Hot Functional Testing

May 24 and 25
Shake-Down Cruise: Took a 500+ mi ride to give the entire package a real like test. Will the bike stay together or have all those "improvements" I've made handicapped functionally?

First day's ride was magnificent:

• Atlanta to Highlands, NC and then on to Asheville, NC via the Blue ridge Pkwy.
• I was planning on spending the negated there but just wasn't ready to stop - still had more miles in me
• I jumped on I-40 and headed west ending up in Gatlinburg, TN around dark.

The second day saw downpours as I came out of Great smoky Natl Park, on the the Foothills Pkwy and all throughout the Deals Gap and into Robbinsville, NC. Want to pinch a chuck out of your saddle? Ride the Tail of the Dragon in the rain. That will make you testify.

Think you can't get a hotel room for $35? Think again. Gatlinburg, Tennessee proves its value.

Testing results were mixed at best. Final scores: A, B and F.

• The bike did great. Ran like a top - nothing vibrated loose - all the electrical loads (heated vest, heated handgrips worked fine and didn't blow and fuses). I am completely pleased with the KLR.
• The gear work well: saddle bags, strap-on duffel. The tank bag is too small for a map which make one wonder why it has a "map pocket", but it held riding swag well.
• Clothing was a disaster - Roadgear jacket and gloves, allegedly waterproof, gear leaked like a sieve - at least from the outside. However, once the water got in, the gloves it did seem like they held it very well and refused to let it out. Maybe I should wear this stuff inside-out?