Wilsons Sandbox

Well heck! Can you believe my '00 KLR with just 20K miles on it has seen the 4th bike leave my Shop and it's still there. Just something about it I guess. 1st was a DR350SE with about 13K miles on it that I bought the KLR to replace, 2nd a 24K miles '97 BMW R11RA, 3rd a DRZ400S Suzuki with me putting on just about 3000 miles that I bought to possbile replace the KLR but it just didn't do me so sold it instead. And now my steed of the last 49,320 miles of roaming the USA, my -02 R1150GSa has left with a new owner. Now to get a new Long Distance bike ... '43 Andy in Louisiana '00 KLR 650 '03 Chevy Truck

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Andrus Chesley" wrote:

> > Well heck! Can you believe my '00 KLR with just 20K miles on it has > seen the 4th bike leave my Shop and it's still there.

SNIP>

> Now to get a new Long Distance bike ... > > '43 Andy in Louisiana > '00 KLR 650 > '03 Chevy Truck >

Andy, Would that be a KLR with radial street tires? revmaaatin.

> If the top of the bike is down hill I simply cannot lift it. The > options are > to drag or lever it around which doesn't do things much good; or to > get help > to heave it up.

Norm, that has little to do with being 58- I'm 35, 5'8" 155lbs and lifting the 650 back onto the wheels was a big hassle. If it fell in an unlucky position, then I would need help.

> > Lowering links really helped in the lifting department too as the bike > 1 > 1/2" closer to the tire. If anyone doesn't think that 1 1/2" is > significant > in lifting, try a bike with links. Much easier to lift.

I was going to speculate on other areas where 1 1/2" are significant, but I think everyone gets your meaning (and good for you staying on topic). I just got cleared for exercise by the surgeon who repaired my hernia six weeks ago. Two weeks before plus six weeks after, makes two months of no bicycling, no dirtbikes, no gym, etc. I'm going riding next week. My point is, not riding sucks. If you could ride another five or ten years by changing to a bike that is better suited to your body and riding abilities, you'd be crazy not to do it. Even for a large, fit 27yo, a KLR650 is no joke to pick up when it's upside down in the rocks. If you want a road bike that you could take down dirt roads and easy trails loaded with camping gear, nothing beats a KLR650. If you want a bike to challenge yourself in the woods, get something for trail riding that's lightweight and has proper throttle response- WR-250, KTM 450 EXC, Husky TE-250, CRF-230, etc. The KTM and the Husky are street legal, the Japanese trail bikes are not. I hate to say it, since I did tons of trail riding on a KLR650, but trail riding is more fun on a bike that's meant to be there. Even a KLR250 is too heavy, and lacks suspension. The first enduro I entered (on a KLR650) I got passed by a 58yo grandmother on a KDX200. She hadn't been riding long either. Devon Brooklyn '78 SR500 '01 KL250 Super Sherpa

I don't think picking up a KLR "downhill" is easy for anyone. Dragging it around might be the only way. If your adventures are off road and woodsy a small block and tackle might be a good idea. I've seen these inflatable bags and they actually work but lifting a car is way different than lifting a bike; like 6 inches versus 2 feet. Also, as others on the list (Like you Rev) will agree thatriding off road solo is a poor choice for anyone, especially those of us who can get 42 cent coffee at McDonalds.

>From: "Norm Keller" >To: "Andrus Chesley" >CC: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR vs My other bikes >Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2006 19:23:48 -0700 > >*This started off list as Andy was advising on the DRZ400 versus the >KLR650. >He's a bigger guy than I am so the size of the KLR may be less of an issue. >IMO it may be worth posting.* > >Thanks for the impressions. It sounds like the quest is still on. (VBG) At >5' 8" and 165 pounds, but old (58 years) the KLR is a real challenge and >I'm >beginning to doubt that I will be able to ride it another 10 years as >hoped. >Maybe the another option will come into the realm of the possible; identify >some means of lifting the brute. I'm beginning to think more along that >line. There used to be some smaller and less expensive air bags available >for vehicle lifting so something like that might work. The ones I saw used >automotive exhaust pressure from the tail pipe to lift a vehicle. I wonder >if a river bag might be able to be adapted to do the same for a KLR. It >would have to be easy to connect and operate at low pressure so it could be >filled with either exhaust pressure or one of those small 12 volt, cheap >air >mattress inflator pumps. > >Perhaps a pivot lever set-up would work also but what ever solution will be >one which is easy to carry and deploy. > >Hmmm, maybe worth thinking about. Having Eric the Elk down in a boulder >garden is a nasty experience and 5 or 6 of those does me in for the day. It >is only a matter of time before I injure myself heaving the brute up. > >If the top of the bike is down hill I simply cannot lift it. The options >are >to drag or lever it around which doesn't do things much good; or to get >help >to heave it up. > >Lowering links really helped in the lifting department too as the bike 1 >1/2" closer to the tire. If anyone doesn't think that 1 1/2" is significant >in lifting, try a bike with links. Much easier to lift. > >One of these days it is going to be impossible which likely illustrates why >I shouldn't ride alone but that's often the only way to go riding. > >Any thoughts? > >Norm > > > >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 > > > >

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>Norm, that has little to do with being 58- I'm 35, >5'8" 155lbs and >lifting the 650 back onto the wheels was a big >hassle. If it fell in an >unlucky position, then I would need help.

If you think that your statement "has little to do with being 58- I'm 35" is accurate, I'll allow you to wallow in your ignorance. (VBG) Ask Fast Eddie or some of the other old guys if what you said makes sense! In leg pulling mode, Norm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I concur. For rough off roading, there is no substitute for a 'true' dirt bike. Also, the deep woods are no place for a back injury. The KLR (as much as I love it) is a pig when laying down. I am 6'1", 265, fairly strong (boxed competitively till 43), but strain to pick-up the KLR when it is horizontal in difficult terrain. In Maine last month I hit a submerged log and wound up laying virtually underwater with the KLR beside me. The engine flooded with water before I could lift the bike. (photo attached). The bike needs an airbag! Regards, Dominic -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Devon Jarvis Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 9:50 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR vs my other bikes

> If the top of the bike is down hill I simply cannot lift it. The > options are > to drag or lever it around which doesn't do things much good; or to > get help > to heave it up.

Norm, that has little to do with being 58- I'm 35, 5'8" 155lbs and lifting the 650 back onto the wheels was a big hassle. If it fell in an unlucky position, then I would need help.

> > Lowering links really helped in the lifting department too as the bike > 1 > 1/2" closer to the tire. If anyone doesn't think that 1 1/2" is > significant > in lifting, try a bike with links. Much easier to lift.

I was going to speculate on other areas where 1 1/2" are significant, but I think everyone gets your meaning (and good for you staying on topic). I just got cleared for exercise by the surgeon who repaired my hernia six weeks ago. Two weeks before plus six weeks after, makes two months of no bicycling, no dirtbikes, no gym, etc. I'm going riding next week. My point is, not riding sucks. If you could ride another five or ten years by changing to a bike that is better suited to your body and riding abilities, you'd be crazy not to do it. Even for a large, fit 27yo, a KLR650 is no joke to pick up when it's upside down in the rocks. If you want a road bike that you could take down dirt roads and easy trails loaded with camping gear, nothing beats a KLR650. If you want a bike to challenge yourself in the woods, get something for trail riding that's lightweight and has proper throttle response- WR-250, KTM 450 EXC, Husky TE-250, CRF-230, etc. The KTM and the Husky are street legal, the Japanese trail bikes are not. I hate to say it, since I did tons of trail riding on a KLR650, but trail riding is more fun on a bike that's meant to be there. Even a KLR250 is too heavy, and lacks suspension. The first enduro I entered (on a KLR650) I got passed by a 58yo grandmother on a KDX200. She hadn't been riding long either. Devon Brooklyn '78 SR500 '01 KL250 Super Sherpa [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

OUCH... Still spry enough to mete out a good spanking Norm! Age and treachery vs. youth and vigor? Getting older does have some benefits..... Don Norm Keller wrote:

>Norm, that has little to do with being 58- I'm 35, >5'8" 155lbs and >lifting the 650 back onto the wheels was a big >hassle. If it fell in an >unlucky position, then I would need help.

If you think that your statement "has little to do with being 58- I'm 35" is accurate, I'll allow you to wallow in your ignorance. (VBG) Ask Fast Eddie or some of the other old guys if what you said makes sense! In leg pulling mode, Norm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --------------------------------- Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Well , so far , even at 63, I'm still in good enuff shape to get my KLR spun about and picked up. But, I also do my level best not to get into these situations with any bike I ride. Falling hurts, and, as said, takes a long time to heal. I've been nursing a heel injury for over a year when falling on my klr while chaseing the dog around the yard with it. . A game we played often in the past on all kinds of bikes but thinking we're not gonna do that any more. ha ha ha... I guess my work on offshore platforms and climbing up and down stairs all day and sometimes a lot at night, keep me in some kinda shape .. I do seem to remember last time I dumped my R1150GS that I had to finally use the back up method to get it up though. 3 years ago I still could just use my shoulders and legs and get it up but it's heck to get older and weaker. ha ha ha... But, heck, you can't worry about it, go out and have fun. Who wants to die on the c o u c h wondering what he could be doing alone on a good back road or trail on the bike of his choice. Andy >>>> 100 miles south of the Louisiana Coast. Sigh!