. The
power is limited due to engine break in limitations especially the first 500
miles. Last weekend I rode about 140 miles back and forth to Long Beach. It's
fun on the twisties and was able to run 75/80 without making it work to
hard. Fuel mileage is good @ 50mpg. My 12 year old goes with me and it's
still comfortable. In the future a better seat would be in order for longer
rides and stiffer suspension components when my off road riding gets more
aggressive.
Hope this helps,
Bgrdshark
"01 KLR"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 2:25 pm
by Charles MacKarness
I am @ 180 and my wife 130 both ride my A13 loaded with gear at
times, to work several times a month without gear and have had zero
problems.
The only issue I ever have had is two up and an overloaded rear of
the bike made slow speed handling wierd due to the light front end.
Never a power, torque or breaking problem.
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Miata Myk" wrote:
> > I am thinking of buying a bike after 15 years. The KLR650 looks
like
> > a good value, as well as a blast to ride. Last bike was a street
bike
> > (KZ650). I have no experience with a thumper type bike - will the
KLR
> > tote a rider 180 lb and a passenger 13? suitably around town?
>
>
> I don't have one yet (hopefully this week!) but a 13lb passenger
shouldn't
> cause any problems at all. The babyseat might be knocked around by
the wind
> a bit though.
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 7:38 pm
by richardm@gowinnt.com
>suspension down enough to get the balls of my feet to the tarmac. Sit
>on one at the dealer's and see how it feels (and don't forget that
>people sell lowering links). They really are great bikes.
Also, check the one on the showroom floor to make sure the preload isn't
cranked up. If it is, the suspension won't sag as much. I'm 185lbs and I ride
with no preload. I can get the rear susp to bottom if I try but I normally
ride pretty calmly and I have no trouble.
With a passenger on the back... Some preload is better.
RM
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 8:05 pm
by InWoods13@aol.com
Scot,
I use the KLR for two-up stuff on a pretty regular basis, both on & off
road. I at 160+, she at 120+.
The One prerequisite that I found early on for two-up on the KLR, was a
passenger backrest. (that I don't have to worry about the better other
bouncing off the back under acceleration)
I found my solution, in a Happy Trails Givi adapter plate, along with a Givi
E40 topcase with passenger backrest.
The HT Givi adapter is a solid unit, and is designed to move the
topcase/backrest back a few inches..giving pilot & passenger more room to
move around.
The Givi E40 has proven to me, to be a secure backrest for both on & offroad
duty, & it's seen heavy use/abuse...It also holds a ton of stuff.
E40's also transferable to other bikes with Givi adapters. I use mine as a
passenger backrest for both the KLR and the Bandit.
Regardless of height, everybody's got there own comfort level as the height
of their ride goes. I prefer no flat foot on ground stuff, while at a stop.
Just feels more natural to me being toe-down.
There are currently a couple of manufacturers, and choices in sizes of
lowering links for the KLR. At this moment, there are 1.5 inch drop links & 1
inch drop links available.
Don Beck is developing a 3/4 inch drop to add to his line up, can't wait to
try that.
My infatuation with lowlinks for the KLR comes not from wanting to get my
feet lower to the ground, but from wanting better all around handling
characteristics from the KLR, without sacrificing too much clearance.
Whichever link you choose, you'll feel the handling difference.
Scott
A14 "thunderdog"
Sorrento, Fl
In a message dated 7/31/01 10:51:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
oscot_bumgarner@... writes:
<< Hello,
I am thinking of buying a bike after 15 years. The KLR650 looks like
a good value, as well as a blast to ride. Last bike was a street bike
(KZ650). I have no experience with a thumper type bike - will the KLR
tote a rider 180 lb and a passenger 13? suitably around town?
Also, does the seat height cause many problems with average height
people? 5'8", that is. Thanks.
Scot >>
passengers on a klr650?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 10:12 pm
by Chris
Hi Scot,
I am the same weight as you and have a 2000 klr 650. Around town that
shouldn't be a problem. I'm 5'10 and have lowered my bike, not by buying a
lowering kit, by adjusting the suspension. I softend the rear shock as far
as it would go and then adjusted the steering uh... "column" and slid it
down the forks 1.5 ". You could do the same.
So far the bike is fantastic as far as reliablility and fun to ride. I do
however find it a little boring on the hwy. Most of the reviews I've read
are pretty true, one that comes to mind can be found on
www.motorcycle.com.
The only real complaint other than the boringness in terms of accelleration
is that it rattles a lot, and I always carry some zip ties and will soon be
locktighting some bolts. (My bike before it was a 4 cyl 650 and it was much
quicker)
Hope that helps.
Chris.