best birthday i've ever had

[CA Stu]

So, the day after Christmas I bought a used KTM 950. Got a smoking deal. So far, here is a history of what has happened: 1) front and rear tires both put on rims backwards by PO. I turned the front rim around, put a fresh tire on the rear, facing the right way. 2) First ride with one of my son's friend's Dad (who has a brand new 990) I got a front flat. No punctures, just lost pressure through the valve stem. 3) First day I rode it to work, I got a speeding ticket. 4) First trip out of town, 150 miles from home and 65 miles from camp, the clutch slave cylinder failed totally. Went to camp anyway, friendly guy loaned me the part off his bike so I could make it home (he had trailered his bike there). 5) Bike is now in the shop, hopefully the warranty will cover the clutch slave cylinder. Of course, the part will take a few days to be shipped in. Also, it needs a new chain and both sprockets replaced. ($$$$) And to add insult to injury, I thought I'd ride the KLR to work yesterday, the battery is stone dead. But wait! There's more!!! I live on a little hill, I thought I could bumpstart it, but NOOOOOOOO, it's really really dead. I had to push it back up the hill in my gear in the sun, got to work 1/2 hour late and plenty sweaty. So I leave it on the charger overnight, this morning I put the seat and tailbag back on in somewhat of a hurry, got ready to ride in and when I turned the key, nothing. I think in my haste I disconnected the wire under the seat when I put the seat back on. So I barely skated into work on time today, and my KLR is still sitting in my shop at home. We had a good thing going for almost 10 years now, I'm going to stop on the way home and buy my KLR some flowers and see if we can work this out. Thanks CA Stu

[Lee Dodge]

Flowers will be good but nothing beats a sincere apology and . . and your renouncing the mistress. It's hard to keep these things under control there is a vast KLR network . . .and they talk to one another. Best of luck, Lee Dodge CA Stu wrote: So, the day after Christmas I bought a used KTM 950. Got a smoking deal. So far, here is a history of what has happened: 1) front and rear tires both put on rims backwards by PO. I turned the front rim around, put a fresh tire on the rear, facing the right way. 2) First ride with one of my son's friend's Dad (who has a brand new 990) I got a front flat. No punctures, just lost pressure through the valve stem. 3) First day I rode it to work, I got a speeding ticket. 4) First trip out of town, 150 miles from home and 65 miles from camp, the clutch slave cylinder failed totally. Went to camp anyway, friendly guy loaned me the part off his bike so I could make it home (he had trailered his bike there). 5) Bike is now in the shop, hopefully the warranty will cover the clutch slave cylinder. Of course, the part will take a few days to be shipped in. Also, it needs a new chain and both sprockets replaced. ($$$$) And to add insult to injury, I thought I'd ride the KLR to work yesterday, the battery is stone dead. But wait! There's more!!! I live on a little hill, I thought I could bumpstart it, but NOOOOOOOO, it's really really dead. I had to push it back up the hill in my gear in the sun, got to work 1/2 hour late and plenty sweaty. So I leave it on the charger overnight, this morning I put the seat and tailbag back on in somewhat of a hurry, got ready to ride in and when I turned the key, nothing. I think in my haste I disconnected the wire under the seat when I put the seat back on. So I barely skated into work on time today, and my KLR is still sitting in my shop at home. We had a good thing going for almost 10 years now, I'm going to stop on the way home and buy my KLR some flowers and see if we can work this out. Thanks CA Stu [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[CA Stu]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Lee Dodge wrote:

> > Flowers will be good but nothing beats a sincere apology and . . and

your renouncing the mistress. It's hard to keep these things under control there is a vast KLR network . . .and they talk to one another.

