School of KLR's

[Stoneman]

Okay, this thread can go where it wants now. Me thinks my search is gonna turn more to the 350-450 street legal, dirt-oriented whosiewhatsies. Thanks again for the input...

[nhbubba]

The last 2 min of this one seems to have the most info, IMO.

[Karaya One]

The best bike I ever owned was my 1995 KLR650. And I've had quite a few. It could just do everything.

[Stoneman]

The best bike I ever owned was my 1995 KLR650. And I've had quite a few. It could just do everything.

I hear that a lot, Dave. It's not entirely outta the question. My biggest fear is jumping onto something I'm ultimately gonna regret. I'm gonna let the dust settle and get over the TL-R thing before I move on anything. Based purely on emotion at this point, I've come *THIS* close to buying any number of bikes this past month. And none of those was like the other (Ducati, WRF, Aprilia RSV-R, KLR, VFR, even another TL-R)...

[Tricky Mike]

The best bike I ever owned was my 1995 KLR650. And I've had quite a few. It could just do everything.

True. The one I owned did absolutely everything. The rub is that it didn't do any of them particularly well
All said, though, it was a great bike. I beat the shit out of it for several years (anybody ever take a KLR on a motocross track? Not a great idea.) In that time I gave it little more than gas and (occasionally) oil and eventually sold it to a guy on eBay for a couple hundred $$ less than I paid for it. The guy flew in from Minnesota and rode it home. KLR's are just kind of like that.

[Stoneman]

The rub is that it didn't do any of them particularly well

This is actually more akin to what I often hear...

[Tricky Mike]

The old cliche "jack of all trades, master of none" exists for a reason. Can't have it all, which is why we all truly need at least three motorcycles. Minimum.

[JohnnyV]

even another TL-R...

Weird how that slow cMan God bitch keeps dragging you back isn't it. I haven't stopped thinking about how that WILL be my next bike, even while I still owned the 675, which by most accounts is a far superior ride. There's just something about the Tiller that keeps calling me back. I don't get it...

[Stoneman]

FINALLY took a KLR for a spin yesterday. It was a low-mileage lowly 2006. Yeah, I think they're outta the equation now. Fun & minimalist, but weak in every aspect. Just didn't like the way it rode. Only did a handful of miles on dirt roads, about as many on pavement. Just doesn't seem the bike for me...

[Chippertheripper]

'Busa.

[Garandman]

Okay, this thread can go where it wants now. Me thinks my search is gonna turn more to the 350-450 street legal, dirt-oriented whosiewhatsies. Thanks again for the input...

Am I the only one obsessed wit hthe Yamaha TW200? Apparently they are not for tall people but to me they look like awesome fin.



My second place irrational desire is the Sachs Madass.

[Stoneman]

Neither of those look like my type of fun...

[Chippertheripper]

^
Well then, there's a cr500 fs with a title...

[markbvt]

Am I the only one obsessed wit hthe Yamaha TW200? Apparently they are not for tall people but to me they look like awesome fin.

They are cool little bikes. Did you see Catamount's nicely-modded one?



Build thread here:
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...m-TW-200-build

--mark

[Garandman]

Neither of those look like my type of fun...

Well, you'd never use all the power, anyway.

It was fun riding around Boston on the KLR, though. A friend of mine said it looked like I was riding a Praying Mantis....

[nhbubba]

Am I the only one obsessed wit hthe Yamaha TW200? Apparently they are not for tall people but to me they look like awesome fin.

I agree, looks like fun. But only if obscenely cheap. And most of the ones you see are pretty clean.. and priced accordingly. I would not pay that much for one. But for kicks, hell yeah.

[ZX-12R]

Let's face it, you want a KTM! You enjoyed the shit out of my 500 EXC and Brian's 690 SM so all you have to do now is decide if you want a dirt or a street weapon!

[Stoneman]

Let's face it, you want a KTM! You enjoyed the shit out of my 500 EXC and Brian's 690 SM so all you have to do now is decide if you want a dirt or a street weapon!

There may be some truth to that...

[breakdirt916]

agreed, for your size and your needs, go pumpkin!

[gregp]

I was able to ride my new 350 EXC back to back with my brothers 2006 400 EXC this past weekend. We were both very surprised how vastly different the 2 bikes were. The carbureted 400 is *much* smoother running, and much "lazier" in power delivery. By comparison, my 350 is violent, and vibrates much more at lower engine speeds. His 400 is a European model, and it is very quiet. Amazingly so, in fact. My 350 is much louder, even with the stock pipes on both. The little "sink strainer" inside the muffler of my 350 has been removed, but on his 400, the same screen is tack welded to the end of the muffler. I have had my screen in place, and it is still no where near as quiet as the 400.
The 400 felt much heavier, but that could be because he had a large tank on it. My 350 felt slim and light, like a motocross machine.
I sold my DR650 to my brother to buy this KTM, and I do not regret it one bit, but the little KTM does not like street duty much at all. There, it is nervous and twitchy. I have to wonder if the 500 is any better.
FWIW - My brother sold his 520 EXC, then bought the 400. He is much happier with the 400. The 520 just wore him out.