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Another new bike in the garage
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Just now getting around to posting about it, but I finally picked up a KLR for the trip up to Prudhoe Bay next year. Flew down to Dallas and rode it the 200 miles home.
It's a 98. The doohickey has been done, Progressive rear shock, Sonic front springs, heated hand grips, top box, a few other small things.. I've already got a 6.6 gallon tank and Happy Trails Teton bags sitting in the garage for it. I'm probably going to need to upgrade the stator as well to support the heated gear I want. There are a few other upgrades I have in mind as well. I've had several people ask me why I didn't get a BMW, Versys, flavor of the week, whatever.. One reason. I'm mechanically proficient obviously, and things WILL break on the Haul Road. The KLR is a basic design that has been around for 20 years, and I can fix anything with a few tools and parts. I'll be damned if I'll be stranded 200 miles north of Fairbanks due to a shaft drive that exploded or a sensor that flaked from vibration. So there it is. I'll be dismantling this one to give it a once-over and lay my hands on every nut, bolt, and wire. It obviously won't get the powdercoat treatment LOL, but I will be painting fairings and making it one solid color. |
Yeh nice, you finally got a bike to put that tank that you beat me out on (bastard).
Also the IMS tank doesnt work with the crash cage, its one or the other, however there is a radiator and water pump guard that you can get (need to get) if you are running just the IMS tank for protection. I think you might actually have the radiator protector. I do have a few questions though 1. What tail bag is that? 2. Which heated hand grips do you have? Are they decent? How much power to they draw? 3. No fork boots? Fork brace? 4. How much did you finally pay for it? |
I don't get the whole dual sport revolution going on around here, but do your thing, son. Have fun.
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1. It's a JC Whitney I think the guy said. It's not bad, but I want something larger, so I'll probably take this one off and sell it. Interested? 2. Not sure of the brand, but so far, even on hi, I can't feel them through my gloves, but maybe I have gotten impatient and not let them run long enough. I can feel them get plenty hot without gloves, so maybe it's just me. Unsure of the amperage draw, haven't taken a multimeter to the bike yet. 3. The previous owner said in his experience, the Seal Savers that are on it work better than fork boots. I'll be adding fork boots along with the Seal Savers though, for extra protection. I do intend to pick up a fork brace also. 4. I paid $1500 for it. Quote:
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Loves me some KLR.
It is in fact a JC Whitney top box. I had one just like it on mine. The only thing I'll mention on your list of "to do" mods is the stator. I've heard people having nothing but problems with the big stator for these. IMO, it's better to make due with the little stock unit than to have a bigger one that doesn't work at all. Especially in the middle of nowhere. Of course that means no heated gear, but at least the bike will run. I don't have those problems with my little WR now that I've upgraded from the KLR. The WR comes with a 350 watt alternator ;) |
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Electosport makes the stators I've been looking at.
They used to make a 400w that was very problematic. They actually still had it listed on their website until a week or two ago when I emailed and asked for info on it. Then it was magically deleted from the site overnight and I was told they don't make it anymore. LOL They also have a 280w, and from what I can find, that has been a pretty stable unit. That's the one I'm considering, but you're right, I'm always leery of *aftermarket* electrical stuff like that. |
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It's been a while since I swapped bikes, so I didn't know about the 280w version. All the problems I've heard about were with the 400w one.
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Re the dual sport thing: also, once you get the adventure bug and realize most of the roads on the planet aren't paved, the decision to buy a dual sport becomes a no brainer.
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And congrats. I still think the BMW would have been better, but I totally see your reasoning for the KLR. At that price, it could be your bike just for this trip and the occasional punishment ride. |
Speaking of which . . . you should come down to Clayton for this year's dual sport ride. October 14th-17th at Clayton State Park.
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Congrats on the new bike.
It sounds like an awesome trip and this is just the machine for it. Need a bigger garage yet? |
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I don't know how y'all keep your license on the street! Curbs, ditches, lane splitting, these are things I see this bike being really good at. I had to restrain myself today quite a bit. |
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At least between me and the trail there are (hopefully) no soccer moms in their Honda Odysseys on their cell phones doing their makeup in the mirror trying to kill me. |
I understand the bike was pretty cheap, but wouldn't it make more sense to get say a DL650 Suzuki VStrom? I had one of those and it had great clearance, huge gas tank and a comfortable highway ride. Maybe a 85/15 street - dirt.
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Someone will probably prove me wrong with fancy maths, but this trip sounds like more than 15% unpaved roads.
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Congratulations on the bike!! |
Great find man! :rockwoot:
Looks like a friggin blast |
They quit moving after a while.
I did mine . . . 1st - 600 miles (no adjustment, but tight) 2nd - 1,800 miles (adjusted) 3rd - 6,000 (adjusted) 4th - 12,000 (no adjustment) 5th - 18,000 (no adjustment) 6th - 24,000 (adjusted) Every 6k is the recommended check. And there is no difference in pre/post '08 . . . except the post '08's burn oil like a furnace. |
Paint that mutha black!!!
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