> Best of luck, > Lee Dodge >

I hear ya Lee, but the 950 will do some things my KLR won't. Like go 110 mph. Like leave 30 yard powerslides. Like roost rocks the size of baseballs. Like go over ruts at 50 that, on my KLR, would knock fillings out of my teeth at 25mph. I'm a man who needs those things. I'm sorry, but I can't deny my nature. I'm hoping, with the right amount of love and sincerity, we can work things out in some kind of quasi-FLDS polygamist arrangement that doesn't involve Texas and the FBI. Thanks CA Stu PS She never did this when I brought a Tiger 1050 into our relationship.

[fasteddiecopeman]

Stu, You wanna be SURE - buy your KLR some REALLY decadent chocolates too! Ed ;>)

> > We had a good thing going for almost 10 years now, I'm going to stop > on the way home and buy my KLR some flowers and see if we can work > this out. > > > Thanks > CA Stu >

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

Reminds me of my Vespa days push starting down the hill (as I ineptly stripped the kickstarter teeth by letting it get too loose). But anyway, Vespas also don't start too well as I later discovered fouling plugs either with the kickstarter or pushing downhill. Once after pushing back up the hill numerous times with no start, I put her in neutral and let her go down the hill with a groovy crash as a result. Then I kicked it real hard hurting my foot (again and again). I once entertained getting a Honda XR 650 R like you also ride Stu but my right knee isn't real crazy about kick starters any more at 62 years old. Plus everybody I talked to about that bike said the planets had to be perfectly aligned for that bike to start. Never could figure why Honda didn't equip it with electric start , lights and dual sport it. Seems like it would have been the ultimate dual sport. I rode with a group last weekend and a guy had one of those 450 V twin Aprilla dual sports and it was way cool and sounded great. Almost like a 2 stroke. But it is Italian. I understand the 550 of the same bike, the engines are crapping out. I wish the Japanese would make something like that. Keep us posted on the KTM. Sure were a bunch of KTM's of all kinds with us last weekend, but the ultimate peasant bike (KLR) was in force far outnumbering everyone else. Criswell

On May 2, 2008, at 1:58 PM, CA Stu wrote: > So, the day after Christmas I bought a used KTM 950. > Got a smoking deal. > > So far, here is a history of what has happened: > > 1) front and rear tires both put on rims backwards by PO. I turned the > front rim around, put a fresh tire on the rear, facing the right way. > > 2) First ride with one of my son's friend's Dad (who has a brand new > 990) I got a front flat. No punctures, just lost pressure through the > valve stem. > > 3) First day I rode it to work, I got a speeding ticket. > > 4) First trip out of town, 150 miles from home and 65 miles from camp, > the clutch slave cylinder failed totally. Went to camp anyway, > friendly guy loaned me the part off his bike so I could make it home > (he had trailered his bike there). > > 5) Bike is now in the shop, hopefully the warranty will cover the > clutch slave cylinder. Of course, the part will take a few days to be > shipped in. Also, it needs a new chain and both sprockets replaced. > ($$$$) > > And to add insult to injury, I thought I'd ride the KLR to work > yesterday, the battery is stone dead. But wait! There's more!!! > I live on a little hill, I thought I could bumpstart it, but > NOOOOOOOO, it's really really dead. I had to push it back up the hill > in my gear in the sun, got to work 1/2 hour late and plenty sweaty. > So I leave it on the charger overnight, this morning I put the seat > and tailbag back on in somewhat of a hurry, got ready to ride in and > when I turned the key, nothing. > I think in my haste I disconnected the wire under the seat when I put > the seat back on. > So I barely skated into work on time today, and my KLR is still > sitting in my shop at home. > > We had a good thing going for almost 10 years now, I'm going to stop > on the way home and buy my KLR some flowers and see if we can work > this out. > > Thanks > CA Stu > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[guymanbro@excite.com]

