Wilsons Sandbox

Hey y'all, I was lucky enough to recently pick up one of KTM's new dual sporters, the 690 Enduro. As much as I love my KLR I'll be selling it soon, as there's only room for one bike in my life right now. I'll probably spin through here every now and again as I really enjoy the ride reports and the insightful observations. I hope folks don't mind if I reciprocate when I can, even if I'm no longer a KLR rider. All the best... -- Blake Sobiloff http://www.sobiloff.com/> San Jose, CA (USA) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Blake, say it ain't so! I've enjoyed your commentary and found it very useful. Do stick around. Regarding the orange thing, I guess if I did more dual sporting, had more money to spend, didn't mind waiting for parts, didn't mind high maintenance (now the good) wanted more power, wanted better off road handling, wanted better road handling,---- I'd get a KTM. My kid liked the KLR but wanted something with a bit "more", so he bought a Husqvarna 610 SM (that's the supermotard, pretty similar to the KTM). Its a beautiful bike, no doubt, and an absolute blast to ride. Can you say "Wheelie monster?" Enjoy your new ride, and stick around, mkay???

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

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

> Blake, say it ain't so! I've enjoyed your commentary and found it very > useful. Do stick around. > Regarding the orange thing, I guess if I did more dual sporting, had > more money to spend, didn't mind waiting for parts, didn't mind high > maintenance (now the good) wanted more power, wanted better off road > handling, wanted better road handling,---- I'd get a KTM.

As for me, I realized that I spent 99% of my time on pavement, and bought a V-Strom, but my KLR is still in the garage. Rode it to work yesterday in fact. Nice summer bike. But when the weather turns nasty, the V-Strom's much better wind protection and much better (ABS) brakes and much better tires (for street use, much fatter/better traction) makes it the bike to ride, and when doing long distance travel, the much smoother engine and much more power definitely makes a distance. But if I want to go bash around in the national forest, the V-Strom is *NOT* the bike to ride. As soon as I finish outfitting the 'Strom with its Givi racks so that it can replace the KLR as my around-town shopping mule, the KLR gets Kenda 270's slung onto it and heads out the door for some summer camping.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> > Hey y'all, > > I was lucky enough to recently pick up one of KTM's new dual sporters, > the 690 Enduro. As much as I love my KLR I'll be selling it soon, as > there's only room for one bike in my life right now. I'll probably > spin through here every now and again as I really enjoy the ride > reports and the insightful observations. I hope folks don't mind if I > reciprocate when I can, even if I'm no longer a KLR rider. > > All the best... > -- > Blake Sobiloff > http://www.sobiloff.com/> > San Jose, CA (USA)

In the end, did you really know if you oil-obsessiveness really made any difference with the KLR? I hear that the 690 uses Motorex 10W-60 synthetic. Does Rotella come in that grade? Best wishes with the KTM. ED

Blake, Congrats on the new ride. I'm sure you researched it well, and know the highs and lows of the KTM reputation. A buddy of mine has the 690 Supermoto and is having a great time carving the back roads on it. He did lose a little joy doing the first oil change and had to pay $17 per liter for Motorex, but so far the bike is paying him back with plenty of smiles. Let us know how it goes in the orange world. __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote: > > Hey y'all, > > I was lucky enough to recently pick up one of KTM's new dual sporters, > the 690 Enduro. As much as I love my KLR I'll be selling it soon, as > there's only room for one bike in my life right now. I'll probably > spin through here every now and again as I really enjoy the ride > reports and the insightful observations. I hope folks don't mind if I > reciprocate when I can, even if I'm no longer a KLR rider. > > All the best... > -- > Blake Sobiloff > http://www.sobiloff.com/> > San Jose, CA (USA) > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

Blake, I feel like I know you, from this forum. Have fun, and I'll miss your byline! Cheers, Ed

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote: > > Hey y'all, > > I was lucky enough to recently pick up one of KTM's new dual sporters, > the 690 Enduro. As much as I love my KLR I'll be selling it soon, as > there's only room for one bike in my life right now. I'll probably > spin through here every now and again as I really enjoy the ride > reports and the insightful observations. I hope folks don't mind if I > reciprocate when I can, even if I'm no longer a KLR rider. > > All the best... > -- > Blake Sobiloff > http://www.sobiloff.com/> > San Jose, CA (USA) > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> > Hey y'all, > > I was lucky enough to recently pick up one of KTM's new dual

sporters,

> the 690 Enduro. As much as I love my KLR I'll be selling it soon,

as

> there's only room for one bike in my life right now. I'll probably > spin through here every now and again as I really enjoy the ride > reports and the insightful observations. I hope folks don't mind if

I

> reciprocate when I can, even if I'm no longer a KLR rider. > > All the best... > -- > Blake Sobiloff > http://www.sobiloff.com/> > San Jose, CA (USA) >

I for one will miss your practiced approach to 'reason' and the ability to state the obvious. Someone will get a very nice KLR.... revmaaatin.

I'm on my 3rd set of mefos and have had the same issues as you, even running 32 psi in the front tire. I haven't before but this time I am going to reverse my front tire so I can get more mileage out of it. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Carlos Rigdon" wrote:

> > Anyone ever reverse a Mefo front tire and rub it mounted backwards.

My front

> one is starting to cup with 3000 miles on it > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >