To Pimp or not to Pimp?
 

This may seem like an obvious question to some, but is it advisable to paint the bike and make it look beautiful? In some countries it seems like a nice-looking bike could be a target for thieves. Personally, I'll be heading to South America and I'm wondering - should I paint it? - Even when I'm traveling through poor countries?

My current ride is a 2001 KLR650 (olive green and crap decals).

Personal Preference.
 

Me... I'd leave the bike exactly how it looks, and leave it olive green with the "crap" decals.

If you are 20-30 years old and trying to pick up women at the youth/backpacking hostels, paint it.

If you are simply in the mood to make the trip an adventure, leave it how it is.

My bike continued to get uglier and uglier the more I rode it from Seattle to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Personally, I would NOT paint the bike.

--Alex

20-30

I guess that pretty well clears it up then! :biggrin3:

Not just regarding the trip but in general terms, it might then be interesting to swap to a "bavarian bike", they seem to impress much more that kind of girls...:blushing:

Seriously, I wouldn't paint it either, it's a nice and authentic KLR.:thumbup1:

It is hard to understand just what a beating a bike takes on its way south. You will travel over literally hundreds of speed bumps. Your bike will take quite a pounding whether you stick to pavement or head offroad.

Dust and mud will invade every crevice of your KLR. You will find parts of Latin America on your bike long after your trip is over.

Rare is the rider that doesn't find cracks on their subframe or pannier frames that need welding and repair.

When your trip is over, compare the before and after pictures. You will likely have the same grin. But your nice clean riding gear and shiny bike will have been transformed. You will hardly recognize the before pictures without the duct tape, scrapes, spot welds and bruises. I imagine you will laugh at the folly if you spend money tarting it up. It makes me smile just thinking of what is in store for your bike.

It will be an epic journey. Of that you can be assured.
Whether you paint it or not is up to you.

Have fun!

Kindest regards,
John Downs

That last post made me VERY happy.

I can make a bike look damn good with next to no cash, so It's just a question of it being a target for thieves or not. The previous, previous owners(s)? had painted it olive green, since the plastic was faded. I think I'll go with truck bed liner, BBQ paint (for the hot stuff), and gloss white (or lime green) for all the bars and skid plates.

I hope it gets smashed to bits and comes back looking like it went through hell. Actually I hope it doesn't come back at all, and I'm still with it.
:mchappy:

is it actually possible to "pimp" a KLR?

I have a 55" Plasma that I won't be using when I leave, but dammit no headrest to cram it in.

Nothing wrong with improving the looks of your bike if you don't put much money into it. Some would say KLR pimping is an oxymoron (contradiction in terms- like pretty ugly or military intelligence). I say ignore the lipstick on a pig jokes and have some fun with your bike. Nothing wrong with that.

I admire your enthusiasm. Krylon Fusion works well on plastic. I offer the following:

How to spray paint a KLR 650 with Krylon Fusion and Truck Bed Liner - YouTube

to get you started down the road of budget KLR pimping perdition.

Have fun!

Best,
John Downs

Bike Wraps
 

We totally wrapped our bikes with Aboriginal art and they look awesome !
Yes they do get a lot more attention than I thought but it sure beats a boring silver bike.

Hey! :rofl: