Back in the saddle again...

[B12Teuton]

No, I haven't bought a new bike (yet   )
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!

[Red01]

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.  
And the ugliest of the 650 dual sports.
What puzzles me is that they seem to be the most popular.

[tacoman]

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.

[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.  

[B12Teuton]

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.  

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.

[B12Teuton]

And the ugliest of the 650 dual sports.

Have you seen the '06??
It's Kawi lime green

[PitterB4]

And the ugliest of the 650 dual sports.

Have you seen the '06??
It's Kawi lime green

What's your point???    

[PeteSC]

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.

[B12Teuton]

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!  
My 32 mile commute to work this morning went notably quicker than usual!  

[PitterB4]

Manny's got the itch... Manny's got the itch!!!!!!!!

 

[B12Teuton]

It's been nice commuting.
Some friends of mine just moved down here from CT and they are selling a Bandit 400!  

[PitterB4]

There you go!  You'd have fun with that.