Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 8:13 am**

copied from Sport-touring.net: The Phases of KLR Ownership: 1) Honeymoon. Joy. Adventure is on the horizon; what fun! Those 'nutty' brakes- wow, this is entertaining! 2) Exploration. Find sites like Adventure Riders and become one of 'them' 3) Trouble in Paradise. Realize that sites like Adventure Riders are chock full of bikes like KTM and BMW, and frankly the KLR is the mutt in the purebred's midst. Try to retain pride. 4) Dismay. Spending time on sites like KLR650.net 'enlightens' you and all of a sudden you need everything from new rubber, to a new saddle, replacing everthing in-between. Everything fails no matter what, all the time. 5) Anger. You're angry at Kawasaki for selling a bike that needs this much work. You're angry at the dealer for not just giving it to you, with five bucks for gas. You're angry at yourself for not realizing this bike is for suckers... YOU JUST BOUGHT AN EDSEL! 6) Separation. Your sportbike friends and HDs are having sport with you at red lights. You've been out accellerated by a Hundai. You put it up for sale and stop riding it. 7) Loathing acceptance. You're never going to get all the money you put into the KLR back out of it. Might as well keep it and go shopping for a 'real' bike. You start to take it out again since, you've resigned yourself to the fact that you're tied to the KLR for life. 8) New Dawn. One day, for no particular reason, you realize that you've been having fun riding it (at least alone) the whole time. Thinking about it a little more, you realize that you can go everywhere a GS1200 can get to (just maybe not as quickly), that you're more offroad capable than a GS650 Dakar, and probably just as on-road capable, and all for several thousand less dollars. It can do more highway miles than a DR without having to spend $250 on a Corbin saddle to avoid picking it out of your backside after half an hour on the highway, and you can have it serviced anywhere on the planet unlike a KTM (which was also a lot more). Whoa, hold on, this bike is pretty cool! 9) Farkle time! You've just realized that you can accessorize the KLR with just about every possible modification you've ever imagined (except extra horsepower). Spend away young rider! Hold on, is a set of decent tires less than I used to pay for just a rear? 10) Happily deluded. The KLR rocks! Yeah, it still sux, but it rocks! Fred OKC 286

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 9:17 am**

What the author describes is the experience of someone who didn't do much research on the bike before he bought it. Doesn't take much work to find message boards like this one BEFORE you buy your bike. Doesn't take much gawking at the specs to know you aren't gonna set the world on fire with thirty-something horsepower, or be chasing a CR250 across a motorcross track at 335 pounds dry. I loved my KLR from the day I bought it. Never went through any intermediary "stages". And it's about HALF the price of a beemer last time I looked. My first comment to most people about Kawasaki is how thankful I am that they choose to keep producing their old successful bikes like the KLR and Connie, holding down the price, instead of re-tooling for a newer, higher-profit model every time they get the chance. I don't need bleeding edge in a dual sport. I want VALUE. There have been a few surprises. Fit and finish make me laugh sometimes. But the bike is even easier to work on than I assumed it would be. And it's a much better street bike than I thought it would be. And I own a Hyundai. If you can't beat one off a light then you don't know how to ride ... My opinions only.

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:41 am**

Quite a diary of ownership Fred and a common sentiment I'm sure, amongst many of us. I'm in Norman, if ya wanna get out sometime. Do you frequent any other Dual Sport sites? See you out there, Rod --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Streetfighters" wrote:

> copied from Sport-touring.net: > > The Phases of KLR Ownership: > > 1) Honeymoon. Joy. Adventure is on the horizon; what fun!

Those 'nutty'

> brakes- wow, this is entertaining! > > 2) Exploration. Find sites like Adventure Riders and become one

of 'them'

> > 3) Trouble in Paradise. Realize that sites like Adventure Riders

are chock

> full of bikes like KTM and BMW, and frankly the KLR is the mutt in

the

> purebred's midst. Try to retain pride. > > 4) Dismay. Spending time on sites like KLR650.net 'enlightens' you

and all

> of a sudden you need everything from new rubber, to a new saddle,

replacing

> everthing in-between. Everything fails no matter what, all the

time.

> > 5) Anger. You're angry at Kawasaki for selling a bike that needs

this much

> work. You're angry at the dealer for not just giving it to you,

with five

> bucks for gas. You're angry at yourself for not realizing this

bike is for

> suckers... YOU JUST BOUGHT AN EDSEL! > > 6) Separation. Your sportbike friends and HDs are having sport

with you at

> red lights. You've been out accellerated by a Hundai. You put it

up for

> sale and stop riding it. > > 7) Loathing acceptance. You're never going to get all the money

you put

> into the KLR back out of it. Might as well keep it and go shopping

for a

> 'real' bike. You start to take it out again since, you've resigned

yourself

> to the fact that you're tied to the KLR for life. > > 8) New Dawn. One day, for no particular reason, you realize that

you've

> been having fun riding it (at least alone) the whole time.

Thinking about

> it a little more, you realize that you can go everywhere a GS1200

can get to

> (just maybe not as quickly), that you're more offroad capable than

a GS650

> Dakar, and probably just as on-road capable, and all for several

thousand

> less dollars. It can do more highway miles than a DR without

having to

> spend $250 on a Corbin saddle to avoid picking it out of your

backside after

> half an hour on the highway, and you can have it serviced anywhere

on the

> planet unlike a KTM (which was also a lot more). Whoa, hold on,

this bike

> is pretty cool! > > 9) Farkle time! You've just realized that you can accessorize the

KLR with

> just about every possible modification you've ever imagined (except

extra

> horsepower). Spend away young rider! Hold on, is a set of decent

tires

> less than I used to pay for just a rear? > > 10) Happily deluded. The KLR rocks! Yeah, it still sux, but it

rocks!

> > > Fred > OKC > 286

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:57 am**

Add to the steps - Selling the KLR thinking that you could do better, but then buying another one when you realized just how good the original was. (Yes, I sold my '93 and bought an '02 to replace it.) Ron in MN A16 --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Streetfighters" wrote:

> copied from Sport-touring.net: > > The Phases of KLR Ownership: > > 1) Honeymoon. Joy. Adventure is on the horizon; what fun! Those

'nutty'

> brakes- wow, this is entertaining! > > 2) Exploration. Find sites like Adventure Riders and become one of

'them'

> > 3) Trouble in Paradise. Realize that sites like Adventure Riders

are chock

> full of bikes like KTM and BMW, and frankly the KLR is the mutt in the > purebred's midst. Try to retain pride. > > 4) Dismay. Spending time on sites like KLR650.net 'enlightens' you

and all

> of a sudden you need everything from new rubber, to a new saddle,

replacing

> everthing in-

between. Everything fails no matter what, all the time.

> > 5) Anger. You're angry at Kawasaki for selling a bike that needs

this much

> work. You're angry at the dealer for not just giving it to you, with

five

> bucks for gas. You're angry at yourself for not realizing this bike

is for

> suckers... YOU JUST BOUGHT AN EDSEL! > > 6) Separation. Your sportbike friends and HDs are having sport with

you at

> red lights. You've been out accellerated by a Hundai. You put it

up for

> sale and stop riding it. > > 7) Loathing acceptance. You're never going to get all the money you put > into the KLR back out of it. Might as well keep it and go shopping

for a

> 'real' bike. You start to take it out again since, you've resigned

yourself

> to the fact that you're tied to the KLR for life. > > 8) New Dawn. One day, for no particular reason, you realize that you've > been having fun riding it (at least alone) the whole time. Thinking

about

> it a little more, you realize that you can go everywhere a GS1200

can get to

> (just maybe not as quickly), that you're more offroad capable than a

GS650

> Dakar, and probably just as on-road capable, and all for several

thousand

> less dollars. It can do more highway miles than a DR without having to > spend $250 on a Corbin saddle to avoid picking it out of your

backside after

> half an hour on the highway, and you can have it serviced anywhere

on the

> planet unlike a KTM (which was also a lot more). Whoa, hold on,

this bike

> is pretty cool! > > 9) Farkle time! You've just realized that you can accessorize the

KLR with

> just about every possible modification you've ever imagined (except

extra

> horsepower). Spend away young rider! Hold on, is a set of decent tires > less than I used to pay for just a rear? > > 10) Happily deluded. The KLR rocks! Yeah, it still sux, but it rocks! > > > Fred > OKC > 286

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:11 am**

The Phases of *My* KLR Ownership:

> > 1) Honeymoon. Joy. Adventure is on the horizon; what fun!

Those 'nutty'

> brakes- wow, this is entertaining!

