Wilsons Sandbox

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

> Now hold on there Jeffrey. Not a street bike??? I am a 100% street > rider, and can't think of a better bike than the KLR. The riding > position puts me at a much better height on the freeway and in traffic > than any street bike. The single is plenty competent up to 75 MPH (and > maybe more) plus the handling is great. I have an airhead BMW and a > Concours and both are going up for sale. I find all my miles (all on- > road)go to the KLR.

I find the KLR to be the most comfortable street bike that I have ever ridden. The soft suspension eats up potholes (though I did stiffen it slightly to firm up the handling a little bit, especially the fork), with my Corbin flat seat the seat to pegs distance is roomy and comfortable unlike my old Concours that was extremely cramped and caused knee pain on long trips, outfitted with hard luggage in the back and tank panniers up front it hauls enough for multi-week trips in comfort. Indeed my only real complaint with the KLR as a long distance touring bike is its lack of electrical oomph -- heated gear becomes problematic. Even wind protection is fine once you put a handlebar-mounted windshield on it. Sure, when you get into the hills you realize the engine is utterly gutless as you start having to row the shiftlever to keep up forward progress, but hey, do you want to get there [i]comfortably[/i] or do you want to get there [i]fast[/i]? And if you see that gravel road heading off to the side, unlike with a Goldwing, you can simply turn the KLR around and head down that little gravel road with confidence that if you drop it, you aren't going to do thousands of dollars worth of damage (if you've put the radiator guard or crash bars on it, anyhow). Even if you managed to total the thing, you can go out and get another KLR for $3k or so and be back on the road with minimal hit to the pocketbook (assuming you can scavenge your farkles off the old KLR). Crap, dropping a Goldwing can cost you more than $3k in broken plastics alone... I'm thinking about getting an '08 mostly because of the much better headlights. I'll probably make the decision around the time that the '09s hit the street though . -E

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Michael Nelson wrote:

> > If I were riding 100% street I would MUCH rather have a Vstrom than

a KLR. Except that a Vstrom has a much shorter peg to seat top ratio and the pegs are further back, meaning that if you have knee problems or are simply *old* you will be unable to walk at the end of the day. I certainly prefer the Vstrom's power plant and 6 speed transmission, but if I feel like a victim of a CIA torture chamber at the end of the day, what good is that gonna do me?! But granted, if all you ride is a couple hours a week, the bad ergonomics aren't an issue. And if you're under age 40 and can deal with the sportbike-like peg position, the bad ergonomics aren't an issue. But for us old farts with too much wear and tear on our bodies... it's an issue. _E

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "E.L. Green" wrote:

> > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "mikeypep" wrote:

snipp...>

> I find the KLR to be the most comfortable street bike that I have

ever

> ridden. snipp...

Sure, when you get into the hills

> you realize the engine is utterly gutless as you start having to row > the shiftlever to keep up forward progress, but hey, do you want to > get there [i]comfortably[/i] or do you want to get there

[i]fast[/i]? Both--that's why I like the F800GS.

> I'm thinking about getting an '08 mostly because of the much better > headlights. I'll probably make the decision around the time that the > '09s hit the street though . > > -E >

Wait till '09 and hope they fix the oil burning issue. __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Arden Kysely" wrote:

> --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "E.L. Green" wrote: > > I find the KLR to be the most comfortable street bike that I have > ever > > ridden. snipp... > Sure, when you get into the hills > > you realize the engine is utterly gutless as you start having to row > > the shiftlever to keep up forward progress, but hey, do you want to > > get there [i]comfortably[/i] or do you want to get there > [i]fast[/i]? > > Both--that's why I like the F800GS.

Which will be here in 2009, maybe. Until then, I have no idea what its seat-to-pegs distance will be, or whether I can make it as comfortable as a KLR for long distance travel (which also includes my highway pegs -- those are an important part of what makes my KLR so comfortable). The F800GS looks good on paper, but so do a number of things that don't work out in reality. We'll see. -E

Well, I have solved almost every problem my 2003 KLR had (most notably, Cogent Dynamics suspension), and now I will shortly be installing Schnitz's 705cc cylinder and a Stage-2 head, so even the power issue will be solved. With all the stuff I have done to this KLR I am now the proud owner of a KLR that is worth maybe $2500 but I have about $7K into it. Uberfarkling. -- "Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open manhole and die." -- Mel Brooks San Francisco, CA

There is a bright green(Kawasaki green) 06 for sale in Louisiana for $3,900. Traded in at a tractor dealership for a riding mower. Clean, low mileage.... The name of the dealership is Ruston Tractor Inc. (318) 251-2946, ask for the saleman that has the KLR650... No associaiton or connection... Just looked at prior to purchasing my 08. Mike H.

----- Original Message ----- From: bodevilio To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 5:52 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] 08KLR Purchase I can't get anybody to back off the suggested retail of $5349 except 1 guy in Montana.With shipping I dont save anything.I missed a bunch of deals.Now that I've got the cash I can't hardly find 1.I found a green 1 about 125 mi's away.Anybody Close to the W TN area Have an updated oldr klr for sale?I can't see paying $3000 for a bike with 13000 mi's on it.Just in time for me to do the valve adjustment before I go anywhere.I did find an 06 v strom 650 with full givi luggage for $6000.That made me pause.But I'm gonna get what I want or nothing.I have a street bike.OK I'm thru whining now.I'm a little bit delirious right now that I get to walk in the bike shop and leave with a new bike WAHOO.I have had people try to sell me on the dr the xr and ktm.But Im stiil sold on the KLR.Hope to post pic's of a short guy on a bike too tall for him soon(Bo) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]