I'm a Newbie to the list, and a proud owner of a 1998 KLR650. I appreciate the
wealth of info. that is available, and the great discussions on the list.
In addition to trail riding with my son, I'm using the KLR for long multi-
state highway trips at times, and would like to make the bike a little more
comfortable at highway speeds. I realize that this is a typical newbie
question, as I have been a part of several other bike lists (VFR/COG), but I
have spent hours searching the archives (Is there a search keyword function?),
and have found some information, but not all that I need.
If anyone is willing, please send me your personal preferences and experience
regarding the following modifications. You can e-mail them to me personally if
you like, as to not crowd list with previously covered topics.
1. Sprocket changes to lower the engine RPM for cruising at about 75-80mph.
2. Weights or other suggestions for lowering handlebar vibration levels
3. Would changing to a different air filter improve power at all, without
getting new exhaust/jet kit?
Thanks in advance for everyone's suggestions. Flood my e-mail.
Bill Swindle
VFR754@aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 07:49:28 +1000
From: Ted Palmer <tedp@replicant.apana.org.au>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Oil consumption
Scott Wass wrote:
> How much oil does eveyone elses motor use? My 95 seems to use quite abit ...about 8-10 oz. per 500 miles. The bike has 8k miles on it and seems to run fine otherwise. Is this out of line for oil
> consumption?
Sounds a bit more than a motor so young should use.
You could try changing brand of oil. I once tried a heavier oil
(Penrite Endurolube, about 25W/60) but it seemed to burn off even
faster. Endurolube was designed for thumpers, and I assume that air
cooled varieties were more in mind.
I guess my worn rings were having trouble scraping off the thicker
oil.
Mister_T
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 16:20:10 -0600
From: Bogdan Swider <BSwider@ColoradoCollege.edu>
Subject: (klr650) To: "'klr650@lists.xmission.com'" <klr650@lists.xmission.com>
"Newbie" Bill is the latest owner to bring up the subject of a sprocket
change to lower RPM at high speeds. One dude's opinion: Don't. I often
cruise in the 80's & 90's. We all know the engine has to work very hard
at those times to counter wind resistance. Do you climb a steep hill at
3'000 or 4'000 RPM? I believe you're being nicer to your engine by
revving it high like God intended and utilizing it's peak HP & torque
than by sparring it the RPM's it craves and forcing it to labor. By the
way my gas mileage on those fast rides is never less than the low 40's;
it's usually more.
Always, Bogdan (Not a real
engineer, not even close)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 20:07:01 -0400
From: "J. Taylor" <klr650@mediaone.net>
Subject: (klr650) Michelin Tire Sale
Anybody need a new front tire? Accesory Warehouse has Michelin T-65 Dual
Sport front tires (90/90-21) on sale in their clearance area for $35.00.
Also have the Alpinestars Global Jackets w/ "Camelback" pocket and house
routing for approx $100. Thought I'd pass along a decent find.....
Jake
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 20:09:37 -0400
From: "J. Taylor" <klr650@mediaone.net>
Subject: (klr650) Michelins Again
The part number for the tire is: 50586 @ $35.95
I forgot the first time.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 19:55:55 EDT
From: Triphenia@aol.com
Subject: Re: (klr650) Balancer Chain Adjustment
I just went through the same thing, and got advise from the same source as
you, right here. Sure enough the balancer chain is easy; back off a couple of
turns, whack the engine a few times with a rubber mallet, tighten it back down
(but not too much.) Mine didn't tighten down as many turns as it loosened (1
3/4 turns as opposed to 2 turns..... is this normal?)
As for what I do know about, lubing the cables. Mine were bone dry on
delivery, so I removed the upper ends and used a cable lubing gimmick that I
got for a few bucks at Cycle Gear and a can of Tri-Flow. You may also want to
lube the handlebar under the throttle twist grip with a little moly grease,
not the heavy lithium stuff from a grease gun. Bicycle bearing grease (Phil
Wood) is good too, and less messy.
I'm having a blast on this thing around San Francisco. I recently put on the
lowering kit from Quality Engineering and that dropped the rear end 1 1/2
inches. After some experimenting I settled on raising the fork tubes up in the
clamps only 1/2 inch. I think the springs are just a little soft, and this is
a good balance to keep the front end up where it should (IMHO) be.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 10:17:55 +1000
From: Ted Palmer <tedp@replicant.apana.org.au>
Subject: (klr650) Cable lubing
Yo desert-dualling listers,
Can anyone confirm a rumour I've picked up about lubing cables on bikes
in desert conditions?
Apparently, lubing cables on bikes for dusty conditions is not so
good an idea, as the lube tends to hold dust (a bit like covering the
chain in spray grease, making it a dirt magnet), so the cable clags up,
where a dry (unlubed) cable would keep on working.
