18 hour day on a klr 650

Enjoyed your report. That area is not far from home. Might have to ride up their and check it out this summer.

so far i feel the trails on the west side of the state are the best and most scenic,especially the MCCCT sections.

Looks like a cool ride. Almost like a dusty butt 1000!!!! Great pic!!!

What brand-designation of tires did you have on the KLR during this ride? They looked to be the perfect "tweener". I'm obviously a novice at this dual-sport thing and don't recognize the tread right off. My Kendas will soon need replacing on my recently acquired DR.

They are mefo explorers.they are a pretty good all around tire, but they are expensive, and I was more impressed with the tkc 80 tires that I ran before those.

Looks like a great place to ride!
On such a heavy bike, you must have been tired at the end of the day.
I thought my dr650 was heavy for a dirt bike and I am not sure I would want to do that much dirt on a klr!

Awesome pictures! thank you for sharing the ride with us

Always good to see a KLR getting put to good use!!

I`ve had good luck with Metzeler Karoo 2 tires. They seem to be a little more aggressive in the dirt.

yeah,I slept good that night.As far as the klr in the dirt ,I just stay smooth and steady,and dont get in a hurry,but the deep sand is really tough.

Did you lower the pressure in the woods, or leave 'em set? What was/were the pressures? I'm thinking of trying the Mefos in the dirt. I've got T-63's now, and they're great, but a little squirmy above 50.

I've had my 1200GS on the Michigan single-track and got a fast schoolin' on my lack of skills - particularly in that sand. Your man gasguzzler earns my respect for getting that big pig through there and back, especially without knobbies!

Great ride report. I love seeing our Michigan woods posted on ADVRider.

I ride Hines all the time - I like the "Blue Ridge Parkway of Suburban Detroit" analogy!

I left the pressures at about 21 psi front and rear for on and off road.I believe that is what spec calls for.I just dont like looking for air after I get back on the road so leave them alone.
The mefos are great on road,but off road I think the tkc 80's just feel alot better,even in the gravel.The mefos feel hard compared to the tkcs,and i think compliant rubber compound is important for performance,I know that also causes more wear,but I think the tkcs will last plenty long on a klr as long as your not on the road all the time and looking for as much longevity as possible.
And I think the mefos are as expensive as the tkcs,which makes it easy to pick for me.The mefo is a good all around tire,but for the money ,I would not buy them again.

Gasguzzler didnt ride the gsa on the singletrack,he looped around on the two tracks and forest roads and linked up with me,where the single track crossed the roads.
Those roads are pretty rough also though.

Well, you did a fine job, sir.


My KLR is also clad with a set of Karoo 2s (again), but I've been considering a set of Mefo tires for longer tire life...communting, etc.

The only real complaint with the Karoo is the short life, 3000 miles tops for a rear, 6000 on the front. If you commute, how do the Mefo tires hold up?

The mefos ride and handle great on the street, they are smooth and quiet and the tread holds up well.For commuting, I bet the rear would last 10, 000 miles.

Thanks...good to hear. Now, I just have to find a Mefo distributor.

I think whitehorse press still sells them, And maybe klr650.com, but make sure your sitting down when you check the price.

What happened to the pix?

I noticed the missing pics also, my guess is I went over the limit on photobucket and they knocked off the old pictures to make room for the new.