pitt bull bites klr while doing wheelie with a bad doohickey al

[Mike Frey]

Does anyone on list have any experience with both bikes? Care to write a comparison between the two? On road, off road, dirt road, etc. Mike

[Alan L Henderson]

Mike Frey wrote:

> Does anyone on list have any experience with both bikes? Care to write a > comparison between the two? On road, off road, dirt road, etc. > > Mike >

You might try a personal note to Tim at Happy Trails. The last time I saw him he was on a KLR and his Wife was on a f650. He used to be active on the list but has probably gotten to busy to participate. Alan Henderson A13 Iowa

[dirk@bikerider.com]

I'm not much of an off-roader, but my wife is learning to ride her 2003 F650 and I'm required to ride it for "maintenance purposes". If I only had one word to compare the F650 and KLR, it would be "plush". Everything on the bike is nice, and fit and finish on this one is superb in comparison. It has more power than the KLR and better brakes, including ABS. The front suspension is a little mushy, to my tastes, and aftermarket suspension is more expensive than for the KLR, but the remote preload knob for the rear is nice for quick changes when carrying a passenger or after unloading heavy luggage, etc. The dash area is considerably more fancy-pants with digital clock and odometer/trip meter. It seems that BMW also used something sturdier than compressed oatmeal for the nuts and bolts, a nice touch. Handling is about equal to the KLR, although I might give a slight edge to the KLR for being particularly well set up in this area, in spite of the big gas tank way up high. The F650 has the fuel tank under the seat making for nice low CG, but for some reason the KLR just handles more precisely for me. Overall, there's no question in my mind where the extra money goes when you buy an F650. The thing is beautiful, well thought out, and of high quality. I'd only let someone with MUCH better off-road skills than I have ride it in the dirt, though. I'd be terrified to crash it. The KLR just gets better looking with battle scars... Dirk Quoting Mike Frey :

> Does anyone on list have any experience with both bikes? Care to write a > comparison between the two? On road, off road, dirt road, etc. > > Mike > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[Rob Lefebvre]

How is the vibration on the F650 vs the KLR? Do you look for 6th gear every time you get on the slab with the F650? Is first gear low enough for trails? Thanks, Rob ________________________________ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com on behalf of dirk@... Sent: Thu 5/12/2005 1:24 PM To: KLR List Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR-650 compared to BMW F650GS I'm not much of an off-roader, but my wife is learning to ride her 2003 F650 and I'm required to ride it for "maintenance purposes". If I only had one word to compare the F650 and KLR, it would be "plush". Everything on the bike is nice, and fit and finish on this one is superb in comparison. It has more power than the KLR and better brakes, including ABS. The front suspension is a little mushy, to my tastes, and aftermarket suspension is more expensive than for the KLR, but the remote preload knob for the rear is nice for quick changes when carrying a passenger or after unloading heavy luggage, etc. The dash area is considerably more fancy-pants with digital clock and odometer/trip meter. It seems that BMW also used something sturdier than compressed oatmeal for the nuts and bolts, a nice touch. Handling is about equal to the KLR, although I might give a slight edge to the KLR for being particularly well set up in this area, in spite of the big gas tank way up high. The F650 has the fuel tank under the seat making for nice low CG, but for some reason the KLR just handles more precisely for me. Overall, there's no question in my mind where the extra money goes when you buy an F650. The thing is beautiful, well thought out, and of high quality. I'd only let someone with MUCH better off-road skills than I have ride it in the dirt, though. I'd be terrified to crash it. The KLR just gets better looking with battle scars... Dirk Quoting Mike Frey :

> Does anyone on list have any experience with both bikes? Care to write a > comparison between the two? On road, off road, dirt road, etc. > > Mike > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest]

I have both. My wife's bike is an F650GS and I picked up a KLR for myself about a week ago. (She got tired of me riding her bike). I would say, both bikes are comparable in most respects. My KLR has upgraded springs and rear shock, so it's much better off road than the BMW. The BMW will hold it's own on offroad, but it's no dirtbike and it sure does suck when you drop a bike that costs twice as much as the KLR. The BMW is a more refined bike and I don't notice the BUZZ on it as much as I do on the KLR, but I don't think it's worth twice the price as a KLR. What I like most about the KLR is the cost of ownership. I recently had to order a clutch lever for the BMW. It was $90 compared to a $10 part on the KLR. YMMV. Pete --- Mike Frey wrote:

> Does anyone on list have any experience with both > bikes? Care to write a > comparison between the two? On road, off road, dirt > road, etc. > > Mike > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: >

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html

> List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: > www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: > www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > >

[John Kokola]

There are a number of "KLR vs. F650" threads on advrider.com, thumpertalk.com, sport-touring.net, etc. Then there are sites like this one: http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/F650HistoryDifferences.htm#Comparisons%20to%20other%20Similar%20Bikes or http://makeashorterlink.com/?R1322111B My quick summary: the KLR is "more better" off-road than the F650 is better on-road, much as a Jeep CJ would be vs. a Range Rover. Oh yeah ... regarding the quote below: the KLR is lighter. --John Kokola -----Original Message----- From: dirk@... The F650 has the fuel tank under the seat making for nice low CG, but for some reason the KLR just handles more precisely for me.

[Mike Peplinski]

I'm going to jump in before looking at all the other posts; KLR VS GS650; 40HP vs 50HP; KLR is about 50#lighter; KLR taller than GS by a couple inches, Doohickey, frame bolts vs fuel injection (wasn't there some engine gasket problems)problems, GS a better road bike because of extra weight; $5g's vs $8g's, fairly shoddy Kawasaki dealer network vs arrogant BMW (not all). Things in common; great looks (gnarly), great dual purposel bikes, high durability, outstanding aftermarket parts, both have an outstanding net support group, but the KLR's membership is much smarter. Why would anyone want to spend 60% more for 10HP?

>From: Mike Frey >To: KLR List DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] KLR-650 compared to BMW F650GS >Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 13:53:15 -0400 > >Does anyone on list have any experience with both bikes? Care to write a >comparison between the two? On road, off road, dirt road, etc. > >Mike > > > > >Archive Quicksearch at: >http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

[dirk@bikerider.com]

Well, it's still a single, but the vibration is certainly less than on my KLR, especially at speed on the road. I've hunted for the missing top gear on the Beemer, but it happens less frequently than on the KLR. Overall, the thing feels smoother which, as another lister pointed out, could be in part from the extra weight the BMW packs on. With the weight down low, it feels lighter than it is, I think, but the handling is still slower than the KLR. As for first gear, I don't THINK it would be a problem but I'm really not much of an off-roader (although I'd love to get good at riding dirt...) and can't say for sure. I know that first gear pulls pretty hard and isn't too tall, though, which might qualify. I've seen some pretty spectacular press photos of the GS off-road, but I imagine they wouldn't sell too many if they featured pictures of a guy by the side of the trail trying to fashion a clutch lever out of a vice grips and with a busted mirror stalk hanging out of his back pocket... I'm hoping someone who's ridden a 650GS off-road will chime in... Dirk Quoting Rob Lefebvre :

> How is the vibration on the F650 vs the KLR? Do you look for 6th gear every > time you get on the slab with the F650? Is first gear low enough for trails? > > Thanks, > > > > Rob > >

[Mike Peplinski]

Now, someone has way too much time on their hands. A little bored are we?

>From: >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Pitt Bull bites KLR while doing wheelie with a bad >doohickey ala WD-40 >Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 21:29:25 -0700 (PDT) > >nuf said > > > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >Make Yahoo! your home page >http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > >Archive Quicksearch at: >http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >