Wilsons Sandbox

----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Frey" To: "List KLR" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:02:04 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike Note that there is no XR650 on the UK site. What would we say if Kawasaki dumped the KLR for North America? < insert image of angry villagers with torches and pitchforks here > Mike > Honda does really sell crap in the US now. Back in the day, they were > the innovators and I wanted their whole lineup. Heck, I got Honda > certified on CBX's and V65's ..even the honda-matic was cool because > it was unique. We had CBX's that Honda gave to us for training. We all > wanted to buy them, but alas they wouldn't sell them. I still have > their promotional playing cards they gave us when we completed the > course. > > The good old days! > > Marc > > ________________________________ > From: Jeff Khoury < jeff@... > > To: Marc < marchaug2000@... > > Cc: Lourd Baltimore < lourd_baltimore@... > >; DSN KLR650 > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:17 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > The Europeans get all the nice bikes. > > At least they get all the ones that I like. > > Honda Hornet > > Yamaha MT-01 > > Heck, if you want your socks knocked off, just go to > http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/ and compare that lineup to the > absolute crap they sell here in the U.S. > > ________________________________ > > From: "Marc" < marchaug2000@... > > To: "Lourd Baltimore" < lourd_baltimore@... > >, "DSN KLR650" > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:57:00 AM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > Ohhhhh man I would buy that in a millisecond! Well if it wasn't 10k We > wouldn't have to pay that BS VAT. I do love twins. > > M > > ________________________________ > From: Lourd Baltimore < lourd_baltimore@... > > > To: " DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com " > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:22 AM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > Bert, > > If you're lucky and if you've been a good boy, Santa Klawski may > decide to bring the new W800 to the States. > They're selling them here in the UK already. > http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/W800 > > Looks beautiful even compared to a modern Bonnie. > It's lost the kick-start though. > > MCN review here: > http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-W800-2011-current/ > > Josh > . > > ________________________________ > From: BertL < bertloehrer@... > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 17:37 > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > I have been thinking about the W650 and the new unitized EFI Royal > Enfield 500 single. I have a 250 suzuki TU250 which looks like the > bikes I rode in the 70's. W650 has not been sold since 2001 and go > high on Ebay. Enfields still are questionable in quality and > expensive. Has anyone customized a KLR 650 to be a street bike with > lower seat? I would love a bike with that look with the KLR engine. > Bert > > __._,_. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Khoury" To: "Mike Frey" Cc: "List KLR" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:30:05 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike Re: KLE engine in the KLR I've seen some pictures of someone who has shoehorned one in after doing some frame mods, etc. While I think that it would be nice if the KLR was smoother at highway speed, a MAJOR change would have to be made to the frame and fork geometry to accommodate the increase in horsepower. As it is, the KLR's frame/suspension combo is just not stable at the speeds that would be attainable with that engine. With knobbies and grooved pavement, my KLR is seriously wonky if you exceed 85MPH. I've had it to about 105 a couple of times (in Uber-Ideal conditions) and it was not comfortable AT ALL at those speeds from a stability standpoint. The changes that would have to be made would make it a less capable off-road bike. In addition, you'd have to add better front suspension and a dual-disk setup up front to take care of the most important part of increased speed: increased stopping power. The KLR is absolutely no match for a Versys or a V-Strom on the street above 70MPH. The stability is NIGHT and DAY better, but then you've just gone and sacrificed what I love about the KLR, which is the ability to stomp around in the dirty stuff. That's why I just gave up and bought a DL1000 for freeways and touring, and kept the KLR for commuting and getting dirty. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Frey" < mike21b@... > To: "List KLR" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:02:04 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike Note that there is no XR650 on the UK site. What would we say if Kawasaki dumped the KLR for North America? < insert image of angry villagers with torches and pitchforks here > Mike > Honda does really sell crap in the US now. Back in the day, they were > the innovators and I wanted their whole lineup. Heck, I got Honda > certified on CBX's and V65's ..even the honda-matic was cool because > it was unique. We had CBX's that Honda gave to us for training. We all > wanted to buy them, but alas they wouldn't sell them. I still have > their promotional playing cards they gave us when we completed the > course. > > The good old days! > > Marc > > ________________________________ > From: Jeff Khoury < jeff@... > > To: Marc < marchaug2000@... > > Cc: Lourd Baltimore < lourd_baltimore@... > >; DSN KLR650 > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:17 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > The Europeans get all the nice bikes. > > At least they get all the ones that I like. > > Honda Hornet > > Yamaha MT-01 > > Heck, if you want your socks knocked off, just go to > http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/ and compare that lineup to the > absolute crap they sell here in the U.S. > > ________________________________ > > From: "Marc" < marchaug2000@... > > To: "Lourd Baltimore" < lourd_baltimore@... > >, "DSN KLR650" > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:57:00 AM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > Ohhhhh man I would buy that in a millisecond! Well if it wasn't 10k We > wouldn't have to pay that BS VAT. I do love twins. > > M > > ________________________________ > From: Lourd Baltimore < lourd_baltimore@... > > > To: " DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com " > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:22 AM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > Bert, > > If you're lucky and if you've been a good boy, Santa Klawski may > decide to bring the new W800 to the States. > They're selling them here in the UK already. > http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/W800 > > Looks beautiful even compared to a modern Bonnie. > It's lost the kick-start though. > > MCN review here: > http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-W800-2011-current/ > > Josh > . > > ________________________________ > From: BertL < bertloehrer@... > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 17:37 > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > I have been thinking about the W650 and the new unitized EFI Royal > Enfield 500 single. I have a 250 suzuki TU250 which looks like the > bikes I rode in the 70's. W650 has not been sold since 2001 and go > high on Ebay. Enfields still are questionable in quality and > expensive. Has anyone customized a KLR 650 to be a street bike with > lower seat? I would love a bike with that look with the KLR engine. > Bert > > __._,_. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Jul 21, 2011, at 5:48 PM, Jeff Khoury wrote: > ...or you could go the other way and mod the suspension on a Versys to make it more dirt worthy, like in post #5 of this thread. > > http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504693 > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Jeff Khoury" > To: "Mike Frey" > Cc: "List KLR" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:30:05 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > Re: KLE engine in the KLR > > I've seen some pictures of someone who has shoehorned one in after doing some frame mods, etc. > > While I think that it would be nice if the KLR was smoother at highway speed, a MAJOR change would have to be made to the frame and fork geometry to accommodate the increase in horsepower. As it is, the KLR's frame/suspension combo is just not stable at the speeds that would be attainable with that engine. > > With knobbies and grooved pavement, my KLR is seriously wonky if you exceed 85MPH. I've had it to about 105 a couple of times (in Uber-Ideal conditions) and it was not comfortable AT ALL at those speeds from a stability standpoint. > > The changes that would have to be made would make it a less capable off-road bike. In addition, you'd have to add better front suspension and a dual-disk setup up front to take care of the most important part of increased speed: increased stopping power. > > The KLR is absolutely no match for a Versys or a V-Strom on the street above 70MPH. The stability is NIGHT and DAY better, but then you've just gone and sacrificed what I love about the KLR, which is the ability to stomp around in the dirty stuff. That's why I just gave up and bought a DL1000 for freeways and touring, and kept the KLR for commuting and getting dirty. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Mike Frey" < mike21b@... > > To: "List KLR" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:02:04 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > Note that there is no XR650 on the UK site. > > What would we say if Kawasaki dumped the KLR for North America? > < insert image of angry villagers with torches and pitchforks here > > > Mike ...who would also love to see the 650R Ninja / Versys engine in a KLR > type chassis. > > On 7/21/2011 4:30 PM, Marc wrote: > > > > Honda does really sell crap in the US now. Back in the day, they were > > the innovators and I wanted their whole lineup. Heck, I got Honda > > certified on CBX's and V65's ..even the honda-matic was cool because > > it was unique. We had CBX's that Honda gave to us for training. We all > > wanted to buy them, but alas they wouldn't sell them. I still have > > their promotional playing cards they gave us when we completed the > > course. > > > > The good old days! > > > > Marc > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Jeff Khoury < jeff@... > > > To: Marc < marchaug2000@... > > > Cc: Lourd Baltimore < lourd_baltimore@... > > >; DSN KLR650 > > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:17 PM > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > > The Europeans get all the nice bikes. > > > > At least they get all the ones that I like. > > > > Honda Hornet > > > > Yamaha MT-01 > > > > Heck, if you want your socks knocked off, just go to > > http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/ and compare that lineup to the > > absolute crap they sell here in the U.S. > > > > ________________________________ > > > > From: "Marc" < marchaug2000@... > > > To: "Lourd Baltimore" < lourd_baltimore@... > > >, "DSN KLR650" > > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:57:00 AM > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > > > > Ohhhhh man I would buy that in a millisecond! Well if it wasn't 10k We > > wouldn't have to pay that BS VAT. I do love twins. > > > > M > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Lourd Baltimore < lourd_baltimore@... > > > > > To: " DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com " > > < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:22 AM > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > > > > Bert, > > > > If you're lucky and if you've been a good boy, Santa Klawski may > > decide to bring the new W800 to the States. > > They're selling them here in the UK already. > > http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/W800 > > > > Looks beautiful even compared to a modern Bonnie. > > It's lost the kick-start though. > > > > MCN review here: > > http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-W800-2011-current/ > > > > Josh > > . > > > > ________________________________ > > From: BertL < bertloehrer@... > > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 17:37 > > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR650 to retro styled 70,s street bike > > > > > > I have been thinking about the W650 and the new unitized EFI Royal > > Enfield 500 single. I have a 250 suzuki TU250 which looks like the > > bikes I rode in the 70's. W650 has not been sold since 2001 and go > > high on Ebay. Enfields still are questionable in quality and > > expensive. Has anyone customized a KLR 650 to be a street bike with > > lower seat? I would love a bike with that look with the KLR engine. > > Bert > > > > __._,_. > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]