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klr650-digest       Tuesday, September 22 1998       Volume 01 : Number 258




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Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 08:37:17 -0600
From: "Josh Sammons" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) NKLR: MuZ Bikes

Baghira:  For me it has got 3 strikes against it.
1) Seat height, I need something a little taller than the KLR.
Unfortuneatly this is 4 inches lower.
2)  3 gallon gas tank.  I could live with it, just wouldn't like it.
3)  the nearest dealer to me is in Loveland, CO. about a 5hr. drive.

I do like the paint job, power increase, and the fact that I wouldn't see
another one in NM.

Mastiff:
I like this bike.  I love the head lights and just the look over all.  I
even like the blue paint job too.  Again seat height, and 3 gallon gas tank
is my only problem with it.  Oh, yeah and it's a thousand more than the
Baghira.  I do have a problem with that.

Josh
'92 KLR650

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 11:24:07 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (klr650) Valve Clearance

 All the talk about ZERO valve clearance has made me curious (and maybe
   paranoid).

   I took a look at the shop manual and can't understand how shims (or
   anything else) could wear and reduce the value clearance to ZERO.

   Help me understand this.  Also, what does running at ZERO harm?

   Thanks,
   Pat
   9,000 miles with no adjustments (yet)

The shims don't wear, the valve seats do. All that bashing and heat
(especially the exhaust valves) pound the valves deeper into the valve seats,
which the valve springs are then better able to pull up through the head,
closer to the cam shafts; hence the reduced gap between the cam lobes and the
valve shim. The valve shim (held in it's "bucket" sits on the end of the valve
stem.)
Zero valve clearance can cause BIIIIG damage if it turns to negative
clearance, that is, valves so tight that they don't even completely close. Hot
exhaust gasses whistle through the leaky exhaust valve, very quickly burning
the exhaust valve. A burned exhaust valve gets a little flat spot on the edge
of the valve.
If things get this bad, you will need a valve job and a new valve at the very
least, perhaps a new valve seat too.
Did you say "no" valve adjustments yet? Not even the 600 mi. warranty adjust?
Get thee to a machine shoppery!

Jeff

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 08:41:40 -0700
From: Mike Magier <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) More fan ??s

OK - my contribution to the growing fan/thermo question barrage.
97 (dealer says 98, but manufacture sticker says 9/97) KLR650, bought new.
From day one, has often gotten temp gauge 3/4 or more when piddling around
in town. I live in 90-100 or more, but now it's cooling down outside, and
there's no appreciable change in around-town temps. Yes, fan comes on at
high temps, yes - it stays on for 10-20 seconds after parking.

I've checked coolant level. That's about the extent of my mechanical
expertise (what can I say - first bike). I'm picking up mechanical skill as
I go. Just changed front brake lines, chain (oops, didn't know I was
supposed to lube it more than every 800-1000 miles!!), bash plate. Removed
front/rear wheels for tire change.

Anyway, back to heat issues. I have never pinned the gauge, but it does get
well up into the hotter portion of the gauge. The manual and the list often
refer to the "thick" part of the gauge. What is that? On my gauge, there is
a curved line that runs from C to H. The thickness of this line is uniform.
At the upper limit of this curve (and I would guess at the upper limit of
needle travel) there is a "hash mark" which is perpendicular to the curve.
Is this the proverbial thick part? If so, I think it would be easier to just
say pinning the gauge. (Or at least less confusing to us newbies/wrench
idiots). Alternatively, is there a different configuration on other heat
gauges where the curved line gets thicker as the gauge reads higher - kinda
like on some gauges where there's a yellow or red "zone" on the gauge?

Is my bike running too hot? It seems happy, and it cools down well at speed
(unless it's 100 degress and 100 mph!!)
Any input appreciated.

Mike Magier
(trying not to run too hot myself . . .)
97(8)KLR650  5800 mi.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:00:18 -0400
From: "Steve Young" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (klr650) Valve Clearance

My dealer swears they NEVER adjust valves at 1st service on the KLRs.
There are no other dealers without going hours away, so what's a guy to do?

- -----Original Message-----
From: [e-mail]
[mailto:[e-mail]]On Behalf Of
[e-mail]
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 11:24 AM
To: [e-mail]; [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (klr650) Valve Clearance


 All the talk about ZERO valve clearance has made me curious (and maybe
   paranoid).

   I took a look at the shop manual and can't understand how shims (or
   anything else) could wear and reduce the value clearance to ZERO.

   Help me understand this.  Also, what does running at ZERO harm?

   Thanks,
   Pat
   9,000 miles with no adjustments (yet)

The shims don't wear, the valve seats do. All that bashing and heat
(especially the exhaust valves) pound the valves deeper into the valve
seats,
which the valve springs are then better able to pull up through the head,
closer to the cam shafts; hence the reduced gap between the cam lobes and
the
valve shim. The valve shim (held in it's "bucket" sits on the end of the
valve
stem.)
Zero valve clearance can cause BIIIIG damage if it turns to negative
clearance, that is, valves so tight that they don't even completely close.
Hot
exhaust gasses whistle through the leaky exhaust valve, very quickly burning
the exhaust valve. A burned exhaust valve gets a little flat spot on the
edge
of the valve.
If things get this bad, you will need a valve job and a new valve at the
very
least, perhaps a new valve seat too.
Did you say "no" valve adjustments yet? Not even the 600 mi. warranty
adjust?
Get thee to a machine shoppery!

Jeff

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 11:14:03 -0400
From: "Christian Kindarji" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) trip Tampa-Montreal-Tampa (Fixed posting) (NKLR)

I'm sorry guys but it seems that every time I try to re-send this message
with the missing part it just sends an unfinished old post, hopefully this
one will make it.

First I would like to thank everybody who helped me getting myself ready for
the trip, then I would like the thank the List and all those people that
keeps it alive everyday. Thank you everybody.  Although I'm not a hard-core
biker but a person that enjoys driving my bike everyday, I learned a lot
from your everyday postings and I did my first oil change and oil-filer
change in the middle of my trip (and very proud of myself should I add). I
have still a lot to learn about sprockets, dynajet, ...

Here's a summary of my trip (Not technical though):

when I first thought about it , I told myself the idea was crazy and I
was expecting my wife to freak out! But guess what , she didn't!
I guess she knew I needed the challenge  So I started planning for the
trip. Tampa , Montreal on my KLR650 is definitely easier said than
done . Believe me when I say it, because I did it!
1500 miles is not a short trip! What is the safest , shortest way? Let's
start!

First, the maps! Of course, my PC (stands for Perfect Companion!) was a
great help, I used Rand-McNally Deluxe Edition of TripMaker and
 printed 3 copies of the itinerary (one for my wife, two
for me in case I threw one out of frustration on the road!)
I knew I had to travel light , so clothes, tools, 1st aid kit,
blabla...backpack, my alarm set at 5A.M (as if I 'll get any sleep that
night) and I went to bed...

5:00 AM I am actually going to do it ! Shower..
5:30 AM VRRRRRRRR.... I am on my way....

10:30 AM Have you ever been on a motorcycle for more than an hour?
19 or 20 for example? I guess God didn't create the back for this
particular purpose in mind! I had some weird reactions : while my lower
back was busy aching me increasingly , my legs were spreading and
spreading....
When I looked really funny on the bike , I had to stop , rest , refuel,
leave a message for Nathalie on the beeper with the miles I have already
put behind me!
My first encounter was at Virginia : Tattoos on his arm, ring in his
ear, and his eyebrow, and his nose and his lip and his tongue, Kevin and
his custom bike were going my way (Albany) too! He ended up calling me
"slave driver!" because I wouldn't stop every hour for his "smoke"!
He thought about making to Albany in 3 days, I promised to get him
there next day. 2:00AM winds were blowing and it was getting pretty wet
and cold, we had to stop for the night.
I have to tell you we shared a room that night , I can't
recall everything that happened but I only remember waking up with a pierced
ear
and "Kevin for ever " tattooed on my arm!
(Please note that it was a joke , I also informed my
lawyer about this comment just to make sure nobody can sue me because of
it and that it is not Starr report material!)

5:00 AM A man with a mission! that's me!
"on the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again..."
"Riding on the highway, looking for an adventure..."
It's funny, all those songs we always hear and hum along but only
one sticks in your head for that day and you sing it again and again and
again...
At the risk of something romantic , I enjoyed those sunrises and the
views ! Those beautiful colors that change by the second , all the
serenity of the mountains, the freshness and the smell of mornings.
Where are we every morning when those beauties are unfolding ?
This is really breathtaking .I am trying to take in as much as I can
(I remembered Forest Gump and his desire to run for years).

I guess our species have weird needs sometimes: to challenge oneself to
ones limits ....
Miles are running so quickly before me and I noticed that after all
those miles , I could tell how many different kind of gravel, pavement
materials they used on those highways. Different shades of gray,
different shades of black...I also encountered an alligator making his way
to the river, lots of road kills (raccoons, snakes, a deer, a mountain lion
!!!),
and oh let's not forget the thousands of insects dying on my helmet
and that big moth that crashed on my visor (needed 10 minutes to clean up
this one).

Miles are running so quickly before me. Every 2 hours , stop , refuel,
rest for 10 or 15 minutes and on my way again... Parted with Kevin in
"Albany" that day as promised, apparently he said that I was "The Man !!!".
Pretty soon it was like a routine and by the end of the day , I was
approaching the Canadian border... I was getting really cold and I had
to stop for 20 minutes inside the Customs station to warm up again...
I started the motorcycle under the rain , but what the heck, I have seen
worse...
The rain turned into a crazy storm , winds were pushing cars off the
highway,  so I along with many cars had to pull on the side and stop .
Water was pouring in and no bridges in the horizon I was chilled to my bone.
One car driver took pity on me and let me in his car to warm up.
Have you ever been drenched to the bones? shaking? and not being able
to articulate a single word? Yep! That was me!
The car driver blasted the heaters in the car. 10 minutes later storm had
passed, back on the bike. Next stop my father's place in Montreal.
Forget about my glorious arrival! All I could think was a hot
shower and dry clothes! Not even Demi Moore herself could have made
me happier at that point!

I will never forget the expression on my father 's face. He didn't know
I was coming and he was trying to figure out how the heck I was standing
in front of him and why I WAS SOOOO MISERABLE?
Shower , dry clothes and an hour later , the VIBRATIONS in my head were
still there ! BUZZING IN MY EAR ... WOULDN'T STOP!  Pretty uncomfortable
feeling but I DID IT!  so I didn't mind the buzz . I was thrilled to
tell myself that I DID IT !

What I didn't realize at that particular thrilling and happy moment of
my life is that I will have to do it all over again in 4 days!

Well, the way back was tiring and problem free, but on that bike was a
man , renewed with the knowledge that this was a kind of a rerun (been
there, done that), a man wizened by the fact that the human mind is a
strange box . It believes everything that you feed it : you can tell it
you can do it and it will!
The great gift through it all is our WILL . This is where everything
starts and becomes reality .

The only thing still bothering me though are those VIIIIIBRAAAATIOOONS.
If only they would stop!


Christian - KLR650 '98

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 10:15:11 -0600
From: "Fred Hink" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Valve Clearance

- -----Original Message-----
From: Steve Young <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 10:02 AM
Subject: RE: (klr650) Valve Clearance


>My dealer swears they NEVER adjust valves at 1st service on the KLRs.
>There are no other dealers without going hours away, so what's a guy to do?


You have a couple of options.  You could pay your dealer to check your valve
clearance or do it yourself.  You should get the TWO service manuals for
your bike and then check out this article...
http://www.geocities.com/~klrdsn/page4.html

Engines with double overhead cams don't require valve adjustment as often as
most other type of head arrangements.  But factories do make mistakes and if
you didn't catch a gross misadjustment for several thousand miles then you
are looking at serious valve damage.  For your own piece of mind you would
feel better getting it checked.  It will probably be adjusted correctly but
until you check it out you will never know.

Fred Hink
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                    Arrowhead Motorsports
http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/khink/moabmc/index.html
                           435-259-7356
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:34:19 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re:  (klr650) More fan ??s

On 9/22/98, [e-mail] wrote: snip

>97 (dealer says 98, but manufacture sticker says 9/97) KLR650

 It's common for products to be in the manufacturing cycle one
 year and sold the next as that year's model. My '96 A10 was made
 in 6/95. The 'A~' designates model year not manufacturing year.
 The '87 model = A1, thru the '99 model = A13. So some of us list
 our bikes by model # and others by model year.

>The manual and the list often refer to the "thick" part of the gauge.
>there is a "hash mark" which is perpendicular to the curve.
>Is this the proverbial thick part?...easier to just say pinning the gauge.

 Well the right hash mark on mine is thicker than the others. Mine's
 never been hot enough to confirm that it pins on the thick line. It
 may be capable of going past the thick line.

>Is my bike running too hot? It seems happy, and it cools down well at speed

 Doesn't sound too hot to me. Riding in the desert on a hot summer day,
 does activate my fan, but the needle's never read more than 3/4. Unless
 you're close to the right mark or boiling over...be happy.

 Redondo Ron (who's never been a big fan)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:03:55 -0600
From: [e-mail] (roger kriegel)
Subject: (klr650) GAS MILEAGE

i read something on web about the klr 650 getting up to 63mpg using d-200
engine treatment and d-500 fuel conditioner...has anyone else experienced
this.

the following is the info i read:
http://www.lgr.lv/marshal/case4.htm

thanks

roger

Roger the Artful Dodger
hm [phone]
wk [phone]
[e-mail]
2809 west william cannon dr#d101
Austin, TX 78745

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 13:27:16 -0600
From: "Kurt Simpson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Valve Clearance

>
>>My dealer swears they NEVER adjust valves at 1st service on the KLRs.
>>There are no other dealers without going hours away, so what's a guy to
do?


My '98 had 2 valves that were tight at 550 miles...I used the chart in the
service manual to get the correct shims...Check them or have them checked!

Kurt A12

------------------------------

End of klr650-digest V1 #258
****************************