Wilsons Sandbox

Having ridden both bikes, I would take the 2007. Most of my riding is on road also, but I don't think the new bike would be *that* much better on long rides. I've taken some fairly long rides on my KLRs and haven't given much more than a passing thought to a new one. Maybe in a year or two when they've sorted out the little kinks.... and they might even up the power. The new one is smoother and rides better. It has better wind protection. It's not faster. Some of the best comparisons are on advrider.com I've seen 2007 leftovers as low as $4600. Mike Martin wrote:

> > Hi, > > I've just sold my other bike, and am ready to pick up the KLR I've > been daydreaming about for months. Several area dealerships have > both 2007 and 2008 models in stock, and I'm a little torn on which > to get. > > The best deals I have found are as follows, including all Texas > taxes and fees: > > 2008 Green or Red: $5254 out-the-door > 2007 Red Only: $4959 out-the-door > > The 2008 has some improvements, but it's also 50 pounds heavier and > I've seen a lot of online discussion regarding excessive oil > consumption. I'm sure Kawasaki will eventually get the problems > sorted out, but I'm not sure I want to be a guinea pig. The 2007 > has problems also, but at least they are known problems with known > treatments. But it does sound like the 2008 is the better street > bike, where I'm sure I'll spend most of my time anyway. I expect to > take one or two 500-mile trips per year. > > BTW, if you're wondering why I'm considering this bike as my > primary "street ride", it's mainly due to my 38" inseam - the KLR > just feels right. > > So, do I save $300 and get the lighter bike with known gremlins, or > do I pay extra for the 2008 and take my chances with the first-year > problems inherent in a redesign? What would you do, if it was your > money? > > BTW, if there are better deals within 200 miles of Dallas, let me > know. I don't mind driving a little to save money - it's an > adventure. > > PS - I also posted this to another KLR650 forum, will follow both > discussions and post back with any additional insights I may gain. > >

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Martin" wrote:

> > Hi, > > I've just sold my other bike, and am ready to pick up the KLR I've > been daydreaming about for months. Several area dealerships have > both 2007 and 2008 models in stock, and I'm a little torn on which > to get. > > The best deals I have found are as follows, including all Texas > taxes and fees: > > 2008 Green or Red: $5254 out-the-door > 2007 Red Only: $4959 out-the-door > > The 2008 has some improvements, but it's also 50 pounds heavier and > I've seen a lot of online discussion regarding excessive oil > consumption. I'm sure Kawasaki will eventually get the problems > sorted out, but I'm not sure I want to be a guinea pig. The 2007 > has problems also, but at least they are known problems with known > treatments. But it does sound like the 2008 is the better street > bike, where I'm sure I'll spend most of my time anyway. I expect

to

> take one or two 500-mile trips per year. > > BTW, if you're wondering why I'm considering this bike as my > primary "street ride", it's mainly due to my 38" inseam - the KLR > just feels right. > > So, do I save $300 and get the lighter bike with known gremlins, or > do I pay extra for the 2008 and take my chances with the first-year > problems inherent in a redesign? What would you do, if it was your > money? > > BTW, if there are better deals within 200 miles of Dallas, let me > know. I don't mind driving a little to save money - it's an > adventure. > > PS - I also posted this to another KLR650 forum, will follow both > discussions and post back with any additional insights I may gain. >

Hello Martin, Check this link, an expired ebay ad for $4300 for a new 07'--might even call them to see if there was any hidden cost. There is nothing in the ad to suggest that there are additional fees. You will have to copy and paste the entire link in for it to work http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ViewItem&rd=1&item=330203431200&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014 The point is, I think they can do better on the 07, shrug. You will like them both, but will be hating life more when you drop the 08. I have been to the dealer and studied the new bike several times. If it is going to be ridden off road, ie out the front door, I would have to spend the money to protect the delicate fairing. I am certain that is going to be $400 worth of tip over just at the gas pump to replace the plastic you will break. shrug. Maybe you will be part of that .5% that never dropped his/her bike in the yard, garage, or gas pump, cough, trail--you get the picture...or maybe like one of our friends, 2X in 5 minutes at the same gas pump! If God knew you would not drop a KLR, why would he invent all that farkle/armor? and I got it all.... revmaaatin. farkle armor pays for itself over and over again....

