KLRs

[Coyote Chris]

Went to my local motorsports dealer to get a tire put on a wheel and saw 10 KLRs in a row....4000 miles ago I put a Michilen Road 5 GT (heavy duty) on the rear of my FJR and it looks fine. The front got a non GT Road 5 and has too much cupping and wear for me to trust it on a long trip. Also, the rubber around the base of the metal angled valve stem was cracked. I went with a Road 6 GT for the front. I need to take one more bike trip since the cascades are going up in smoke and mud slides (!) and no Reno this year but it will have to be mid Sept. Gonna start in Wyoming and go somewhere that isnt here.

The 6 is suspposed to wear 10 percent slower than the 5...it was 10 bucks more.


Had a weird day weather wise...cooler than the blistering hot temps we have had and some clouds. The evening walk reminded me more of the middle of Sept than August. Kind of depressing with no Reno to look forward to and Fall/Winter on the way.....gonna ride down and camp out at a fly-in in Hood River Oregon....100 cars in the museum and lots of old planes. Winter is coming. Maybe there are a few more good days of camping left....

 

[mikesim]

This time of year is kinda depressing since we all know that ol' man winter is right around the corner. My son and I are planning a trip to the Maritimes in mid-Sept so I hope it stays somewhat warm.

Mike

 

[Chucksklrst]

And we have a week of 90+ degree days to look forward to. Too many 90 + degree days this summer. Looking forward to a great Sept and Oct here on the front range. Speaking of KLRs, they have grown too big and heavy over the years from when I owned a first gen KLR. Back then it would go anywhere and never break. Could trouble shoot and repair in the field if necessary. even at 12000 ft. Simple carburetor and if you dropped it, no need to worry about breaking a bunch of plastic. The good old days.

 

[Coyote Chris]

This time of year is kinda depressing since we all know that ol' man winter is right around the corner. My son and I are planning a trip to the Maritimes in mid-Sept so I hope it stays somewhat warm.

Mike

Should be beautiful with the colors....very nice.

 

[Coyote Chris]

And we have a week of 90+ degree days to look forward to. Too many 90 + degree days this summer. Looking forward to a great Sept and Oct here on the front range. Speaking of KLRs, they have grown too big and heavy over the years from when I owned a first gen KLR. Back then it would go anywhere and never break. Could trouble shoot and repair in the field if necessary. even at 12000 ft. Simple carburetor and if you dropped it, no need to worry about breaking a bunch of plastic. The good old days.

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92 here tomorrow. Again. Too many 90 plus days.

 

[Yoda]

94 this afternoon. But, a chilly 52 this morning. No need for air conditioning here. Blankets always on the bed. We’ll probably have first frost in a month or so.
Rich

 

[junglejim]

Goofy weather this summer. Wet spring/early summer. Then very dry mid-summer and turning very wet late summer.

My riding has become much less enjoyable due to the crowded roads, drunk, drugged, distracted, and just plain bad drivers. Motorcyclists always have to watch out for the cars trying to kill us but it’s getting so much worse. Lack of traffic law enforcement doesn’t help either. I’m keeping my motorcycle for now but I just don’t ride/enjoy it as much anymore.

 

[Chucksklrst]

Goofy weather this summer. Wet spring/early summer. Then very dry mid-summer and turning very wet late summer.

My riding has become much less enjoyable due to the crowded roads, drunk, drugged, distracted, and just plain bad drivers. Motorcyclists always have to watch out for the cars trying to kill us but it’s getting so much worse. Lack of traffic law enforcement doesn’t help either. I’m keeping my motorcycle for now but I just don’t ride/enjoy it as much anymore.

Agreed, getting across Denver to the foothills can be a frightening experience. Once in the foothills on the small back canyon roads it is much better. How ever there is more traffic there than was 5 years ago. Best time of year to ride is early Spring or after Labor Day when the colors are changing. Just be very carful and slow down when riding during Aspin color changes. Common occurrence is to come around a corner and have someone stopped in the middle of the road taking pictures of the leaves. Please be carful out there my friends. More crazy cell phone texters are on the roads lately.

