fa: klr650 parts - 2000 model tank and side panels

[Hunter, Jonathan]

This isn't KLR specific related, but I am hoping some will lend advice for me. I currently have a '00 XT225 (anniversary gift, love it) and an '86 Honda Shadow (project bike, hate it). I am looking to sell the Shadow, as I am not into the cruiser bikes. I won't give up the Yammy because (A) I love it and (B) My wife purchased it for me with out a single bit of knowledge on my part. So, what I am looking for is a stable mate for the XT. Usage will be 80% commuting solo and 20% short touring trips two up. I love the KLR, but wouldn't use it to it's potential with the XT in the garage. I am still leaning toward using it as a road only bike, but it seems a shame. I also love the looks of the V-Strom, but fear it's out of my league (price and riding ability, being used to a 225). I don't care for cruisers, or full faired super sports. So far, the only bike that I have seen that I like the looks of is the Bandit 600. Any thoughts on the baby Bandit (I know the raves the 1200 receives)? Any recommendations on others to check out? I know this is vague, but thanks in advance for any advice. Regards, Jon Hunter

[KJ]

on 5/3/02 10:36 AM, Hunter, Jonathan at jonathan.hunter@... wrote:

> This isn't KLR specific related, but I am hoping some will lend advice for > me. I currently have a '00 XT225 (anniversary gift, love it) and an '86 > Honda Shadow (project bike, hate it). I am looking to sell the Shadow, as I > am not into the cruiser bikes. I won't give up the Yammy because (A) I love > it and (B) My wife purchased it for me with out a single bit of knowledge on > my part. > > So, what I am looking for is a stable mate for the XT. Usage will be 80% > commuting solo and 20% short touring trips two up. I love the KLR, but > wouldn't use it to it's potential with the XT in the garage. I am still > leaning toward using it as a road only bike, but it seems a shame. I also > love the looks of the V-Strom, but fear it's out of my league (price and > riding ability, being used to a 225). I don't care for cruisers, or full > faired super sports. So far, the only bike that I have seen that I like the > looks of is the Bandit 600. Any thoughts on the baby Bandit (I know the > raves the 1200 receives)? Any recommendations on others to check out? I > know this is vague, but thanks in advance for any advice. > > Regards, > Jon Hunter >

What about the SV650? If I didn't get the KLR the SV would be my street only choice. It's super light, water cooled, fairly cheep and has a following similar to the KLR, lots of after market stuff and knowledgeable owners. The little Bandit's cool too. Karl

[mnron2002]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., KJ wrote:

> on 5/3/02 10:36 AM, Hunter, Jonathan at jonathan.hunter@u... wrote: > > > This isn't KLR specific related, but I am hoping some will lend

advice for

> > me. I currently have a '00 XT225 (anniversary gift, love it) and

an '86

> > Honda Shadow (project bike, hate it). I am looking to sell the

Shadow, as I

> > am not into the cruiser bikes. I won't give up the Yammy because

(A) I love

> > it and (B) My wife purchased it for me with out a single bit of

knowledge on

> > my part. > > > > So, what I am looking for is a stable mate for the XT. Usage

will be 80%

> > commuting solo and 20% short touring trips two up. I love the

KLR, but

> > wouldn't use it to it's potential with the XT in the garage. I

am still

> > leaning toward using it as a road only bike, but it seems a

shame. I also

> > love the looks of the V-Strom, but fear it's out of my league

(price and

> > riding ability, being used to a 225). I don't care for cruisers,

or full

> > faired super sports. So far, the only bike that I have seen that

I like the

> > looks of is the Bandit 600. Any thoughts on the baby Bandit (I

know the

> > raves the 1200 receives)? Any recommendations on others to check

out? I

> > know this is vague, but thanks in advance for any advice. > > > > Regards, > > Jon Hunter > > > > > What about the SV650? If I didn't get the KLR the SV would be my

street

> only choice. It's super light, water cooled, fairly cheep and has a > following similar to the KLR, lots of after market stuff and

knowledgeable

> owners. The little Bandit's cool too. > > Karl

I second Karl's point. I actually looked at the SV when I got my KLR. But for two up, I like the V-Strom.... Ah what the heck do I know.... It's Friday and I need to ride..... MNRon

[gpokluda]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Hunter, Jonathan" wrote: I am still

> leaning toward using it as a road only bike, but it seems a shame.

