'08 KLR 650

motomac

motomac

Joined
Sep 29, 2005
Messages
2,379
Location
Spring Valley CA
Bike
2018 Gold Wing
Well the cat is out of the bag so to speak, so here is the deal on my new KLR. I have been wanting a KLR since they came out in '86 and never had the money to have two bikes and then when I had the money I bought an ST. I didn't have room for three bikes and the car in my garage, so I couldn't get the KLR. Now that I am Wingless and have room for the KLR, I bought it. I rode it home in 30 degree weather on Friday 18 January. I put it in my signature that afternoon and then added it to my avatar a couple of days ago. It was cold on the ride home because the the little tiny windshield (that is not on the bike in the pictures) directed the air right at my neck and I forgot to bring my neck gaitor to the shop. The very first farkle on it before they even fired it up was my Gerbing's pig tail. So I was warm for the ride home everywhere but my neck and face. I have added a Motech engine guard, a Ricochet Skid plate, Maier hand guards, gripper type foot pegs, my 2720 GPS that was just refurbished by Garmin, the CB radio I got with my MOTY gift certs, and on the way yet are: a set of Tourances (tires), Happy Trails hard bags and top box, and a BIGGER windshield. I already had one windshield here but it was the '86 to '07 model and doesn't even come close to fitting and '08. So, that's my KLR story.

Big Tom, I really would have liked to got a black '07, but the '08 won out simply because of the upgrade in alternators. I know that I could run my Gerbing's on the older models, but with very little to spare. I mean we're talking turning them off if you put on your high beam, so I went with the bigger alternator rather than the BLACK!!!

I have a bit of the adventurer left in me, so the KLR will take me to the NW and Alaska, possibly the Transamerica Trail, And maybe a run down Mexico and SA. :p: Hmmm no KLR smileys!!!
 

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Hey Mac,

Glad you found what you've been looking for.

I looked at the '08 version last week, do I really need a 2nd bike....hmmmm?
 
Mac did you order your Happy Trails panniers yet?They are about 5 blocks from where I work and I could stop in and see if there are any for sale on the bulletin board.Also they come up for sale on Advrider.
 
Hmmm, Mac great minds think alike. I too hope to purchase a 08 KLR.

So, what happen to the wing? Did I miss something again?
 
Gem STate ST said:
Mac did you order your Happy Trails panniers yet?They are about 5 blocks from where I work and I could stop in and see if there are any for sale on the bulletin board.Also they come up for sale on Advrider.
Click to expand...

I have ordered them and have a ship date of 02 12 08. I ordered the Tetons in black and they had to make them up for me. I guess not many have black ones made, so they don't keep them on the shelves. I am a member at ADV and don't post much over there, but read several times a day. Thanks for the offer.
 
The KLR as a second bike, third bike ETC is the only way to go. I have my 97 set up for touring on and off road and I do ride it back and forth to Colorado. This past Nov I put 2500 miles on the bike in two weekends On weekend doing the Texas Hill country off road and the other weekend doing the mountains of Colorado. See my Web shots. 07 and older KLRs are cheap and there are a lot of STuff out there to buy for them. I will keep my 97 for about three more years and then move up to the new model KLR.

 
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Hooray Mac. You are going to have some fun with that baby. The KLR guys a pretty darn cool, too. About like the ST crowd in my mind!

I think since I got the alternator changed in the ST, a replacement dual sport is in my sights. I love the look of the new KLR ( I darn near did an impulse buy on the first one I saw!) and the V STrom. I seem to do more time on road than trails....Did you know that 85% of the roads in this country ARE NOT paved?

I don't even think there is a choice anymore. The '08s have all the advantage, alternator and do hickey among them.

So, my KLR is a '96, and I have the special tools for the 'dohickey' change if anyone needs to borrow them....Mac won't.
(A) Upgraded Dohickey, no need to change on the '08.
(B) Newer style, I think my tools are only good to the '99s
 
Hmm,,, I put a gel seat on my DRZ,, after look at the pix Mac, I'm thinking of having my stock seat Spencerized. No Wheelies Mac!
 
Papa said:
Hmm,,, I put a gel seat on my DRZ,, after look at the pix Mac, I'm thinking of having my stock seat Spencerized. No Wheelies Mac!
Click to expand...
I'm fixin' to send my seat to Spencer tomorrow. And we discussed wheelies in our PM!!!
 
My son who lives in the Phoenix area, has a three year old KLR and he told me last night that he went on a group ride with a local KLR group. One of the guys had a brand new 08 and this was the first time it was off road. Of course the guy ended up dropping it twice in gravel, got both sides baptised! :p:
 
If you're riding off road the bike is going to meet dirt...
At least the guy got the 1st scrapes in and they're out of the way!
:)
 
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