Best complement to a feej

[HotRodZilla]

Let me be very clear. I sold my KLR because of MY being a raging ****** with an infected gash. If I had the ability to just go straight and be more patient, it'd have been fine.

When it comes to opinions on KLRs and similar bikes, ONLY listen to those that have actually ridden or owned one. Everyone else is listening to rumor and really has no idea.

Fixed.

Wow Don. Thanks. I can't believe I made such an elongated typo. Ass!

 

[beemerdons]

Let me be very clear. I sold my KLR because of MY being a raging ****** with an infected gash. If I had the ability to just go straight and be more patient, it'd have been fine.

When it comes to opinions on KLRs and similar bikes, ONLY listen to those that have actually ridden or owned one. Everyone else is listening to rumor and really has no idea.

Fixed.

Wow Don. Thanks. I can't believe I made such an elongated typo. Ass!

De Nada, Amigo!

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Those look pretty cool.

Pardon me, but do these Tanks make my ass look big?

Here is one way of doing this...and there are others....

 

[chivvalry]

Best not drag those in the twisties...

 

[NMRoadRunner]

Sure, single track. Maybe a game trail or cow trail, mountian bike trail. It'll Single track with ease! But I don't have anyone to take my picture doing it, sorry.

 

[Mr Bill]

Breakfast ride an hour away, wait it's raining today. I'll take the mud bike and find some puddles on the way. Two hours to and two hours back. Now I find out I'm not a dirty adventurer after all......

Dorky Dexter Article

 

[chivvalry]

I need to check out that Edelweiss Bike Travel tour company...

 

[chivvalry]

So... just to make sure... a KLR could handle this stuff, yes? If it can't then I will be dismayed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx_2Azjt6ok&feature=player_embedded#!

 

[Fred W]

That looks like it is marginally do-able (but a good challenge) on an FJR. Definitely do-able on a V-strom. And it would be a snooze on a KLR or better.

Having firm dirt makes a lot of difference.

 

[Mr Bill]

So... just to make sure... a KLR could handle this stuff, yes? If it can't then I will be dismayed.

I ride with KLR's a lot and you would be snoozing though that.

 

Dirt riding tips:

 

Let the bike weave under you. All bikes do this, but you notice it in the dirt.

 

Ride up into the corner berms and the bike will feel like it's on rails around the corner.

 

Knobbies needed for mud and on other surfaces you need to spin them for traction.

 

While your spinning the rear for traction use it to steer too.

 

Unload the front end weight, lofting and butt back, to help the front wheel over logs and rocks. Don't go too fast or the rear will bounce and send you flying.

 

Muddy water crossings have ruts in them and when you fall into them you can't get out so don't even try. Just ride the rut and let the bike follow that path.

 

Sand and loose stuff keep your weight back and speed up so you don't sink.

 

Hmm anyone else with some good tips?

 

[chivvalry]

I kinda figured that trail would a snoozer... But after dcarver's vid and pics I was getting concerned. I have to admit though there is no way I would attempt that on my feej... knobbies or no.

 

[beemerdons]

So... just to make sure... a KLR could handle this stuff, yes? If it can't then I will be dismayed.

I ride with KLR's a lot and you would be snoozing though that.

 

Dirt riding tips:

 

Let the bike weave under you. All bikes do this, but you notice it in the dirt.

 

Ride up into the corner berms and the bike will feel like it's on rails around the corner.

 

Knobbies needed for mud and on other surfaces you need to spin them for traction.

 

While your spinning the rear for traction use it to steer too.

 

Unload the front end weight, lofting and butt back, to help the front wheel over logs and rocks. Don't go too fast or the rear will bounce and send you flying.

 

Muddy water crossings have ruts in them and when you fall into them you can't get out so don't even try. Just ride the rut and let the bike follow that path.

 

Sand and loose stuff keep your weight back and speed up so you don't sink.

 

Hmm anyone else with some good tips?

Si Paco, don't bury your rear wheel in the baby head rocks in the middle of the Rio Urique riverbed in Central Mexico because your FJR Forum dirt riding buddies will start laughing at you!

And then, when you get to the next river crossing at Rio Batopilas don't make things worse by making Station Signs of the Cross and praying to the Virgin Mary and St. Cristopher for help!

