Stopped by the Kawi dealer today...

[spongebob218]

Wanted to check out the new KLRs and the new Concours14 in person and sit on both. While I'm 99% sure I'm going to get another Strom, I still want to look at other options.

The new KLR looks bigger than the old one, but its mainly due to the fairing, which in my opinion is really cheap looking. It looks like the new fairing design was an afterthought. Looked like if you went too fast it would simply blow off. Yes I realize its not a very expensive bike, but I think it could be better.

The new Concours is sweet looking. I sat on it and man, does it look wide. Sitting on the bike the tank and fairing looks huge. Riding position is mostly straight up, just a very slight forward lean, for me. Excellent looking bike, and probably runs good too, but at $13k, is a little out of my price range.

Based on this I think I'll stick to a Wee.

[Stromin'Nroman]

Went on a Dual Sport ride organized by a local independent cycle shop, ACME in Fairview, NC. last sunday (09-09-07).
It was a blast, al least 50 riders showed.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257907&page=4

There was I guy on the ride who dumped his brand-spanking-new KLR at least 3 times and scratched the heck of of his fairing. He was mightily pissed, but uninjured.

Also, his muffler got loose and he lost one or more of the screws. He was even more mightily pissed and dissapointed with Kawasaki quality control. (Say that fast three times)

Otherwise he's happy with his bike, but he claims the dealer has developed After-Sale-Amnesia.

It's surprising how similar the KLR fairing is to the V-Strom.

I guess ugly is the new beautiful.