Author Topic: Trip report: KLR to California or bust  (Read 31775 times)

Offline stevewfl

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Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« on: October 04, 2013, 02:40:16 PM »
Awaiting house sitter arrival then heading out for a thumper trip from FL to Carolinas to work from mom's a few days, then a 3 week excursion  to the he desert of California/AZ, Nevada and all the Marriotts, Hyatts, Motel 8's, and mega-camping I can squeeze in. Friends and family in Vegas/Phoenix/Carolinas etc all included.

I'll also be doing 2 ADV forum off-road/camping meets:  Death Valley/Gold Point and Roll the Bones Rally in rural TX.

I'm packed and awaiting the house-sitter.  I picked up a KLR on the cheap within the last few weeks and put used crap on it such as panniers, pelican top case, wired it for heated suit, usb phone charger, 12V air compressor, it has handlebar risers, cycra handguards, Madstadt windscreen, bash plate, highway pegs and a host of other stuff I cant remember.

WAVE IF YOU SEE ME ON THE ROAD, I look like a modern day Jed Clampet - I'm rolling like this:

« Last Edit: October 04, 2013, 03:10:43 PM by stevewfl »
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Offline RubiconMike

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2013, 02:43:43 PM »
Looks awesome, have a great ride!

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2013, 02:52:39 PM »
Looks awesome, have a great ride!

Thank you sir, I'll be posting up some pics in this thread along the way =)
“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 #3 on: October 04, 2013, 03:59:49 PM »
 :thumbs: :popcorn:

Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2013, 07:46:16 PM »
Thank you sir, I'll be posting up some pics in this thread along the way =)

Groovy, have a blast!!

Safety third.
Perfection Is A Fantasy, Improvement Is Possible(Margie J)
America's Seaplane City
'99 Conk: 234k mi, '98 KLR650, both gone, '15 Versys 650LT: 74k mi
COG 5603, IBA 19921, CBMMA 50 (Cheap B@st@rds Motorcycle Maintenance Assoc, 18 year member)

Offline tweeter55

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2013, 08:37:39 PM »
If safety is third and fun is first, what's second?
Over the years:       1972 Harley Rapido
1972 Suzuki T350R  1979 BMW R100RT
1987 Honda Helix.    2006 Kawasaki Concours

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #6 on: October 06, 2013, 07:43:54 AM »
Groovy, have a blast!!

Safety third.

Thanks Steve

Went east to go west, at mom's in Columbia SC to visit family and friends and munch on Carolina hickory smoked BBQ. Can't deal with the oak and palm and such used in Fl!  The kid house sitting my place suggested I never come back hehe
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2013, 07:51:39 AM »
If safety is third and fun is first, what's second?
Open for interpretation.
Perfection Is A Fantasy, Improvement Is Possible(Margie J)
America's Seaplane City
'99 Conk: 234k mi, '98 KLR650, both gone, '15 Versys 650LT: 74k mi
COG 5603, IBA 19921, CBMMA 50 (Cheap B@st@rds Motorcycle Maintenance Assoc, 18 year member)

Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2013, 07:55:48 AM »
Thanks Steve

Went east to go west, at mom's in Columbia SC to visit family and friends and munch on Carolina hickory smoked BBQ. Can't deal with the oak and palm and such used in Fl!  The kid house sitting my place suggested I never come back hehe

Enjoy your hickory.
[thread jack]

Do some folks actually use palm for smoking????

[/thread jack]

You do know that with you being gone now, you will miss the washing of my bike(semi annual event) at one of the bikini bike washes over in Daytona.

Have fun.
Perfection Is A Fantasy, Improvement Is Possible(Margie J)
America's Seaplane City
'99 Conk: 234k mi, '98 KLR650, both gone, '15 Versys 650LT: 74k mi
COG 5603, IBA 19921, CBMMA 50 (Cheap B@st@rds Motorcycle Maintenance Assoc, 18 year member)

Offline Gumby

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #9 on: October 06, 2013, 08:41:53 AM »
Looks like fun.  :popcorn:

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2013, 05:15:46 AM »
Check the oil level every morning.  Those bikes will use oil, especially at interstate speeds.  Do you know if it has the thermobob, and doohickey spring upgrade?

My neighbor has my KLR and it now has 50,000 miles on it.



I miss it sometimes, but when I am in a tuff spot, I much prefer the KLX250.
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 #11 on: October 07, 2013, 06:50:14 PM »
Thanks will do, so far I went 500 miles and oil is still same but I expect it to use some indeed

This thread is getting lame with my not posting trip pics. But I'm still working from mom's. i went east to Carolinsa to go west. Today rolled in a parade in my parents 1956 Seagrave fire truck. My dad was the chief here. This was the oldest truck among the 30 or so. A few phone pics:











Michelin plant fire department brought ADV toys









Off to the fire house for the press conference and social, I knew it would be good when I saw a real SC non chain BBQ catering truck. Shealys is among the finest in the South. No oak or palm tree or propane, this stuff is all hickory wood smoked



I have a decent size pelican case as a top box on the klr. Or I thought so till I saw these they were HUGE



Mom in the red shirt on the left, me beside her. One of the bagpipe crew across from us. If love to learn to play bag pipes but the kilt is a bit much



Made friends with the South Carolina Gamecocks college football mascot "Cocky"



Firehouse garage started filling up as parade trucks arrived


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

Offline Scaffolder

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2013, 08:13:17 PM »
Have a safe trip.
Joel from Maine.

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #13 on: October 07, 2013, 08:47:28 PM »
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #14 on: October 07, 2013, 08:59:40 PM »
Just remember the ADV moto, "It aint an adventure until something goes wrong" ;)  Just keep "wrong" something small and simple ;D

Offline stevewfl

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #15 on: October 08, 2013, 06:46:37 PM »
Just remember the ADV moto, "It aint an adventure until something goes wrong" ;)  Just keep "wrong" something small and simple ;D

Thanks I'll certainly try!
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

Offline Rhino

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #16 on: October 09, 2013, 09:43:31 AM »
Where you be now?

Stopped in at the local BMW dealer. They had a G 650 GS Sertao. Seems expensive at $8,600 but when I look at what I had to put on my DR650, that I wouldn't have to do on this bike, not so much. I like it better than the big GS Beemers because it's still light like my DR but with the stuff I would want on my DR if I could get it. First EFI, better power better gas mileage. The 3.7 gal tank on this bike will go as far as the aftermarket 5 gal tank on my DR. Second, remote hydraulic rear pre load adjuster. Exactly what a light adv bike needs. Put your load on, crank in some more pre load and the side stand still works. Get to camp, unload, soften it up some to go exploring without the load.  Third, ABS. Turn it on for the street, turn it off for the dirt. The dealer owner wanted me to take it out for ride. I didn't because it knew it would be too tempting and after 37 years I still want to be married.

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/index.html

Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #17 on: October 09, 2013, 05:42:24 PM »
Cool fire truck.

Say, don't they have a rather large Highland Games get together somewhere up in Cackacky?
Perfection Is A Fantasy, Improvement Is Possible(Margie J)
America's Seaplane City
'99 Conk: 234k mi, '98 KLR650, both gone, '15 Versys 650LT: 74k mi
COG 5603, IBA 19921, CBMMA 50 (Cheap B@st@rds Motorcycle Maintenance Assoc, 18 year member)

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Trip report: KLR to California or bust
« Reply #18 on: October 09, 2013, 07:28:19 PM »
Hey Steve, just don't do what I did yesterday.

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=15383.new#new
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 #19 on: October 12, 2013, 12:07:42 AM »
Nice! Rhino but it what are you waiting on!?

SteveJ, I really wouldn't know but let's ride up there anyway some time hehe

Twowheel hate that happened hope you heal quickly!
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine