08-07-2013, 03:16 PM
I do all my own work as well, worked as a moto mechanic on the mainland. KLR is also an easy bike to work on 
Hell it can be fixed in the Home Depot parking lot with a hammer if need. Heavy duty tubes are awesome, cant hurt em, Ive had the same tubes for a good 10k now and two or three sets of rubber. Thats an expensive DR650, my KLR is a 2000 and I got it for $1300, don't ask me how much money I have put into it since... 
I have a touch of farklitous, stock the KLR is great, but with a little work its really something. I was under the impression the DR650 had electric start as well, maybe thats something that started in the 90's, older KLR600's were kick start, I cannot imagine having to kick a 650 decompression valve or not. If I weren't such a large guy and experienced rider I could not imagine taking the KLR where I do now off road, thats why the DR650 would be the better island bike. There is also the honda 650l, which is good off road, though its nothing like the 650r of old 
Glad you all enjoyed the video, here is a video of me taking a DRZ down the waawaa and out to the lighthouse, sold that bike, a lot more lively then the KLR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjedoCNEL8k
One of these days I might try entering the Mauna Kea 200 with the KLR, just to see if I can do it, that would be a hoot.
Hell it can be fixed in the Home Depot parking lot with a hammer if need. Heavy duty tubes are awesome, cant hurt em, Ive had the same tubes for a good 10k now and two or three sets of rubber. Thats an expensive DR650, my KLR is a 2000 and I got it for $1300, don't ask me how much money I have put into it since... I have a touch of farklitous, stock the KLR is great, but with a little work its really something. I was under the impression the DR650 had electric start as well, maybe thats something that started in the 90's, older KLR600's were kick start, I cannot imagine having to kick a 650 decompression valve or not. If I weren't such a large guy and experienced rider I could not imagine taking the KLR where I do now off road, thats why the DR650 would be the better island bike. There is also the honda 650l, which is good off road, though its nothing like the 650r of old Glad you all enjoyed the video, here is a video of me taking a DRZ down the waawaa and out to the lighthouse, sold that bike, a lot more lively then the KLR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjedoCNEL8k
One of these days I might try entering the Mauna Kea 200 with the KLR, just to see if I can do it, that would be a hoot.
