Should I be concerned about burning oil? I see a lot of references to that in the KLR forum
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Please view this ad:
1983 CX650 - Ready to go for spring.,
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-street-crui...ampaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android
Price: $*1,200
I just checked into insurance. Apparently I didn't realize how lucky I am to pay $265 a year on the CBR.
Paying over double isn't a deal breaker, but the bike I've got suddenly looks way more attractive
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I called Allstate. The rep was heading out for a meeting so we'll talk specifics later today, but during our conversation he said 564 for the gl650 sounded about right. He thought that with bundling with the rest of my stuff that he might be able to do better
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Jeff, I love your enthusiasm but I'm not sure you appreciate the challenges of owning an antique bike. Imagine being between Ryoun Noranda and Chasibi and needing a stator (or any part) for a GL650 -- 5-15 days vs 1 day for a KLR 650. Also think about support -- a KLR can be fixed by a weedeater mechanic, not so much for a vintage v-twin Honda.So I left a message with a KLR owner and looked at the GL650. (Don't you just love guys who ask for advice and then don't follow it?) Anyways, the bike is in good condition for the age and the owner seems to be very conscientious about maintenance. It isn't being sold safetied, but I don't think it would need anything except for the inspection. We simply don't know if the motor has been out of it for the 'triple bypass'; the owner thinks it has been because of the general condition of the bike when he bought it. In any event, these are things I can do myself, and the cost of parts is minimal. Fork seals and tires are new. The rubber boots to connect the carburetors to the intakes will need to be replaced soon. I haven't put a deposit down, I have time to think this one over, but I really like the bike. I can also by 2.5 GL's for the price of one KLR
There's also a very keen internet forum for these bikes. One of the senior members lives in the same town as I.
Jeff, you already did one epic ride -- that's more than 95% of the forum readers here. If you ride like that, look at a longer horizon - 3-5 years for your bike. An antique is nostalgic and sometimes cheap -- I get that. If you want to understand that in better detail, drop by my garage, I have a 60's Triumph, 70s Honda, 2x 80's Yamahas, 90's Enfield and my late model '12 FJR and '16 VStrom. They all are road ready, come by in the spring and see/feel/hear the difference between antiques and daily rides.I'm starting to come around to what you're saying. I was a little alarmed at the oil consumption thing with the KLR, but really; a KLR may or may not consume oil between changes. That's it's worst fault.
The GL will eventually throw a starter clutch, or a stator, or a cam chain.
I can carry extra oil.
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We're in the same camp. Jeff is coming from a Honda 250 -- the KLR is a nice step up with dependability, tour-ability and economy. The GL650 is a basket of unknown and potentially disruptive issues. If Jeff can stretch to a VSTROM, I'd say do it - I love mine, it's my daily driver and unless I'm tooling with liter+ sport/STs bikes, it's my go to on the weekends.I vote KLR! Or V-Strom!
Buy the GL as a second bike - not a daily rider.
I had a KLR and would have kept it, if it wasn't so gutless on the highway riding 2up. It was a great bike and 500kms off a tank of gas is nice. Burned a bit oil, but only needed a top-up 1x between oil changes. Older KLR's should get the doohickey done.
Since I wasn't riding it much in the dirt, the V-Strom was also a better fit for my style of riding and I liked it better for everyday commuting and wind protection on long rides.
As with all bikes, there are great model specific forums for each one. Both are great bikes and no one will ever steal them because they are so ugly.
Pretty nice package here if you're serious.I'm waiting for a CX650E to fall into my lap one day...
I had one as my first bike back in '91... It may not be the greatest machine, but I had a lot of good times on it... 'Rode it to Ft. Lauderdale and all over SW Ont
Nostalgia I guess...