I have got to go with the 07. There is a lot of knowledge and spare parts for the other 20 years worth of bikes. Jeff A20 2006 $5199 OTD in 7/05 I thought it was a great deal. In a message dated 3/4/2008 8:43:11 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, mjearl@... writes: --- In _DSN_KLR650@yahoogroDSN_KLR_ (mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com) , "Martin" wrote:

> > Hi, > > I've just sold my other bike, and am ready to pick up the KLR I've > been daydreaming about for months. Several area dealerships have > both 2007 and 2008 models in stock, and I'm a little torn on which > to get. > > The best deals I have found are as follows, including all Texas > taxes and fees: > > 2008 Green or Red: $5254 out-the-door > 2007 Red Only: $4959 out-the-door > > The 2008 has some improvements, but it's also 50 pounds heavier and > I've seen a lot of online discussion regarding excessive oil > consumption. I'm sure Kawasaki will eventually get the problems > sorted out, but I'm not sure I want to be a guinea pig. The 2007 > has problems also, but at least they are known problems with known > treatments. But it does sound like the 2008 is the better street > bike, where I'm sure I'll spend most of my time anyway. I expect

to

> take one or two 500-mile trips per year. > > BTW, if you're wondering why I'm considering this bike as my > primary "street ride", it's mainly due to my 38" inseam - the KLR > just feels right. > > So, do I save $300 and get the lighter bike with known gremlins, or > do I pay extra for the 2008 and take my chances with the first-year > problems inherent in a redesign? What would you do, if it was your > money? > > BTW, if there are better deals within 200 miles of Dallas, let me > know. I don't mind driving a little to save money - it's an > adventure. > > PS - I also posted this to another KLR650 forum, will follow both > discussions and post back with any additional insights I may gain. >

Hello Martin, Check this link, an expired ebay ad for $4300 for a new 07'--might even call them to see if there was any hidden cost. There is nothing in the ad to suggest that there are additional fees. You will have to copy and paste the entire link in for it to work _http://cgi.ebay.http://cgi.ebayhttp://cgi.ebhttp_ (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?) ViewItem&rd=r&item=330203431ite&ssPageName=ssPageNamess&ih=014 The point is, I think they can do better on the 07, shrug. You will like them both, but will be hating life more when you drop the 08. I have been to the dealer and studied the new bike several times. If it is going to be ridden off road, ie out the front door, I would have to spend the money to protect the delicate fairing. I am certain that is going to be $400 worth of tip over just at the gas pump to replace the plastic you will break. shrug. Maybe you will be part of that .5% that never dropped his/her bike in the yard, garage, or gas pump, cough, trail--you get the picture...or maybe like one of our friends, 2X in 5 minutes at the same gas pump! If God knew you would not drop a KLR, why would he invent all that farkle/armor? and I got it all.... revmaaatin. farkle armor pays for itself over and over again.... **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Martin: I have an '06 and my brother has an '08. Others are correct to be concerned ($) from a simple tip-over on a '08 with its fancier fairing. So spend the money for a protective cage that the rest of us, with older models, have spent on Corbin seats, foot pegs, electric upgrades, non-vibrating mirrors / handlebars, dash boards, jet kits, rusty exhaust pipes, different gears, etc. If you're going to stay on the street (mostly) the extra 50# isn't an issue. Spend a little extra money on the '08 and save a lot later (less "neccessary" farkle) - just remember to protect that fairing. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Martin" wrote: > > Hi, > > I've just sold my other bike, and am ready to pick up the KLR I've > been daydreaming about for months. Several area dealerships have > both 2007 and 2008 models in stock, and I'm a little torn on which > to get. > > The best deals I have found are as follows, including all Texas > taxes and fees: > > 2008 Green or Red: $5254 out-the-door > 2007 Red Only: $4959 out-the-door > > The 2008 has some improvements, but it's also 50 pounds heavier and > I've seen a lot of online discussion regarding excessive oil > consumption. I'm sure Kawasaki will eventually get the problems > sorted out, but I'm not sure I want to be a guinea pig. The 2007 > has problems also, but at least they are known problems with known > treatments. But it does sound like the 2008 is the better street > bike, where I'm sure I'll spend most of my time anyway. I expect to > take one or two 500-mile trips per year. > > BTW, if you're wondering why I'm considering this bike as my > primary "street ride", it's mainly due to my 38" inseam - the KLR > just feels right. > > So, do I save $300 and get the lighter bike with known gremlins, or > do I pay extra for the 2008 and take my chances with the first-year > problems inherent in a redesign? What would you do, if it was your > money? > > BTW, if there are better deals within 200 miles of Dallas, let me > know. I don't mind driving a little to save money - it's an > adventure. > > PS - I also posted this to another KLR650 forum, will follow both > discussions and post back with any additional insights I may gain. >

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Martin" wrote:

> The best deals I have found are as follows, including all Texas > taxes and fees: > > 2008 Green or Red: $5254 out-the-door > 2007 Red Only: $4959 out-the-door > > The 2008 has some improvements, but it's also 50 pounds heavier and > I've seen a lot of online discussion regarding excessive oil > consumption. I'm sure Kawasaki will eventually get the problems

The biggest improvements with the 2008 are the better headlights and better wind protection. They've also apparently rebalanced it to make it smoother.

