Wee-Strom - Headed down the Road

[MrZappo]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Fred W" data-cid="1324064" data-time="1468408153"><p>

Are you sure it wasn't a KLX? That is much more like a CRF.<br />

<br />

A KLR wouldn't be a very good choice for what you want to do, IMO. The KLR is just a single cylinder equivalent of a WeeStrom. Still heavy, even taller than the Wee, and a handful to pickup after the inevitable trail nap. KLRs and Wees are made to ride <em class='bbc'>to</em> the unpaved adventure. The smaller lighter bikes are easier to trailer there and then have your fun. <br />

<br />

Also, trailers are much easier than going in the back of a pickup. </p></blockquote>

The only thing similar from a klr to a wee is the displacement. It is far from a single cylinder version.

The wee (no matter what it is marketed to be) is primarily a street bike. Even with massive suspension upgrades.

The Klr (while not a nimble single track bike) is way closer to trail riding than any wee could ever dream to be.

I've had both and although I'm not a great rider and generally "watch and learn from the good guys", they ride off road wetland gnarly stuff all the time.

All of them ride KLR's and if they tried the same thing on a wee, they wouldn't get half way to were they are going.

I'm not talking bad about the DL650 as I had one and loved it.

But, they are not similar with the exception of displacement.

 

[MrZappo]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Fred W" data-cid="1324064" data-time="1468408153"><p>

Are you sure it wasn't a KLX? That is much more like a CRF.<br />

<br />

A KLR wouldn't be a very good choice for what you want to do, IMO. The KLR is just a single cylinder equivalent of a WeeStrom. Still heavy, even taller than the Wee, and a handful to pickup after the inevitable trail nap. KLRs and Wees are made to ride <em class='bbc'>to</em> the unpaved adventure. The smaller lighter bikes are easier to trailer there and then have your fun. <br />

<br />

Also, trailers are much easier than going in the back of a pickup. </p></blockquote>

The only thing similar from a klr to a wee is the displacement. It is far from a single cylinder version.

The wee (no matter what it is marketed to be) is primarily a street bike. Even with massive suspension upgrades.

The Klr (while not a nimble single track bike) is way closer to trail riding than any wee could ever dream to be.

I've had both and although I'm not a great rider and generally "watch and learn from the good guys", they ride off road wetland gnarly stuff all the time.

All of them ride KLR's and if they tried the same thing on a wee, they wouldn't get half way to were they are going.

I'm not talking bad about the DL650 as I had one and loved it.

But, they are not similar with the exception of displacement.

 

[Fred W]

My point was the weight and heft of a KLR is too much for tossing onto the back of a travel trailer. Yeah, it has more ground clearance and longer suspension and is marginally more off-road capable. But it's still too big of a pig to be picking up a lot, or sticking on a hitch carrier.

For covering lots of distance between dirt excursions, the KLR or the Vstrom would both work fine. The more distance between, the more the twin wins out.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

For weight to HP ratio drink the orange kool-aid!

KTM 500 EXC - 266.4-lb. wet weight https://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/review/2014-ktm-500-exc-dualsport-test-53918.html

Kawasaki KLR 650 - 432 lbs Wet Weight https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_klr650%2008.htm

 

[Cav47]

You guys can't read. He already bought the bike. LOL

That's what I love about this board. We can spend each other's money so fast and second guess decisions better than my wife!!

Nevertheless, I love the "factual" presentations in the peanut gallery.

 

[900gc]

John, was it the KLR 250 not the 650 that you got? The KLR250 is 1.2 in. shorter than the Honda which follows with what you are saying, also it's 258 lbs. dry which is MUCH lighter than the 650 too. I came across an article with the 250 in it so it got me thinking if this is what you got.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

You guys can't read. He already bought the bike. LOL

That's what I love about this board. We can spend each other's money so fast and second guess decisions better than my wife!!

Nevertheless, I love the "factual" presentations in the peanut gallery.

We can read. He had already bought the Wee too. Look where that led to.

 

[El Toro]

I had this dream at one time. No, not the toy hauler dream. The bike on the back dream.

I got all the way down to a 321 pound wet wonder. It was still bigger than what was any fun for me.

I have wagged bikes around in the bed of a pick up truck too.

If you have loading docks handy at both ends of the trip, it's a very easy and effective way get your bike to the playground.

However, there are a lot of times when there's no good unloading/loading at the destination, and then you have to resort to a ramp.

Tall bikes ridden backwards down a ramp are only fun if you're not inseam challenged. If you've got normal leg length, a bike with serious ground clearance will make you wish you'd brought two friends along to spot you.

In any event, the toy hauler is a good solution.

A good "back bumper" bike might be something like the Honda Grom.

I saw one with plates on it the other day at Whole Foods in Nashville. The fellow riding it said it was his only form of transportation ... he said he had no other vehicle... honest. Sigh.... my heart broke.

I'd include a link for those who haven't seen the Grom, but every time I test the "url" it doesn't work, so I won't bother. Just google Honda Grom if you want to see one. Cycle World's 2014 first look even included a two up scenario. Gosh, what were they thinkin'?


I have thought of the Grom as an excellent pit bike ... but maybe it's more than that.

 

[Fred W]

Doubt it's a KLR250 unless it is pretty old. They quit making those in 2005, which is when it became the KLX250S.

Not a bad choice for a trailer bike. If I wasn't such a lard ass it would make a good third bike.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Loading Grom into pickup truck. (NOTE: This is NOT!!!! me.)

I suppose you can unload it by opening the tailgate and jumping it out of the truck.

 

[BigOgre]

As much as things change . . .

 

[Blind Squirrel]

However, there are a lot of times when there's no good unloading/loading at the destination, and then you have to resort to a ramp.

You're just not doing it right!

 

[El Toro]

However, there are a lot of times when there's no good unloading/loading at the destination, and then you have to resort to a ramp.

You're just not doing it right!

I did it for years. I just don't like it.

And then there's the underpowered bike that has to be ridden up the ramp at adequate speed but without much stopping room at the top.

Sorry ... ramps suck for tall bikes, or heavy bikes.

And if anyone is considering using a ramp DO NOT FORGET TO SECURE THE RAMP TO THE TRUCK. It might seem like you don't need to. Trust me ... the ramp needs to be secured.

 

[El Toro]

As much as things change . . .

The Grom is quite a bit more motorcycle.

The other "old" bike that was popular to wag around on the back of a motor home or pickup was the CT90 and similar.

I remember a guy named Bob who had two of them on his camper. One for him, and one for his squeeze du jour. He was the age then that I am now.... or at least we thought he was that old.

One of the students who helped run the chassis dyno lab 10 years ago asked if he could put his CT90 on the dyno.

I told him he could, and so he rode it on and set it up. It had an hydraulic transmission, and generating torque with that 90cc motor was not its forte.

Although the eddy current brake could handle something like 200 hp on the high end, the lowly CT90 was too weak to be measured reliably.

For some reason those bikes are now popular in New England. I have a friend that chases them. I think that a good one goes from something north of $1500.

I'd rather have a Grom.

Edit: About 10 years ago I met a fellow in Ohio who had a gigantic collection of Z-50s. He had something like 300 of them. In really mint condition, they could bring more than $2000. He kept them at a warehouse for the two practical reasons that, first he did not have room at home, and second, he did not want his wife to know that he had them. He was heading toward a divorce. I never heard how that worked out, but if she had a good lawyer, a couple hundred Z-50s would have probably looked like a sharable asset. Sigh....

 

[Fred W]

Sorry ... ramps suck for tall bikes, or heavy bikes.
And if anyone is considering using a ramp DO NOT FORGET TO SECURE THE RAMP TO THE TRUCK. It might seem like you don't need to. Trust me ... the ramp needs to be secured.

Hear, hear!