re: my '08 at 14,000mi

[transalp 1]

Glad you had a good trip! I broke my 09' in on Valvoline m/c oil and changed it often. Read online somewhere that it has only so-so thermal stability. Maybe that's why it gives up and goes away. I switched to Golden Spectro synth. blend (shop sells it to me at a discount, why not?) So far, no noticable oil consumption. As for the battery, I can't agree with you more. WHY didn't they put a m/f cell in the bike? Why? Right after I got my bike new,a friend needed a new battery for his Ninja 500. So, a deal was made. He got my new/old battery and I had some $ for a maint.-free battery in the KLR. No more water top-offs! I added a Battery Tender connection and put the seat back on for good for a while. The KLR doesn't do anything in particular exceedingly well. But, the variety of things it can do is enormous. It's a compromise bike and built to a price. The basics were paid for long ago from a development standpoint. Still, it's a HUGE value despite the shortcomings (that can be easily "fixed" at home.) I read the other day where Honda is importing the NTV700 "Deauville" to the USA, only without the name-name. 680cc, shaft drive, small fairing and factory hard bags. Terrific, right? Not for approximately $10,000, it ain't. I'd get DL650 first, put the nicest bags I could find on it and save $$$$. OR, ride my paid-for, under $6k 09' KLR650 and learn as I go. I like tinkering on bikes and my Gold Wing just doesn't fill the void. LOL eddi