Posted: 1/28/2007 1:02:00 PM EDT
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Been hacking on my KLR ('07 - new in August). So far for the winter work: Did the doohickey. 4,600 miles. The old one and spring were fine but the replacement from Eagle Mike is art compared to the POS one that Kawasaki uses. Added Happy-Trail engine guard/road pegs (debating adding PD nerf bars). Swapped crappy pegs on the guard for the passenger pegs. Much nicer! Added an EBC 320mm front disc and Galfer green pads. Added a centerstand. *MUCH* easier to work on the bitch now. Have a Stebel Compact Nautilus air horn on the way. 139db! Ignore THAT you SUV driving, Starbucks drinking soccer mommy!!!!  Have a Givi E-45 topcase knock-off on the way from J.C. Whitney. Mods/farkles done before winter got here: Progressive front springs Stainless steel front brake line Shimmed carb needle/drilled slide Aluminium skid plate Carb "T" vent mod Hot Grips Acerbis Rally Pro handguards and spoilers Brake! LED tail light Frame bolt upgrade Mirror vibration dampeners Speed bleeders Corbin flat seat (came in the day of our first heavy snow - haven't ridden it yet  )Still debating racks/luggage. I've got a set of throwover soft saddlebags. Arrived after winter came so I haven't been out with them yet. They look OK for day trips and overnighters but for touring, nope. Leaning really hard toward these: www.adventure-motorcycle.com/store/?name=Catalog&mode=i&item=000040 Yeah, I know I could cobble something together and save some $$$ but I'm not crazy about aluminum panniers (ammo boxes are too damn heavy) and I *really* like the quick release feature of the Caribou's over doing a nut-and-bolt attachment. Keeping my options open for a GPS. Currently using a Garmin Vista C. Fine for local/off-pavement stuff but not for touring. Best bang-for-the buck at the moment seems to be a StreetPilot 2720. A few places have it as low as $499. I have a c330 in the Xterra and it's been great. The added features in the 2720 (tracks, saved tracks/routes, multiple point routing, 750MB of RAM for additional maps) has me pretty well sold. Oh well, it's gonna be a little while longer before things thaw out enough to get back on the road, time enough to make choices. 
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Damn your all over this  Bought mine last april, still haven't done the doohicky or the T-mod (it's next though). Pretty much stock here except bypassing the kickstand shut off switch that went TU in downtown Seattle one evening, still need to get that clutch switch bypassed too. Do have one of those cheapy JCW box's on the back that I picked up when they went on sale for $29.00. Replaced the rear tire yesterday w/ a MT21, got it for $89.00 mounted, got 11,500 out of the stock tire. They are pretty much bullet proof, & at 58mpg how can ya go wrong.
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Now you just need to trade it in on a street legal CRF 450  The KLR is a bit piggy for my tastes. I always thought a street legal dirt version XR600 would be fun. The bigger KTMs would do the job nicely as well. any thoughts on motor-work? The beast is definetley not getting much lighter with all the extras. |
Yeah, it's a little heavy but my riding is street and back roads/trails. Nothing heavy-duty off road so the weight isn't a drawback. Besides, I'm 6'4" ~260# so I'm not quibbling over shaving a few ounces here and there on the bike.  I did have a brand new KLX300 to ride in my MSF class and damn, that thing was sweet! Really got me thinking. My riding gear is good from about 35 to 80 degrees. Anywhere below 35 and I feel like Ralphie's brother or the Michelin Man and it's just not fun anymore being so insulated from the bike and the ride. Above 80 it's sweat city. Oh, yeah I DID do the clutch/sidestand safety bypass before winter. Forgot all about that. Finished putting in the Stebel horn last night. Damn, that MF'er is LOUD. Put it on the right side, under the tank, facing outward with bottom of the horns about level with the bottom of the tank and shroud. Best balance between keeping water from getting in and letting sound out. Testing in the house with muffs on and just a short blip it was  . I can just imagine the instant attention it will get with a long blast on the road.I don't have the room or the $$$ to spend on multiple, purpose specific bikes. I wanted something that could do a lot reasonably, be well supported and bulletproof, hence the KLR.
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Like this?   It's getting torn down for winter maintenance now, though. On a related topic...mainly the dirt worthiness of the KLR. Many woould say it is piggish for dirt duty, but it does dirt work very well (although you may be a little more tired at the end of the day).    A link to a report of that ride. |
Yup. Exacly the reasons I have been wanting one for around a year now. Plus they're relatively cheap on gas, compared to the Tahoe. Maybe next fall, I'll be able to pick one up (the prices usually drop a bit after the summer right?) |