Motorcycles in NE PA

Cap · By: **Cap** On: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:23 pm

Hello kind list--

I know we have a few riders on this forum. Now that the warm air is upon us and most of us have the itch, how many riders do we have around here? I mean on this list. ( I see plenty of riders on the streets )

I have a Kawasaki KLR650 which is a classic dual sport motorcycle. Good for just about any type of riding. The Harley guys won't have me but I can go with they cannot. Great bike for commuting. Maybe even snagging groceries on the way home at 5p. with my add on alum rack.

I rode a Honda 500 and a Honda 750 in the late 80's and early 90's. Took a break from riding after the kids came along. Now I am back at it. The KLR 650 is a great starter bike. Maybe next year a BMW F650 GS dual sport will come available my way.

I held a KLR tech session on 3/31. My bike is the bright green one in the center. I met 7 local KLR guys, none of which burn coal! Oh well!

WNY · By: **WNY** On: Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:27 pm

Had one for the last couple of years....just sold it last fall to buy our new house, needed some quick cash. Plus we commute now a bit farther (16 miles) and the wife really didn't like riding on it. Will get another bike sometime...

This was my 1995, a bit over 9000 miles.

Cap · By: **Cap** On: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:14 pm

The 1995 color scheme! A classic. The KLR forum has a nick name for the '95. ':P'

A KLR is one of those bikes you keep for a long time. It's a great 2nd bike or general purpose commuter.

gambler · By: **gambler** On: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:34 pm

WNY, don't take this the wrong way as I am not challenging your manhood or suggesting anything, but the colors of your old bike seem to project a "light in the loafers image" Maybe it was good to get rid of it. :lol:

Richard S. · By: **Richard S.** On: Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:18 am

gambler wrote:WNY, don't take this the wrong way as I am not challenging your manhood or suggesting anything, but the colors of your old bike seem to project a "light in the loafers image" Maybe it was good to get rid of it.

He's got a "girlie man" stoker too. :lol:

But so do I... :shock:

Not one for riding motorcycles myself, too much of hazard to be on one. If I lived out in Arizona or a place with a lot of wide open spaces where some jackass couldn't sneak out from a side street it might be a different story.

WNY · By: **WNY** On: Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:12 am

Well, the price was right, I sold it for what I paid for it after 2 years and I had ZERO problems with it. I really didn't care about the colors, but it worked and got 50-70MPG!! and a 5 gallon tank, don't see that much with motorcycles.

I did lay it down in a parking lot and bruised my knee up pretty good... knobby tires, fresh sealed blacktop and a bit of water is not a good combination for cornering....

it was fun while it lasted! Other interests now....

Charlie Z · By: **Charlie Z** On: Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:45 am

I always wanted an SR500. A good friend had one and it was the best city bike ever made. A DT500 DP engine in a street frame. You could count the piston strokes it took to cross an intersection as you came off a light. Thup, thup, thup. Three.

I'd like to take that KLR engine and put it in a light street frame with real road tires...

Cap · By: **Cap** On: Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:46 am

Charlie--

Dry weight is something like 375lbs now. How much lighter can you go?

The only problem I have with this bike, too heavy for rugged dirt trails here in PA, but good for dirt / gravel roads, and too light for high speed interstate. But it is a great fit for me everywhere in between. I weigh 170lbs, 5'11.

CoalBin · By: **CoalBin** On: Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:34 pm

After years out of bikes ( Actually I was reduced to moped status - turned out to be a good thing - the wife now rides it - so she let me get another bike) I bought a Yamaha TW200 - not too fast but a lots of fun with its big wheels ! Should be good on the tight stuff, low seat height - weighs 275 wet.

I'll be visiting relatives in the Wyoming valley (Pitston/Dupont) next weekend - so I'll hopefully be scoping out trails to ride on. ( any ideas - PM me) :twisted:

Thinking of either getting a trailer or a hitch mount rack to carry the bike to and from LI the next time I'm out - :twisted:

Mark

WNY · By: **WNY** On: Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:42 am

Yes, those TW200 are great, I sold mine when I bought my KLR...nice bike.

WNY · By: **WNY** On: Tue May 01, 2007 7:31 am

THinking about a scooter, Honda Reflex 250. Get 70MPG cruises at 65MPH+, rides 2, lots of storage. A friend, the same one I bought the XLR from just upgraded to a yamaha 400 Scooter..has this one for sale. nice thing, you really don't get too wet even if it's raining (unless you have to stop).

Cap · By: **Cap** On: Tue May 01, 2007 12:18 pm

How much for the scooter? I always liked the scooters. I wish they would catch on so the price of gas would drop.

Charlie Z · By: **Charlie Z** On: Tue May 01, 2007 12:19 pm

Cap wrote:Dry weight is something like 375lbs now. How much lighter can you go?

They're claiming dry weights for 'regular' go-fast 600s around 345lbs dry, which is amazing to me. Imagine getting it to 320 or so, low and well tired.

WNY · By: **WNY** On: Tue May 01, 2007 1:51 pm

Hard to believe these NEW Scooters are $5-7,000!!!

You can get the smaller 50-150cc for $1500 or less.

Nice thing, they are automatics, so you don't have to worry about shifting, They have the CVT transmissions (Like a snowmobile, with the 2 clutches), running boards, keeps the feet dry in wet weather, even ABS brakes! Big storage under the seat for your lunch bucket, helmet, jacket and/or foul weather gear, tools, etc....

Dry Weight (listed) : 342 lbs.
Fuel : 3.2 gallons