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klr650-digest         Tuesday, March 16 1999         Volume 02 : Number 138




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Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 18:53:28 -0700
From: "Fred Hink" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Fw: Rear shock KLR

>I thought Progressive and White Bros. were two separate and competing
>companies?
>
>Hmmmmmmmmmmmm,
>
>Arne
>
>
>

Progressive sells wholesale to distributers and White Bros is the retail
seller.  White Bros. also sells to dealers like me.  I can order you the
shock that you want as I talk with them all the time.  The price would be
the same and you would be helping out the little guy and not just the giant
company.

Fred Hink
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                    Arrowhead Motorsports
http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/index.html *NEW*
                           435-259-7356
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 20:54:10 +0000
From: Jeffrey Doyle <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) [NKLR] Give it a brake

It seemed more exagerated on the wider front tire bikes than the other
bikes I
> rode with more narrow front ends. Anybody else ever notice this
> phenomenon? The recent threads have SUFFICIENTLY explained brake theory
> (*please don't rehash them, pleeease*) but I found this "seat of the
> pants" discovery rather strange.
>
> Jake



I have never experienced what you're talking about on any of the bikes I
rode that had single front disc brakes (regardless as to whether the
caliper was mounted forward on the fork following the rotation or behind
the fork leading the rotation).

Although I have experienced flywheel effect from the engine torque on
older bikes that kind of makes the bike favor one side and kind of
induces you to counter it.  It was noticed more when accelerating or
decelerating because of the physics involved.

Sorry this doesn't answer your question but I'd be interested to know
what the story is.

Jeff
A2

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:23:37 -0500
From: don roger <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) Blowing headlight fuses

I think one thing that contributes to blown headlight fuses is the =
design of the dimmer switch. As you switch from "low" to "high" there is =
a point in the dimmer switch lever travel where BOTH the headlight =
filaments are getting current. With one of my other bikes I used to use =
this "middle" position to get more light on the road.=20

It may be that those who quickly flip from high to low avoid overloading =
the circuit; and those who move the lever more slowly run the risk of =
overloading the fuse. Even if the fuse doesn't blow right away, it may =
be getting stressed and therefore more prone to failure.  I blew a fuse =
on the first day I rode my new-used KLR, and have never blown one since. =
But I seldom ride at night, so have no need to make frequent beam =
changes.

That's my 2 cents (CDN) worth; but please, let's not get a big =
"electrical theory for the under-twelves"  going here.

Don Roger '93 KLR650

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:26:03 -0500
From: don roger <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) Leaky fork seal -er - "band-aid"

This might help someone keep rolling safely with a leaking fork seal.

Last fall I had the misfortune to have the fork seal on the brake-disk =
side start to leak. I was concerned that it might leak oil onto the =
brake pads and make the front brake go away (besides messing up the side =
of the bike and my pants leg). BUT I was reluctant to take the time out =
of what was left of my riding season to replace the seal.  So this is =
what I did:

I pulled up the bottom of the fork gaiter and wrapped a "wingless" =
maxi-strength "feminine hygiene product" around the fork tube, then =
duct-taped it to the slider (bottom part of the fork). Then I pulled the =
bottom of the gaiter back down into position. This effectively kept the =
fork oil from leaking out and dripping onto the brake disk. Mind you it =
was still leaking out of the fork, it just wasn't contaminating the =
brake pads etc. Once the season was over for me , say another 1k miles, =
I did replace the fork seals. When I took the "maxi" off, it was sure =
soaked with oil, but it did the job. Funny, it wasn't that blue color =
you see in the ads!

Don Roger

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 19:34:35 -0700
From: "Skip Faulkner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR Tank Bags (Magnetic)

>Listers,
>
>I've been following the tank bag dialogue. I myself had the Kawa tank bag
for
>the KLR 650. I liked it. My dog liked it better. Now I'm in the market for
>another one. Here's the big question: Does anyone have a _magnetic_ tank
bag
>that they love? Or has anyone got one that they would recommend? Thanks. I
feel
>nekked without my tank bag.
>
>Peace and safe riding,
>Scott in Orlando-- A12
>
>

Scott,
   I have an Eclipse Contour magnetic bag that I have run through the
wringer and have been happy with it so far. It hasn`t had any tendencies to
come off yet, on road or off. So far I`m impressed and I enjoy just grabbing
the sides, lifting up, and walking away.

Skip ( magnet convert)

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:35:49 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (klr650) Leaky fork seal -er - "band-aid"

Don writes:
  [trailside repair?]
>I pulled up the bottom of the fork gaiter and wrapped a "wingless" maxi-
strength
>"feminine hygiene product" around the fork tube, then duct-taped it to the
slider


You get credit for thinking ahead. I would never have thought to put one of
those in my repair kit.

John O. (definitely needing to get more in touch with my feminine side)

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 20:11:56 -0700
From: "Skip Faulkner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NKLR (klr650) oil changes

>I like Castrol GT 10w40 myself. Any petroleum engineers out there have
>> reasons not to use this stuff, like all the suspended
>> particulates in Pennzoil?
>> Any takers?
>>
>> ===
>> Rev. Chuck
>> '99 KLR651
>> :^)>+
>>

 Rev,
    Castrol was the one mineral oil that has done very well in side by side
analysis with synthetics. I`ve seen three analysis tests where Castrol was
almost equal in viscosity stability, thermal breakdown, heat index and pour
point, to the lowest performing synthetic.
    Keep in mind that the automotive Castrol is not the same as it was since
the new SAE/API index standards change to SH/SJ.

 Skip


 Skip

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 22:38:57 -0500
From: "J.Taylor" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NKLR (klr650) oil changes

Does this change to SH/SJ make the Castrol less good or more better?

Jake, bad grammer and awl

Skip Faulkner wrote:
> Keep in mind that the automotive Castrol is not the same as it was since the new SAE/API index standards change to SH/SJ.

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 22:30:06 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (klr650) (NKLR) Is there a Honda GL500 Silver Wing list?

In a message dated 3/16/99 4:46:22 PM Central Standard Time, [e-mail]
writes:

<< >Fate has bestowed upon me the opportunity to pick up a near mint GL500
 >Silver Wing for well under book value.  Given the help this list has
 >given me regarding my KLR, I was wondering if there was a similar list
 >for the GL500.
 >
 >Thanks.

 No, no list but this website has a decent message board and nice pictures..I
loved my
 CX-500 except it started badly in cool weather...
  >>
There is a wonderful article about a couple that rode ther CX 500 through 89
countries and over 250,000 kilometers. Wow! Its in April 99 MOTORCYCLIST
magazine

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 22:43:08 -0500
From: "J.Taylor" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [Fwd: Re: NKLR (klr650) oil changes]

Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 22:42:49 -0500
From: "J.Taylor" <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01C-KIT  (Win95; I)
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: "J.Taylor" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NKLR (klr650) oil changes
References: <001001be7023$ed1e3a20$2a2231cf@default> <[e-mail]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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I mean in the sense of use in bikes. I use the Castrol in my 115,000
mile Mitsu engine without complaint.

J.Taylor wrote:
> Does this change to SH/SJ make the Castrol less good or more better?

> Skip Faulkner wrote:
> > Keep in mind that the automotive Castrol is not the same as it was since the new SAE/API index standards change to SH/SJ.

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 22:23:22 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (klr650) Braking Physics (NKLR)

In a message dated 3/16/99 3:49:52 PM Central Standard Time, [e-mail]
writes:

<< If anyone finds a significant fault in logic, please
 let me know... >>
I can't say there is fault in your formulas,but my Ducati Monster and Suzuki
1200 Bandit will stop very fast, whereas the single rotor bikes take a bit of
planning to stop.Frank

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 22:48:51 -0500 (EST)
From: Erik Schelzig <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) (NKLR) Is there a Honda GL500 Silver Wing list?

> In a message dated 3/16/99 4:46:22 PM Central Standard Time, [e-mail]
> writes:
>
> << >Fate has bestowed upon me the opportunity to pick up a near mint GL500
>  >Silver Wing for well under book value.  Given the help this list has
>  >given me regarding my KLR, I was wondering if there was a similar list
>  >for the GL500.
>  >
>  >Thanks.
>
>  No, no list but this website has a decent message board and nice pictures..I
> loved my
>  CX-500 except it started badly in cool weather...
>   >>
> There is a wonderful article about a couple that rode ther CX 500 through 89
> countries and over 250,000 kilometers. Wow! Its in April 99 MOTORCYCLIST
> magazine
>
>

Also there is this site, which has more pics than info, and the bike on
the main page is almost a spitting image of what mine might have looked
like before I got my hands on it:

http://www.pangea.ca/~bsmith/index.htm

allbests,

erik

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 22:41:58 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (klr650) Blowing headlight fuses

In a message dated 3/16/99 8:22:56 PM Central Standard Time, ddroger@travel-
net.com writes:

<< With one of my other bikes I used to use this "middle" position to get more
light on the road.  >>
Must have been a Guzzi, Benelli, or Ducati? Frank

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:25:39 -0700
From: "Skip Faulkner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR Auto Oils in the Bike

