THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
by
Steven Rossi
@SLDMRossi@aol.com@ ( remove the leading and following @ )

When the road twisted, I took a different turn and spent this past season commuting aboard a Kawasaki KLR 250…courtesy, Craig’s List. The virtually-new, 2003 I came across for slightly less than half of the original, showroom price (because it wouldn’t run) took me down a path less traveled (after the obligatory carb. cleaning)…since previously, I’d only owned street bikes.

So I’d like to report some interesting observations concerning this often overlooked, teeny-weeny 250 because its "Dual-Purpose" DNA has proven to be a match for my every day demands. But perhaps, not the ones you might think…

At 249 cc…it’s obviously no barn-burner. Those from the crotch rocket school of point-and-squirt riding will no doubt be disappointed. But for the rest us…pay attention, use the six-speed gearbox to its full advantage and the lil’ KLR’ll get-‘er-done.

Slow and steady is the order of the day. After a while, you may find that if you focus on mastering the science of maintaining momentum to avoid scrubbing off speed, your experience will turn into an art form. Just focus on riding smart and smooth. Continually tuning this technique is nothing but fun, and will certainly contribute to you becoming a better rider.

In return, you’ll be rewarded with a consistent 60 mpg…no problem. But do plan ahead, down shift as you approach the incline…not half-way up it…and you’ll do fine. Because remember, back in the day, guys used to do things like ride to Alaska on 250’s…before all the marketers and magazines said they couldn’t.

By the way, the 250’s upper end, sweet-spot is on the order of 55 to 60 mph. Beyond that, it’s starting to get way out of its element and run out of breath, so avoid the Interstate…which I‘d assume we’d all want to do anyway!

At 258 lbs…it’s obviously narrow and nimble. When it comes to the two-lane twisties, I often have to remind myself that’s it’s only a pair of 21-inch/17-inch somewhat-knobby hoops that roll between the pavement and I. One can only imagine how the bike would behave with more street oriented skins…such as Avon Distanzia’s or Dunlop D607’s?! And I plan on finding out…

Lean angles are incredible as well, and when the road turns rough the question merely becomes…bumps, what bumps? The KLR’s minimal mass and long travel (9.1-inch) suspension really does make sense on the street as well, with today’s crumbling surfaces and pot-hole strewn infrastructure.

And because if you really want to "Keep it Simple" and thus, "Keep it Single", such pursuit of purpose by being specified with kickstart only…not to mention a real petcock…are even more appreciated. Who needs anything more?

But neither a turtle nor a rabbit is a perfect pet, so a little additional attention is required to ensure that the KLR remains a loyal and obedient friend. In my case, such training began with a rear deck/rack and special mounting kit to relocate the standard tool pouch up above the front fender.

Available from www.klr250.com, both items are of utmost quality, and come complete with comprehensive installation instructions and quality, stainless hardware. Relocating the tool pouch up front allows the marine-grade, structural plastic rear deck/rack to be tucked up right behind the seat…unlike other traditional racks, which end up extending out beyond the rear fender. The rear deck also has ample tie-down provisions built right into it, and I highly recommend both www.klr-250.com accessories. I went with the bigger deck that they offer, which by the way, can be seen on their website.

On top of the rear deck, I added a 46-liter, Chase Harper Aeropac II tail trunk. It’s probably the most versatile piece of soft luggage I’ve ever bought, because quite simply put…it’s just plain big! Back and forth to work, it easily gobbles up my briefcase, carries an extra windbreaker and gloves and even allows me to pick up a bottle of Chardonnay or two on the way home.

While the Chase Harper pack includes a reflective, white rear stripe, I also added a band of reflective, red material around the perimeter of the rear deck. An inexpensive Timex Expedition wristwatch with a Velcro strap was wrapped around the bar-mounted brake Master Cylinder, and a plain, black crossbar pad was added on the handlebar (tough to find these days without graphics).

Right out of the Kawasaki dealer’s spare parts catalog came a pair of color-matched hand guards ($16.80, each), which are standard on the 650...and easier to install than heated grips. They mount right up on the 250…as long as you remember to order all the associated hardware, which is somewhat difficult to decipher off the factory parts list. Two, unique stand-offs (part numbers 92002-1879 and 92002-1880) are required (of different lengths), along with two short bolts (130J0612) and two supplementary nuts (92210-0006).

On my KLR, registration and insurance papers are secreted away in a discreet, rear license plate locking compartment (part number 9078), from the Aerostich Rider Wearhouse catalog.

As indicated above, the next step will be to re-shoe my trusty companion (when the time comes) with a more street-oriented tire…to domesticate it even further, from out of the wild and into its current commuter status. My off-road excursions are minimal…at least the ones I plan on, anyway.