new bike

[Ross Lindberg]

After much deliberation I think I have talked myself into purchasing another bike to compliment my KLR. I have a 22 year old daughter who got into motorcycling late last summer and rides a Yamaha TTR125. I bought her all the off-road protective gear we could find, and she is having great fun learning to ride her new bike. She is rather cautious, which is a good thing. We have talked about going to some of the State Parks and riding area here in Minnesota and doing some trail riding together. My future son-in-law is an accomplished motocross racer and brings her to the practice track so she can ride too. It is kind of cute to watch. The good riders race around for 30 - 45 minutes, then all take a break so Lisa can ride. She rides the entire course in first or second gear going over all the jumps, but not catching any air. Sometimes her fiance Steve rides beside her giving her pointers. I actually took my KLR out for a couple of laps, but being a top-heavy bike and an inseam challenged rider, we were not a very good combination. Lisa and I spent an afternoon looking at bikes for me. Steve recommended a YZF450. I told him that at age 41 I'm not into a death- wish machine. I just want a lightweight comfortable bike that Lisa and I can go plunking around with, and one that I can use to improve my dirt riding skills with. After looking at the Honda CRF230, the Yamaha TTR230 and the new street legal WR250, and the Kawasaki KLX250, I am leaning very heavily towards the KLX. The WR was just too high for me to handle comfortably. The KLX is a bit tall for my 29 inch inseam, but I think it will do the job I'm asking of it. I'm 6 feet tall, 250 lbs and the only concern I have is will the KLX have enough power to pull me around. After 2 ruptured disks in my low back 14 years ago, my jumping days are over. An additional attraction is that the KLX is street legal. It's 100 miles one-way to the track where they ride and givin the price of fuel, hauling 1 bike down to meet them is getting very expensive. Does anyone have any thoughts on my choice or experience with the KLX? Also, what type of riding gear would you guys reccoment for trail riding and some relaxed track riding? Ross Lindberg Fertile, MN

[Bob Monahan]

Ross, I'm a died in the wool fan of the KLR650 but here in North Florida many of our back roads are sandy and loose sand can quickly take ALL the fun out of riding a KLR. I recently purchased a used KLX250S and was immediately very impressed. It's extremely nimble and light and takes the "sugar sand" roads and trails with none of the tendencies to wash out the front tire like the KLR seems hell bent on doing. I consider it to be a great addition to my KLR in my stable and it gets ridden on most rides that are expected to be on back roads or trails. Power is anemic in comparison to the KLR but it hauls my 5'11" 235 pound frame around quite well once I got used to the fact that it operates at much higher revs than the KLR. It will cruise effortlessly at 75 MPH but if you encounter a head wind or hilly terrain you'll quickly find that your speed will drop and you'll be back in 5th gear to get back to speed. The KLX bikes have one fatal flaw that will drive you crazy though... The gas tank is rated at 1.9 gallons but mine only holds about 1.75 gallons (including reserve) and that get's me just a little over a hundred miles before it needs refueling. There are bigger aftermarket tanks available for them and I suggest that you'll end up pushing it a couple of times in the first month or so of riding and will be as astounded at how quickly this FUN machine will drain that tank and leave you stranded. I'm considering an aftermarket tank but am reluctant to destroy the super slim lines and ultra light handling of this bike. The KLR and it's huge gas tank has me spoiled! Other than that it's pretty easy to get used to 60-65mpg considering today's gas prices and a bike that is both quiet and easy to ride and doesn't require much heavy grunting in the dirt like the KLR is prone to need. I'm very happy I bought mine and wouldn't trade it for the world and think it complements my KLR perfectly. OH.. As far as riding gear goes I'm a bad one to ask. I wear my Joe Rocket fully padded mesh jacket ALL the time I ride as well as a Nolan 102 helmet and lightweight leather gloves with jeans. They seem to work fine but there are other alternatives for the fashion conscious and those that understand trail riding better than I. I hope this helps. $bob$ An additional attraction is that the KLX is street legal. It's 100 miles one-way to the track where they ride and givin the price of fuel, hauling 1 bike down to meet them is getting very expensive. Does anyone have any thoughts on my choice or experience with the KLX? Also, what type of riding gear would you guys reccoment for trail riding and some relaxed track riding? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

I'd go with the KLX 250. A friend had one (who is very savvy) and raved about it. He just sold it as he is so busy and didn't get to ride it much. He has 2 or 3 other bikes. I went riding with a bunch of KLR 'ers on fire roads in South east Oklahoma last year. One guy had one of those. He was wheelieing past us all day. I was jealous. It takes skill to wheelie a KLR 650. Lot lighter than a KLR. Lot lighter than a KLR. Lot cheaper than the WR (street model). Lot cheaper than the WR (street model). From what I have heard, no problems cruising 65 or maybe even 70 mph. It has a 6 speed I believe. Thought of buying one myself ......... just kinda waiting to see how this yucky economy goes. Criswell

On Jul 1, 2008, at 10:47 PM, Ross Lindberg wrote: > After much deliberation I think I have talked myself into purchasing > another bike to compliment my KLR. I have a 22 year old daughter who > got into motorcycling late last summer and rides a Yamaha TTR125. I > bought her all the off-road protective gear we could find, and she is > having great fun learning to ride her new bike. She is rather > cautious, which is a good thing. We have talked about going to some > of the State Parks and riding area here in Minnesota and doing some > trail riding together. My future son-in-law is an accomplished > motocross racer and brings her to the practice track so she can ride > too. It is kind of cute to watch. The good riders race around for > 30 - 45 minutes, then all take a break so Lisa can ride. She rides > the entire course in first or second gear going over all the jumps, > but not catching any air. Sometimes her fiance Steve rides beside > her giving her pointers. I actually took my KLR out for a couple of > laps, but being a top-heavy bike and an inseam challenged rider, we > were not a very good combination. > > Lisa and I spent an afternoon looking at bikes for me. Steve > recommended a YZF450. I told him that at age 41 I'm not into a death- > wish machine. I just want a lightweight comfortable bike that Lisa > and I can go plunking around with, and one that I can use to improve > my dirt riding skills with. After looking at the Honda CRF230, the > Yamaha TTR230 and the new street legal WR250, and the Kawasaki > KLX250, I am leaning very heavily towards the KLX. The WR was just > too high for me to handle comfortably. The KLX is a bit tall for my > 29 inch inseam, but I think it will do the job I'm asking of it. I'm > 6 feet tall, 250 lbs and the only concern I have is will the KLX have > enough power to pull me around. After 2 ruptured disks in my low > back 14 years ago, my jumping days are over. > > An additional attraction is that the KLX is street legal. It's 100 > miles one-way to the track where they ride and givin the price of > fuel, hauling 1 bike down to meet them is getting very expensive. > > Does anyone have any thoughts on my choice or experience with the > KLX? Also, what type of riding gear would you guys reccoment for > trail riding and some relaxed track riding? > > Ross Lindberg > Fertile, MN > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

Whaddaya think of my new ride? Criswell [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]