Well ... this will be different ...

[Rat]

Can’t bear to be without 2 wheels ... lately I can’t seem to keep an old Goldwing functioning for more than a year or two ... so thought I’d go smaller, simpler and (way) newer, hoping to ride without too much wrenching.
Wrenching doesn’t have the appeal it used to when I could bend over ...

So here's the 'new' toy ... 2014 KLR650 thumper ... guy has it stripped down but all the fairing bits and windshield stuff comes with it ... he bought a brand new Ducatti dual sport ...

C7F68745-5917-4409-9EE4-4C5BA76BF677.jpeg

Haven’t brought it home yet, he’s looking after the Mechanical Fitness Test, but took it for a ride ... yippee ... now that's REALLY different ... that 21” front wheel turns in right now !!
Have to learn to be a little more judicious with my inputs ...

Gord

PS. I still have the ‘76GL1000 at Oldewing's place so I can still hang around here ...

[ascot]

Congrats on the new purchase! Looking forward to joining you on an "adventure" ride!

[CYBORG]

Wow. That looks like a learning curve, and an adventure. Can't seem to visualize you on that bike Still got your tank bag here at the house, should look good on that bike I understand your concerns about the wings. Kinda there myself.

[gltriker]

[robin1731]

You will like that. Lot's of fun and go just about any where.

.

[desertrefugee]

You will like that. Lot's of fun and go just about any where.

Exactly why I would be reluctant to own one. I would take it places I probably shouldn’t go and would end up putting my body at more risk than I do on the mean streets of Phoenix!

Congrats on the new acquisition Gord!

[Rat]

You will like that. Lot's of fun and go just about any where

Robin ... can you suggest anyone who knows about Kawasakis ??

Gord

[05c50]

Congratulations Gord. My riding buddy has one and loves it. He's somewhat mature and a little vertically challanged but it fits him well. He mounts it like a horse, one foot on the left peg and throws the right leg over the seat. He bought it new and has never had a bit of trouble with it. There's lots of talk of trouble with the " doo hicky", but nothing major. Mike, aka Futureboy on NGW, just bought one also. He had to do a repair to the starter idler shaft, but it wasn't a big deal. About the only concern is it's hard to find a tire to give you any kind of life, most tires that fit are the somewhat knobby kind. Good luck with it.

............Paul

[Rat]

The dohickey has not been done, the tires are what these guys call 80/20 ... meaning 80% road and 20% dirt emphasis ... I said I would be a 90/10 sorta guy ...
Apparently there is a guru mechanic in Ottawa, so I might ride over there in the spring.
U Tube shows that it is fairly involved although the parts a not too bad, just wrenching.
Lots of people don’t bother ....

Gord

[05c50]

From what I've been told, early models are the ones that had significant problems with the doo hicky, I think yours will have the improved spring already. It should only require an occasional adjustment which is not very hard. We've tried a few different brands of 80/20 tires and had the best luck with Kenda Big Block Pavers, not to be confused with Kenda Block Block which is an off road tire. It would be nice to find a good street tread in the right size. The only off road that my buddy does is when he turns into his garage.
One other thing, make sure that you get the spark plug socket that comes with the factory tool kit, it's about the only one that will fit.
.........Paul

[Rat]

Did get the original tool kit, including said plug socket. I’m hoping my balancer spring dohickey is good for a while ... gotta learn the adjust procedure ...

Gord

[ob1quixote]

The Doohickey is the way to go.

Guess I should get a picture of my DRZ400. Ive done dual sport rides, adventure rides, and 2 attempts at a Iron Butt SS1000, using an organized adventure ride as part of the mileage. Got close, but the adventure ride miles make something rather easy quite difficult. Add a little misadventure and you're done.

My website for organized dual sport rides, and a few adventure rides as well.
www.carolinadualsporters.com

What is the difference between the 2? adventure rides generally pavement and gravel/dirt 2 track.
Dual sports are single track with some gravel/dirt 2 track, and as little pavement as possible to connect them.
The best compliment you gave give to a dual sport is to compare it to an enduro without timekeeping, and a good lunch en route!

[robin1731]

You will like that. Lot's of fun and go just about any where

Robin ... can you suggest anyone who knows about Kawasakis ??

Gord

I did know the guy that did a lot of R & D on things with these. Spent lots of time playing with the exhaust and some other things. I learned a lot from him on doing the race engines and heads I do. Sadly he was killed riding his KLR home from a camping trip several years ago.

.

[Liam]

Ok. Being the mug that always asks the stupid question and wondering if this was a trap I decided to go off and Google this KLR doohickey and save myself from looking even more of a fool than I normally do. It turns out that this is a thing, it does exist and is totally googleable. I have learned something new. I am unsure whether this newly gleaned information will be of any value to the likes of me, but one never knows.

Anyway I wish you the best with your new purchase Mr. Jones.

[Gowing]

Nice dual sport. Great bikes. Depndible like a hammer. Cushy, powerful, light and manuverable.