K11 Owners Group

Off the grid

Ride another bike. Any bike, any year.

Better yet, ride a bike of the same year as the brick. Any bike.

I went on a ride just 2 days ago.

Myself, a fella on a 2007 (purchased new in 2008) KLR and another gent with a 1993 Concours.

Out of 3 bikes I know that with 5k miles on it the KLR needed an entire top end rebuild after a blown cylinder.

The Connie I know had about 40k miles on it...I know the owner, we have ridden together in the past. We tend to swap bikes for a while during our rides...just a habit we got into.

Well I jumped on the Connie and let me tell you......you thought the Motobrick threw off some heat? Pfffft.......you ain't felt a thing till you were on this bike. It was about 20 degrees out....I mean it was a frozen ride and this bike was literally throwing off heat like a thermal reactor. Comfortable in the negative temps sure but absolutely unbearable in mild to moderate temperatures to be sure. I never, ever feel the heat in the winter on the brick. Or fall. Or spring, for that matter.

Anyway, back to the Connie.

In a straight line it rocked. Tracked beautifully, decent speed/acceleration, etc. Cornering was vague at best. Brakes were adequate and riding position good. The plastics seemed to be rattling off the bike, but to be honest this was not a very well taken care of model.

Must be a good long-distance bike for straight-line rides in the dead of winter though. Razz

In any case, that's my take.

Unscientific to be sure, but hey, that's all I got.
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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

fnord · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 9:25 am Post subject:

My last bike was a Connie (and a KLR before that), and I sold it to a friend, so I'm kinda eager to get on it again just to feel the difference. I rather liked it, but it was in desperate need of a fork brace, and I never felt genuinely comfortable at low speeds.

She was awesome on the slab, though.

The KLR remains one of my absolute favorite bikes. I put 1k on mine in the first 2 days I owned it, and never looked back. I finally sold it because of a deal I'd found on the Concours, but one day I hope to own one again.

It's an unrefined single with a chain drive and needs a bunch of hopups to be great, but it's just SO much fun to ride. It weighs nothing, the seating position is perfect, and with those big wide bars you can throw it around like nothing else I've ever been on.

Back in those days I had a commute where I could catch pretty big air 2 or 3 times, and that was the perfect bike to do it with. The Silverwing, not so much Shocked

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1993 K1100RS
1999 Jeep Wrangler

owrstrich · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:32 am Post subject:

i have heard the best way to appreciate the motobrick is from the front seat of a wrecker while your giant dirt street bike or poserbrick is hanging from the hook...

Laughing

j o
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yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:39 am Post subject:

Are the chain and sprockets on a KLR black or silver? That's all that really matters.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Off the grid · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:42 am Post subject:

Oh, I'm not knocking the KLR to be sure. My next bike will be a dual sport of some sort. I just found it rather telling that a bike with the reputation of being bulletproof like the KLR needed an engine rebuild almost right off the showroom floor. Surprised

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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

drmalacarne · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject:

Or you could try a Diesel KLR....

1000miles with a fuel tank.....
Guilherme.
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1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together!

Saltcreek · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject:

I should probably start this as a new thread but I spent some time this summer researching diesel motorcycles without finding much. I make my own biodiesel and would love to be able to burn some in a bike. Seems like BMW should have made one.
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Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Stoked Steve · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

I too have been dreaming of my next bike being a Dual Sport and possibly a KLR (though not diesel). I love that flat olive green paint scheme.

Kepping an eye on Craig's list.... Saw a KLR 250 (2001) pop up for only $1,900. Not sure if a 250 would quite cut it as I might have to travel several miles on black top to get to good dirt riding.

Just read a review of the new BMW F800GS in the new issue of Rider, seems like a bargain at $10-$13k (compared to a GS1200). But with this current economy, it will likely need to remain a dream. Loving my paid for K11 more everyday!
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Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

fnord · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

There's a Yahoo group for the KLR, and once in a while people post them for sale on there.

It strikes me as odd, since it's the one place where it's virtually guaranteed that everyone already as one.

Anyway, you can snag a decent deal that way, I sure did. I "had" to ride it home from Virginia to Connecticut, but I picked one up with progressive shocks, acerbis hand guards, braided brake lines and some other really nice farkles for $1750 with low miles.

Rode it for 2 years, then sold it for $2100 :]
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1993 K1100RS
1999 Jeep Wrangler

owrstrich · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:16 pm Post subject:

get yourself a f and enrich the chinese...

get yourself a motobrick and enrich your soul...

j o
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yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Stoked Steve · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject:

Got the Motobrick, soul enriched, but the F would put me on the path to Nirvana.

The Chinese make everything else we buy, why not our cycles?

It's done wonders for our economy!
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Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

BlackHoof · Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject:

One sure way to appreciate your motobrick.............take a ride on my R100S today when it's 30 degrees with a twenty mile an hour wind.
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'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:

Jim · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:01 am Post subject:

Ya got boots???
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:29 am Post subject: