ftp.xmission.com/2014.06.ftp.xmission.com.tar/ftp.xmission.com/pub/lists/klr650/archive/v02.n1053

Internet Message Format | 1999-10-21 | 18KB

From: [e-mail] (klr650-digest)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: klr650-digest V2 #1053
Reply-To: klr650
Sender: [e-mail]
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Precedence: bulk


klr650-digest        Friday, October 22 1999        Volume 02 : Number 1053



(klr650) KLR vs. XR650L: No contest!
(klr650) Final tips
Re: (klr650) RE: KLR Help! (oil change problems)
RE: (klr650) Final tips
Re: (klr650) Postpartum Valve Check Inte
RE: (klr650) Mike and Carrie...update...
(klr650) Final tips
Re: (klr650) Ode to Arne's Big Gun.....NKLR
Re: (klr650) Hola Listmeister!   NKLR
RE: (klr650) Postpartum Valve Check Inte
Re: (klr650) NKLR- Down Under

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 07:46:14 -0700
From: "John Mulvihill" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) KLR vs. XR650L: No contest!

Jeff Walker is considering a KLR and had a number of questions:

Are you a beginning dirt rider?

I was when I bought my 2000 KLR four months ago, and my also-beginner pal
bought a new XR650L.

(We're both advanced street riders with many years of experience.)

We were told over and over that the XR was SO much better on the dirt, but
the truth is at neither of these big bikes is good on the dirt for
beginners, especially in tricky situations like switchbacks, mud, and sand.

If you want to get seriously into dirt riding, you're far better off with a
strictly-dirt machine, and a small one at that. The Honda XR400 is the
biggest I'd go.

BUT -- if you want to ride dirt roads and the occasional easy dual-sport,
either the KRL or the XR650L will do. Interestingly, I've found the XR650L
has no great advantage over the KLR in the dirt -- their weight is nearly
equal and weight is the deciding factor here. Yes, the XR has longer-gravel
suspension, but unless you're an advanced rider you probably won't notice
its advantage over the KLR's (especially if you use Progressive springs on
the KLR's front end).

On the road, there's no comparison. The KLR is FAR superior to the XR650L --
mainly because it's water cooled. On a freeway run between 80 and 90, my
friend's XR's oil blackened ominously -- the bike was just running too hot.
Both bikes handle great in the twisties -- the KLR needs a steel-braded
front brake line for better response.

With the optional tall screen and some of Driveline's great racks and
"cooler" bags, the KLR makes a fine, lightweight adventure tourer -- what
the BMW GS always wanted to be but was too large to pull off. (I know, I put
50,000 miles on an R1100GS.)

My KLR has been jetted, K&N'd, and fitted with a Supertrapp exhaust, greatly
increasing power, improving the sound, at a light cost in tank range (now
220 instead of 250+). With a Corbin seat I can do 800-mile days, and my
inexpensive Avon Gripsters give 7000 miles of high-grip range.

The KRL is a blast on a twisty, bumpy road, capable of humbling many
sportbikes. And if you adhere to its generous service intervals (6000 miles
between oil changes) and go to a good dealer (Diablo Kawasaki here in the
San Francisco East Bay are fantastic), you'll have a dead-nuts reliable,
do-anything motorcycle.

After 30+ years of riding all kinds of bikes, this is the best all-rounder
I've ever owned.

Whatever you decide, happy riding in the Great White North!


- - John Mulvihill,
fellow Canadian now living in California


Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 08:58:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: Juan Villarreal <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) Final tips

Just to jump on the valve check bandwagon...

I'm expecting my replacement shims to come in any
day now and I want to hit the ground running when
they arrive.  But before I do that there are some
things I want to confirm:

#1.  What's the consensus on using Lok-Tite for
the screws?  I'm talking about the ones for both
the cam caps AND the valve cover.  Use it on both
sets?  Neither?  If only one, which?  I have
medium and high-strength Lok-Tite on hand.  Which
one should I go with?

#2.  Just to confirm...  The two "EXHAUST" cam
caps go forward, with the arrows pointing towards
the front of the bike.  The "INTAKES" go aft,
with arrows facing forward.  Right?

#3.  When installing the head cover, the two long
bolts go on the side of the bike that has the oil
sight glass, right?

Thanks in advance for the backup.  The questions
may seem somewhat inane, but inane questions have
kept me out of trouble so far...

By the way...  I'm still in the hunt for the wire
that powers the horn system.  I bought a circuit
tester from Sears and plan on poking various
wires while beeping the horn.  I'm wanting to
find the portion that runs from the power source
to the horn switch- as opposed to the one that
runs from the switch to the horns themselves.
Will this work?  Or is there a constant supply of
power that runs from the power source to the horn
switch?  Do you see where I'm trying to go with
this?  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks in
advance...