***Bought braided steel line, improved brakes. Went riding to the horizon.

> > 2) Exploration. Find sites like Adventure Riders and become one

of 'them' ***Internet hadn't been invented in 1989 when I bought my new-to-me A1. My exploration was on the bike, on the backroads, with a load of camping gear and a couple of maps.

> 3) Trouble in Paradise. Realize that sites like Adventure Riders

are chock

> full of bikes like KTM and BMW, and frankly the KLR is the mutt in

the

> purebred's midst. Try to retain pride.

***KTM's and capable BMW's hadn't been invented in 1989, so I had the best bike. Today I have the best value bike (A11, bought used). Learned long ago that money spent does not equal capability to perform or have fun.

> > 4) Dismay. Spending time on sites like KLR650.net 'enlightens' you

and all

> of a sudden you need everything from new rubber, to a new saddle,

replacing

> everthing in-between. Everything fails no matter what, all the

time.

>

***Read enough lists, you'll find that all bikes are crap. My buddies with 950's have both had them in for warrantee/recall work.

> 5) Anger. You're angry at Kawasaki for selling a bike that needs

this much

> work. You're angry at the dealer for not just giving it to you,

with five

> bucks for gas. You're angry at yourself for not realizing this

bike is for

> suckers... YOU JUST BOUGHT AN EDSEL! >

***Edsel's were only made for 3 years, KLRs are going on 20. You've bought a VW bug--unexciting, simple, reliable, capable of doing what it's designed for.

> 6) Separation. Your sportbike friends and HDs are having sport

with you at

> red lights. You've been out accellerated by a Hundai. You put it

up for

> sale and stop riding it.

***Small weenie complex is not a subject for this list. Both of my KLRs could outpace most any car to 60mph.

> 7) Loathing acceptance. You're never going to get all the money

you put

> into the KLR back out of it. Might as well keep it and go shopping

for a

> 'real' bike. You start to take it out again since, you've resigned

yourself

> to the fact that you're tied to the KLR for life.

***The A1 was so much fun I bought an A11

> > 8) New Dawn. Whoa, hold on, this bike > is pretty cool! >

***Duh!

> 9) Farkle time! You've just realized that you can accessorize the

KLR with

> just about every possible modification you've ever imagined (except

extra

> horsepower). Spend away young rider! Hold on, is a set of decent

tires

> less than I used to pay for just a rear?

***Spend, spend, spend, the Industry loves you

> > 10) Happily deluded. The KLR rocks! Yeah, it still sux, but it

rocks!

>

***There is value in value, grasshopper. __Arden

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:47 pm**

Thats pretty good and I didnt take any offense-- the people at Sport Touring or whoever wrote it probably meant it kind of humorously anyway. Couple of observations on their blurbs: 3) KLRs the mutt in terms of price for sure, but the GS1200 is still a little on the heavy side (although lighter than the former GS1150) and looks like a "duck-billed platypus" to quote one review with which I agree. KTM 950s nice, but its a little pricey too. And Im not sure its as reliable as the KLR based on reviews Ive seen; it may have some new-model bugs. 4) some of the available KLR options actually look pretty reasonable pricewise, even the Kawasaki gear. 5) The KLR is slow compared to sportbikes but thats like saying an SUV is slow compared to a Porsche 911. Still, its listed as doing the 1/4 mile in around 14 to 14.5 seconds, roughly a second faster than a Harley 883. And I stomped an Olds Cierra one time so I think it'd take a Hyundai too. General: Speaking of bigger adventure bikes, lets not forget the Suzuki VStroms and Triumph Tiger. Like the others mentioned, theyre in a somewhat different class--bigger, more touring and less off- road oriented. Theyre all about 1.5 to 2 seconds faster in the 1/4 mile. Top ends are in the 115 to 130 mph (true not indicated) from what Ive read. -------------- DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Streetfighters" wrote:

> copied from Sport-touring.net: > > The Phases of KLR Ownership: > > 1) Honeymoon. Joy. Adventure is on the horizon; what fun!

Those 'nutty'

> brakes- wow, this is entertaining! > > 2) Exploration. Find sites like Adventure Riders and become one

of 'them'

> > 3) Trouble in Paradise. Realize that sites like Adventure Riders

are chock

> full of bikes like KTM and BMW, and frankly the KLR is the mutt in

the

> purebred's midst. Try to retain pride. > > 4) Dismay. Spending time on sites like KLR650.net 'enlightens'

you and all

> of a sudden you need everything from new rubber, to a new saddle,

replacing

> everthing in-between. Everything fails no matter what, all the

time.

