Wilsons Sandbox

If you're gonna have one bike get the KLR. The 500 ninja is a nice bike and will handle interstate and above speed better than the KLR, but that's about it. The KLR is superversitile and suitable for all types of riding. Fine in the rain, rough roads, super curvy roads, and flat out a great bike. And for those instances when the road you're on turns into gravel, don't worry. The KLR will be right at home. The Ninja will need to turn around... The KLR, she's kind of homely, that's about all I can say is bad about her... Randy -----Original Message----- From: praxis71220 [mailto:kmcleod@...] Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 1:48 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] KLR 650 vs. Ninja 500R Getting back into cycling after 20 years. Plan to use bike for 1up touring on backroads but not off road. Looking for entry level bike that can handle 65-70 with no vibes and drone all day. I have narrowed it down to KLR and Ninja500 because of the somewhat upright riding position, water cooled and the under 5000 bucks. I know u guys are diehard dualsports but i dont want to be thinking what if....after i make my purchase. thanks upfront for the help K Checkout Dual Sport News at http://www.dualsportnews.com Be part of the Adventure! Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

> If you're gonna have one bike get the KLR. The 500 ninja is a nice bike

and

> will handle interstate and above speed better than the KLR, but that's

about

> it.

Drop on the fork brace ($130-150) and it will eliminate that high-speed problem. Then again, nothing says you have to keep knobbies on it. Look at the KTM Duke series. Street tires in what is more or less a dual-sport design. The thing is supposed to be easy to ride fast on winding roads. Saw a pair at the Gap doing a fine job of carving the corners. A KLR is already a very easy and pretty confidence inspiring bike, a few touches and some street tires would easily bring that confidence level way up. I don't have anything against the Ninja 500/EX 500 though it still reminds me of my Sears riding mower. (when Jason showed up and I turned the motor off on the mower, I still thought it was running!). It's a cheap bike that is plentiful for aftermarket parts. I can't see buying a new one of either as the initial resale plumets. A 2year old bike seems to have the majority of that resale hit already taken and is still a fresh and current bike. That choice, of course, belongs to the buyer. Both bikes have plentiful amounts of hop-ups and aftermarket bits. The Ninja's of course are geared to street duty while the majority of the KLR are toward the dirt. The aftermarket prices seem to be consistently inexpensive for the two as well. If seat height is an issue, the EX is a no brainer. The KLR is just a lowering link away (and that increases it's confidence level for many, though I have no personal experiance with it). Gas mileage is about the same for both when stock, and both tend to be easy (and usually cheap) to fix in most area's. The brakes on the Ninja are better than the KLR out of the box but both could use some improvements (braided front line and better pads). Look them both over and throw a leg over them. If possible see which you can get a chance to demo and even look at a few used private ones (easier to demo a private buyer than most dealers). That at least gets you some first hand experiance. Then find the best deal, don't have any regrets, get out there and RIDE!!!! Btw, if you find two really good clean used bikes of a few years older you could effectively get BOTH for the price of either of them new. Neither bike has changed much more than color in the last few years. Hmm.....

On Wed, 20 Mar 2002, praxis71220 wrote:

>touring on backroads but not off road. Looking for entry level bike >that can handle 65-70 with no vibes and drone all day.

The KLR's got some vibes but a nice set of Renthal handlebars, a pilot screw adjustment, and an engine-mount re-torque will smooth things out nicely. Have you considered a leftover 2001 ZR-7 or SV650?