Wilsons Sandbox

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, mark ward wrote:

> > Are you sure It's not the chirp, chirp, chirp, (like a dripping faucet) keeping you awake? >

No. It was the first spring thunderstorm, 'breaking' over my house. Lightning and wind, thunder like sea billows roll. What a show. revmaaatin.

I've been following this 'Top Speed' thread with some interest. Although getting back to riding after about a 30-year lay-off may qualify me as a 'newbie' - my past experience, coupled with my present KLR ownership may give me some 'qualifications' to point out something. First - I REALLY 'learned to ride' in SEA with some 'additional study' in Northern California. The biggest bike I owned was a 400cc Norton -a 'sissy' model, with 'skirts'. {when I returned East I owned a 450 BSA 'Victor' for about a year - before I was forced to sell it . . but that's another story !!} Anyhow, when I was 'over there' all the enlisted types could afford were 'cycles. Usually not new but 'bequeathed, at an agreed upon price, when the previous owner rotated out. I was probably the 5th owner of a Honda 350. We kept them in GOOD condition - both for re-sale and because the Air Police would nail you for any infractions. And probably most importantly because any incapacitating break-down off-base could leave to the loss of the bike . . . or your life !! As is usual - most of us were 'young, stupid, and immortal'. There were no 'traffic rules' as such -in the entire country- it was a case of 'who gets there first'. All the short bridges were SINGLE lane -emphasis on the SINGLE. The transit {'Rabbit'} busses were driven {it was said} by ex-Kawasaki pilots . . . In towns all the drivers {of the highly decorated 'taxies'} turned off their lights and drove by the light of the 'BAR' signs and from open doors & windows. Did I mention the DEEP drainage ditches on each side of the road ? Just beside the foot-wide pathways for people? I remember one night taking a really 'shit-faced' [but NOT passed out and tied on} buddy back to base on that narrow strip . . . maybe I was a little loaded too!!. The point of all this . . . NO ONE and I do mean NO ONE was ever killed on a bike. NO ONE bragged about 'How Fast' they could go. I'm sure a few of us 'cranked it up' - I know I did - but it was on a clear {yet VERY bumpy} stretch. The type of daily 'normal' riding we had was adrenaline-filled enough. The same sort of attitude followed us {or at least me} back to the states. I wound up riding on the California Freeways . . . on a relatively small bike. Helmet and boots{'Issue'} but no 'leathers'. I got the 650 because a co-worker and female friend of my wife said, 'You need something bigger then a 400 to lug your fat ass . . .' She is 5-something, maybe 130, family owned maybe 7 bikes, and she settled on a H-D. Figured her advice was good - plus I liked 'ground clearance' and an upright position. Found one in 'pristine' condition at a dammed good price - and done! This is the 'biggest' bike I've owned. It's got an 'aftermarket' muffler, 2in 'lowering links', and the 'doohicky' done. All else is stock. Haven't 'wound it out' yet, but I've been on the local Highways with it . . . and it's FAST ENOUGH to SCARE the HELL out of me !! As I've indicated . . . I've got nothing to prove {'Been there, Done that, Have the DD214 to prove it'}. Besides, with a KLR650 . . what's the point?? Talking about 'How fast will it go?' seems to be an oxymoron with all the comments & 'history' with this bike . . . 'slow & heavy yet able to go anywhere', 'to heavy for off-road racing but will go to the end of the earth', 'Doesn't do anything really well, but DOES EVERYTHING, 'the Ultimate ADVENTURE bike'. There in an old English expression; 'Horses for Courses' . 'GO FAST' is a specific and requires a 'single purpose built' machine. The KLR is a 'MULTI-purpose machine, a 'generalist' if you will. From all I've read it fits it's purpose QUITE WELL. Regards & Thanks, Ron Magen Backyard Boatshop KLR650 - 2003 {New-to-me} _______________________________________ No infection found in this outgoing message Scanned by iolo System Shield http://www.iolo.com