50 mpg is about right. 6.1 gallon fuel tank 250 miles average before hitting reserve. That's with 2 small riders and mostly full saddle bags. Get to know where the fuel lever is so you are not suprised on the freeway with a sudden loss of power. On mine, you flip it forward.
Just Bought my First Motorcycle!
- Thread starter Valkyrie
- Start date
Well, now you done gone and done it.....these mid life events sure make us do some strange things. 
With me...it has always been boats. Never something that can get you down and scrape the skin off your body using asphalt and yellow paint like sandpaper.
Ok , ol'buddy now you need to set your sights on the annual migration south for those of your kind...you need to head this way the first week in March for Daytona Bike Week...Just throw that baby up in the back of your C-Dory and you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Biking & Boating on the St. Johns.
Just like hotel 6....we will leave the light on.
With me...it has always been boats. Never something that can get you down and scrape the skin off your body using asphalt and yellow paint like sandpaper.
Ok , ol'buddy now you need to set your sights on the annual migration south for those of your kind...you need to head this way the first week in March for Daytona Bike Week...Just throw that baby up in the back of your C-Dory and you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Biking & Boating on the St. Johns.
Just like hotel 6....we will leave the light on.
I got a couple KLR videos up on my youtube page now. This one is kind of embarassing.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SeaBeagleII ... P8Rq9ALfPg
I've got most of my KLR accessories from both of these websites.
http://www.happy-trail.com/ This guy makes and sells great KLR stuff.
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/catalog.htm Accessories for KLR and other dual-sport bikes.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SeaBeagleII ... P8Rq9ALfPg
I've got most of my KLR accessories from both of these websites.
http://www.happy-trail.com/ This guy makes and sells great KLR stuff.
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/catalog.htm Accessories for KLR and other dual-sport bikes.
Just a quick thought on passengers on bikes. Good passengers don't squirm around and lean correctly with the bike. An intercom is great too. Even a cheap helmet to helmet model like mine. Also, a backrest is nice and my wife agrees. I made this with scraps of stuff that I had around the house. And don't forget the gel seat upgrade. The stock one on the 2001 model year was hard like a motocross seat.
MilesandMiles
New member
I've used both of those sources. Happy trails is top notch luggage gear. Dual star is in Seattle if not mistaken. The KLR is the most after-market supported dual sport out there, or right after the GS. The bike hasn't changed beyond cosmetics for 20+years! I've heard two KLR buddies complain about random bolts/nyts loosening up and/or falling off. Might be worth going around the bike occasionally w/ that in mind. You've scored a great and time tested machine.
Hey SeaBeagle, that was quite the video. You were in quite a controlled mode -- didn't hear any foul words or anything. I rode dirt bikes for about 35 years, all 2 strokes from 90 Suzuki to 250 RL trials Suzuki, and always was prepared to fall on the trails -- part of the ride. I am scared to ride on the streets because when you go down on a road you have a good chance of really getting hurt. Our most fun was seeing who could get to a mud puddle or cow paddy ahead of the other and get the rear wheel on it, quickly rev the motor and drop the clutch. The stuff would go flying -- we kept score on who had the most hits.. :teeth [/img]
digger":kvcxajcz said:
Well, there is a little bit of nasty language right at the moment I'm lifting the bike up. Sorry. You have to crank up the volume to hear it. If a bike falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it, why bother yelling about it. It actually didn't hurt falling, only knocked the wind out of me but, the bike took quite a bit of damage. Luckily, I had just put on the crash bars under the gas tank plastic. It saved the coolant reservoir from being crushed.
MilesandMiles
New member
Seabeagle, Looking at your photo album is practically making me go out side and start pulling on branches in hopes of hurrying spring! It's easy to forget how beautiful the great lakes are during the nice months. Nice little set-up you have with the truck/camper and 16-cruiser. Are you much of a fisherman? Or just exploring? ever been out to Beaver Island by chance?
Very inspiring...you know how to live man!
Very inspiring...you know how to live man!
MilesandMiles":1i07ymbw said:
Don't fish, lots of exploring, Beaver Island is a bit too far offshore for us. The farthest we've been is 10 miles and the water turned rough. Here's the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lijSRhP7JY
MilesandMiles":3k94di51 said:
Actually...while the engine is mostly the same, quite a bit else changed with the KLR in '08. It's a never ending debate at the various MC forums, as to whether the changes were positive or negative. Mine's an '09, and I'm a fan of the newer generation KLR's. My take:
- For road riding, plastics on the '08 offer significantly better protection from the elements. You can actually tuck in behind the stock windscreen and side plastics, and not get too wet while moving in the rain. Offroad however, the plastics are much more expensive to replace if you bust something in a get off, and chances are higher that you'll do so as they are somewhat larger in size. Since my use of the KLR is more adventure type riding - long stretches of pavement, interspersed with moderate off road - these are welcome additions. For those that are more off road oriented, the newer plastics don't tend to be a welcome upgrade.
- Stock brakes and suspension are much improved on '08+. Still, one of the best improvements one can make on a KLR, is aftermarket suspension...which mostly evens things up again, if done on both models. I upgraded both front and rear suspension on mine with goodies from Ricor, and the ride difference is amazing - both on and off road. I was actually considering selling my KLR, prior to doing these upgrades...they're not cheap, but it turns it inro a completely different (and far better) bike.
- The alternator puts out more amps on the '08+. For those wanting to add goodies - particularly juice drawing items like heated gear - this is a welcome addition. Changing out bulbs to LED's like Seabeagle is doing help a lot in this regard, and aftermarket stators with higher output are available - but they get spotty reviews.
- The stock headlight is much improved on the '08+.
- The seat is much improved on the '08+. Seats are always an item where personal preference/riding style dictates what one finds comfortable, but the older KLR seats are near universally hated for anything more than short rides. On my 09, it was pretty decent stock - but the simple/cheap addition of a sheepskin butt pad from Alaskan Leather makes it perfect for me. I've done 8+ hours in the saddle, with minimal discomfort.
- The upper through frame bolt was beefed up in '08. This is a weak point for those that ride more aggressively or loaded up with gear. It's an easy/cheap mod on the older KLR's to upgrade it, but not really necessary on the '08.
And lastly, the differences are significant enough such that one needs to be very aware when ordering aftermarket parts. Numerous items are not interchangeable - racks, crash bars, etc.
Hi Guys,
Once again, thanks for all of the good advice, congrats and best wishes. I've spent hours on-line, mostly KLR forums, ADV Rider (has me dreaming and planning!), Happy Trails, Dual Star, Ridesafer and many others.
I've ordered nerf/crash bars and a few other goodies and begun frequently a few shops here in town to learn more and see what's out there.
I'll let you know how things are progressing and keep you in the loop.
Regards,
Nick
"Valkyrie"
Once again, thanks for all of the good advice, congrats and best wishes. I've spent hours on-line, mostly KLR forums, ADV Rider (has me dreaming and planning!), Happy Trails, Dual Star, Ridesafer and many others.
I've ordered nerf/crash bars and a few other goodies and begun frequently a few shops here in town to learn more and see what's out there.
I'll let you know how things are progressing and keep you in the loop.
Regards,
Nick
"Valkyrie"
Just a couple more quick thoughts. I've luckily haven't needed the crash bars on the pavement, but at least a dozen times off road. Good investment. Also beware of a website selling knockoff crash bars from China. The people at Happy Trails told me this the last time I ordered from them.
What the hey...let's keep the most recent scooter thread alive.
As I mentioned a couple pages back, Dana has shown an interest in riding. The reality is, I've been bugging her for the last couple of years, suggesting she might like to give it a try. She had a mini bike as a kid, and we raced karts many years back - two activities she was very fond of. Still, my now older, wiser and mature sidekick didn't want to have anything to do with it initially.
I persisted. The initial resistance gave way to annoyance, and finally to her just ignoring me. At this point, I got it through my thick skull, that maybe she really meant it. So, I left her alone.
