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klr650-digest          Saturday, May 8 1999          Volume 02 : Number 383




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Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 09:30:30 -0700
From: "Kathleen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Re:NKLR Moose; was (klr650) Moose bash plate part #

<<<"Hey Kat!

Since I don't have a Moose catalog yet I can't tell you how much they are.
You should come to Moab for a ride.  I'll show you some trails that will
take the fire out of you.

Hope to actually meet you in a few weeks!

Fred>>>"

Fred and all,
I have been planning on the Moab Rally for a year.  Even had my note
requesting vacation time in six months ago.  I have been informed that since
that time is considered "holiday week"  as in Memorial Day,
I cannot take my vacation at that time.  One of these years (soon I hope)  I
will get there.  Until then,  I expect a lot of good write-ups and pictures
to be posted.  And if possible, could names be put with faces?  Like,
"pictured left to right"?

I know that you were all planning on attending my seminar/demo on how to
pick up our beloved KLR; obviously, this will have to be cancelled unless I
can find a replacement---Sarah?  Linda T?  Skip's wife(sorry I can't
remember your name :-( )

Kathleen (pouting in Lake Elsinore)

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

Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 08:43:26 -0700
From: "Rob Gendreau" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) DualStar wrenches (now headlight protection)

What's the name and brand of this stuff? I've looked in several autoparts
stores here in CA and haven't even found anyone who's heard of the stuff
(Grand Auto, PepBoys, etc.). Thanks.

>
> Yeah, for about $8 here in FLA, covers nearly four headlights if you are
> judicious in your cutting.

- --
Rob Gendreau
Oakland, California
[e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 08:29:12 -0700
From: "Rob Gendreau" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) Check those switches!

Jeff:

You probably don't need any more encouragement to check those switches, but
I recently had reason to check mine. On my regular commute route, with many
enticing twisties, I frequently go faster than I should. Last week, in front
of my friends' house, a young biker apparently was doing the same thing when
he apparently lost it. We don't know exactly what happened, just that he
went down and then head-on-ed a SUV. His bike slid past it, but he went
under it and got stuck there. Despite full leathers and helmet he perished.
Neighbors had to retrieve a jack to lift the SUV to get to him, but
apparently the injuries were just too massive. He probably wasn't going much
over the 30MPH limit. Just bad visibility and maybe bad luck.

It's definitely made me way more careful.

In other dangerous pursuits, like mountaineering, accidents are analyzed
over and over to help make the sport as safe as possible, recognizing that
it's always gonna be risky. I think it's important we do the same, so thanks
for your reminder. Fear can be very constructive.

[snip]

> I don't think my stupid switch wasn't on. But, the have fun switch was!
> These two switches are side by side on my instrument panel and they are
> real close together, I found out.  I scared myself once.  I drifted into
> the other lane (it was empty) on a tight curve.  I knew the other lane was
> empty.  But, what scared me was that I got to thinking about my what I
> did!  It's a bitch when one gets older and starts thinking about them
> fears.  Shit!  I hate it when I do that.  Maybe some day my fears will save
> my life.

- --
Rob Gendreau
Oakland, California
[e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 13:49:18 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR: Why don't BMW riders wave?

Interestingly enough I've found the BEEMER rides to Always wave.

Bruce G.

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

Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 14:01:56 -0400
From: Tom Simpson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR: Why don't BMW riders wave?

At 01:49 PM 5/8/99 EDT, [e-mail] wrote:
>Interestingly enough I've found the BEEMER rides to Always wave.


    I generaly wave, no matter if I am on my KLR or on the R60/7.

    Except to Harley riders, unless they wave first. It's just too unrewarding
when 95% wont wave back anyway.


- -Tom
'96 KLR 650
'77 R60/7

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 12:16:36 -0700
From: "Dreas Nielsen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (klr650) Scraping pegs

My boots are wider than my pegs, but I scrape my boot a lot taking left
turns as sharp as possible at 25-30 mph.  Jammed my left foot good a few
times when I had Pirelli MT-60s on the bike--these tires feel like they just
won't let go.

I've only scraped a few times on sharp right turns.  This might have
something to do with road geometry and the side of the road that we ride on
here in the U.S.; on the other hand, I recall reading somewhere a while ago
that riders everywhere lean over harder on left turns.  I wonder if this
shows up in crash statistics.

Dreas

> Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 06:58:54 -0600
> From: Jeff <[e-mail]>
>
> Has anyone ever scraped pegs on a KLR on a fast curve?

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 15:11:24 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (klr650) Check those switches!

I have had a few occasions to reflect on my riding in that "fearful" way:

(1) Spring, 1978: I had just washed my Kaw 400 street bike at a local outside
car wash. The tires were still wet, and when I executed a tight turn in the
parking lot outside of the wash, the bike slid out from under me. I ended up
standing there looking down at the bike... No harm done at all, just a quick,
surprising event... even at that very low speed, it made me think.

(2) Summer, 1978: I was riding some back country roads with two friends of
mine, as the third rider in a staggered grouping. Bob was at the front
staggered to the right side with Jim following staggered to the left. Bob
went across a small bridge, and decided to take a left turn. At that moment,
Jim accelerated -- thinking we were going straight -- and his front tire hit
Bob's rear tire... only about 20 - 25 mph. They both flopped around a bit.
Jim got the worst of it -- a hairline forearm fracture and some decnt road
rash, and his bars were bent pretty badly. ALSO: Jim had a Shoei full-face
helmet on, and it saved his right jaw and the right side of his head. I went
out and bought a full-face helmet that night, and I've ridden with one ever
since.