Dean asked what I got from the oil reps on the new oil ratings change. The
industry line for changing to SH/SJ was to mainly  reduce the levels of
phosphorus, moly and other heavy metals present in the old rating standards.
These additives are said to be cumulative in our environment. Also, with the
reduction of phosphorus and moly, longer life of catalytic converters is
supposed to be realized.  The new rating is said to help engine efficiency,
THEY say. From the reps, I got that it was mainly to appease the
environmental lobby, at the cost of sacrificing beneficial lubricant
additives. I`m not getting in to that part of the discussion, just the parts
that affect your bike.
    What do we as motorcyclists need the phosphorus and moly for? The
phosphorus and moly come into play mainly in high stress operations and in
certain high heat/high stress areas of the engine, I.e. cam journals, rod
end bearings etc. In these situations and areas, the phosphorus and moly
help prevent metal- to- metal contact as the oil heats up and adhesion is
reduced.
    Whereas automotive engines are not as dependent on the heavy metals
 due to higher volume and pump pressures, better oil galley and channel
designs) motorcycle engines with no pumps (splash systems) or small, low
pressure and volume pumps, along with rpms in excess of 4 and 5 thousand ,
have a need for that extra protection.
    This holds true for the synthetics as well. All of the automotive
synthetics had larger amounts of the heavy metals than they now do under
SH/SJ.
    What I got from my reps is not what you`ll get if you call and ask the
customer relations people. I called Shell and Mobil yesterday to see what
they would tell " off the street John Q. Public". The line I was given from
both was that while they could not devulge any oil formulation data ( highly
secret and proprietary), they would tell me that SH/SJ was a higher
standard, and since it exceeded the old ratings, it would be BETTER for
motorcycles. They would not admit to the significant reductions in
phosphorus, moly and other heavy metals. I was told that that information
probably came from a producer of motorcycle specific oils. I didn't tell
them that it came from their own engineer reps.
        I`ll share another little tidbit. The NEW Mobil One for motorcycles
is, guess what, their pre-SJ formula. Yes that`s right, Mobil One for
Motorcycles is the original automotive Mobil One  with the original amounts
of additives     ( and a few more thrown in) , re-labeled  for motorcycle
use, and doubled in price.
 A guy I was talking to at Baja Designs last week said that they do oil
analysis like we do in aviation, once a year, to compare oil blends. He said
that the SJ Mobil One, so far, has shown the same phosphorus and moly
content as the old Mobil One did. He said they were doing another one in a
couple of weeks and would fax me the results. That goes along with my Mobil
rep telling me that the SJ Mobil One wasn`t reduced as much as some of the
other synthetics.
   You can decide for yourself what oil you`re going to use, but I believe
you`ll see the bike manufacturers tell you not to use the new SJ grades. If
you want to use a non-synthetic oil, you`ll have to go to a diesel oil to
get it , as most of the diesel multi-grades are under the older ratings.
Rotella 15W40 would be a good one.
   The above is just passed on information for you guys and gals to use as
you see fit. For me, I would not be using any of the automotive oils any
longer, except for maybe the Mobil One.

  Skip ( oiled out and needin` a change)

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:35:06 -0700
From: "Kurt Simpson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Blowing headlight fuses

I think one thing that contributes to blown headlight fuses is the design of the
dimmer switch. As you switch from "low" to "high" there is a point in the dimmer
switch lever travel where BOTH the headlight filaments are getting current. With one
of my other bikes I used to use this "middle" position to get more light on the road.


I think you may have hit on it Don...no one else has ventured a guess. I've had the
same experience but now seldom flip my switch because it is always on high and I
seldom ride at night...

Kurt

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:32:08 -0700
From: "Skip Faulkner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NKLR (klr650) oil changes

>Does this change to SH/SJ make the Castrol less good or more better?
>
>Jake, bad grammer and awl
>



Less good.

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:39:24 -0700
From: "Kurt Simpson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) (NKLR) Is there a Honda GL500 Silver Wing list?

>There is a wonderful article about a couple that rode ther CX 500 through 89
>countries and over 250,000 kilometers. Wow! Its in April 99 MOTORCYCLIST
>magazine


I read that Honda had more new patents on the CX than any manufacturer has had on any
new introduction (200 some if I remember). A pushrod engine that could rev to 10K.
What a joy to do a valve adjustment on a bike with its heading sticking up and
out...shaft drive...and the aesthetics!..just kidding on this last..

Kurt

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 20:42:57 -0800
From: "ripkid" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) Blowin' headlight fuses

With one
of my other bikes I used to use this "middle" position to get more light on
the road.
- ------------
Might be another Kawi trademark. I used the SUPER BEAM aka. "middle"
position  on my CSR 750 and maybe the old KH400. Never blew a fuse though. A
pity if the KLR won't handle the strain, the SUPER BEAM cut through a lot of
NH fog. We shall see...(or not.)

- -rik

*** not so bright A13 rider.

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

End of klr650-digest V2 #138
****************************