Anyone ridden the KLE500 and ER5?

I want to replace my ER5 and XT600E. The ER tends to get used on A roads;
e.g. Builth to Birmingham - and the XT on the lanes around the hilly bits of
Mid-Wales. It appears that the KLE500 may do the job of both of them - and a
shop in Reading has a new one for £2900. Has anyone ridden both the ER5 and
the KLE500? If so, how similar are the engines?

Has anyone ridden the XT and the KLE? If so, how similar is the ride?

John

 

Wouldn't a pair of road wheels and tyres for your XT be cheaper?

 

Yes - but.

I don't think I should describe the ER as having 'urge' but compared with
the XT it can make good progress on A roads. The XT requires a bit more
'wait for it'. So one bike to replace them both is my aim.

John

 

simonk emerged from their own little world to say

*Ding*

The KLE500, aka "zoom lolly", was shit when it was competing with the Honda
Dominator and XT600 in the last century.

What have they done to "bring it up to date"? A new instrument binnacle &
headlamp cluster plus a catalyst in the exhaust to meet emission limits.

So, it will be even heavier than it was in the last century.

Sell the ER5. Buy some road wheels for the XT and start saving for a larger
capacity dual purpose bike. For the useage you describe a Tiger/V-strom or
even an R-GS is the ideal bike.

If you really want to change the bike now, and £3k is your budget then I
would opine that an X reg Tiger would be a much better investment. If you
are a short arse or need an insurance friendly 650cc bike then go for one
of the many BMW F650 variants.

 

I really doubt that.

 

Transalp or Africa Twin.

YKIMS.

 

Transalp, yeah. lovely bike. But it won't have the off-road ability of
the XT, which is quite a useful dirt bike.

 

Thanks for your opinions. I really haven't a clue what to buy to satisfy my
wants - and I don't really want to buy a new bike this week, March/April
would suit better. Luckily I'm not particularly short legged - I can flat
foot the XT600E when parked so seat height is not a problem (oh, and at 12
stone it's not my weight compressing the suspension to zero). Seat height is
a problem on bikes like the 600 Hornet - I sat on one and hated the cramped
position. The budget is as little as possible and as much as necessary - but
being middle aged I can spend over £3000. I don't see any point in going
over £5000 though. What could a more expensive bike do that I want?

In short - cruise at 75/80mph on dual carriageways, be sub 180 kg or so,
have a bit of mid range urge to get by cars on the A roads in Mid Wales,
stop on a sixpence when I meet vans on the single track roads behind my
house, recover from sliding on gravelly corners by simply closing the
throttle a bit, take me to Greece to visit my mate Nic, be pretty much self
servicable for the first 20k miles, fit Janet on the back for 100 mile
summer rides, not rot away if it doesn't get cleaned every day, be capable
of fitting my Givi topbox and have a centre stand.

And yes - I already have a Toyota.

John

John

 

I think SteveH is right - a Transalp.

 

Eatmorepies emerged from their own little world to say

By setting the 180kg dry weight you are excluding all of the bikes over
750cc already mentioned in this thread. Even the Africa Twin has a dry
weight over 200kg.

The baby V-strom, a 650cc V twin is 189kg. The single cylinder BMW F650GS
is 176kg. The Transalp, another 650 V twin, is 191kg.

Ride them all & decide.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, John Higgins

#It's CHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!


--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - There are few things in life more sinister than a
public toilet with the lid closed.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

John Higgins emerged from their own little world to say

http://tinyurl.com/f2qz

 

*snort*

 

Bunch of cunts, the lot of you.

;-)

 

*Snigger*