Wilsons Sandbox

Hi Jim, I rode my 2004 KLR650 up the 6.2 mile Mt Washington Auto Road last Summer solo. I have not yet rode with a passenger so I can't comment on that. About riding up the Auto Road, it is part asphalt and part dirt near the summit but the dirt is usually in real smooth condition. My KLR had no problem handling the ride but I can't comment on one two up and fully loaded. There are some fairly steep parts of the road and some off camber turns so you have to be careful where you decide to stop. Also, there can be a dramatic differences in the weather conditions at the base versus conditions on the summit(cold and windy). I would plan to go on a day where they are predicting clear and mild conditions to get good views from the summit. On a clear day you can see Portland Maine and the Atlantic Ocean from the summit. I recommend it as a great day trip. Good luck. John "btsmokincat" Sent by: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com 07/06/06 03:24 PM To DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com cc Subject [DSN_KLR650] Mt. Washington and two-up riding? A lady friend of mine on a Ninja 650 wants to do a trip up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire next summer (after my second son is born this fall). Has anyone ridden up Mt. Washington on a KLR and how does it handle? My wife really wants to go with us . Has anyone done any long distance two-up riding? It's about 300 miles round trip and I'm 6'2" 200 lbs and my wife is 4'11" 135 lbs. Any suggestions on setting the rear shock and how the KLR will handle the trip hauling 350 lbs? TIA Jim W. A6Fingerprint Oakland, Me [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've done the Mt Washington road many times, but the last time on 2 wheels was in the late '70s on my Kawasaki 400 triple. It was no problem with that. Solo on the KLR would be easy, in my opinion. I always see bikes there, and they are usually street bikes. I rarely have a passenger, so can't comment on a fully loaded bike, but a lot of list members out west ride 2-up and on unpaved roads, so some commentary from them on traveling the nicely graded dirt/gravel roads would be comparable to Mt Washington in road condition and slope. My guess is that this road would rate a "2" on the Road and Trail Ratings - this scale is common out west. The unique thing about Mount Washington is it can be 80 degrees and sunny at the bottom, and 45 degrees with fog and strong winds at the top. Mike btsmokincat wrote:

> > A lady friend of mine on a Ninja 650 wants to do a trip up Mt. > Washington in New Hampshire next summer (after my second son is born > this fall). Has anyone ridden up Mt. Washington on a KLR and how does it > handle? My wife really wants to go with us . Has anyone done any long > distance two-up riding? It's about 300 miles round trip and I'm 6'2" > 200 lbs and my wife is 4'11" 135 lbs. Any suggestions on setting the > rear shock and how the KLR will handle the trip hauling 350 lbs? > > TIA > > Jim W. > > A6Fingerprint > > Oakland, Me > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >

Years ago I rode an XL600 up with a 350lb load. It was a blast. It was the first time up the mt for the gf. But it was not as much fun as you would think. No time to look around and enjoy the ride. Coming down was fun, passed most of the cars. I trucked the XL up to Conway, and rode from there. You might want to go with the 14 tooth front sprocket. Jim (in NH)

On 7/6/06, btsmokincat wrote: > > A lady friend of mine on a Ninja 650 wants to do a trip up Mt. > Washington in New Hampshire next summer (after my second son is born > this fall). Has anyone ridden up Mt. Washington on a KLR and how does it > handle? My wife really wants to go with us . Has anyone done any long > distance two-up riding? It's about 300 miles round trip and I'm 6'2" > 200 lbs and my wife is 4'11" 135 lbs. Any suggestions on setting the > rear shock and how the KLR will handle the trip hauling 350 lbs? > > TIA > > Jim W. > > A6Fingerprint > > Oakland, Me > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > 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 > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >

Three of us laced up 2.50 x 18 black anodized rims with HD Buchanan spokes and nipples in less than a day, for about $225.00 each. Help me, Mike or Mark, with the cash outlay part and maybe the width part, but the time is spent accurate. We're running Bridgestone BT 040 or Michelin Activ tires on front/rear. "James W. Flower" wrote: Pretty sweet thanks for the URL. I've emailed owner asking about his wheels. But I can't believe either a KLR rear rim, or some aftermarket rim, can't be laced to a KLR front hub. I'm thinking I'd like an 18" right now, but so far I can't figure out how to do it at all, at least on my budget. --JW

On Jul 7, 2006, at 7:22 AM, Mike Peplinski wrote: > > Super motard 650 picture, check this one out! > > http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php? > t=25728&highlight=klr+motard > >> From: James W. Flower >> To: DSN KLR650 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> >> Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Smaller front wheel? >> Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 12:38:10 -0700 >> >> Hi all- >> I'm thinking of putting a smaller diameter, wider wheel/tire on the >> front. I thought I could scavenge a front hub and a rear rim and find >> someone to lace them together. I could use the same range of tires >> available for the KLR, and use my oem brake disk, so the cost would >> only be for the hub, rim and lacing labor. Is this not so? A wheel >> guy I talked to says the hole patterns of the front hub and rear rim >> don't match so it can't be done. Do I have to buy aftermarket hub, >> rim >> and disk? The hub would have to fit the forks/axle. The disc would >> have to fit the stock caliper (good time to get the bigger disk I >> suppose, but it would have to fit the new hub, and I don't want to >> spend that much money). I also want to have the stock front wheel to >> put back on when I want it. What have I not thought of here? Any >> tips >> on how-tos and parts sources? >> -JW > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]