The KLR is the cockroach of the motorcycle world....and I mean that in the nicest possible way... when the world ends every moto you see will likely be a KLR... super solid state platforms that just keep on working. Not many singles you see with 60-100K miles on them and that is not uncommon on those bikes. Such a great platform.
Not quite as advertised.... "Clean one owner, well maintained, ready to ride" Picked up a second bike to compliment my recent KLR purchase. 09 650V-Strom with 9k miles. Needs a little tlc, and a lot of cleaning. The bike was not quite as advertised (at all) but I had a hard time faulting the guy selling it as he could barely stand for 5 minutes at a time (health issues) and I think he did not really want to part with the bike. I spotted several of the issues right away but just did not have the heart to beat the guy up, he probably needed the money more than me. It was a solid bike but had set in a barn for a few years, so mice had moved in. Currently waiting for tires and have stripped down all plastics and tank looking for damaged wires, corrosion and general cleaning. Sand and paint a few rust areas. I knew the tires where bald .... but I did not spot this section until after I rode it home (30 minute highway) .... yikes!!
Well this cleaned up pretty good. Stripped down and cleaned all mouse funk out, cleaned and painted some rust spots, checked and repaired any wiring issues (only 2 wires slightly nibbled) and soaked the plastics in Pin-Sol to get out the mouse pee smell.... yuk. Slipped on some new rubber and lubed the chain. Put about 500 miles on it last week and can say I am much happier about the purchase now than I was when first bringing it home ha ha. I can see why people like these bikes, quite comfortable on highway, decent on gravel and dirt roads and just enough squeeze to have fun without "go directly to jail" speeds. The best part is being WAAY cheaper than a new bike.
The Vstrom is SUCH A GREAT platform and power plant! Both of my sons have owned a 2015 Vstrom 650 (1 each) and they were great bikes. Kinda like a Swiss Army knife of motos for sure! Enjoy and it cleaned up well!
We prefer " The AK 47 of Motorcyles " but yea, they won't win any beauty awards. Mine yesterday, heading here abouts. In it's natural state. Camp Fire last night, in pictures. Flint and Steel with the Machete, Steel Wool instead of Char Cloth. The Road Home, Today.
Yesterday in the Cascades. The only tools I used for my trip, Coldsteel Shovel, Bowsaw Blade, Mini Leatherman. Tools ready. shot of camp. Fire made by beating on Cold Steel Shovel with a Rock into Steel wool. Line up for Morning Fire practice, Shovel, Rock, Cedar charred in last nights fire. Packing up. The ride out.
Looks like I'm about to drop about $800 in the engine. I was expecting $800 to get some tires and chain and sprockets too, but the timing parts are more than I expected. I could probably reuse the factory piston, but I'm going to put a wiseco in it. I rode about 20 miles yesterday, mostly on dirt roads. It was smoking pretty good towards the end. I'm just glad I didn't stall it away from home. I call it my exercise bike. I wore myself out 3 times kicking that thing yesterday.
Took the CRF450RL out for it's first shake down run after the build... bolt check complete and this thing is an adventure machine... big plans for this rig in the Spring!
