KLR is a fun bike

[Bowtie76]

Well, that's the way it was explained to me by many a more proficient rider, and it worked for me  Although I can see your point  

Yeah, your point is valid just he reasoning.  Standing lets you apply control forces at the pegs (close to MC center of gravity, thus easier to control bike) rather than sitting where you apply control forces at your butt on top of the bike (farther from MC center of gravity)

But it's all symantics, I agree with the standing part.

[Corbeau]

I don't like standing on the pegs because when I look down from that height it's just that much further that I have to fall  

That's because you're too tall.


For those of you keeping score at home, that's another point for us short guys...

[kurtw]

Yep. In the soft stuff, keep your butt back, just above the seat, and (most importantly IMHO) instead of GRIPPING the bars, just press your palms gently into them with equal pressure. That's to gently keep the front end pointed straight ahead, acting like a steering damper. Especially if you weight the front end, it will want to auger in no matter what type of tire you have there.  If you're actively wrestling the bars, you've already lost and are on your way to a slow but undignified get-off.

Oh and throttle helps, of course... as does a rear tire that can deliver that power to lighten the front.

Congrats on the bike BTW!

[scottzilla]

Yep. In the soft stuff, keep your butt back, just above the seat, and (most importantly IMHO) instead of GRIPPING the bars, just press your palms gently into them with equal pressure. That's to gently keep the front end pointed straight ahead, acting like a steering damper. Especially if you weight the front end, it will want to auger in no matter what type of tire you have there.  If you're actively wrestling the bars, you've already lost and are on your way to a slow but undignified get-off.

Oh and throttle helps, of course... as does a rear tire that can deliver that power to lighten the front.

Congrats on the bike BTW!

I am gripping the bars too tight.  I'm finding off road riding is hard work and i'm probably making it harder than it should be.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

 I'm finding off road riding is hard work and i'm probably making it harder than it should be.

Yeah, those so-called "Sport tourers" are a bunch of weak sissies




   

[scottzilla]

Yeah, those so-called "Sport tourers" are a bunch of weak sissies




    

I'm not surprised roadracers use MX as a training tool.  Sport riding, when done correctly, takes virtually no energy.  Some good advice to newbie racers is "Relax" (Even more so in the rain).  

[sagerat]

Riding a KLR in soft sand is one of life's greatest challenges, I've found.  I've also gotten to practice my "shut off the petcock, turn off the iginition, now squat down and back into the bike" skills when I wasn't up to the challenge.

Handlebar risers and better footpegs are excellent investments.  I've got stock footpegs on my KLR and I swear this is the last season for them.

Enjoy your new to you thumper; they are fun bikes.

[scottzilla]

Riding a KLR in soft sand is one of life's greatest challenges, I've found.  I've also gotten to practice my "shut off the petcock, turn off the iginition, now squat down and back into the bike" skills when I wasn't up to the challenge.

Handlebar risers and better footpegs are excellent investments.  I've got stock footpegs on my KLR and I swear this is the last season for them.

Enjoy your new to you thumper; they are fun bikes.

My bike came with Moose Racing pegs but they are a little too narrow.  I may have to replace them.

[Mac]

Riding a KLR in soft sand is one of life's greatest challenges, I've found.  I've also gotten to practice my "shut off the petcock, turn off the iginition, now squat down and back into the bike" skills when I wasn't up to the challenge.

Handlebar risers and better footpegs are excellent investments.  I've got stock footpegs on my KLR and I swear this is the last season for them.

Enjoy your new to you thumper; they are fun bikes.

Hell, riding any bike in soft sand is challenging. As long as there aren't too many curves, speed is your friend.