I picked up a 2005 KLR650 a couple weeks ago. I sold my last bike, a Honda Pacific Coast, about 2 1/2 years ago and was itching to get back in the saddle. Initially I was looking at sport tourers but decided my boys needed a chance to learn. So I got the KLR hoping it would serve a dual purpose - something for me to ride occasionally with my own brothers and something my two sons, 21 and 17, could learn on. Neither of them has ever ridden a motorcycle or driven a manual transmission so it was a bit of a learning curve for both of them. My oldest son is only 5'9" so I was a bit concerned about him starting out on such a tall bike. But he did fine. My 17yo is almost 6' so he had no trouble. We took the bike to my dad's back yard where I learned to ride too, on a Honda 70, when I was ten. My boys are learning on a 650. Not sure that was such a great idea but I have a 16t front sprocket on it for highway riding and better gas mileage which tames it down quite a bit in first gear. I think I'll probably need a new clutch and starter after today ;-) My oldest son went first:
Thanks! My oldest son wants to be a priest. He went on a mission trip over spring break to the Dominican Republic. The American priest who was pastor of the two parishes they worked at used a Yamaha 250 Enduro to travel over the huge territory his two rural parishes cover. Mike came home wanting to learn how to ride. Just in case he becomes a missionary priest. When I was ten my dad kept telling me I wasn't old enough to ride yet. So one weekend I spent a whole day pushing the Honda 70 up the back yard in this video and coasting it back down yelling, "See dad! I'm big enough!" I broke him down and he let me start riding that weekend. That was 38 years ago. My parents are probably going to have to sell the place soon. I'll miss it. Thirteen acres of awesome memories.
Thanks for sharing BK, awesome story. I'm glad the boys got the same opportunity as you did and shared the property before it goes.
Even cooler now that theres videos! I dont think they loaded first time I saw this. Looks like a fun learnijg experience!
I was looking at buying an Enduro about a month ago, but I'm only 5 feet 7 inches tall, so I gave up on that plan. Seat height is about 34 + for these machines.
They have lowering kits and Corbin seats that drop the seat height on these several inches. But I think the KLR would still be tall at your height. I've read that the Suzuki and Yamaha Enduros aren't as tall, don't know about the Hondas. BMW makes a nice 650 Enduro style bike but they're not really true enduros. The newer models have a low seat height.
I was looking at the Honda CFR 250 I believe. I would have to get a really good deal on a used one for how little we get to ride up north. The KLR has a big following. The design has been proven for a long time.
I put about 130 miles on mine yesterday. I can see why guys like them. It's relatively rider friendly and has decent power and I'm getting around 50mpg. The single cylinder engine does vibrate and its seat isn't made for long rides. I miss my sport touring bikes but I'm glad I bought something my sons can ride and it's definitely not something I'm worried about dropping. It's made to be beaten.
How fast will those go? I've been wanting one for a while now. Will it do highway speeds? I don't want it for a touring bike but will be on the highway every now and then.
Yes, it will easily do highway speeds. I'm running around 5000rpm at 65mph with a larger 16t front sprocket, getting over 50mpg. I'm a big guy, 6'2" and 300lbs, but the seating position is great for my bad back and it hauls me around just fine. My wife and I are trying to figure out how we're going to pay for our kids' college, now that I my second child is starting this fall, so I reluctantly decided to list it locally: http://classifieds.pennswoods.net/classifieds/viewad.cgi?adindex=2946785 My daughter could have a full paid commuter scholarship at the local campus of University of Pittsburgh based on her SATs, but she has her heart set on a good Catholic university out in Ohio, which will require a lot of $$$ for us out of pocket.
Fortunately the clutch plates and discs in the KLR are fairly rugged. I was running 13/45 in mine back in michigan because most of my riding was off road. I also ran the k760 track matter tires exclusively. Here in Minnesota I run 16/43 and the k761 since I ride a lot if pavement to get to any trails.
