9 day ride on a KLR

[stimmer6253472]

So my son recently passed his motorcycle safety course and so i went and grabbed my dads 2000 KLR 650. It only has 5000 miles on it of which my dad put 3500 on before he passed. It has been sitting for 4 years in his garage so I have some catch up on maintenance on it first. The plan is to get it running soon so that my son and I can do some rides. Him riding the KLR and me on my 990.

Yesterday I change the oil, filter and battery along with completing the dohickey mod. The gas tank is really rusty and so i got it soaking in vinegar and bb's. Next is to clean then carb and then once the tank is cleaned and coated I am sure it will fire right up.

That being said with the pandemic I have a ton of vacation to use before the end of the year. So late August or September I plan on disappearing on the bike for a week (9 days total). If you had a KLR and 9 days to ride where should I go? Thinking of hitting some passes in Colorado or maybe even shooting for some riding out around Moab but interested in other suggestions. I have rode most of the big Colorado passes on the past on my 990 so wouldnt have to do that ride. My son is starting school soon and plays football so he won't be able to make this ride. So this will mostly be a solo ride staying in hotels so keep that in mind.

Some pictures for interest.
Thanks,
Jim

[ajayhawkfan]

The Black Hills are a great place to ride. You might want to check this link out: https://advrider.com/f/threads/dakota-a ... ta.918833/ I have ridden the Black Hills a few times. It is a great area to ride.

I have not done that particular loop however I have had numerous friends do it. It can be done in 4 days of hard riding. Most people do it in 5. There is plenty of other riding in the SW corner of SD if you want to spend all 9 days riding. Or you might consider taking a couple days to ride up there and back.

[ajayhawkfan]

There is also some very good riding in Wisconsin and Michigan. The Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail (TWAT) goes from the IL boarder to Lake Superior. At Lake Superior go East into the UP of Michigan. Lots and lots of riding. Check out some of Cannonshot's tracks on ADVrider.com. The TWAT takes about 2.5 days. This was my first ride report. https://advrider.com/f/threads/trans-wi ... or.377944/

You can be at the beginning of the TWAT (near Dubuque, Iowa) in about 6 hours that sure beats riding or hauling for hours and hours before you start the ride.

[stimmer6253472]

I did the complete TWAT alone years ago on my 990. The route was cool but I remember the mosquitoes were terrible at night. Stayed in my tent most nights. Was thinking the black hills might be the ticket. Been there several times but never on a bike. Will check out the Advrider link and maybe that will light the fire.
Thanks,
Jim

[stimmer6253472]

BTW wherever I go I am planning on riding there and back.

[stimmer6253472]

I know it's been awhile but I had a buddy working out in Colorado so I ended up towing both our dirt bikes and the KLR out to Colorado. Spent four days at Taylor Park riding dirt bikes with my buddy and three days riding around Central Colorado alone on the KLR.

Hit up most every single track at Taylor except Timberline which was we heard was a disaster after the heavy snow and storms a few weeks earlier. At Taylor we saw dozens of deer, 6 or 7 elk and 5 moose. Including 4 we saw in the middle of no where all around us on a trail during a night ride. Little scary actually.

On the KLR I just got got lost daily on back roads and hit up some lakes and passes.

Good times.

]

[troy]

That looks like a GREAT time! Thanks for sharing!