klr brake opinion

[sheldon weaver]

someone posted this to an xs650 list(hey eric in pa) that i lurk on. i thought it was pretty funny: "I test-rode several new Kawasaki's last Sunday in Calgary. The bright orange Z1000 still has me grinning. The ugly green KLR650 did nothing for me, and I'm an old fart who really likes singles and dual purpose bikes. The one thing I did appreciate was the braking option the bike offers. The rider could use the standard single disc at each end in an effort to retard forward momentum, or the rider could drag his feet. Either way wouldstop the bike equally well." btw, on the david gay thing, it's nice to see that you guys are as generous with your money as you are with your klr advice. i'm inspired to send a check. back to lurking, sheldon a15 (for sale) lancaster/philly, pa --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Dan Pauley]

> typical tale of a dealer trying to sell me a bike that was miles beyond my ability. Time and > time again I've been pitched on liter class supersports as being just fine for a beginner > 'just as long as you control yourself'. It's a subject that even though I don't currently > ride I sort of crusade about.

I do not share your feelings about new or younger riders bikes being limited in their purchase choice by size or HP. I grew up in IL and was limited to 150 cc for the first two year. Which I violated after the first 6 months. Was caught once. Explained to the officer how my 125 would not safely keep up with traffic. Since it was a No offence 100% spot check, I was not ticketed. (I was respectful and had all the other paperwork, insurance, registration etc.) I might could agree that motorcycle safety training be a "requirement" for getting your license. Rhode Island does business like that. You want your motorcycle endorcement, they lady at the DMV points to a sign that has a phone number for the rider safety class. Bring back a completion certificate and they stamp your license with a motorcycle endorcement. No further test or skill evaluation. I think dealers have enough to worry about. They are in business for money. A good dealer will try to make long term customers. Part of what the dealer said is true. A liter class super sport is a good first bike. It has stable torque and the new rider will respect it. I have been lucky enough to know of two dealers who lost sales because they refused to sell a sport bike to a young man. Razee in RI, and Mid Ohio here in Mt. Vernon OH. Both time young kid bouncing up & down on the seat of a 600 sport bike, hat cocked on backwards and daddy with his check book open. Both times the sold the young man a used bike on the agreement they would buy it back in one year for 100% if trading up to the sport bike. Both dealers always provide a card with contact numbers for the local MSF training site. The bottom line is they risk loosing a sale for the sake of safer motorcycling. A very honorable thing to do. That said, I would not think any rule or law would help to prevent new riders from doing stoopid things with a new bike. I did stoopid things with my little 125 and even a few with the 750. I was 16, I was supposed to be stoopid. Didn't wanna let the world down..... Now would the KLR make a great first bike? Yes. But it would also make a great 15th bike. Of recent my 650 is getting more time in the garage and I'm loving the KLR250. Forks and wheel bearing complete last night, woo hoo.. Mucho bettar Dan / \