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Topic: Saying good bye to an old friend (photo heavy)  (Read 3692 times)

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« on: July 12, 2012, 07:22:42 PM »

The time has finally come: my trusty 2000 KLR is leaving the garage. And not to be sold to someone else to start a new life somewhere else, but by bits and pieces, hopefully helping many others to enjoy their own rides.

The 2000, sometimes known as "the green mule", served me well during the 7 years and 70,000 miles I've had it. It is the bike that really started my love of adventure touring and gave me the ability to embark on dozens of fabulous trips. It rarely gave me any trouble and did pretty much anything I asked of it. I'm going to indulge myself and make this post a homage to my mule...

The beginning: my trip to Alaska with zarly




Followed shortly by an amazing month in Mexico:




From there, it was a lot of of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia:










And then we went further afield...






And back to Mexico:








And then we went east, where commuting was the routine, interspersed with day rides:





And now, due to an electrical failure, the addition of a "younger" KLR and some upcoming changes in our living arrangements, it is time to let go of the Mule. I'll miss it, but it'll live on in my memories (and my website  Bigsmile )
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« on: July 12, 2012, 07:22:42 PM »

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« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2012, 07:26:12 PM »

Goodbye old friend.  May your parts find their way into many other journeys.     Rose
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« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2012, 07:31:08 PM »

Nothing like a KLR ridden like its supposed to be ridden.  Clap  Well done.  Thumbsup

I assume you did the doo?  Lol
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« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2012, 07:31:51 PM »

And just so you know, it wasn't all glamor and fun for the Mule. Sometimes (often) I made it do actual work. Maybe it finally got sick of me and took the only way out it knew?  Lol




















Thank you, my friend  Bigok

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« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2012, 07:33:54 PM »


Nothing like a KLR ridden like its supposed to be ridden.  Clap  Well done.  Thumbsup

 Thumbsup Thumbsup


I assume you did the doo?  Lol

First thing I did when I bought the bike - both spring and doo were broken  Crazy
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« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2012, 07:37:00 PM »



 Thumbsup Thumbsup


First thing I did when I bought the bike - both spring and doo were broken  Crazy


Well duh.  The engine would have come apart by now.   Bigsmile
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« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2012, 07:37:23 PM »

Inspiring photo memories.  Thanks for sharing!   Smile
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« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2012, 07:37:23 PM »


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« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2012, 07:48:01 PM »

Awesome memories and photos Thumbsup

You got your monies worth.
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« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2012, 08:20:16 PM »

I don't know which is more awesome; the photos of your travels or all that pack mule work.

I remember when you got that bike and those Alaska and Mexico reports. A fine tribute DD. Now excuse me. There is something in my eye.
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« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2012, 09:10:35 PM »

Awwwa!  Inlove  I have many happy memories of that KLR as well.













And it will be immortalized forever in my handiwork! Lol

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« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2012, 09:14:07 PM »

Hahah, oh god, posting those reminded me of the time I borrowed the other KLR and we went riding and I ran out of gas in Port Orchard and we had to ride your KLR two up back to the ferry/your place.  Lol   We should have gotten a photo of that.
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« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2012, 09:15:38 PM »

 I remember a group of semi-buzzed STNr's tearing into that KLR in a Motel 6 parking lot trying to figure out a lack of lighting.

 All good bikes must come to an end. I've on #3 since that event.
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« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2012, 10:17:52 PM »

You MUST pick one part off of her and put it on the new ride....


   I took the helmet locks off of the Connie and out them on the ST.




   Kinda like keeping the stick shifter off of an old car!



   
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« Reply #13 on: July 13, 2012, 04:56:12 AM »


You MUST pick one part off of her and put it on the new ride....


Oh that won't be a problem  Lol  Let's see, yesterday I took
- all of the plastics/tank
- seat
- bash plate
- highway pegs
- brake cylinder guard
- fork brace
- radiator guards
- luggage rack
- flashing LED brake light
- aux lights
- voltmeter/dashboard switches...

I think that there will be plenty to remember the original bike by. In fact, I might even forget that its NOT the 2000 under me  Cool
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« Reply #13 on: July 13, 2012, 04:56:12 AM »


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« Reply #14 on: July 13, 2012, 05:25:44 AM »

I dunno, the swingarm bushings look kinda dry.
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« Reply #15 on: July 13, 2012, 05:30:01 AM »


And it will be immortalized forever in my handiwork! Lol




Clap Clap

That was the best gift ever  Inlove
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« Reply #16 on: July 13, 2012, 05:55:40 AM »

 Lol What a great thread  Bigok
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« Reply #17 on: July 13, 2012, 06:12:23 AM »

I will never understand why front paniers aren't more popular for touring.  



Excellent thread.
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« Reply #18 on: July 13, 2012, 06:18:51 AM »








 Bigok
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« Reply #19 on: July 13, 2012, 06:26:02 AM »




 Bigok


Agreed!!

The tiki torches and ironing board are hilarious Lol
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« Reply #20 on: July 13, 2012, 06:37:22 AM »

I recognize a few of those pictures.  It was the pink top box that really pulled it togehter.  Bigsmile
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« Reply #21 on: July 13, 2012, 07:32:38 AM »


I will never understand why front paniers aren't more popular for touring.  