 

[mikesim]

The red Wee sure looks nice......

Mike

 

[Coyote Chris]

Goofy weather this summer. Wet spring/early summer. Then very dry mid-summer and turning very wet late summer.

My riding has become much less enjoyable due to the crowded roads, drunk, drugged, distracted, and just plain bad drivers. Motorcyclists always have to watch out for the cars trying to kill us but it’s getting so much worse. Lack of traffic law enforcement doesn’t help either. I’m keeping my motorcycle for now but I just don’t ride/enjoy it as much anymore.

I know exactly what you mean. I seldom go just riding anymore. And not around town. I will take back roads to the grocery store or post office. Or go see the military cemetery. With the Cascades trashed with fires and road closures and mud slides, my next trip is Sept 5,6,7, and 8 to a car museum/ aeroplane museum 100 plane flyin in Hood river and then in mid Sept I will roam the back roads of Wyoming for awhile. And camp. The highway dept just oiled and chipped my road and the morons in pickups ignore the signs and drive fast and hit me with rocks as I creept slowly to my driveway.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Agreed, getting across Denver to the foothills can be a frightening experience. Once in the foothills on the small back canyon roads it is much better. How ever there is more traffic there than was 5 years ago. Best time of year to ride is early Spring or after Labor Day when the colors are changing. Just be very carful and slow down when riding during Aspin color changes. Common occurrence is to come around a corner and have someone stopped in the middle of the road taking pictures of the leaves. Please be carful out there my friends. More crazy cell phone texters are on the roads lately.

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ITA. Anymore, its like traffic laws dont exist. In my county and my little town, the growth of people and congestion and road rage and people just ignoring laws is scary. Now the back roads of MT and WY and ID are still pretty good.....

 

[Coyote Chris]

Business is slow....

 

[DirtFlier]

My guess is that bike inventories at most dealerships is now the complete opposite what it was during the pandemic years - too many bikes and not enough customers.

 

[Warren]

My guess is that bike inventories at most dealerships is now the complete opposite what it was during the pandemic years - too many bikes and not enough customers.

Seems like all the riders I see on the roads are old guys on their Harley’s. It seems in the US it was a generational thing. Motorcycles resonated with the baby boom generation when Honda and the others started importing their small bore affordable motorcycles in the late 50’s and early 60’s. For what ever reason it has not caught on to the same extent with future generations. I know my son has never had any interest in riding a motorcycle.

 

[mikesim]

Both of my sons ride motorcycles (I was a bad influence) but I cant think of any of their friends that ride. It seems that motorcycling just didn't catch on with the younger generations..... too many electronic distractions I suppose...

Mike

 

[Phil Tarman]

Here in Greeley, I'm seeing a big increase in younger sport bike riders. Close to as many of them as Harley riders of all ages.

 

[mikesim]

Here in Greeley, I'm seeing a big increase in younger sport bike riders. Close to as many of them as Harley riders of all ages.

If your CO sportbike riders ride like MO sportbike riders, there won't be that many to survive to our age to amount to anything. At least it appears that the majority wear helmets and some semblance of protective gear.

Mike

 

[karl]

More than half the dealers in this area have shut down the rest are on life support. all of the indie shops have shut down. Not auspicious at all.

 

[coaster]

And we have a week of 90+ degree days to look forward to. Too many 90 + degree days this summer. Looking forward to a great Sept and Oct here on the front range. Speaking of KLRs, they have grown too big and heavy over the years from when I owned a first gen KLR. Back then it would go anywhere and never break. Could trouble shoot and repair in the field if necessary. even at 12000 ft. Simple carburetor and if you dropped it, no need to worry about breaking a bunch of plastic. The good old days.

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I am still riding my KLR the only bike I have right now, sold the NT and the R3 the KLR has always been a hoot.

 

[Phil Tarman]

If your CO sportbike riders ride like MO sportbike riders, there won't be that many to survive to our age to amount to anything. At least it appears that the majority wear helmets and some semblance of protective gear.

Mike

I haven't seen the kind of craziness here that I've noticed back east. I don't remember seeing sport bike riders without a helmet and most seem to wear at least some protective gear.