KLR 650...

[debtman7]

So, my wife has taken to motorcycling more than I expected. She also loves the GS. She's started hinting that I should find a bike for myself...

My plan had been to upgrade to something like the SV650 in a year or so and give her the GS, but she wants to ride together so now I'm shopping... With only a few weeks of riding experience, I'm thinking the SV is still a bit too much bike. I haven't seen a single GS come up in my area since I bought mine, and the new ones don't do it for me (too much plastic and too expensive new). I'm not into cruisers. The ninja 500's look a bit dated to me but I may consider it. But in terms of newbie friendly sporty standards, there isn't a whole lot available out there...

However, the new KLR fits the bill. I really dig the looks of the new 08's. They're supposed to be much more highway friendly. I'd be using it for commuting, fun rides, errands, general all purpose bike. I'm 6' and long legs, so it should fit fine. About the same weight and power as the GS. It's a thumper though, but the 08's are supposed to be nice and smooth.

The big thing I'd be concerned about is handling and acceleration. I would expect pretty similar acceleration to the GS. I'm a newbie, so I don't really need more than that, but I wonder if a thumper has different power characteristics or anything. Handling wise, I don't know, they're supposed to handle pretty well. Can anyone comment on how a KLR would handle differently than the GS? I'm not racing, I like to zip around corners some but I keep it well within a safe zone and I don't plan to push a bike for a while. The KLR also strikes me as a fun bike to keep around even if I eventually upgrade to a SV...

Any thoughts?

[Wrecent_Wryder]

t4

[debtman7]

Don't write off either the SV650, or the DL650. Most people have no problem making the transition from the GS. What I commonly hear is that the extra power is a thrill that takes about a half-hour to get used to.

Well yeah, the only problem is I've been riding for 2 weeks After a year the transition would probably be ok. I've seriously contemplated it, my only real concern is throttle response. With 2 weeks of riding I'm not exactly smooth. I can give the old GS a bit too much gas in a corner or at launch and it's no big deal. No idea how an SV or DL would compare, but I would imagine such a situation would be much more likely to lead to trouble...

I'm going to go sit on some stuff at lunch and see how they feel... The new KLR's are supposed to be smoother, with an improved counterbalancer and much better street manners. But they've just started coming out and I have no idea how feasible it would be to actually purchase one in the next month or so. Something about the look of the new 08's just really appeals to me...

Although I'm still half tempted just to get a ninja 250, since they're cheap and in a year I could sell it for not much of a loss. But I think after the GS I'd be unhappy on that for a year...

The ninja 650r is tempting too. Not a fan of all that plastic, but the reviews seem to indicate that the throttle response is much more newbie friendly than the SV.

[frye]

the ninja 650r is a great bike. they are a little quicker than the gs but still very friendly bikes. but the sv650 is also a very user friendly bike. ive rode a few when i had my gs nd like ryder said it only takes about a half an hour to get used to the throttle responnse. even at two weeks i personally think you would be ok as a long as you keep your brain connected to that throttle hand of yours. but then again i learned on a kan-of-tuna 750

[Wrecent_Wryder]

[5

[debtman7]

My bike is rejetted, it runs well. My throttle control is pretty good, just that at times I goose it too much during launch. Pretty harmless on the GS.

I've ridden about 200 miles so far.

I went and looked at the KLR650 at lunch, it's a no go. That thing is huge! I'm 6' tall and I was on the balls of my feet standing it up, after nearly having a hernia getting a leg over it. It felt top heavy as well, combined with not being able to flat foot it, I didn't feel comfortable sitting on it at all.

Also sat on an SV650 and loved it. Fit great, felt right. I likey. I could not find a single Ninja 650r anywhere, dealer said they can't keep them on the floor. Not a fan of plastic anyway...

Now I see two options:

SV650 or ninja 250r.

I know I know, why ninja? Well, it's cheap. It's small, it's kinda fun to wring around. I could sell it in a year for at least $2200. Insurance is dirt cheap. Gas mileage is really good. My wife could take it, although I don't know I could talk her into that after the GS. On the negative front, it's small and not the best highway cruiser. I'm almost positive I'd sell it next spring and buy an SV. I'm not a fan of the styling. Everyone says the ninja 250 is much better than any other 250 and plenty of bike, however after riding a 500 I doubt I'd enjoy it as much (I like the torque, however meager, the gs500 has).