> > 5) Anger. You're angry at Kawasaki for selling a bike that needs

this much

> work. You're angry at the dealer for not just giving it to you,

with five

> bucks for gas. You're angry at yourself for not realizing this

bike is for

> suckers... YOU JUST BOUGHT AN EDSEL! > > 6) Separation. Your sportbike friends and HDs are having sport

with you at

> red lights. You've been out accellerated by a Hundai. You put it

up for

> sale and stop riding it. > > 7) Loathing acceptance. You're never going to get all the money

you put

> into the KLR back out of it. Might as well keep it and go

shopping for a

> 'real' bike. You start to take it out again since, you've

resigned yourself

> to the fact that you're tied to the KLR for life. > > 8) New Dawn. One day, for no particular reason, you realize that

you've

> been having fun riding it (at least alone) the whole time.

Thinking about

> it a little more, you realize that you can go everywhere a GS1200

can get to

> (just maybe not as quickly), that you're more offroad capable than

a GS650

> Dakar, and probably just as on-road capable, and all for several

thousand

> less dollars. It can do more highway miles than a DR without

having to

> spend $250 on a Corbin saddle to avoid picking it out of your

backside after

> half an hour on the highway, and you can have it serviced anywhere

on the

> planet unlike a KTM (which was also a lot more). Whoa, hold on,

this bike

> is pretty cool! > > 9) Farkle time! You've just realized that you can accessorize the

KLR with

> just about every possible modification you've ever imagined

(except extra

> horsepower). Spend away young rider! Hold on, is a set of decent

tires

> less than I used to pay for just a rear? > > 10) Happily deluded. The KLR rocks! Yeah, it still sux, but it

rocks!

> > > Fred > OKC > 286

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:21 pm**

My only disappointment after buying a KLR650 was that it sounded like an overgrown lawn mower, but when I discovered I could pull off into the woods almost anywhere to take a pee all was forgiven. Mike A18 -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.0 - Release Date: 1/17/2005

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:44 pm**

Good point Mike, but for future reference, KLR Riders either "take a leak", or "piss", they never pee, unless of course they are a female, then it's ok. --- Michael Silverstein wrote:

> > My only disappointment after buying a KLR650 was > that it sounded like an > overgrown lawn mower, but when I discovered I could > pull off into the > woods almost anywhere to take a pee all was > forgiven. > > Mike A18 > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.0 - Release > Date: 1/17/2005 > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: >

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html

> List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: > www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: > www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > >

__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:55 pm**

HHHAAAAARRRRR!!!! Good one Ron! Rod,,with not enough cash to worry about another bike and kinda glad

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Crandell" wrote: > > Add to the steps - Selling the KLR thinking that you could do better, > but then buying another one when you realized just how good the > original was. (Yes, I sold my '93 and bought an '02 to replace it.) > > Ron in MN > A16 > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Streetfighters" > wrote: > > copied from Sport-touring.net: > > > > The Phases of KLR Ownership: > > > > 1) Honeymoon. Joy. Adventure is on the horizon; what fun! Those > 'nutty' > > brakes- wow, this is entertaining! > > > > 2) Exploration. Find sites like Adventure Riders and become one of > 'them' > > > > 3) Trouble in Paradise. Realize that sites like Adventure Riders > are chock > > full of bikes like KTM and BMW, and frankly the KLR is the mutt in the > > purebred's midst. Try to retain pride. > > > > 4) Dismay. Spending time on sites like KLR650.net 'enlightens' you > and all > > of a sudden you need everything from new rubber, to a new saddle, > replacing > > everthing in- > between. Everything fails no matter what, all the time. > > > > 5) Anger. You're angry at Kawasaki for selling a bike that needs > this much > > work. You're angry at the dealer for not just giving it to you, with > five > > bucks for gas. You're angry at yourself for not realizing this bike > is for > > suckers... YOU JUST BOUGHT AN EDSEL! > > > > 6) Separation. Your sportbike friends and HDs are having sport with > you at > > red lights. You've been out accellerated by a Hundai. You put it > up for > > sale and stop riding it. > > > > 7) Loathing acceptance. You're never going to get all the money you put > > into the KLR back out of it. Might as well keep it and go shopping > for a > > 'real' bike. You start to take it out again since, you've resigned > yourself > > to the fact that you're tied to the KLR for life. > > > > 8) New Dawn. One day, for no particular reason, you realize that you've > > been having fun riding it (at least alone) the whole time. Thinking > about > > it a little more, you realize that you can go everywhere a GS1200 > can get to > > (just maybe not as quickly), that you're more offroad capable than a > GS650 > > Dakar, and probably just as on-road capable, and all for several > thousand > > less dollars. It can do more highway miles than a DR without having to > > spend $250 on a Corbin saddle to avoid picking it out of your > backside after > > half an hour on the highway, and you can have it serviced anywhere > on the > > planet unlike a KTM (which was also a lot more). Whoa, hold on, > this bike > > is pretty cool! > > > > 9) Farkle time! You've just realized that you can accessorize the > KLR with > > just about every possible modification you've ever imagined (except > extra > > horsepower). Spend away young rider! Hold on, is a set of decent tires > > less than I used to pay for just a rear? > > > > 10) Happily deluded. The KLR rocks! Yeah, it still sux, but it rocks! > > > > > > Fred > > OKC > > 286