For *me*?  A great big blistering burn the only time I tried that method of carrying stuff on my KLR.  I don't know why others can get away with it, but a few hours of slower riding on a back road on a hot day left me with a massive calf burn on the radiator side Crazy
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« Reply #22 on: July 13, 2012, 07:48:29 AM »







Does it fly?

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« Reply #23 on: July 13, 2012, 07:53:19 AM »


Does it fly?


Actually, I was hoping to get someone to ride next to me and have their passenger iron while we rode down the street... ala Extreme Ironing!!!
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« Reply #24 on: July 13, 2012, 09:33:09 AM »

That's kind of sad actually.

Great pictures, and you truly have (had) a pretty legendary KLR in these circles and a hell of a lot of good adventures on it.

Why are you parting it out? Motor getting tired finally??

Jeebus you should at least save the plastics in case you ever get sentimental and want to pick up another old one.


Methinks Mrs. DD Dirtrider here is hankering for a little GS700 or 800 or something that's a step up.

FWIW it's that very bike of yours and a lot of the pics and stories that really got me thinking I'd like to put a pre-2008 KLR in the stable one day.  Thumbsup
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« Reply #25 on: July 13, 2012, 09:38:44 AM »




Does it fly?





OUT!    Lmao
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« Reply #26 on: July 13, 2012, 09:43:26 AM »


Why are you parting it out? Motor getting tired finally??

When the bike had hit 70K or so, I realized that if the motor ever blew up, I'd want another KLR. Therefore, when I found the Swiss bike at such a rock-bottom price, I picked it up for "that day". Then I had a lot of trouble (mostly pin-pointing the trouble) and it hadn't been on the road for a year. I finally got it on the road, and then something else went. There were a couple of tired (appropriate term) parts on the bike anyway, and I realized that this was why I bought the Swiss bike. It was finally "that day".


Jeebus you should at least save the plastics in case you ever get sentimental and want to pick up another old one.

Even better: I moved ALL of the green bits to the Swiss bike and I'll sell the red plastics. For some reason, the red paint job didn't hold up well at all. So even though I really like the look of the Swiss bike, I really didn't want to re-paint everything. Especially since I prefer the military look anyway.


FWIW it's that very bike of yours and a lot of the pics and stories that really got me thinking I'd like to put a pre-2008 KLR in the stable one day.  Thumbsup

Thanks! I think I inspired a lot of people with that bike and our stories. My favorite "inspriration", however, is the fact that that bike is how I met my husband  Inlove
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« Reply #27 on: July 13, 2012, 09:48:07 AM »

Yep, your KLR inspired me. I even bought a green 01 !   I miss it quite a bit and do keep an eye out for a KLR bargain to temp me !
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« Reply #28 on: July 13, 2012, 10:49:40 AM »

Shouldn't some of those pictures of carrying stuff be on http://thereifixedit.failblog.org/?
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« Reply #29 on: July 13, 2012, 11:07:31 AM »

The proverbial kitchen sink is my favorite:

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« Reply #30 on: July 13, 2012, 11:40:52 AM »

Great thread.  

Hopefully I'll have even close to the enjoyment on mine that you did on yours!

It's hard saying goodbye to a bike you really like Sad
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« Reply #31 on: July 13, 2012, 09:42:16 PM »

Always a bittersweet day when you sell a KLR.   Embarassment

Your verde mule earned its rest.   Thumbsup
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« Reply #32 on: October 10, 2012, 08:44:22 AM »

And now adding to Part II - the selling of the 2001 KLR  Sad

KLR Kevin, as I've taken to calling him, will be flying in tomorrow from Indiana to ride my last remaining KLR "home". He's getting a helluva a deal, as anything KLR-specific will be stuffed into those massive sink-supporting panniers for the trip, including a couple of half-used tires if he wants them  Bigsmile

I am very happy to say that he specifically requested that the pink Barbie box come with the bike  Thumbsup AND that I can keep the tank bag (the first birthday present that Dan got me, and that was before we were even dating  Inlove )


Come Friday I'll be down to the 1150 and the bug for my transportation needs. Good times! Burnout
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« Reply #33 on: October 10, 2012, 08:48:40 AM »

The kitchen sink. Best pic EVAR  Inlove Thumbsup Cool Bigok
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« Reply #34 on: October 10, 2012, 09:44:19 AM »


And now adding to Part II - the selling of the 2001 KLR  Sad


Again, truly sad that you are getting rid of it. But glad to hear that it's going to a new home and it seems that your buyer recognizes some of the special stigma associated with this bike.
I'm glad that you've shared the photos you have and the memoirs of your trips, I doubt there's anybody else on the face of the planet who've carried a greater variety of unwieldy shit on the
back of one of these bikes on a regular basis.
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« Reply #35 on: October 10, 2012, 11:28:07 AM »

I'm glad to see this thread bubble back to the surface, as I missed it the first time.

Since I'm just about settled on a (1st Gen) KLR as my next bike, it's awesome to see these kinds of pics.

And I'm glad to know that whoever said "it can carry everything but the kitchen sink", was totally, completely wrong.  Crazy Bigsmile Lol
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