In March I bought a 2009 KLX with the intention of riding the Continental Divide Trail from Calgary, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. I am 60 years old and after over 30 years of mountain biking this was my first motorcycle. Over the summer I used this forum numerous times for information on my KLX, as the 2 friends I travelled with and I got the KLX (Izobel) ready for the trip. Both friends I traveled with had done lots of road rides on motorcyles but little of what we planned to do with my KLX, a KLR and A Suzuki DRZ400. I did little to the KLX but add racks, Renthal bars, bush guards, skid plate, Unibiker rad guards and a small windshield. We installed Dunlop 606 tires on all three bikes in Whitefish, Mt. We left on Aug 20 and 5 weeks later arrived at Antelope Wells. The KLX was simply amazing. From 2700'asl at Whitefish, MT. to 12,000' near Summitville, Co; at -5 degrees and hard frost in Platoro, Co. to 40 degrees C in New Mexico this little bike started and ran every day problem free. By the time I returned north to Moab, Ut, to meet my wife and a trailer I had done over 6500 k's on the little bike. From the technical single track on Lava Mountain, Mt. to 110 kph on the highways in Arizona the bike performed flawlessly. I thank you all on this forum and a few other pages I used for your helping me to gain insight into my bike, riding and modifications to make. Reading the forums was a fun part of the journey. Here is a photo of Izobel near Breckenridge, Co.
Dave

 

Very nice trip,,,
glad to help with any info i may have contributed. also, if anything i contributed didn't work out for you,, "it wasn't me"

 

That sounds like a trip of a lifetime. I hope that I will be able to do something like that someday. Do you have a ride report with pics from this trip?

 

Buddy on the KLR is doing a photo spread and ride report. Let you know when it is up.

 

Two thumbs up! I'm impressed with the little bike myself! I get to try out the newly-reworked suspension tomorrow...

 

wow....fantastic to read about people following a desire like this through. I too will someday do a ride of this calibre. Cannot wait to read the full report. Great accomplishment!!!

 

Yes, way to go. There are not many bikes of this size that can do it all.

 

Well done, that man!!!!!