Posted: **Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:59 pm**

Dam, that was good Arden! Rod --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Arden Kysely" wrote:

> > The Phases of *My* KLR Ownership: > > > > 1) Honeymoon. Joy. Adventure is on the horizon; what fun! > Those 'nutty' > > brakes- wow, this is entertaining! > > ***Bought braided steel line, improved brakes. Went riding to the > horizon. > > > > 2) Exploration. Find sites like Adventure Riders and become one > of 'them' > > ***Internet hadn't been invented in 1989 when I bought my new-to-me > A1. My exploration was on the bike, on the backroads, with a load

of

> camping gear and a couple of maps. > > > 3) Trouble in Paradise. Realize that sites like Adventure Riders > are chock > > full of bikes like KTM and BMW, and frankly the KLR is the mutt

in

> the > > purebred's midst. Try to retain pride. > > ***KTM's and capable BMW's hadn't been invented in 1989, so I had

the

> best bike. Today I have the best value bike (A11, bought used). > Learned long ago that money spent does not equal capability to > perform or have fun. > > > > > 4) Dismay. Spending time on sites like KLR650.net 'enlightens'

you

> and all > > of a sudden you need everything from new rubber, to a new saddle, > replacing > > everthing in-between. Everything fails no matter what, all the > time. > > > ***Read enough lists, you'll find that all bikes are crap. My

buddies

> with 950's have both had them in for warrantee/recall work. > > > 5) Anger. You're angry at Kawasaki for selling a bike that needs > this much > > work. You're angry at the dealer for not just giving it to you, > with five > > bucks for gas. You're angry at yourself for not realizing this > bike is for > > suckers... YOU JUST BOUGHT AN EDSEL! > > > > ***Edsel's were only made for 3 years, KLRs are going on 20. You've > bought a VW bug--unexciting, simple, reliable, capable of doing

what

> it's designed for. > > > > 6) Separation. Your sportbike friends and HDs are having sport > with you at > > red lights. You've been out accellerated by a Hundai. You put

it

> up for > > sale and stop riding it. > > ***Small weenie complex is not a subject for this list. Both of my > KLRs could outpace most any car to 60mph. > > > 7) Loathing acceptance. You're never going to get all the money > you put > > into the KLR back out of it. Might as well keep it and go

shopping

> for a > > 'real' bike. You start to take it out again since, you've

resigned

> yourself > > to the fact that you're tied to the KLR for life. > > ***The A1 was so much fun I bought an A11 > > > > 8) New Dawn. Whoa, hold on, this bike > > is pretty cool! > > > ***Duh! > > > 9) Farkle time! You've just realized that you can accessorize

the

> KLR with > > just about every possible modification you've ever imagined

(except

> extra > > horsepower). Spend away young rider! Hold on, is a set of

decent

> tires > > less than I used to pay for just a rear? > > ***Spend, spend, spend, the Industry loves you > > > > 10) Happily deluded. The KLR rocks! Yeah, it still sux, but it > rocks! > > > ***There is value in value, grasshopper. > > > __Arden

Wilsons Sandbox

klrs and 1/4 mile times

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .

phases of klr ownership . . .