re : jake has passed away

[David Covell]

I joined here in April after buying a 2002 KLR because I was becoming too ill to safely ride my street bike, and I wanted to get off the roads here in New Mexico. Thanks for the many helpful suggestions you posted about lowering it to fit my 29" inseam and so forth. I lurked here for a while and learned a lot, while waiting a month to receive the lowering links and short stand. By the time I had the bike sized for me, the cancer thing was making it too hard for me to ride, and I have put less than 50 miles on the bike since I bought it. Be that as it may. I am still getting around some, but there's no way I can ride the bike and I'd hate to see my wife stuck with the burden of selling it when I die, which may be in the next 1-3 months. It's a 2002 with 6K miles, and has Progressive suspension, a large plastic gas tank, fork brace, Corbin seat, metal-reinforced handguards, a steel skid plate, baqs, and other improvements which I can't recall but will refresh. As I recall, the doohickie has been done also. As I said, I rode it only a few miles, mostly home from the seller's house via back streets and a dirt road, so I didn't shake it down for any problems. As far as I can see and hear it appears very healthy. I bought it here in Albuquerque and I'm hoping to hear from the seller, who may be able to provide more details and vouch for the condition. I do have all the original parts as well as the add-ons, and there are receipts for much of them and for service visits. It does seem to have been well cared-for. Obviously the bike is in Albuquerque and would need to be ridden or shipped to you. I know nothing of the costs for shipping a bike like this, but I was quoted $750 to ship my huge Valkyrie street bike 1350 miles, professionally crated and loaded by a freight service. At half the weight I'd expect the KLR to be less. I am posting it here first because you're familiar with the brand and may be interested. If it doesn't sell here, can you suggest other methods? I'd appreciate any tips. As I recall, I paid $3800 for it, and about $200 for the lowering links and shortened stand. My inclination is to go for a quick, cheap deal, but my wife wants to limit the loss. She'd probably like to recoup the $4K but she's negotiable, a little. I doubt she'd take less than the cost of the bike though, and you'd get the lowering kit for "free" ;^) I just hope it sells before she has to do it herself. PS I'll also selling my 98 Honda Valkyrie Standard with extras. Great road bike but I can't ride it anymore. Please forward this to anyone who might want a nice, fast, healthy street bike. Thanks for your help and advice so far. Too bad I didn't get to plug into the community and find some fellow riders, but so it goes. We make the best we can, and I can't complain much at all.

[Munroe]

I was much saddened to to learn about Jake's death this morning. I never had a chance to meet him personally, but talked to him on the phone many times over the few years I knew him. I was lucky enough to have designed & made the Pelican stickers he used on his grey 1520's. An icon in the KLR community, he will be missed by all & remembered by everybody who had the chance to learn from his wisdom. Just finally installed his doohickey/spring a couple of weeks ago and along with all his nut & bolt kits, he'll be riding with me everytime I turn the key. Farewell Jake, I will miss you very much. Sincerely, Munroe Copper