Author Topic: Trip report: KLR to California or bust  (Read 31770 times)

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #80 on: November 02, 2013, 06:49:52 AM »
Excellent write up Steve.  Thank you for making the photos small enough to be viewed on the forum instead of posting them full size which eats up my data limit and takes forever to load.  Us country folk are lucky to even have internet. 
My Concours Travels:
2014 New England Tour http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17336.msg212077#msg212077

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #81 on: November 04, 2013, 07:19:14 AM »
Thanks guys, and i found another LoL

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Offline ZG

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #82 on: November 04, 2013, 09:39:03 AM »
win   :finger_fing11:

Offline rhhall

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #83 on: November 08, 2013, 02:04:54 PM »
Great write-up. Brought a smile more than once and also green with envy. :goodpost:
rick
08 Connie ABS(totaled)
14 Connie

Offline Scaffolder

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #84 on: November 09, 2013, 06:07:36 AM »
Very good write up.
A little jealous over here.
Joel from Maine.

Son of Pappy

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #85 on: November 11, 2013, 10:24:14 AM »
500 EXC-W is a great choice, check out Giant Loop for hauling things around, can't say enough good things about their products.

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #86 on: November 11, 2013, 11:06:47 AM »
500 EXC-W is a great choice, check out Giant Loop for hauling things around, can't say enough good things about their products.

It appears a 2009 EXC 530 with less than a 1000 miles is falling in my lap right........ (fingers crossed) 

I'd love to get a steal rather than a stealership steal from me  ;D
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Son of Pappy

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #87 on: November 11, 2013, 04:05:09 PM »
Not that you don't know this, but the suspension will rock your world after the KLR.  And power delivery???  Eagerly awaiting pics of yer new stallion ;D

Offline Scaffolder

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #88 on: November 11, 2013, 04:07:23 PM »
How does the KLR do on long highway runs? Is 100 miles one way tolerable?
Joel from Maine.

Son of Pappy

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #89 on: November 11, 2013, 04:16:10 PM »
How does the KLR do on long highway runs? Is 100 miles one way tolerable?
Depends on the weather conditions and what tolerable is.  And of course, how often?  I wouldn't want to do what Steve did on the KLR, he earned much street cred for all the miles he piled on.  The KLR is a work horse, a bike that is a stepping stone to the land of dual sporting, lets call it a gateway bike.  It will always get you there, but leaves you wanting more.

Offline Scaffolder

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #90 on: November 11, 2013, 04:40:44 PM »
I've just been thinking about trying something a little different. Maybe the Versus is a better choice. I wouldn't be doing too much off-road. Mostly a 3-state commute.
I still get to shuffle from the 2010 C-14 to the 2011 C-14, but they feel so much alike.
Joel from Maine.

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #91 on: November 17, 2013, 09:09:22 AM »
How does the KLR do on long highway runs? Is 100 miles one way tolerable?

I did 400-500 miles days often.  I was in a hurry to get to the meet point in TX during the trip, and went 912 days in one day.  No probs.

KLR, Versys, WeeStrom, all fantastic  choices.  My trip goal was to take a 1 cylinder with knobbies across the country and back. The KLR did beyond great for this per that scope and expectation  :D
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #92 on: November 17, 2013, 12:43:47 PM »
I've just been thinking about trying something a little different. Maybe the Versus is a better choice. I wouldn't be doing too much off-road. Mostly a 3-state commute.
I still get to shuffle from the 2010 C-14 to the 2011 C-14, but they feel so much alike.

My Versys is the best all around bike I have ever owned.  Not a two up bike IMO, but a great one up.  It is my backroads tourer, but has blasted down the highway a time or two.

My Concours Travels:
2014 New England Tour http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17336.msg212077#msg212077

Offline Scaffolder

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #93 on: November 17, 2013, 03:16:02 PM »
Thanks guys.
I just saw a new 2013 Z1000 and a new 2011 Ninja 1000 both priced at $7999 pretty tempting.
Joel from Maine.

Offline Spanky

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #94 on: November 17, 2013, 04:35:16 PM »
I did 400-500 miles days often.  I was in a hurry to get to the meet point in TX during the trip, and went 912 days in one day.  No probs.


What are you, a time traveler?  lol.

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #95 on: November 17, 2013, 04:57:09 PM »
What are you, a time traveler?  lol.

Yeah I try to be!  Thanks for pointing out the error and bringing the thread back on topic as a KLR Off-road/on-road trip my friend  ;D
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #96 on: November 26, 2013, 05:17:08 PM »
Almost a sad day, this bike has been sold.  My KLR never was one to ride in the back of a truck like this, but I hauled it away.

Why it was only "almost" a sad day is a good friend bought it

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Son of Pappy

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #97 on: November 26, 2013, 05:26:06 PM »
I kinda hated selling mine as well, for light duty and gravel roads the KLR was awesome.  Loaded down, she was a pig, tractor like, and non stop.  Always put a smile on my face, but I rode a bike with modern suspension and I was so past her.  Probably why I will never cheat on my wife :-X

So, when will we see something orange?

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #98 on: November 26, 2013, 05:52:29 PM »
yeah I hated selling it but 6 bikes in the garage was rediculous.  Orange is here, I don't have a decent pic of it yet.  Exc 530, 23 hours, 908 miles, tons and tons of mods to do before its worthy
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Son of Pappy

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #99 on: November 26, 2013, 06:13:36 PM »
yeah I hated selling it but 6 bikes in the garage was rediculous.  Orange is here, I don't have a decent pic of it yet.  Exc 530, 23 hours, 908 miles, tons and tons of mods to do before its worthy
Be like Jay.  Use low tech cell phone pics :o