I also

> love the looks of the V-Strom, but fear it's out of my league

(price and

> riding ability, being used to a 225). > Jon Hunter

Jon, While I am no expert... yet, I can tell you from first hand experience that so far, the V-Strom motor is one of the friendliest motors I have had the pleasure of twisting the throttle to. The bike has handling manners, especially at low speeds, that rival those of my W650. Patrick from City Bike just returned from an 1800+ mile flogging of the V-Strom through Death Valley for an upcoming evaluation of adventure tourers. This quote basiclly sums up what they thought... "...Tons of torque and, a very fast motorcycle that will shudder a lot if you whack it open below 4k rpm or so. All V-Twins shudder. V-Strom absolutely eat up 1150GS's in acceleration and was quicker in the twisties as well. Great brakes, nice firm and balanced suspension.." Overall the Tiger, Capo Nord, and GS could not keep up. Guess the DL1000 didn't get Rider Magazine's Motorcycle of the Year award for nothing. Gino

[Bert Fox, Nevada MGNOC rep]

I would stretch for the V Strom. You will grow into it and it will be far better at two up. The throttle thing does twist both ways:>) Bert Fox --- KJ wrote:

> on 5/3/02 10:36 AM, Hunter, Jonathan at > jonathan.hunter@... wrote: > > > This isn't KLR specific related, but I am hoping > some will lend advice for > > me. I currently have a '00 XT225 (anniversary > gift, love it) and an '86 > > Honda Shadow (project bike, hate it). I am > looking to sell the Shadow, as I > > am not into the cruiser bikes. I won't give up > the Yammy because (A) I love > > it and (B) My wife purchased it for me with out a > single bit of knowledge on > > my part. > > > > So, what I am looking for is a stable mate for the > XT. Usage will be 80% > > commuting solo and 20% short touring trips two up. > I love the KLR, but > > wouldn't use it to it's potential with the XT in > the garage. I am still > > leaning toward using it as a road only bike, but > it seems a shame. I also > > love the looks of the V-Strom, but fear it's out > of my league (price and > > riding ability, being used to a 225). I don't > care for cruisers, or full > > faired super sports. So far, the only bike that I > have seen that I like the > > looks of is the Bandit 600. Any thoughts on the > baby Bandit (I know the > > raves the 1200 receives)? Any recommendations on > others to check out? I > > know this is vague, but thanks in advance for any > advice. > > > > Regards, > > Jon Hunter > > > > > What about the SV650? If I didn't get the KLR the > SV would be my street > only choice. It's super light, water cooled, fairly > cheep and has a > following similar to the KLR, lots of after market > stuff and knowledgeable > owners. The little Bandit's cool too. > > Karl > > >

===== Life is an adventure meant to be ridden on two wheels... BMW F650GS BMW R1100GS Kawasaki KLR650 Moto Guzzi Quota 1100ES __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com

[mnron2002]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "gpokluda" wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Hunter, Jonathan" > wrote: > I am still > > leaning toward using it as a road only bike, but it seems a

shame.

> I also > > love the looks of the V-Strom, but fear it's out of my league > (price and > > riding ability, being used to a 225). > > Jon Hunter > > Jon, While I am no expert... yet, I can tell you from first hand > experience that so far, the V-Strom motor is one of the friendliest > motors I have had the pleasure of twisting the throttle to. The

bike

> has handling manners, especially at low speeds, that rival those of > my W650. > > Patrick from City Bike just returned from an 1800+ mile flogging of > the V-Strom through Death Valley for an upcoming evaluation of > adventure tourers. This quote basiclly sums up what they thought... > > "...Tons of torque and, a very fast motorcycle that will shudder a > lot if you > whack it open below 4k rpm or so. All V-Twins shudder. V-Strom > absolutely eat up 1150GS's in acceleration and was quicker in the > twisties as well. Great brakes, nice firm and balanced suspension.." > > Overall the Tiger, Capo Nord, and GS could not keep up. Guess the > DL1000 didn't get Rider Magazine's Motorcycle of the Year award for > nothing. > > Gino

Gino, I'm anxiously waiting for YOUR evaluation of the bike. If Suzuki had built an SV1000, (a bigger SV650) I might have jumped. As it is, I'm planning to ride the KLR until the DL's bugs are shaken out. Will be doing a two-up bike in a couple of years.... MNRon

[Hunter, Jonathan]

Thank you for all the replies so far. I am always amazed at how willing to help the members of this discussion group are. Enough with the mush. Up until 10 minutes ago, I thought the SV650 was only available as a standard. I looked at the Suzuki web page and saw the SV650S. That is a nice looking bike and I am definitely going to take a good look at it. Also thanks for the encouragement towards the DL. That is still one of the highest on my list, just have to find a way to pay for it. I am not really into making payments, but if I buy a lesser bike now, and take a loss on it in a year or two, then it might not be worth it. I would also like to eventually do more two up riding, and I see a DL as an advantage there. I am planning a trip to the dealer tomorrow to look at both the SV and DL. Thanks for the advice. I look forward to anymore discussion people want spend on this. Another question - in comparing the SV and the little Bandit, am I correct in assuming the V twin would provide more low end torque than the four cyl, therefore making it better for two up riding? Has there ever been a comparison between them? Thanks again for all the info. Regards, Jon Hunter

[Lujo Bauer]

I'd go for it too. My dealer has a new sales guy who's been offering a test ride. I haven't gone on one yet because I don't know if I'll be able to stop myself from buying the bike if I do. -Lujo

> I would stretch for the V Strom. You will grow into it > and it will be far better at two up. The throttle > thing does twist both ways:>) > > Bert Fox

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

[Gord Mounce]

They built it before the SV - it's the TL1000.

> Gino, I'm anxiously waiting for YOUR evaluation of the bike. If > Suzuki had built an SV1000, (a bigger SV650) I might have jumped. As > it is, I'm planning to ride the KLR until the DL's bugs are shaken > out. Will be doing a two-up bike in a couple of years.... > > MNRon

[Bert Fox, Nevada MGNOC rep]

My biggest disappointment with the V Strom is the low alternator output. I have struggled with that on my Quota and it is a big deal. If one wants to have elec grips,& the ability to use elec clothing to extend your riding season and or safety, then it is a major mistake on Suzuki's part. The latest mag test show 350 watts output. The KLR has 275 for pete's sake. The F650 has close to 500 and the big GS puts out a whopping 700 watts and most of that at idle. Don't forget that the new Fuel Injected bikes,ala DL1000 have a much higher demand on output as well for the electronic engine management. Not too mention that most adventure touring bikes eventually encompass some sort of driving lights as well. Also that kind of rider may want to power a GPS or a cell phone, even a laptop for a global rider. Why did Suzuki not deal with that at inception? I went to the Long Beach show just to look at the DL1000. The guys at the booth couldn't answer my questions. I had a deposit on one, but backed out early on because I wasn't sure Suzuki was really serious. If they were, they would've had bags on it at release time as well. I will keep my 99 R1100GS as my big bore long range touring bike. You can buy them used in excellent shape still under warranty for about what a DL1000 cost and they are much more complete, at least for now. IMHO My .02 on the V Strom. Sorry, Gino :>) Bert Fox Elko, NV ===== Life is an adventure meant to be ridden on two wheels... BMW F650GS BMW R1100GS Kawasaki KLR650 Moto Guzzi Quota 1100ES __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com