An unexpected trade

[GS1150Pilot]

I, for one, fully support and approve of this trade.

Honestly, dual-sporting and general bad-road-blatting-around on a KLR is ridiculous fun, and great for your overall skills.

And with all the armored bits (skid plate, crash bars and handguards, plus a few other odds and ends) KLRs can take more of a beating than the rider, that's for sure. The first-generation models (2007 and earlier) are definitely a bit more off-road worthy.

Also, the Eagle Mike big bore 685 kit is VERY worthwhile. No, it doesn't make the bike a wheelie monster or anything, but it does move it from "somewhat anemic" to "mostly adequate". The lighter piston really reduces vibration, the improved piston rings are a lot more durable long-term, and the added pop of torque makes the bike a lot more pleasant to ride and more capable off-pavement.

I'd also call the Thermo-Bob a mandatory upgrade as well for long-term durability.

I have a list of things to mod on the bike, and I'm sure it will only start there. I'm going to upgrade the suspension with Cogent stuff, upgrade the front brake to a larger rotor, an SV650 caliper and a braided line, and then do some comfort/control mods for now. I have definitely been eyeing that 685 (and the 719) kit. Performance wise, for now, since it is bone stock, I'll rejet it, do the airbox mod, and gut the exhaust internals (retaining the spark arrestor).

[RichDesmond]

I've been considering one. I try to like the V-stroms but just can't.

V-Strom's a great bike, if you're looking for a lighter weight sport-tourer. It's NOT any kind of dirt bike.

[Big T]

V-Strom's a great bike, if you're looking for a lighter weight sport-tourer. It's NOT any kind of dirt bike.

Au contraire

My buddy's John and Dan chose V Storms to ride from Washington State to Tierra del Fuego and up to Buenos Aires.

Lots of dirt, salt, gravel, Bolivian death road, etc

Is it a great dirt bike? Nope, they chose it because it does everything well, but not great

[GS1150Pilot]

I think that is the forte of the KLR. It does everything well but is not the best in any area.

[Rob S.]

My brother was recently sharing how much he likes my Beemer, which while a fine machine, does not see nearly as much riding as it deserves; so, I offered to give it to him as a combined retirement and birthday gift. He was pretty amazed at the gesture, but it was clear that he would accept the offer. I felt great about it and left the topic for some planning and logistics to come in the near future.

Two days later, he offers me his 2005 KLR650. I've wanted a dual-sport for quite awhile now, but didn't expect to be getting one just yet, as I am planning to sell the Sportster and buy an older Road King.

Of course I accepted his offer, and I've spent the past two days reacquainting myself with upgrade options and customization details of the Gen 1 KLR.

Serendipity is real.

That's what brothers are for. When one of mine said, "Why don't you go to my Harley dealer and pick out a bike?" I said "Yes."

[GS1150Pilot]

He's getting a mint R1100R and I know he will enjoy it. I didn't expect him to offer me the KLR, but I'm excited-very excited.

[LAB3]

From what I've seen most ADV bikes don't get used much beyond traveling down Forest Service roads. Sure, you've got SOME people who actually use them beyond that but when you walk up and talk to them then look at the condition of their back tire you find that an ordinary road bike with dual sport tires would suit their needs just fine. A VStrom with that sort of setup would be worth considering.

[bwringer]

The OP appears to live in Arizona, so there's no lack of properly gnarly off-pavement adventure to be had in every direction.

Here in Indiana, we really have to work hard and poke into every crevice to find interesting off-pavement riding that's also legal. For example, there are state and Federal forest roads, but they're 99.9% closed -- and you are NOT allowed to go though the gates.

[storm 64]

If you want to find gravel roads, just follow Dave "Redman" and his GPS! HAHA

[marvinsc]

From what I've seen most ADV bikes don't get used much beyond traveling down Forest Service roads. Sure, you've got SOME people who actually use them beyond that but when you walk up and talk to them then look at the condition of their back tire you find that an ordinary road bike with dual sport tires would suit their needs just fine. A VStrom with that sort of setup would be worth considering.

And then there are guys like me............

Mudbath by Scott Marvin, on Flickr

[rphillips]

Wringer, How do you say public property that the public isn't allowed to use... Just don't seem right. I live next door to a 10,000 acre state park that does the same thing. Perfect place for city dwellers with dirt bikes & 4 wheelers to ramble and nothing there to tare up, just rocky glades and cedar bushes.... Oh no $5,000 fine.

[alke46]

[QUOTE=bwringer;n1745146]The OP appears to live in Arizona

I believe the op now lives in Utah.

[GS1150Pilot]

[QUOTE=alke46;n1745181]

The OP appears to live in Arizona

I believe the op now lives in Utah.

New Mexico, actually, though I am in Arizona fairly regularly to see friends and relatives.

[RichDesmond]

Au contraire

My buddy's John and Dan chose V Storms to ride from Washington State to Tierra del Fuego and up to Buenos Aires.

Lots of dirt, salt, gravel, Bolivian death road, etc

Is it a great dirt bike? Nope, they chose it because it does everything well, but not great

And I've have mine to Alaska. But any road that you can get a V-Strom down, you can do the same with any other "standard" bike of similar weight.

Don't get me wrong, I love mine and think it's one of the best bikes I've ever owned, but it ain't no dirt bike.

[GS1150Pilot]

I'd venture to say that a well set up KLR650 can get one much further off road over various terrain than the VStrom.