kletzenklueffer
07-13-2010, 01:13 PM
2000 must have been a good year for KLR, given the number of them on this site alone.
Well, I've been browsing craigslist for the last couple years looking at KLR's, and all elements finally converged to open the path to a 2000 model for me too.
I picked mine up last week for $1,100. It seems like a steal to me. It has a few extras that sealed the deal- doohickey replaced with an Eagle Mike doo, IMS shifter, Wolfman Explorer tank bag, tall windshield, hardened subframe bolts already installed, new tires, extra tubes and brake lever, and factory service manuals, also a new battery. It has 32,000 miles. The valves have been checked and the bike was owned by a guy that rode it to work only, no offroading.
I've never ridden a motorcycle and didn't even know if I'd be able to coordinate twisting the throttle and steering at the same time. I got it home and rolled it off the trailer and was going to ride it in to the shop. I tried starting it and forgot about the fuel cut off and drained the battery. So this weekend I bought and installed a battery tender. Pretty neat little piece of equipment in itself.
So after putting around in the yard and on my sons ATV trail, I hit the road (we live in the country, so no tag is no big deal around here, considering golf carts, ATVs, dirtbike and more are on the pavement any given day). So I hit the road and found that the bike really seems to like pavement It handles well, grips nicely and just feels natural. At first I was zipping through the gears getting a feel for the throttle. For someone that has never ridden a bike, it has all the power I'd want. I'm sure in time I might want more performance, but it feels like plenty for now. After a bit of full throttle passes I rode it like I owned it and did normal shifts and just putted down the road a 40mph. A guy at work yesterday told me about counter-steering, so I tried what he told me- pointing in the direction I wanted to go. Weird! It steers backwards!! I might have been doing it anyways, but never concsiously did it.
I'm trying to decide between an IMS tank and tank guards. I want to offer some protection to the radiator. I already had two little "offs", one on each side. The second broke the clutch lever. All I'm gonna say is grass is slippery.
It's very cool to be riding, and after looking a pictures of KLR's for two or more years, once I was on it, I see why it's called a mule. It's certainly a heavy bike for tight riding in the woods where my sone ATV trail is. I look forward to my first trail ride.
Well, I've been browsing craigslist for the last couple years looking at KLR's, and all elements finally converged to open the path to a 2000 model for me too.
I picked mine up last week for $1,100. It seems like a steal to me. It has a few extras that sealed the deal- doohickey replaced with an Eagle Mike doo, IMS shifter, Wolfman Explorer tank bag, tall windshield, hardened subframe bolts already installed, new tires, extra tubes and brake lever, and factory service manuals, also a new battery. It has 32,000 miles. The valves have been checked and the bike was owned by a guy that rode it to work only, no offroading.
I've never ridden a motorcycle and didn't even know if I'd be able to coordinate twisting the throttle and steering at the same time. I got it home and rolled it off the trailer and was going to ride it in to the shop. I tried starting it and forgot about the fuel cut off and drained the battery. So this weekend I bought and installed a battery tender. Pretty neat little piece of equipment in itself.
So after putting around in the yard and on my sons ATV trail, I hit the road (we live in the country, so no tag is no big deal around here, considering golf carts, ATVs, dirtbike and more are on the pavement any given day). So I hit the road and found that the bike really seems to like pavement It handles well, grips nicely and just feels natural. At first I was zipping through the gears getting a feel for the throttle. For someone that has never ridden a bike, it has all the power I'd want. I'm sure in time I might want more performance, but it feels like plenty for now. After a bit of full throttle passes I rode it like I owned it and did normal shifts and just putted down the road a 40mph. A guy at work yesterday told me about counter-steering, so I tried what he told me- pointing in the direction I wanted to go. Weird! It steers backwards!! I might have been doing it anyways, but never concsiously did it.
I'm trying to decide between an IMS tank and tank guards. I want to offer some protection to the radiator. I already had two little "offs", one on each side. The second broke the clutch lever. All I'm gonna say is grass is slippery.
It's very cool to be riding, and after looking a pictures of KLR's for two or more years, once I was on it, I see why it's called a mule. It's certainly a heavy bike for tight riding in the woods where my sone ATV trail is. I look forward to my first trail ride.