On the SV650 end of things, well I want it. But it costs twice as much. Insurance is 4 times as much. The touchy throttle and strong engine braking concerns me. But it would probably last me many many years.

I'm ruling out another 500. I haven't seen any 500's in the ads for over a month. As much as I love my GS, I paid $1700 for it and I honestly can't see paying $5,200 for a new one, especially when $800 more gets an SV.

No dealers do test rides around here, so I have nothing to go on. Grrr.

[Alphamazing]

Maybe you could consider a DR-Z400SM? At 6' you should have no trouble flatfooting it, and it would still be an ideal bike to learn on since it is about as powerful as the GS is. It's also a heck of a lot more fun.

Nudge nudge wink wink.

[Jake D]

I agree with Alpha.  The DRZ seems a lot cooler than the KLR.  BTW, I looked over a KLR last night.  Pretty interesting.
Also there is no reason why you couldn't ride an SV.  It really doesn't have that much more power than a GS.  You won't even notice the power difference after your first ride unless you go back to the GS.  None of those bikes are going to set off any "OMG!" alarms in your brain.  On a more powerful bike, you go to WOT and you're like, "Holy crap!  This is crazy. . . this is crazy. . . slow down. . ." 

[scratch]

I'll second the DRZ! 

[natedawg120]

On a more powerful bike, you go to WOT and you're like, "Holy crap!  This is crazy. . . this is crazy. . . slow down. . ." 

Those were my thoughts exactly when I rode my friends 675 for the first time.  The DRZ is a good bike, but if you aren't getting a dual sport or motard to ride on some less than paved roads I would go with the SV.

[debtman7]

Dual sports don't really do much for me, I just really like the looks of the new KLR

I dunno on the SV. About half the people you talk to say it's too much bike, the other half say it's a perfect novice bike. No test rides, how am I supposed to know? I think I'll wait until fall and try to score a deal on an SV. Or wait for a good price on a used one to pop up.

[Jake D]

Okay, I just went to the Kawa website and looked at the 2008 KLR. 

You don't need a new bike, you need you eyes examined.  That bike makes the Multistrada look down right pretty. 

If that is what you like, then I have no part to play in this conversation.

Out!!!

[debtman7]

Hey we all have our tastes! I like it 

Unfortunately it's like 8 feet tall.

[ashman]

I rode a EX250 aka Ninja 250 for about a month as my first bike and I was happy with it. It was actually a friends that I was riding until he got his M/C license but anyway, for city driving it did just fine. We did a couple of camping trips with it and my GS and it never had a problem, best of all it got near 75 mpg. Oh, I had it up to an indicated 100 mph so it can go.

-Ash

[Wrecent_Wryder]

I5

[debtman7]

I'm not gonna say I toldja....

You need to sit on the DL650 ("V-Strom 650"), though. Just once. After that, you'll either be interested or not. The engine is basically the same as the SV, if anything a little de-tuned, but it's a much taller bike, more upright position.

I will, eventually I think for the time being I'm just going to keep my eyes out for another gs500 or ninja 500 cheap, something I can ride around for a year and sell for about what I paid for it and then upgrade this winter or next summer. I still haven't quite figured out the point of the DL though. I mean, it's like an SV, except it's kind of a dual sport, except that it's not really meant to go offroad. I haven't quite figured out why one would pick it over the SV...

I gotta say though, a ducati monster 695 makes me think too. About the same cost as the SVS with ABS...

[debtman7]

Dang, this is tempting...

http://columbus.craigslist.org/mcy/340438826.html

Not sure if something like that is too much bike...

[Alphamazing]

Two words: Super Motard

[natedawg120]

They are nice bikes,



They make around 70 HP at the crank and weight around 460lbs.  It shouldn't be to much as long as you know that there is going to be a learning curve with a bike that weighs more and has almost double the power.

[frye]

Dual sports don't really do much for me, I just really like the looks of the new KLR

I dunno on the SV. About half the people you talk to say it's too much bike, the other half say it's a perfect novice bike. No test rides, how am I supposed to know? I think I'll wait until fall and try to score a deal on an SV. Or wait for a good price on a used one to pop up.

congradulations.....your the first person ive ever heard compliment the KLR's looks. why dont you look at the XR650L and tard it out?