My new iron steed and daily driver

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2008 1:09 am

2006 Kawasaki KLR650, my new around town funmobile, economy daily driver (300 days of sunshine a year in Colorado), camping horse, offroader, racer, and of course, chick magnet

To those unfamiliar with motorcycles, this is a dual-sport/adventure touring type bike, though it obviously looks like a big street legal dirtbike. It gets 55 MPG on 87 grade and has a 6 gallon tank. It does 100+ MPH unmodified but only 75 comfortably with those street legal knobbies I have on the rims. It is commonly refered to as 'The Jeep of the motorcycle world'. It isn't particularly great at anything but its good at EVERYTHING. They've been around for 20 years unchanged until 2008, maintenance is fun and cheap compared to ripping apart a Jeep, and parts can be found worldwide!

Yes, I still have my Jeep, it's just been sitting in the driveway for a week now! I just thought I'd share

rangerd77 · **Joined:** Sat May 03, 2008 10:48 am **Posts:** 512

thats great i alays thought about getting one. i ve had my on a 2005 suzuki 650 dr that this guy ist trying to sell for about $4000, but i think i gonna have to get him down to a lower price. what did you pay for yours if you dont mind me asking?

hooperswish · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2008 12:20 pm

Awesome dude. I would love to take that bad boy down to Ouray and go anywhere....

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2008 1:19 pm

$4300 for a 2006 in great condition with 2000 miles and a few upgrades. I could have talked him down to around $4000 but I didn't want another buyer to give him the full price and then I'd end up looking on craigslist for another month. I need it for commuting to school, it's going to save me so much.

dog_party · **Posted:** Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:33 am

Nice pick! I've been shopping for a DR400 and have found that the price(s) and availability of the 650+ dual-purposes bikes are much better recently.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:21 am

I was looking at a bunch of DRZ400's on denver's craigslist, from 2000 to 2008, $2-5k. I was told it'd be better for me if I had some time on a dirtbike, as the 400 is easier to throw around offroad and I'd want to treat it like a dirtbike. The 650 is a heavy offroad, but it is easy to maneuver slowly and has enough torque to get over anything. It is also a better highway machine. The 400 will be hard-pressed to hold 80 MPH, so I've been told. Sure, you can change sprockets but that'll take away from your low end. The 650 holds 80 at 5000 rpm and the rev limiter is at 7.5. It's no cruiser or sport bike, but I can't imagine what a stock 400's revs would be at 80. But if your on the backrounds and trails all the time, or just never hit the highway, 400s the way to go. I commute...and I was even looking at 250's! :roll:

jeepmedic46 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:07 pm

At the price of gas, nice bike

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:02 pm

I wanted a Ducati Monster but I knew the Jeep in me would want to take it on dirt roads, and thats a big no-no with anything but dual-sports and offroad bikes.

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:09 pm

If you wanted il Monstro and fireroad capability, you should have gotten the Hypermotard. I believe a guy won Pikes Peak on it this year. ;-)

I need to test-ride a 650. They are so much more available than the 400s.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:49 pm

Oh believe me I looked at the Hypermotard, but I didn't have $15k to drop on a new bike, much less the $3k minimum a year to insure it! It looked like what Batman should have drove, not that weird thing he drove in Dark Knight. The Hypermotard S is my dream bike, like a KTM Adventure on steroids plus the italian styling that says to the ladies "#$%& me".

My new iron steed and daily driver

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