> treatments. But it does sound like the 2008 is the better street > bike, where I'm sure I'll spend most of my time anyway. I expect to > take one or two 500-mile trips per year.

I've spent some time thinking about this, and the thing that turns me off of the 2008 is the crunchy fairing. If they'd made it of tupperware like the old fairing, I could live with that, as ugly as the old tupperware got as the sun did its thing to it. But I've dropped my '02 many times, had a bear knock it over once, etc., and all that's ever happened is that I lost a few teaspoons of fuel and got a few more scratches (well, there was the time I dropped it and got a big dent in the fuel tank as I did the Superman off the bike, but $200 and an impatient wait for an IMS tank on my doorstep solved that one). I suppose it's possible to armor up the '08 to that same extent though... but that still won't change the fact that an '08 has less suspension travel than the '07. Hmm... Sorry I'm not more help, I'm sorta conflicted here myself. The '08 is a better bike, and probably on a dollars and cents basis the fact that you won't have to buy as much farkle to make it usable for touring makes it an equal value to the old one (since the new seat means you no longer need an aftermarket seat to be comfortable for normal riding and the slightly lower suspension means you no longer need 1" lowering links to keep it from hunting during high speed touring), but it just isn't as good off-road... And BTW, the '08 is not 50 pounds heavier. It's about 15 pounds heavier on an actual commercial scale. A '07 weighs in at around 415 pounds on a commercial scale while full of fuel, an '08 at around 430 pounds. The fictitious weight on the '07's spec sheet has always been a laugh with nothing to do with reality.

> BTW, if you're wondering why I'm considering this bike as my > primary "street ride", it's mainly due to my 38" inseam - the KLR > just feels right.

Get the Corbin "flat" seat, that'll give you more space between seat and pegs so your knees won't feel so

> So, do I save $300 and get the lighter bike with known gremlins, or > do I pay extra for the 2008 and take my chances with the first-year > problems inherent in a redesign? What would you do, if it was your > money?

Wait until next year? . Sorry, can't be more help than that (sigh!). -E

Good info coming in from all. But one error you should know of so you evaluate it properly... The '08 is not 50 pounds heavier than the '07. It's about 15-20 pounds. SHORT ANSWER: The early bikes do NOT weigh 337 as advertized dry, they're more like 370 dry - and with full fuel and other useful things like engine oil and coolant, they are around 410. A number of us have weighed our old bikes, subtracted any farkle, and get 400 pounds plus or minus 15 pounds depending on the fuel level. Kawasaki is finally quoting a proper dry weight at 386 ish. LONG ANSWER: I broached this subject in the following e-mail, from 5-18-2007: How much does a KLR weigh is a subject that comes up frequently, and seems to generate more chatter than information. And now with the 08 being released and KHI raising the published weight by 51 pounds, the subject is getting a LOT of recent attention. My attempt is to try and provide some actual data which might settle some estimations. Thanks to another poster we ve found what appears to be an accurate weighing of a fully-fueled 2005 and 2008 at: topgunmotorcyles. com/2008klr/ 08_klr_intro. html. Since they didn t use the data to draw all the conclusions I was looking for, I wanted to take that information and provide some BOTTOM LINE numbers for the group. I ll work this backwards: Answers first, then details if people want to read how it was calculated. ANSWERS: * The 2008 gained around 17 pounds from the earlier model. *** DRY WEIGHT (no fuel, coolant, or oil): *** 2008: measured 387 pounds. KHI says it s 386. Essentially dead-on! *** 2005: measured 370 pounds. KHI says it s 337. We ve all argued they ve been off with that number for a while, what I m implying today is that they ve been quoting 33 pounds below actual for a number of years. ***** WET WEIGHT (full fuel, coolant and oil): ***** 2008: measured 428 pounds ***** 2005: measured 411 pounds DETAILS: Topgunmotorcyles weighed the 2008 essentially twice and got 428 pounds each time. This is where the WET weight quoted above originated. They also weighed a 2005 model twice, and obtained 409 pounds one time and 413 pounds the other. I m using the average of those two values, or 411 quoted above in WET . The difference between 411 and 428 provides the 17 pound delta between model years. The difference between "wet" and "dry" is simply 41 pounds. For starters, we know they really don t hold 6.1 gallons of fuel, more like 5.6. Since gasoline weighs 6.3 pounds per gallon, that is essentially 35 pounds. Next; 2.5 quarts of oil and 40 ounces of coolant come out very close to 6 pounds. So if there is no fuel, coolant or oil, we lose another 41 pounds. These values are quoted in the DRY section above. Hopefully this will provide some clarity on the subject. Bill Watson Phoenix, AZ www.xanga.com/watt_man --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]