New (to us) motorcycle

Well, I found a deal I couldn't pass on... a 1998 Kawasaki KLR650. I have liked these bikes for a long time, they're kind of like riding a 2 wheeled Lay-Z-Boy... big, cushy & comfortable! The neat thing about it is the ability to carry Catherine comfortably, run at highway speeds all day long, travel over on dirt roads, get 300 miles out of the 6 gallon tank, etc. They are one of the ugliest bikes ever built, but they're also one of the most reliable. I wanted something I can take on multi-day adventures with the wife and this is the bike. It's ugly, the paint is faded & has the aerodynamics of a cinder block. I love it!


I need to do some work on it before it's ready for a big roadtrip, but it runs & drives great. We're thinking about taking our first big trip down to Telluride, CO. We'll have to do it soon, before it gets much colder. Of course Catherine is excited about getting to purchase riding boots, a riding jacket & a helmet.

Once it warms up again next year, I'd like to plan some great trips. We've been thinking abouot Yellowstone, Mesa Verde, Zions NP, etc.





The day after I bought the bike, I took it out for a 100 mile test ride. I went up thru the Colorado National Monument & kept going South. The paved road turned to dirt and eventually the dirt road turned into a small trail. I ended up in the high-country surrounded with Aspen and Pine trees, seeing the fall colors as they turned. Here's some pics from that trip.-



























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