2008 MOTY

Kawasaki Versys MOTY and Kawasaki KLR650 Best Bang for the Buck Runner Up...from you persepctive they are logical well thought out choices and deserving your recognition.  

So here in Salt Lake we have two dealers. I went to the dealer closest to my work during lunch, rode up on my current ride, had the helmet, jacket etc. and I assume I looked like a motorcylist and potential customer. Well it was their lunch break too and after 35 minutes trying to find a sales person and noticing that they had neither bike in the show room I left and figured buying a Kawasaki there was a bad move. I even mentally corellated that the service department was probably equally inept. After all, every organization is a reflection of the top management personna.

A week later I went up to the other local Kawaski dealer and they had the Versys but no KLR650. The sales guy was there in a jiffy and answered all my questions. I even got to sit on the Versys. Being interested and thinking that either of these two motorcycles would match my riding profile my next question was, "How about a test ride?". The dealer policy, no test rides.

Sorry, Kawasaki, I don't buy new motorcycles without a test ride. I'll have to stick with BMW or Ducati here in Salt Lake. At least they offer demo rides.  

I got my '08 KLR 650 in June of '07. It now has just shy of 15,000 trouble free miles on it. It gets consistantly 60+ mpg. 100+ top speed. It will rip paved corners and go all the way to and past the end of dirt roads. Full coverage insurance for the first year was just $260, liability after that was $60 A YEAR!(yippee!!). $5349, paid cash for it. It paid for itself in a year in fuel savings. It takes pocket change to operate it. You actually can ride them anywhere. It is supported by a dedicated aftermarket.

  The BMW 1200 War Elephant and 800 War Donkey are far more sophisticated and complicated and expensive machines but are no better at being a motorcycle than the KLR. That sophistication and complication makes them more vulnerable than the Kawasaki KLR to the ravages of primitive roads and trails. Hannibal's elephants all died from the elements before he could use them.

  To me motorcycles should be simpler and cheaper than cars while giving equal or better performance. The KLR delivers exactly that. There are to many 2 wheeled cars masquerading as motorcycles these days. The stickers that people put on their bikes that say "1 less car" need to consider this....My neighbor's Accord and his wife's Civic both get equal or better mileage than his Goldwing does. They get about the same as my brother's Electra-Glide. Both cars were cheaper than the Goldwing and Electra-Glide. Many big bike riders are no better off than a lot of car drivers on the economy issue. Motorcycle manufacturers need to get on the ball with fuel efficiency or lose a big advantage over autos.  

Gr8 comments TxRdr. I did go back again and they let me ride the Versys. It was very similar to riding a Multistrada with less oomph.It would be a great commuter bike but it did not seem "enduro" enough. I need a motorcyle that will allow me to ride graded and unimproved dirt roads out in the West Desert. This means I need long range capability and don't want to ride 100 miles round trip to get gas. My dream ride, after my daily commute, is to ride the Pony Express Trail from Salt Lake City to California.  

The sales guy promised he would ring me when the next KLR650 showed up and guaranteed a test ride.

Stay tuned.

Thanks  

I was surprised to see the Kawasaki Concours 14 as the Sport-touring bike of the year.  Motorcycle Consumer News magazine (who I consider the "Consumer Reports" of motorcying) rated it 3rd behind the Yamaha FJR 1300 and the Honda ST 1300.  

My '08 Kaw KLR 650 bought June 22, 2007, has just today, Sunday, August 10, rolled up 15,000 miles. It serves as a full time commuter, weekend dirt digger, and has traveled all over the southwest and Great Plains. Its working on wearing out its 3rd set of tires and 2nd set of sprockets and chain. It has routinely turned in 60 mpg and uses zero oil. It cut my gasoline bill by 75%. Its been like paying a dollar a gallon for gas. Since the bike only cost $5349, and I paid cash for it, savings on fuel was felt immediatly. The bike paid for itself in one year. It has been absolutely trouble free. THAT IS BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!...Motorcycling could use more machines like the KLR.  

I must admit I was surprised that so many Kawasaki's made the top of this list.  Surprised but proud.

The Versys selection surprised me the most, though I certainly endorse that decision.  I've owned a Versys since late last year, put 7000 miles on it, in and around Texas and Mexico.  It is one of the finest motorcycles I've had the pleasure of riding.

I guess I was most surprised because of the caution some dealers seem to have shown in it's selling.  Recently, checking with a dealer near here I was told they turned one back in.

Maybe this award will light a fire under them. I think the Versys is one of the sweetist rides available.  I'm in love with it's handling, it's starting, suspension, and it's ability to excelerate when needed.  Most people I've talked to seem to admire it's sleek styling.