The Eclectic Biker: March 2003

Winter Sucks

My fellow snow-belters will agree, this has been one bear of a winter. It's been all cold and gloom, with enough snow to choke a Yeti.

There hasn't been much to look forward to, either, except for February 15.

Huh?

Yeah, you heard me. Why? Because February 15 was the day the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation released its 2003 Basic Rider's Course schedule. Now, I've been looking forward to taking the course for, oh, about three years now, but I've never been able to get in - it's always booked solid. This year, though, things will be different. I'm going to be the first one to register - as soon as registration day arrives, I'll be on the phone with PENNDOT.

I will get in.

I've scoured the schedules, and found three or four that will fit into my busy life. That's the good news. The bad news is the first one doesn't start until April, and the one that fits the best isn't until the end of May.

What do I do until then?

Shovel snow, first of all. And hate every flake of it. And continue to do what I've been doing for the past three years - immersing myself in all things motorcycle, devouring each month's Cycle World, reading books (next planned purchase: Proficient Motorcycling) and, of course, hanging out at beginnerbikes.com.

And dreaming of what it's like to live in a place where year-long riding is possible (membership to the Polar Bear Club not necessary).

Decisions... Decisions...

One of the hardest decisions a biker can make is just exactly what bike to buy. It's hard enough when you like predominantly one type of bike - cruiser, sportbike, etc. But when you're like me and like EVERYTHING, it's well-nigh impossible.

As many of you already know, I moderate the Motorcycle Choices forum, the second-highest visited forum behind the ubiquitous General Discussion forum. The reason I was chosen for this duty is the wealth of otherwise useless information I've stuffed into my brain about motorcycles - makes, models, brands, technical specs, general performance and various opinions of motorcycle magazine editors world-wide. Most of this knowledge comes from my own search - the quest for the ultimate sport/touring/cruising/commuter bike, the holy grail of motorcycles.

Alas, I may have found it. And it's not what you think.

I've seen these bikes for a while - heck, they've been around forever. I've heard it decsribed as "bulletproof." "Fun." And it does "a fair impression of a sportbike." Plus, in a field of cheap bikes, it was chosen the one to take from New York to California.

Give up?

It's a Kawasaki KLR650.

I can hear the groans from here. Yeah, I know it's kind of ugly. But I've always been a fan of the dual-sport look, so it's not a problem to me. And the neo-camouflage paint casts a glimpse into its military role, sort of a patriotic sentiment in this time of international tension. And it really comes with a lot of stuff for under $5G. Liquid cooling, windscreen and handguards, full instrumentation (even though it looks like it came from a 1979 Corolla), comfy seat and the mother of all luggage racks.

You see, I have a lot of requirements for my motorcycle. It has to be good in my daily commute through crowded poorly-controlled small-town streets. It has to be able to tackle windy mountain roads with aplomb. And it has to be ready for a road trip. The "Killer" handles all the aforementioned tasks, with the added ability to go off-road. And I've been told dirt riding can be highly addicting.

Of course, this may all be moot. The way my finances are looking, my only criteria for a bike may be one with two wheels that sort-of runs.

What... No MZ?

Anyone who has read any of my posts in the forum know that I have a strong affinity for MZ, the "other" German motorcycle manufacturer. So why didn't I pick one of those?

Two words: rarity and price.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the bikes, especially the Street Moto/Black Panther. They're the same bike in different colors - really, I just wish MZ would drop the "black," call them all Panthers and be done with it. But I digress.

The two bikes - KLR and MZ - are very similar. Both are based on dirt platforms and have 600-plus-cc singles. But the MZ is decked out for the street, with a 17" front wheel and a sticky Pirelli tire instead of the tall 21" knobby on the KLR. And, of course, it has a powerful Grimeca brake instead of the tiny little front disc on the KLR, necessary to prevent the Killer's front tire from washing out in the dirt. The MZ has no such dirt pretentions - it's a dirt-bike for the street, an ultimate supermotard.

Unfortunately, it's also a little hard to find. Two dealers sell MZs in Pennsylvania - one in central Pa. and on near Philly. Both are at least a 2 1/2 hour drive from my home, a little far to go for maintenance.

And did I mention price? The Panther goes for $6,195 new. And I haven't seen them on the used market for less than $5,400, still more than a new KLR.

Also, KLRs have been around forever. In fact, I heard a few years ago that a group of archaeologists working on the Siberian tundra unearthed an early Cro-Magnon man who apparently low-sided his KLR while negotiating a tricky off-camber turn, landing in a small lake, only to be frozen until the men came with the icepicks.

While nothing could revive the poor chap, after a quick carb cleaning, a new battery and some fresh gas, the KLR fired right up, after which a junior member of the archaeology crew promptly took it on an adventure-tour to Mongolia.

Seriously, though, their longevity makes them a good bet on the used market. I've seen older KLRs in good shape for as low as $2,500, less than a brand-new Rebel. And besides, there is one thing that the KLR does better than the MZ, and it has nothing to do with dirt. With a nice big windscreen and handguards, the KLR has ample wind protection for long trips. The MZ has, well, this faring-shaped piece of plastic above its vestigial speedometer that deflects wind about as well as a sharpened lead pencil.

Believe me, I'd love to get an MZ, and if I can find one for a good price, I may just get one. But I'm not betting on it.