Juan Villarreal


=====

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com

Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 11:20:08 -0500
From: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Carlos_Y._Gonz=E1lez?=" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) RE: KLR Help! (oil change problems)

>     Do you guys drain the oil while It's hot? Do you live in a humid
> climate? This sure sounds weird to me. Bogdan
>

I usually change the oil when its hot.  I can't tell you for sure though if
I get the milky looking oil every time, cause I don't look to check every
time.

Carlos

Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 10:31:27 -0600
From: Bogdan Swider <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (klr650) Final tips

    No way!!!  Anti-Seize in a must in the valve cover; I also used it
in the valve caps. Bogdan

    #1.  What's the consensus on using Lok-Tite for
    the screws?  I'm talking about the ones for both
    the cam caps AND the valve cover.  Use it on both
    sets?  Neither?  If only one, which?  I have
    medium and high-strength Lok-Tite on hand.  Which
    one should I go with?


Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 11:37:19 -0500
From: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Carlos_Y._Gonz=E1lez?=" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Postpartum Valve Check Inte

> From: Bogdan Swider <[e-mail]>
>
>     My A9 didn't need any shim changes till 19k and even then the
> offending valves were only slightly off. As I've mentioned in past
> posts/whines I believe having the tolerances checked at 4k & 10k stripped
my
> cam cover bolts. Bogdan

Sounds like a good point.  Each time you check the valves you probably wear
out every screw you need to remove by a little bit, probably even if you
use a torque wrench on everything.  The overly frequent maintanance of
valves might backfire if you eventually need to pull the head off to get a
hole helicoiled or something.  Plus, I figure that valves may go slightly
in and out of spec as miles go by, so I figure let them do their thing
until I really get some miles between inspections.  On average I usually
inspect mine around every 10,000 miles.
>
>     >>My bike now has 8000 miles on it.  Do I need to check the valves
> again
>     this
>     winter while the bike is in storage?
>     Thanks.
>     Bob Kaub<<

>     You'll probably get lots of opinions on this one.  My KLR has 12k on
> its current valve adjustment, I *might* check them this winter.  I don't
> open up engines unless I absolutely have too (except for oil changes and
> stuf like that).   I personally wouldn't bother with them for another 5K
or
> so

> > Bob, I checked mine at 500, 1500, 3000, and 6,000. It needed adjustment
> at each interval...
>
> Kurt Simpson


Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 11:04:13 -0600
From: Bogdan Swider <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (klr650) Mike and Carrie...update...

    Belated reply. I live in Colorado Springs so maybe I could do one of
the buckets. Bogdan

    I finally managed to get through to Carrie and Mike this afternoon.
Mike had
    a rough night last night and I spoke with him for only about 30
seconds as
    he was not feeling well. Carrie told me they are overwhelmed by the
    outpouring of concern and support from so many people and are very
grateful.

    The story goes like this. They were on a Forest Service Road and
watching
    some cattle on their right very closely. Suddenly a bovine jumped
from the
    left in front of them. They didn't have a chance. She made it sound
like
    Mike's left knee struck the animal (perhaps a glancing blow) and the
femur
    was forced back into the hip and pelvis. The hip was dislocated and
    fractured. He fell hard on his left as well. She was apparently
getting
    ready to get the bike up and drive it for help when people came
along.

    She said when she crawled over to Mike to check on his condition he
said,
    "no..don't touch me...go get a camera...you have to get a picture of
this to
    show people that this really can happen." She said she argued but he
    wouldn't have any of it until she got the picture.

    They are hoping Mike can be discharged by Friday. They will stick
around
    until Monday to have another evaluation. They will then see if Mike
wants to
    fly home or drive. There are several of us who have offered to
"bucket
    brigade" their van and gear home but we just have to wait and see if
we can
    be helpful...

    Kurt


    Visit the KLR650 archives at
    http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
    Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
    for info.

Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 10:39:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Juan Villarreal <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) Final tips

Wow...  Glad I asked.  You saved my life,
Bog-man!  Thanks buddy...

Juan Villarreal

- --- Bogdan Swider <[e-mail]>
wrote:
>     No way!!!  Anti-Seize in a must in the valve
> cover; I also used it
> in the valve caps. Bogdan


=====

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com

Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 12:30:46 -0700
From: "Arne Larsen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Ode to Arne's Big Gun.....NKLR

- -----
From: Bogdan Swider <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, October 22, 1999 6:44 AM
Subject: RE: (klr650) Ode to Arne's Big Gun.....NKLR


> Dawn, While cabareting the other night I met a lady that said she
> knew you in Las Vegas years ago. Do you remember someone called Anita
Mann?
> Bogdan

I hear she's going to be in the next Austin Powers movie... (right up there
with Allota Fagina, and Ivana Humpalot)

Cheers,

Arne
KLR650 Listmeister
Eh 13

www.mac-d.com    MAC-D Homepage



Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 12:35:56 -0700
From: "Arne Larsen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Hola Listmeister!   NKLR

From: e. rhoads <[e-mail]>
To: klr list <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, October 22, 1999 6:48 AM
Subject: (klr650) Hola Listmeister! NKLR


> So Arne,
>
>       Are there any problems with the mail server lately?  Have you been
> getting any reports of dropped emails?  It seems to me that not everything
> is coming through.
>
> eric

I don't think so... I've been receiving everything in quadruplicate as I go
through the e-mail transferrence.  The only messages that are bouncing are
the same ones that bounce all the time... the people who need to clear their
e-mail on a regular basis and for whatever reason aren't able to do so...

Then there are the abandoned hotmail accounts...

Cheers,

Arne
KLR650 Listmeister
Eh 13

www.mac-d.com    MAC-D Homepage



Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 12:46:24 -0700
From: Richard Ohnstad <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (klr650) Postpartum Valve Check Inte

I have or had the following Honda's that were liquid cooled and had =
screw adjustments for the valves:  1977 GL100, 1983 GL1100, & 1986 =
VFR750. =20

Richard in Tucson
'94 KLR650
'86 VFR750


>>I'm sure this has come up before, but I'm still relatively new here. =
WHY
shims? Screw-type adjusters are so much easier, and there's no =
replacement
of anything, except for maybe the cam chain. Shims just seem to be such =
a
pain in the ass. It isn't because it would increase the height of the
cylinder, is it?<<

I used to wonder about this also.  I also noticed that most if not all=20
liquid cooled engines have shim adjustment.  As a matter of fact, I =
can't=20
think of a single liquid cooled engine that has screw adjusters.  Why is =

that? Maybe one of our panel of experts can answer that question.  Also, =
it=20
seems Kawasaki is a little anal about valve adjustments.  They recommend =

valve adjustment intervals of 6K miles for my ZRX.  A friend of mine who =
has=20
a ZRX with 22K miles says that his valves have yet to need adjustment!


Gino


Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=3Dklr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.




Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 13:02:30 -0700
From: "Jeff & Lisa Walker" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR- Down Under

I once trained with some Ausie SAS.  Very professional and cheerful
chappies.  We were doing jungle training, and while us Americans were very
worried about running into any of the  "two-steps" that we were briefed
about (similar to the Panamanian Bushmaster, they are a variety of cobra I
think.), the Aussies were all talking about going out and hunting for them,
because they are "grand eats".  With those guys before and after the
mission, it was drink until the early morning every night, and up for PT at
0600 every day.  In the States, we'd think they were a bunch of alcoholics.
To them it was normal.  An alcoholic to them isn't someone who drinks every
day, but someone who can't function because they drink every day.  I could
only handle about 3 or 4 pints of that excellent beer, no way in hell I
could keep up with those guys.

As far as soldiers go, I'd rate them right up there with the best of the
best, right along the Gurkas, Fijians, and British SAS, who they are modeled
after.

Jeff

> I have to agree with that. I attend an international database conference
> every year and it just wouldn't be any fun without the folks from doun
> unda. They are by far the most partying, rowdiest, funny attendees of
> this conference every year. The Canadian contingent places a close
> second. I went out with these dudes one night and didn't get back to my
> hotel room until 6AM. My clothes were ripped and I had a few bruises and
> only remember somthing about hopping the fence of some railroad yard and
> hopping on and off moving train cars and running like hell from some
> security guards. Other than that the night was a complete blur.
> I somehow managed to make the first presentation that was scheduled for
> 8:30 AM. To my amazement, it was the Aussie guys I was partying with the
> night before who were giving the presentation that very morning and
> although I was very hung over, they were bright eyed and bushy tailed.
> Their presentation got a standing ovation. Hats off to the guys from
> doun unda. No worries, have a beeah, relax, shrimps on the barbie. You
> got to love it.
>
> -Brian Shepard
>  Philadelphia PA
>  A13
>
>
> > > The motor trade in
> > > Australia is the same everywhere.
> > > I doubt if it's much different in the US.
> > > I think it's just a motor trade tradition.
> > >
> > > Mister_T
> >
> > Friendship among the Aussies is a contact sport.
> > I hung out with a few F-111 crew members at an
> > airshow in California once...  The rowdiest (and
> > funnest) bunch of maniacs I've ever seen.  When
> > they weren't busy charming the local female
> > population (that accent, man, how can you lose?)
> > they were either partying or putting each other
> > through walls and windows.  We Americans like to
> > think of ourselves as being rugged, but from what
> > I've seen (and heard), our friends down under are
> > the real deal.  Like that lunatic who jumps in
> > after crocodiles and the like on the Discovery
> > channel.  He's an Aussie isn't he?  Or is he a
> > Kiwi?  I think he's just plain nuts...
> >
> > Juan Villarreal (hoping to one day make the trip)
> >
> > =====



Visit the KLR650 archives at
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650
Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to [e-mail]
for info.

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

End of klr650-digest V2 #1053
*****************************