Bought a moto

[Slider]

This is not the end of my mountain biking, I don't think. Truth is, I'm not really sure what t means. I couldn't resist on a great deal on a 1994 Kawasaki KLR 650, so I grabbed it at half its real value.

I haven't ridden in 20 years, but was pretty into the dirt bikes and some road stuff back then. I did a few hare scrambles, but mostly lived on the trails in every free moment. The injuries started to pile up and I sold the bikes and bought a mountain bike and never looked back. Until now.

The KLR is referred to as an Adventure Tourer. Not really for slinging around on the single track; it's more about back road riding and occasional jaunts up interesting dirt roads. It weighs somewhere north of 340lbs, so it has an automatic off-road limiter built in. Maybe I could do some of the more gentle stuff in the Snip, but the fire roads would be the usual fare. I won't be going fast enough to degrade the trails and the tires are tamer than full knobbies.

There's plenty to explore near where I live, but the moto sure won't give me the workout the mtb does. We'll see where it all falls out. I'm hoping is isn't just a stop before the rocking chair.

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[agabriel]

Perhaps you will get your MTB mojo back after the winter?

[Slider]

Maybe, and maybe before. I've been spinning, and the new job has a gym next door. Just got to make sure the moto doesn't take priority.

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[agabriel]

I hear that - I spin over the winter and the only motivation I have is getting back to the bike come spring time...

[Jisch]

FYI - I rode Snip on Sunday and the State has laid down this black stuff on top of the dirt roads that compacts much more than the dirt that was there. The roads are much smoother (and presumably less prone to water damage). Just saying...

John

[leebo]

Spin in the winter? What? Must not be from around here. They make studded tires you know.

[jh_on_the_cape]

I used to have a klr650, mid nineties.
super fun! that was in CA. not too practical here. I bought a yamaha enduro bike when i moved to MA, but just not enough dirt roads to really explore that you could not do on a bike. sold it.

but out in the west, you can go all day on a moto (dirt roads open to cars, etc) and really explore. desert, mountains, coastline... AND you can carry a cute female passenger and a bottle or two of wine, unlike a bike!

[Slider]

Spin in the winter? What? Must not be from around here. They make studded tires you know.

I'm a local, lotsa winter riding and the trashed freehubs to prove it. It isn't about the cold; more about the minimal conditioning level needed to enjoy an off road ride. I'm not there, but hope to be before winter is over.

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[Slider]

I used to have a klr650, mid nineties.
super fun! that was in CA. not too practical here. I bought a yamaha enduro bike when i moved to MA, but just not enough dirt roads to really explore that you could not do on a bike. sold it.

but out in the west, you can go all day on a moto (dirt roads open to cars, etc) and really explore. desert, mountains, coastline... AND you can carry a cute female passenger and a bottle or two of wine, unlike a bike!

I live in northeast CT. There are PLENTY of abandoned and used dirt roads around here.

Had my first real ride on Sunday. 47 miles, maybe 10 of those on tar. It was a lot of fun, but I was thinking about the mountain bike regularly. It just isn't the same.

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[jh_on_the_cape]

I live in northeast CT. There are PLENTY of abandoned and used dirt roads around here.

Had my first real ride on Sunday. 47 miles, maybe 10 of those on tar. It was a lot of fun, but I was thinking about the mountain bike regularly. It just isn't the same.

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get a cyclocross type bike. it's the 'enduro' of cycling. 47 miles, with 10 on tar... perfect!

you are making me want a bmw f650 now!

http://ronayres.com/images/Motorcycles/BMW%20F650GS%2008.jpg

[Slider]

That's my wish list bike, but the $1200 entry fee for the KLR was hard to ignore.

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[joethepro]

:rad: I went through the same thing 4 years ago. Bought an enduro bike entered a few enduros (A rider) then broke my foot in Freetown. Sold the motorcycle but still biking. Nothing can replace the MTB.

[Aging Wannabee]

Kinda the same experience only mine was just a road bike. I had never bought a second MTB after my purple steel diamondback rigid 7 spd. I wasn't plugged in to the mtb community. The bike was 10+ years old and gathering dust. I bought the moto and got fat(ter).

Somehow it occurred to me that I used to like to ride my bicycles in the woods, and I resurrected the HT. I've never looked back. Now I'm on my 3rd fully and the last one cost over 3x what I paid for the moto. I don't miss it. Season's too short, protective gear too hot, you can't go anywhere around here without hitting traffic.....bitch bitch bitch... For a while I thought about making some sort of bike rack for the gas-bike but I never got araound to it and sold it.

I never had a trail bike and I would be hard-pressed to find places to ride around MA if I did. Probably be too wimpy to really ride it on trails anyways. I'm glad I got it out of my system, but I'm more glad I found my way back to pedaling. It's way more addictive anyway:)

[catbbq]

Nothing can replace the MTB.

That is what I thought until I started surfing. I have been on my bike about half a dozen times since I started surfing last year.