Evidently, a seed was planted. She was definitely intrigued after chatting with my friend's wife up in Port Angeles about her cross country trip on a KLX250, and she humored me on my birthday a couple months back when I insisted she go to the dealer and sit on a few models.
Well, it worked. She approached me a few weeks ago, proclaiming she really wanted to ride. She's looking into classes, both basic riding and dirt techniques. I took this as a green light to start a search.
We figured out quickly, that a Yamaha XT225 is a very tough bike to beat for a beginner. Like my KLR, it's drop dead simple to operate and maintain, and the model underwent extremely few changes during it's long lifespan. Of utmost importance to a beginner - the seat height is nice and low, allowing most folks to easily keep both feet on the ground. They are extremely light - when the inevitable happens and she tips over on a trail, she'd be able to pick it up on her own...even though I'll be a gentleman, and lend a hand. And lastly, they appeal to the stingy pocketbook of us KLR owners...decent models can easily be found under $2K with a little persistence.
But, I did one better than that. When my folks moved to WA last year from MN, they gave me a couple of older Polaris ATV's they no longer had a use for. I quickly realized, that WA is not the greatest state for offroad riding - one is extremely limited, without a license plate. So, I kept one of them in WA as a work vehicle, and brought the other one back home to CA a couple weeks ago to sell. Figured I'd get $500 or so for it.
Instead, I stumbled upon a craigslist ad - the guy had two motorcycles, and wanted to trade one of them for an ATV. One of the bikes - a '93 XT225. The other - a street converted Honda XR200R.
A couple phone calls later, and the ATV was loaded up in the back of his truck - and I ended up with BOTH of his bikes. I'm such a shrewd negotiator...
Both need a little TLC - but nothing that isn't cheap and easy. Carb rebuilds, tires, chains/sprockets, etc.
As I mentioned a couple pages back, Dana has shown an interest in riding. The reality is, I've been bugging her for the last couple of years, suggesting she might like to give it a try. She had a mini bike as a kid, and we raced karts many years back - two activities she was very fond of. Still, my now older, wiser and mature sidekick didn't want to have anything to do with it initially.
I persisted. The initial resistance gave way to annoyance, and finally to her just ignoring me. At this point, I got it through my thick skull, that maybe she really meant it. So, I left her alone.
Evidently, a seed was planted. She was definitely intrigued after chatting with my friend's wife up in Port Angeles about her cross country trip on a KLX250, and she humored me on my birthday a couple months back when I insisted she go to the dealer and sit on a few models.
Well, it worked. She approached me a few weeks ago, proclaiming she really wanted to ride. She's looking into classes, both basic riding and dirt techniques. I took this as a green light to start a search.
We figured out quickly, that a Yamaha XT225 is a very tough bike to beat for a beginner. Like my KLR, it's drop dead simple to operate and maintain, and the model underwent extremely few changes during it's long lifespan. Of utmost importance to a beginner - the seat height is nice and low, allowing most folks to easily keep both feet on the ground. They are extremely light - when the inevitable happens and she tips over on a trail, she'd be able to pick it up on her own...even though I'll be a gentleman, and lend a hand. And lastly, they appeal to the stingy pocketbook of us KLR owners...decent models can easily be found under $2K with a little persistence.
But, I did one better than that. When my folks moved to WA last year from MN, they gave me a couple of older Polaris ATV's they no longer had a use for. I quickly realized, that WA is not the greatest state for offroad riding - one is extremely limited, without a license plate. So, I kept one of them in WA as a work vehicle, and brought the other one back home to CA a couple weeks ago to sell. Figured I'd get $500 or so for it.
Instead, I stumbled upon a craigslist ad - the guy had two motorcycles, and wanted to trade one of them for an ATV. One of the bikes - a '93 XT225. The other - a street converted Honda XR200R.
A couple phone calls later, and the ATV was loaded up in the back of his truck - and I ended up with BOTH of his bikes. I'm such a shrewd negotiator...
Both need a little TLC - but nothing that isn't cheap and easy. Carb rebuilds, tires, chains/sprockets, etc.
starcrafttom
Active member
nice bargin hunting!! I love trading free stuff for stuff I really need. You should both have fun with those bikes.