imported post
imported post
I tried a 13 and a 45 for real steep and 2 up. It was great b/c I did not have to ride both brakes and hope the controled slide would soon end when coming back down with my wife on the back.
Unfortunately, with that combo,I had lost the equivalent of the top gear on the faster gravel roads and occasional Highway. Fuel and oil consumption soared.
For interest, I counted the times I used my brake comparedto others I was riding with. I woulduseengine compression more for slowing down for turns and down hillcontrol. I used my brake once to an average of six times for the others.
I am back to stock front ( 15 ) and stock rear ( 41 ??) because my riding has been more inclined to 400 kmdistance days averaging 60-90 km/ hr on the gravel with not too much steep stuff. Kawasaki picked those ratios for a reason. I feel it is a good balance for me for now. Mostly faster with the occasional steep climb.
On one of the trips we did, last season, we ended up going up a long, very steep, cross ditched road to a bowl where we discovered a bull elk and 20 or so of his herem. I had just taken the 13/45 comob off the bike. I would have been more comfortable with that combo but the stock combo combined with the low end tork of the klr650, it handled it with great success.
Hmm on another occasion, my KLR figured it couldgoanywhere a KTM could go. Soit followedthe KTMup to the base of the upper T Bar at Mt Cain....where was my low gear then....I did it without embarrassment and harm to the bike....The knobbies saved me that time combined with the low end torque of the engine....(Just for the record ...KLR and KTM severely beat out Suzuki that day:dr
One Suziki did attempt the run, the other Suziki did not even attempt the run.
For me, I think the KLR 650 is too big and cumbersome for those steep tight technical trails anyways.I doubt if I will go back to the 13/45 combo. That is why I have more than one bike. I have my xl600 r which has a 45 on the back. This makes it quite nimble.
The old story "KLR 650 is a Good all round dualsport bike".
Sprockets are cheep enough just trythings out for your individual riding habits and preferences see what you like
Speaking of lotsa parts....I have a "Cogenics Moab Shock" and progressive fork springs andemulators coming for my KLR. I am really looking forward to reporting back on those upgrades.