 

[Mr Bill]

Si Paco, don't bury your rear wheel in the baby head rocks in the middle of the Rio Urique riverbed in Central Mexico because your FJR Forum dirt riding buddies will start laughing at you!

:lol: I wouldn't laugh at you. Not until I got a picture.

 

That looks to be a very bumpy ride!

 

[bigtallguy]

I went with the 800xc

We'll see how it goes

 

[Fred W]

Nice!!

Good choice. :thumbsup:

 

[beemerdons]

Nice!!

Good choice. :thumbsup:

+1, Gunny; Congratulations, Have Fun!

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Let me be very clear. I sold my KLR because of MY inability to deal with it on the highway. If I had the ability to just slow down and be more patient, it would have been fine. I'm one of those that when I'm done riding the fun stuff for the day, I want to get the Hell home. I never had a comfort issue on that bike, except for the wind sometimes. Stock, out of the box, the seat is one of the most comfortable you will find on that kind of bike.

The KLR's off-road ability was great for what it was. No offense, but those that claim a KLR will not handle sand, mud, or technical riding have probably never ridden one and are just talking about what they heard. With the Dunlop D606s and aftermarket suspension, the bike performed admirably. My KLR was held back by my inability as a rider...Not the bikes inability to do things. We climbed sandy hills, rode huge rocks, forged very deep mud and water, and had a blast. One of my best friends has a 2007 KLR with D606s and is way more capable than me. When I followed him and followed his instructions, I was way better.

The Huskys and KTMs are cool, but remember this...A KLR comes with a 5 gallon tank; good for about 250 miles of riding. The KTM and Husky are something like 3.6 gallons and use fuel fast. The last big dirt ride I did on the KLR was in April of this year when a bunch of friends and I rode the forest area around Magdalena, NM. There was one guy on a Husky that had to carry extra fuel cans to stay riding. He also had a hellavua time with his fuel injection doing something werid at our elevation...

If you really want to try a KLR, it is so close to free that you shouldn't avoid it. Go buy a used one. Great low mileage KLRs can be found for between 2 and 3 thousand dollars. Put good tires on it, and order some progressive springs for the front. Then proceed to ride the piss out of it. If you're happy, great. If not, sell it for what you paid for it. All you're out is a set of tires that cost around $100.

When it comes to opinions on KLRs and similar bikes, ONLY listen to those that have actually ridden or owned one. Everyone else is listening to rumor and really has no idea.

That sounds like damned good advice. I think the 2008+ bikes have progressive front springs and some other significant improvements so I will begin the long hunt for a cheap ass used 2008+ KLR.

Yes it is good advice. If you decide on a GENII KLR I suggest you go for a 2009+ year, as the 2008's had teething problems like some burning oil. Problems were resolved by 2009 (except the doohickey).

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

That looks like it is marginally do-able (but a good challenge) on an FJR. Definitely do-able on a V-strom. And it would be a snooze on a KLR or better.

Having firm dirt makes a lot of difference.

That's the type of logging road I ride to get to the hard riding (for a KLR).

 

[chivvalry]

That looks like it is marginally do-able (but a good challenge) on an FJR. Definitely do-able on a V-strom. And it would be a snooze on a KLR or better.

Having firm dirt makes a lot of difference.

That's the type of logging road I ride to get to the hard riding (for a KLR).

Yep, hunting around on youtube I found a couple great vids of "real" KLR riding... one guy was following around some little bitty bikes and though they had to wait for him several times he was making it through all the stuff they were doing. He had some issues squeezing between trees and completely failed on one hill but overall the KLR and he did very well in some pretty gnarly woods.

Of course I still keep going back and forth looking at the KLR, wee, 800GS, and 800XC.... :huh:

Good thing it will be late winter or early spring before I have enough moola to make a move. I get to torture myself with indecisiveness for many more months. <_<

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

A couple pics of the KLR. Most of the times I was taking a turn on a burm, or wishing I wasn't on a downhill 1-foot wide path of dirt and smallish rocks, I don't have pictures of. A heavy beast, but the wind protection was nice when I rode down to California to tent camp at a rally. I have some ride reports around here too I think.

Some of the logging roads it did with ease (with D606 tires):