nklr 2005 kawasaki concours for sale shortly

[kaloonak]

On May 12, 2006, at 10:39 AM, Bogdan Swider wrote:

> For many of you > however - Cal Stu, Jud and Ron C to name a few - the over ridding > concern is > the planet.

I guess I feel hybrid cars are a bit of an eco-scam. The enviro costs of production and the energy consumed in earning $30k to purchase them and then the environmental cost of disposing of that car all combine to make them pretty much eco-nonsense. I feel this way even though I probably am what most people would call a greeny too.... In terms of reduce/re-use/recycle one must remember that reduction of use is the largest gain. Jim

[E.L. Green]

Just giving folks here first crack at my other bike (I'm keeping my KLR, thank you!): 2005 Kawasaki Concours, 6 months old, 4500 miles, 2 1/2 years remaining on factory warranty, located in Santa Clara, CA (South SF Bay area). Most miles came on one long trip to Canada, at which point I discovered that my knees are too bad to take long trips on a sport-touring motorcycle. A shame, because this bike puts a grin on my face every time I ride it -- it rides like an overweight vintage Ninja 900 sportbike (which it is), it loves the twisties and the 100 horsepower engine howls for blood over 5500 rpm, yet it is far more comfortable than a sportbike and with its maintenance-free shaft drive and spacious luggage will happily take you a thousand miles in a day with no problem. Like new (heck, it *is* new!), never been down, meticulously serviced by an anal owner who has always fed it synthetic 5w40 oil (has synthetic gear oil in the rear hub too), many extras (tipover bars, Givi top-plate, heated grips, heated vest socket, side cover gnurled knobs, NGK platinum spark plugs, NGK spark plug wire sockets), original tires still work great and have another 3,000+ miles left on them. Was stored this winter rainy season with the fuel tank filled with fuel-stabilized gas and the battery on a battery tender, now is ridden at least once a week to keep the battery charged and the bike in good running condition. Will optionally throw in a rather battered Givi E360 topbox to fit the Givi top-plate. Servicable, albeit a bit ugly due to an encounter with a bear. (On another bike, not on the Concours, which has never been down). There's also a couple of other accessories not currently installed because I no longer ride the bike long distances thus prefer it in its more sportbike-like original configuration -- a larger windshield, and handlebar risers. Asking $6200. Do *NOT* ask for a test ride unless you show up on another 650 pound bike with proof of full-coverage insurance -- the Concours handles its weight well (I regularly put smaller bikes to shame whipping it around in parking lots or doing u-turns on two-lane streets), but it is a big somewhat top-heavy sport-touring bike and I don't care whether you have been riding 200 pound dirt bikes since you were ten years old, you're not riding until I have money or insurance papers for a similar-sized bike in hand. Current title status: Paid off. Waiting for lien release form from lender. Certified letter sent to lender on May 12, 2006. Under California law, if the lender does not respond within 30 days after the certified letter is sent, the bike can be re-titled by filing a defective title bond with the DMV. (costs $100, issued by a title bond company which will ask for proof that the lender was paid, which can be provided, and the bond company then assumes all risk that the lender will try to exercise any liens). Thus any actual transfer of money, bike, and title will not be doable until release comes from lender or June 11, whichever happens first. -E

[Jim]

Hybrids are a VERY big scam. As an auto tech, and someone who has already had a bit of hands-on experience with the mechanicals of a hybrid, they just don't make sense. First, the EPA window sticker numbers are nowhere near accurate. Our company owns a Toyota Highlander hybrid, which is rated aprox. 29-32 mpg. The woman who drives it every day actually averages 23-24. O.K., so you might save a few gallons of fuel over a non-hybrid (around 20 mpg), but you then have to factor in maintenance. The battery pack in a Highlander costs around $7000 and is rated for about 5 years. A friend who is a Toyota tech says they expect much less time out of them. Then when you do need work done, you need to find a qualified dealer. Not all Toyota (or Honda, etc.) are qualified to work on a hybrid, and you may have to travel several hundred miles for basic maintenance or repairs. I consider myself a true environmentalist. No, not a Sierra Club- Earth First-Greenpeace econazi, but a real, practice what you preach environmentalist. I own a 3/4 ton Dodge diesel 4x4 that gets 22-25 mpg, and can still haul a load, tow a trailer, and be useful. Compare that to someone driving a 20 mpg Rav-4 that can barely get the groceries home. Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "kaloonak" wrote: > > On May 12, 2006, at 10:39 AM, Bogdan Swider wrote: > > For many of you > > however - Cal Stu, Jud and Ron C to name a few - the over ridding > > concern is > > the planet. > > I guess I feel hybrid cars are a bit of an eco-scam. The enviro costs > of production and the energy consumed in earning $30k to purchase them > and then the environmental cost of disposing of that car all combine > to make them pretty much eco-nonsense. I feel this way even though I > probably am what most people would call a greeny too.... In terms of > reduce/re-use/recycle one must remember that reduction of use is the > largest gain. > > Jim >