Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: B12Teuton on September 15, 2005, 12:45:26 AM

Title: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: B12Teuton on September 15, 2005, 12:45:26 AM
No, I haven't bought a new bike (yet  :wink: )
But the guy next door bought a '88 Virago 250 and asked me to fix it up and get it running.  No big deal.
What a funny little bike.  He thinks it's great, and it does get 80mpg, but getting it over 60mph is a task in and of itself.  No matter, it's actually a fun little machine for about ten minutes!   Not bad for a few hundred bucks.

Seriously though, I might get a KLR650 to run around on.
I love those things!
Title: Re: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: Red01 on September 15, 2005, 06:26:52 AM
Quote from: "B12Teuton"
Seriously though, I might get a KLR650 to run around on.
I love those things!


I hear they're equally lousy at being a street bike and a dirt bike.  :wink:
And the ugliest of the 650 dual sports.
What puzzles me is that they seem to be the most popular.
Title: klr
Post by: tacoman on September 15, 2005, 02:17:21 PM
I think the attraction of the KLR is its "adventure touring" abilities at a low cost.  Plus, these things have been around for over 2 decades so they're stone reliable and there's a huge aftermarket.  Trying to be everything is its downfall.  Kawa sells a ton of these and are grinning all the way to the bank.  They sell and sell every year with only color and graphics changes.  Heck, when I was at the big Seattle M/C show last year, the KLR had a small crowd around it.  The only thing really similar is from KTM or BMW, and they start at around 10 grand.
Title: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: Red01 on September 15, 2005, 04:55:05 PM
Do the Honda XR650L & Suzuki DR650S not count because they're air-cooled?

Rumor has it the DR650 won't be in Suzuki's '06 line-up. At least not in the US. Pete, you may have a colector's item on your hands.  :wink:
Title: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: B12Teuton on September 19, 2005, 10:34:25 AM
Quote from: "Red01"
Do the Honda XR650L & Suzuki DR650S not count because they're air-cooled?

Rumor has it the DR650 won't be in Suzuki's '06 line-up. At least not in the US. Pete, you may have a colector's item on your hands.  :wink:


Yeah, the DR is gone for '06.
The XR is still the old air cooled one.  If they built a DP bike around the new liquid cooled 650R, it would be a great bike.
Title: Re: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: B12Teuton on September 19, 2005, 10:36:58 AM
Quote from: "Red01"

And the ugliest of the 650 dual sports.


Have you seen the '06??
It's Kawi lime green :duh:
(http://members.shaw.ca/mtf2006/images/klr650.jpg)
Title: Re: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: PitterB4 on September 19, 2005, 10:39:33 AM
Quote from: "B12Teuton"
Quote from: "Red01"

And the ugliest of the 650 dual sports.


Have you seen the '06??
It's Kawi lime green :duh:
(http://members.shaw.ca/mtf2006/images/klr650.jpg)


What's your point???   :stickpoke:  :monkeymoon:
Title: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: PeteSC on September 19, 2005, 01:05:35 PM
Check the VIN plate, Manny, the KLR650 has been built in Thailand for the last few years.
  It's an OK bike, but I'm happy with the DR.  Quite a few guys on my DR board have had both bikes, and prefer the DR.
Title: I'm on a Bandit!
Post by: B12Teuton on September 20, 2005, 08:19:56 AM
I'm on a Bandit today!!

My buddy has an '03 B12S (in the faster SILVER color, just like mine was).  He's on his Honeymoon, so I am bike sitting this week!

Feels like home!  :motorsmile:
My 32 mile commute to work this morning went notably quicker than usual!  :banana:
Title: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: PitterB4 on September 20, 2005, 08:45:31 AM
Manny's got the itch... Manny's got the itch!!!!!!!!

 :banana:
Title: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: B12Teuton on September 21, 2005, 08:30:41 AM
It's been nice commuting.
Some friends of mine just moved down here from CT and they are selling a Bandit 400!  :motorsmile:
Title: Back in the saddle again...
Post by: PitterB4 on September 21, 2005, 12:17:11 PM
There you go!  You'd have fun with that.   :motorsmile: