Kansas riders ?

Try putting a big screwdriver perpendicular between the chain and the rear sprocket. That normally keeps her from turning. It's held good enough to break loose blue loctite for me before.

Ian

Wait til you have to change the clutch on a GS if you think a Strom clutch is hard.


A 650 or 1000 Strom will haul alot of stuff without any trouble, that will leave you with enough money for a DR650 later.

I find it to be about the perfect combo, taking a trip? out comes the Strom.
going to ride more dirt? take the DR, the DR can be traveled on just like a KLR. I have some racks and soft saddlebags that can carry quite a bit of stuff.

A used Strom can be picked up very reasonably with some bags and stuff thrown in, same thing with the DR.
other than a year or two that had leaky base gaskets the DR is very reliable.
valve checks are very easy and they are screw adjust if they need any adjustment.

Gordon got a low mileage GS, a used 1100 or 1150 can be a financial disaster waiting to happen, especially if it has quite a few miles.
final drive, driveshaft u-joints,gearboxes, none of them are cheap to fix.

The F800GS looks really good but I'd give them a couple of years to work out the bugs.
seeing a few of those rear shock bolts bent like a pretzel would make me wait.

If the Strom isn't your style maybe look at a Triumph Tiger, those triples are fun engines.

Taking the Superduke to a trackday Sunday.
haven't been on a racetrack in a while so its time to knock some rust off my riding skills.

Impact wrench is the answer to that prob [elect(cheap) or Air]
everytime I get ready to sell my DR I ride it and that is the end
of that thought.
Only way I would sell the Wee is ifin I was going to buy a Tiger.

Whew. I was afraid for a minute you were going to tell your broomstick and chain lube story.

Tim, have you considered an airhead GS or GSPD? I always thought I was too short to ride one until I got one. Now, I can't imagine riding anything else. Sure, I've had to put some time and money into reworking a few things, but I could still sell it for what I have in it. They are so simple; I can't see ever paying dealer prices to have it worked on. As for having to pick it up, this past weekend, I dropped it twice in the same creek crossing (going in and coming out after hitting a dead end), and it wasn't a problem. Damn slick mud! On the pavement, we cruise at 75mph all day. Gas mileage isn't great (40mpg), but the over 9 gallon capacity makes up for it.

Tom

Just get a el cheapo KLR for everything. They dont do any thing really well, so you have an excuse when you cant keep up with anybody, riding anything, anywhere.

and did I mention they are dirt cheap.

Get the one with the higher pegs or a pair of really good boots.

As I look back keeping my KLR would have saved me a bunch of
money. I farkled that bike very little and it served me well. One of the
only bikes that stock seat was tolerable.

Kirby's in Chanute has brand new '09 KLRs for $4500. I gave it some serious thought a few weeks ago when they were around $4800, but bought the '05 Wee Strom instead. If they'd been $4500 then, I would have had a hard time passing it up.

http://www.cycletrader.com/find/dealers/Kirby's-SuperSports/710683/Page-3/Sort-price:asc

Yeah, and you can work on them just about anywhere...... just remember to bring a tube.

A tube of what?

or remember your not on a KTM with 13" clearance. dang that hurt, its still black by the way.

yeah, you have to watch the throttle hand, with all that h.p., they can really eat up the tubes & tires.
















oser

KYR lube?

Sorry Gene, I couldn't resist digging through my Smugmug for that picture.


That lube is too expensive,a KLR rider would never spend that much.

factoid.

I'll pray for your final drive.

That's funny but it won't do any good.oser
keep a GS long enough and you are gonna buy one.

Of all the pictures this one is the money shot of my and Grif's weekend in CO.

65 mph just south of Sargents

https://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=490399