Just curious,
Mister_T
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 08:33:54 +0800
From: Linus <linus@sem.my.sony.com.sg>
Subject: (klr650) Gaskets for the `90 and `96 KLR
Hi everybody,
Could anyone tell me if the `96 KLR650 Generator case cover gaskets(left
side of the engine) the same as for the KLR`90 model.The part no for the
96 is 11060-1692/93 and for the 90 is 11060-1111/12.The numbers are not the
same as you can see.
The Kawa spares dealer gave me the `96 gaskets,saying it would fit into the
90.Wonder if it`s true?
Thanks everyone
Linus
KLR90
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 20:45:32 -0400
From: "Rick Clarke" <rpclarke@pop.mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: (klr650) whaddayathink??
> I looked at an 89 KLR at a local dealer recently... the rear rim was
> bent (the sales guy said "Of course we can replace that" though why they
> would let it out on the showroom floor like that is beyond me). The
> asking price seemed too high, also. They wanted $2850 for it...
I bought my '89 a few years ago for $1300. It was in fair to good
shape and only had about 2k miles on it. Now that it has 20k miles
and a lot more wear and tear I doubt I could get what I paid.
- -Rick
R.P.Clarke (rpclarke@mindspring.com)
"What traffic?"
RTP, NC, USA DoD#5811
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 20:55:41 EDT
From: AGSholar@aol.com
Subject: Re: (klr650) whaddayathink??
In a message dated 9/9/98 9:51:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time, djbouley@juno.com
writes:
<< I looked at an 89 KLR at a local dealer recently... They wanted $2850 for
it...
I'm inclined to walk away from this one. Would love to hear the opinions
of others that know more than I. >>
I would not touch this one, at least at that high of price. I paid $1800 for
my '88 KLR in very good condition last year so I know you can do better than
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 23:45:04 -0700
From: Tom Simpson <bullet@scsn.net>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Cable lubing
At 07:34 PM 9/9/98 -0700, Robert Morgan wrote:
>Hi all
> San Diego (my town) is the home to many things...WD-40 among them.
>WD-40 needs no introduction I'm sure. It holds a similar status to one of
>my other favorite things....DUCT TAPE ( not from San Diego I think). They
>are both extremely versatile and effective not only for what they were
>designed for but almost anything you can think of. What pray tell does this
>have to do with cable lubing you ask? Well I mentioned the WD-40 guys were
>local. Some of their advanced marketing type dudes came by our shop and
>asked if we would test a new WD-40 product. Its called TAL-5 (I'm not
>making this up). It has basically the same properties as WD-40 and comes
>out of the aerosol can at about the same viscosity however it quickly
>thickens to a light weight grease like substance. It strikes me as the
>perfect cable lubricant. I like it. Watch for it where ever fine aerosol
>products are sold.
>Morgan
>and for you trivia fans....WD-40 was originally designed to lubricate gyros
>in intercontinental ballistic missiles. The W. D. stands for water
>displacement.
>Really, I'm not making this up.
Personaly, I am fond of a product called Cable Life that my Kawa
dealer here in town sells. Works lovely. WD-40 is a product that has
always left me cold, Perhaps its all of the yellw DW varnish that I
had to scrape out of cruddy shotguns back when I worked as a gunsmith. :)
- -Tom
'96 KLR 650
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 22:55:21 -0500 (CDT)
From: Carlos Yonan Gonzalez <aviator@csd.uwm.edu>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Oil consumption
On Thu, 10 Sep 1998, Ted Palmer wrote:
> Scott Wass wrote:
>
> > How much oil does eveyone elses motor use? My 95 seems to use quite abit ...about 8-10 oz. per 500 miles. The bike has 8k miles on it and seems to run fine otherwise. Is this out of line for oil
> > consumption?
>
> Sounds a bit more than a motor so young should use.
> You could try changing brand of oil. I once tried a heavier oil
> (Penrite Endurolube, about 25W/60) but it seemed to burn off even
> faster. Endurolube was designed for thumpers, and I assume that air
> cooled varieties were more in mind.
> I guess my worn rings were having trouble scraping off the thicker
> oil.
>
> Mister_T
Hey guys, Scott, Mr.T,
I also have a KLR that seems to be burning a little too much oil. The oil
level reaches the minimum after about 300 hundred miles, so it basically
means I have to take a refinery with me if I want to take a long ride. It
didn't burn oil at all last year up until it had about 11,000 miles. Last
winter I rode the bike often because of the mild El Nino weather in
Milwaukee, but I
distinctly remember not changing my 20w50 right away when the temperature
fell (BIG mistake). I also remember warming the bike up a few times
and seeing white smoke for a little while. I didn't put two and two
together at the time, but now I know that I probably wore out (burnt) my
piston rings. I'm seriously considering pulling the engine and replacing
the rings this winter. Has anyone on the list done this procedure
themselves. Should I be doing this myself (I am adventurous), is it
fairly straight forward, or is this more of a mess than its worth. It
would be consoling to hear that a do-it yourselfer had done this
