Video 2018 KLR chat

[nick949]

Just a few moments chatting with my friend Norm about his addiction to KLR's and the nature of the Doohickey.

Nick

https://youtu.be/yWRcntsXLHI

[grebmrof]

Thanks Nick, I've had two KLRs and one is on my short list, so maybe I will have another before I hang up my helmet for good.  Nice to hear what Norm has done to his latest one...
Regards,
Tom

[Stretch]

Another bike that I'd like to try.

                            -Stretch

[Canuck750]

I had a 2006, traded it for a 2015. My sons have a 2007 and a 2012, I service all of them plus a good friends 2005. This year I opened up four KLR’s to replace the Doohickey and none of them had failed. Mileage was between 15,000 and 45,000 km. Still I put the new Doohickey in with the torsion spring upgrade. I am starting to think the horror of the doohickey is a bit exaggerated. I still love the KLR, despite all it’s inadequacy it has never let me down from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico and many, many places in between. I describe it as a bike that’s not great at anything but adequate for everything. I know this, I would take no other motorcycle across Mexico or to the Arctic.

[nick949]

I had a 2006, traded it for a 2015. My sons have a 2007 and a 2012, I service all of them plus a good friends 2005. This year I opened up four KLR’s to replace the Doohickey and none of them had failed. Mileage was between 15,000 and 45,000 km. Still I put the new Doohickey in with the torsion spring upgrade. I am starting to think the horror of the doohickey is a bit exaggerated. I still love the KLR, despite all it’s inadequacy it has never let me down from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico and many, many places in between. I describe it as a bike that’s not great at anything but adequate for everything. I know this, I would take no other motorcycle across Mexico or to the Arctic.

You're probably right Jim. Failures are undoubtedly few and far between but Norm is a bit of a perfectionist. With my somewhat cavalier attitude to breakdowns and maintenance, I'm a constant source of horror and amusement for him. 

Nick

[RinkRat II]

Problem is , nowhere in the video do we see the milk crate that all true KLR riders seem to consider part of the basic kit . What gives mate ? 

      The stuff of urban legends, Posers and wannabe's

       Paul B            My 2003   

[SIR REAL ED]

I had a 2006, traded it for a 2015. My sons have a 2007 and a 2012, I service all of them plus a good friends 2005. This year I opened up four KLR’s to replace the Doohickey and none of them had failed. Mileage was between 15,000 and 45,000 km. Still I put the new Doohickey in with the torsion spring upgrade. I am starting to think the horror of the doohickey is a bit exaggerated. I still love the KLR, despite all it’s inadequacy it has never let me down from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico and many, many places in between. I describe it as a bike that’s not great at anything but adequate for everything. I know this, I would take no other motorcycle across Mexico or to the Arctic.

Yep.  Complete agreement.  The horror of breakdowns in models that have been in production for decades (KLR 600 came out in in 1984/1986?) is often exaggerated. 

KLR 650's and DR 650's often seem to be the bikes of choice for ADV Riders.  Riders who are willing to wrench even a little have great confidence in them.

I'd take either on the trips you describe.