Okay okay so I was about 2 weeks too late to see the historic Dewey bridge still intact and about 2 months to early for the Canyonlands Motor Classic and this post is about 4 weeks after the fact.... BUT I had one of the most memorable birthdays of my life this year. I had the good fortune of being able to ride with Fred (the infamous) in his home turf in mid-April. I was staying with family in Colorado and when they asked whaty I wanted to do for my birthday, I told 'em I wanted to ride my KLR to Moab - so I did. I met up with Fred and a couple other riders in Rabbit Valley, CO on Saturday 4/12 and we rode for a couple a few hours on some beautiful single track. There were a few technical sections where I was able to entertain the red bike riders with my KLR off-roading. One particular hill climb, I didn't quite make it and got bucked by the beast. I landed on my feet but being at an altitudinal disadvantage to the locals I had to take a breather. They came to my aid, mostly because I was too out of breath to say, "I just need to catch my breath." Fred arrived from the top of the hill while the other two riders arrived from the bottom. Fred instantly asks, "Sooo what's the verdict?" Still out of breath I replied something like "MMphrrrmphhh." He then asked if my KLR carb was still stock and I replied, "Yeah and so is the gearing..." He just shook and his head and it was decided that I would not attempt the hill again. Coasting the KLR back down to the other two riders, I felt a bit of shame. When they got back down to their bikes one of them told me, "I'm kinda glad you didn't make, cuz I wasn't sure I would." The shame lifted as I looked around at the bikes they were riding, an XR400 and a CRF450X. I am also trying to learn not to push so hard when I am a long way from home - especially since I'm still recovering from my fall during the LA-B-2-V ride last November. It's a slow learning curve for me. In the middle of another hillclimb, this one with cinder blocks strewn about mostly in the corners, my clutch faded and I got to doa little dance the rest of the way up the hill with the KLR leading most of the time. I made it though, and still on the bike, even it was just barely. the rest of the gang, including Fred, got a good laugh out of that one. After riding we topped off the day with some good old fashioned target practice. The next day I met Fred at his shop and we rode the White Rim trail. At the end of the day we had ridden almost 150 miles and most of that was dirt. Awe inspiring views all day long (though most of the time I was just looking at the dust cloud from Fred's CRF450X trying to keep it in sight). Riding the White Rim trail is an incredible experience. Riding it with Fred is unforgettable. His knowledge of the formations and of the area make trail side stops educational and entertaining. He can talk a lot for such a quiet guy. ;')So anyway... Thanks for a great time Fred. (as seen on bathroom stalls everywhere)da Vermonster _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[CA Stu]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@..." wrote:

> > Reminds me of my Vespa days push starting down the hill (as I ineptly > stripped the kickstarter teeth by letting it get too loose). But > anyway, Vespas also don't start too well as I later discovered > fouling plugs either with the kickstarter or pushing downhill. Once > after pushing back up the hill numerous times with no start, I put > her in neutral and let her go down the hill with a groovy crash as a > result. Then I kicked it real hard hurting my foot (again and again). > > I once entertained getting a Honda XR 650 R like you also ride Stu > but my right knee isn't real crazy about kick starters any more at 62 > years old. Plus everybody I talked to about that bike said the > planets had to be perfectly aligned for that bike to start. Never > could figure why Honda didn't equip it with electric start , lights > and dual sport it. Seems like it would have been the ultimate dual > sport. I rode with a group last weekend and a guy had one of those > 450 V twin Aprilla dual sports and it was way cool and sounded great. > Almost like a 2 stroke. But it is Italian. I understand the 550 of > the same bike, the engines are crapping out. I wish the Japanese > would make something like that. Keep us posted on the KTM. Sure were > a bunch of KTM's of all kinds with us last weekend, but the ultimate > peasant bike (KLR) was in force far outnumbering everyone else. > > Criswell

Great to hear from you, Ron! Funnily enough, after reading Tumu's post, you and I rode the White Rim together a few years back, remember? I sold that XR650R a couple of years ago. I lost a large part of my home riding area to a tract of McMansions. No more out the garage and onto a huge riding area, and I never rode it that much after that. Plus, I wanted a Tiger. Take it easy, Thanks CA Stu PS See you at Moab this year?