which bash plate is better?

[Bill Watson]

Listers, Although Kawasaki doesn t seem to publish the production each year, I ve been watching frame VINs on the bikes. KHI restarted the frame VINs at 00001 in the 2002 model, and just restarted them again on the 2008 s. (I just saw a new 08 with frame VIN 00241 at the local dealer). Here s the scoop: 2002: ~3300 bikes 2003: ~3900 bikes 2004: ~4800 bikes 2005: ~7000 bikes 2006: ~9000 bikes 2007: ~6000 bikes (shortened model year, 08 s out very early) Wow! Over a doubling of sales in the last few years. If you have a 2004, 2005, 2006 or 2007 bike, you could help me out IF YOU FIT THE CRITERIA BELOW. If you have a bike between the frame VIN values, drop me a line please so I have a better idea of where the year splits are. All I want is the last 5 digits of your VIN, I don t want all the other stuff. I m not trying to steal your information, just trying to get where the VINs changed model year. Here s where I need information: 2004/2005 split: Anyone with a frame VIN between 11221 and 12456? 2005/2006 split: Anyone with a frame VIN between 18563 and 19262? 2006/2007 split: Anyone with a frame VIN between 27896 and 28445? Last 2007s: Anyone with a frame VIN after 34730? Hope this was helpful and thanks, Bill Watson Phoenix, AZ --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Sonny Bulla]

> Posted by: "Bill Watson" gcurve2000@... gcurve2000 > Sun May 6, 2007 9:09 am (PST) >> Although Kawasaki doesn t seem to publish the production each >> year, I ve been watching frame VINs on the bikes. KHI restarted >> the frame VINs at 00001 in the 2002 model,

That's interesting...enough to make me check my 02's VIN....00981. Long live the KLR! Sonny '02 KLR650 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[roger greene]

I picked up an '07 in early April. Last digits are 30221. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Zachariah Mully]

On Mon, 2007-05-07 at 05:39 -0700, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> On May 7, 2007, at 12:04 AM, hackneymanz wrote: > > ...so I need a new one, a friend of mine who used to race MX advised > > me that the original plastic ones are better than aftermarket > > aluminium because they can 'pop' back into shape and have give in them > > whereas aluminium will just dent.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! No offense, but you friend has apparently never tried to land a KLR. Sure, a 200 lbs MX bike with the engine tucked up nicely between the frame rails and 14" of finely tuned suspension might not have a problem... But try a porker KLR at 430+lbs with 9 in of super crappy suspension, and an engine sump that hangs beneath the frame rails. I've cracked and seen cracked too many engine cases. Even with an aluminum bash plate, your chances on hard landing aren't good. I had a special double thick and long aluminum plate custom welded by Happy Trails, and it's still all dented to hell (you can see the impressions from the engine case bolts in it). So the moral of the story is get a plate and don't leave the ground if possible. Z