Q and the KiLleR

FastDoc · 01-15-2011, 03:25 PM

Roger wanted to go for a dual sport ride on his new KLR and I was only happy enough to be a guide.

Pretty nice weather today, mid 50's mostly cloudy and windy but good enough to enjoy motorcycling with a good friend. :P

Since Roger is a beginner, and his bike is immense (he also has a Q), we took it easy.

We did a 45 mile loop, about 80% off pavement. Most of the off pavement was dirt (mud too) and gravel roads, with some double and single track. :P

I had the pleasure of riding the KLR some and my gosh what a good bike! Something that big has no business being that good off pavement but even on the semi slimy single track it rode great! :!:

If it were my bike I'd drop a tooth, or two, off the countershaft for offroading but other than that it's good to go, even with stock Dunlop D/S tires.

On the road it's comfy, and VERY torquey. A pleasure.

Q did well, as usual. Always a pleasure to ride the little overachiever. 8)

I hope you guys had a chance to ride too as well.

Bill

The pics were just in my driveway after the ride and a good powerwashing.

Weldangrind · 01-15-2011, 07:58 PM

<--- is envious.

MICRider · 01-16-2011, 09:47 AM

Sweet! Nice D/S lineup

FastDoc · 01-16-2011, 08:15 PM

We're having some nice weather. Sunny and mid 60's today, but very windy. Ron and I rode street. He rode his Ultra, I took the Wing. We had a nice 100 miles, and a beer. Life is good.

I'm going to his house for dinner and will be taking Q. I hope we don't get blown off the road, but it's only 3 miles of backroads so I can take it easy. 8O

lego1970 · 01-17-2011, 10:51 AM

I really like the KLR's both old and new. I've watched a few videos of the new one's and they look like the ultimate long range dual sport. I especially like the blue KLR's.

BTW, like your vette in the background. Post some pics of that someday when you get a chance.

FastDoc · 01-17-2011, 01:53 PM

I had 2 of the last generation KLR's and I find the new one quite superior. The suspension is much better on the road, a little better off road and the engine. while no more powerful in feel, is smoother and more tractable. The brakes are much better, but it could really use a 6 speed with a lower first gear and better gear spacing to be a better trail/technical bike.

JMHO.

lego1970 · 01-17-2011, 03:15 PM

My DR650 has too tall of a first gear as well. That combined with it's pork really hampers it's tight trail work. I find that I'm always having to feather the clutch.

Something I've always wished for.
I wish they made a bike with a low range. Something where you just pull out the shift lever and your in low range. Something so ridiculously geared down that maybe the first two gears would only be good for walking along or pulling stumps because it would go to slow to ride.....then 3-4-5-6 gears would be fast enough to ride, but maybe top out at 20mph max. Anyway that's just what I wish for.

katoranger · 01-17-2011, 03:35 PM

Well, they used to make those. My Dad had a 100cc kawasaki with a hi/lo range. 10 speed.

Honda and Suzuki did too.

Honda on the original CT90 had two rear sprockets. One large and one small. Then in the tool box was an extra length of chain the you attached to gear down for off road use.

lego1970 · 01-17-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katoranger

Well, they used to make those. My Dad had a 100cc kawasaki with a hi/lo range. 10 speed.

Honda and Suzuki did too.

Honda on the original CT90 had two rear sprockets. One large and one small. Then in the tool box was an extra length of chain the you attached to gear down for off road use.

Huh, didn't know that. Any of them still do that?

FastDoc · 01-17-2011, 03:45 PM

Back when I had my 1996 XR250L I'd carry a larger and smaller front sprockets (2 tooth difference). I'd ride the bike to the trails with the large one, and switch when I got there and back again for the ride home. There was adequate rear wheel adjustment.

I assume your big DR is also a 5 speed?

lego1970 · 01-17-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

I assume your big DR is also a 5 speed?

Yea, it's a 5 speed.
Like you mentioned about the KLR, I wish it was a 6 speed with a lower 1rst. My old DR350 was a 6 speed and it was geared down pretty good, yet still could cruise 65mph. The only bad thing about the DR350 was that it stood 37" at the seat and I'm only 5'9", where as the DR650 is something like 34" so despite the added weight and tall first gear, it feels better to me........but it's still a pig.

FastDoc · 01-17-2011, 05:54 PM

Its a well engineered and capable pig though. I told Roger as much as I liked trail riding his bike I would not want to have to pick it up! 8O

I started calling it the BAB. Big Arse Bike. :P After switching back to Q, Q felt like a mountain bicycle.

katoranger · 01-17-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lego1970

Quote:

Originally Posted by katoranger

Well, they used to make those. My Dad had a 100cc kawasaki with a hi/lo range. 10 speed.

Honda and Suzuki did too.

Honda on the original CT90 had two rear sprockets. One large and one small. Then in the tool box was an extra length of chain the you attached to gear down for off road use.

Huh, didn't know that. Any of them still do that?

Not that I am aware of. All of the bikes that I know of were built in the seventies. Doc's era. :wink:

FastDoc · 01-17-2011, 07:05 PM

LMAO!

I'm only 46! I still have 4 good years left by my calculations! :roll:

katoranger · 01-17-2011, 08:44 PM

Only 4. Is that when we officially hit old or is it classic.

01-15-2011, 03:25 PM	#1
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Q and the KiLleR Roger wanted to go for a dual sport ride on his new KLR and I was only happy enough to be a guide. Pretty nice weather today, mid 50's mostly cloudy and windy but good enough to enjoy motorcycling with a good friend. :P Since Roger is a beginner, and his bike is immense (he also has a Q), we took it easy. We did a 45 mile loop, about 80% off pavement. Most of the off pavement was dirt (mud too) and gravel roads, with some double and single track. :P I had the pleasure of riding the KLR some and my gosh what a good bike! Something that big has no business being that good off pavement but even on the semi slimy single track it rode great! :!: If it were my bike I'd drop a tooth, or two, off the countershaft for offroading but other than that it's good to go, even with stock Dunlop D/S tires. On the road it's comfy, and VERY torquey. A pleasure. Q did well, as usual. Always a pleasure to ride the little overachiever. 8) I hope you guys had a chance to ride too as well. Bill The pics were just in my driveway after the ride and a good powerwashing. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

01-15-2011, 07:58 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	<--- is envious. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

01-16-2011, 08:15 PM	#4
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	We're having some nice weather. Sunny and mid 60's today, but very windy. Ron and I rode street. He rode his Ultra, I took the Wing. We had a nice 100 miles, and a beer. Life is good. I'm going to his house for dinner and will be taking Q. I hope we don't get blown off the road, but it's only 3 miles of backroads so I can take it easy. 8O __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

01-17-2011, 01:53 PM	#6
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I had 2 of the last generation KLR's and I find the new one quite superior. The suspension is much better on the road, a little better off road and the engine. while no more powerful in feel, is smoother and more tractable. The brakes are much better, but it could really use a 6 speed with a lower first gear and better gear spacing to be a better trail/technical bike. JMHO. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

01-17-2011, 03:35 PM	#8
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Well, they used to make those. My Dad had a 100cc kawasaki with a hi/lo range. 10 speed. Honda and Suzuki did too. Honda on the original CT90 had two rear sprockets. One large and one small. Then in the tool box was an extra length of chain the you attached to gear down for off road use. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

01-16-2011, 09:47 AM	#3
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	Sweet! Nice D/S lineup
	0

01-17-2011, 10:51 AM	#5
lego1970 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blue Springs, Missouri. United States Posts: 505	I really like the KLR's both old and new. I've watched a few videos of the new one's and they look like the ultimate long range dual sport. I especially like the blue KLR's. BTW, like your vette in the background. Post some pics of that someday when you get a chance.
	0

01-17-2011, 03:15 PM	#7
lego1970 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blue Springs, Missouri. United States Posts: 505	My DR650 has too tall of a first gear as well. That combined with it's pork really hampers it's tight trail work. I find that I'm always having to feather the clutch. Something I've always wished for. I wish they made a bike with a low range. Something where you just pull out the shift lever and your in low range. Something so ridiculously geared down that maybe the first two gears would only be good for walking along or pulling stumps because it would go to slow to ride.....then 3-4-5-6 gears would be fast enough to ride, but maybe top out at 20mph max. Anyway that's just what I wish for.
	0

01-17-2011, 03:45 PM	#10
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Back when I had my 1996 XR250L I'd carry a larger and smaller front sprockets (2 tooth difference). I'd ride the bike to the trails with the large one, and switch when I got there and back again for the ride home. There was adequate rear wheel adjustment. I assume your big DR is also a 5 speed? __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

01-17-2011, 05:54 PM	#12
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Its a well engineered and capable pig though. I told Roger as much as I liked trail riding his bike I would not want to have to pick it up! 8O I started calling it the BAB. Big Arse Bike. :P After switching back to Q, Q felt like a mountain bicycle. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

01-17-2011, 07:05 PM	#14
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	LMAO! I'm only 46! I still have 4 good years left by my calculations! :roll: __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

01-17-2011, 08:44 PM	#15
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Only 4. Is that when we officially hit old or is it classic. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0