(3) Late Spring, 1990: Yamaha 550 XT. Just finished my finals at San Diego
State University, and I was headed home at dusk -- fired up from a great
finish to my school semester. Doing 45 mph on a split two lane surface
street. Classic "I didn't even see the motorcycle" situation, as a guy in a
pickup pulled out from my left (side street) in front of me. I hit the
brakes, my rear wheel got light and I slid my ass back to keep the back end
down, still skidded a little -- I had just enough time to think that I wished
I wasn't wearing "just these jeans". I was able to swerve to the right behind
the truck, then swerve left between truck and curb. So close, I can't even
begin to tell you... Funny thing is, I learned the swerve maneuver from
reading about it in a manual, and then I had practiced it in some parking
lots occasionally beforehand. I think it saved me from some hurtin'.

(4) Summer, 1990: Yammie 550 XT. At a 4-way intersection with stoplights.
There was a car on the opposite side of the intersection, going to make a
right turn onto the two-lane cross street. I was making a left turn to go in
the same direction as the car across from me. When the light turned green, I
made my left turn, but saw something out of the corner of my eye to the
right. The car hadn't stayed in the right lane for his turn, but was coming
into my lane... I accelerated, and the car BARELY missed me... it wouldn't
have been a high-speed impact, but a car doen't have to be going fast to do
some damage. Remeber: Mass x Velocity = Momentum... a car has a LOT more mass
than a bike, even at low speeds.

(5) Spring 1999: New KL650A13 ("the K-horse") on maiden voyage. Not more than
a 1/2 mile from my house, on my maiden voyage, I signaled to get into a
right-turn lane and a guy came out from a driveway on the right -- seemed
like he didn't stop to even look -- and I had to hit the brake some and
swerve to the left. I knew I could go left, because I had already been
watching my 6 (i.e. rear views), and that there was no one in the left lane.
Close, very close.

(6) Two days ago, about 6:30 PM: I was commuting home on my K-horse (about an
8-mile ride), and there's this really long downhill that comes to a stoplight
near a freeway underpass along the way. I was second in line at the
stoplight. Well, I usually keep my bike in gear at stop lights, with my hands
on the grips, and checking my rear views, when the next car behind me at the
light hasn't arrived yet. I also usually try to keep "a way out" in sight...
good thing in this case, 'cause some nimrod in a truck came barrel assin'
down the hill and wouldn't have stopped in time to keep from rear ending
me... his tires even chirped a bit as he finally came to a stop. Meanwhile, I
had to pop the bike over to the left between the car in front of me and the
median / curb to get out of the way. He stopped just short of the back end of
the other car. As it was, I almost high-sided over the curb, and I was
PISSED. The guy was sheepish, and apologized up the yin-yang. But, again, it
was close and, had I not been looking out, I would probably need to have a
bumper removed from my butt... and I'm NOT into that kind of thing, as a
general lifestyle choice.

Well, look... I probably have a lot less experience than many of you. I don't
drive very fast or take many chances -- in fact, I'd probably bore the hell
out of some of you, but I have a lot of fun. I don't even go out ridin' if I
am feeling tired or not really alert. There's nothing like gliding on a bike
on a nice day, but the fact is, that you've got to be really wary and really
defensive -- I know I do because I do a lot of my cruisin' around San Diego,
in the city itself. The main thing is, though, that even if YOU are careful,
someone else may not be... In my opinion, aside from buyin' a bike and riding
it like you're at Laguna Seca, the biggest safety issue is keeping other
people (usually the four-wheeled variety, but car doors and dogs will get
you, too) from giving you 'an E-ticket on the ambulance ride'.

If you've been patient enough to read this far, then thanks. Have a good one,
and watch your 6, 9's and twelve... As my friend's dad says: "It's a fun
game... now, don't be dumb".

Alex Kesaris

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 13:43:42 -0700
From: "Kathleen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR: Why don't BMW riders wave?

Tom wrote:  "Except to Harley riders, unless they wave first. It's just too
unrewarding
when 95% wont wave back anyway."

Oh, that's when I wave like I am the (deleted) Rose Bowl Queen.  It makes it
all the more fun.
Seriously,  I have noticed that when I wave like I really mean it; I almost
always get a return wave.

Kathleen(who vaguely remembers riding and waving)

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 14:03:19 -0700
From: Tom Myers <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (klr650) DualStar wrenches

Bill's point on welded wrenches compared to Dual Star wrenches is well
taken. He's right, those wrenches look great - lightweight, easy to pack.
There is no sensible comparison to welded wrenches.  Good luck finding a
welder who would do just the welding for $40.

The only way it's worthwhile to make your own is if you (or friends) have a
metal shop.  From what I gather on this list there's more than a few
'hobbyists' out there trying to make their own stuff.  Anyone who's
invested a couple thousand dollars in welders will understand!  ;<)


Tom

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 14:06:45 -0700
From: Tom Myers <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (klr650) Scraping pegs

>I recall reading somewhere a while ago
>that riders everywhere lean over harder on left turns.
>
>Dreas

My guess is that riders are more confident (thus aggressive) on left turns
because you have better access to the rear brake pedal.

Tom

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

Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 17:24:57 -0400
From: "J.Taylor" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) [NKLR] Seat mods

This month's Rider magazine has a short blurb near the end of the issue
profiling an editor's KLR seat re-work by Sargent for ~ $179 (he said
that included S/H). Nothing ground breaking revealed in the process but
interesting to see the article about, of all bikes, a KLR!  If you can't
find the article or issue and really want to endure it, I can scan it
and send it to you or find a place to "post" it.

Enjoy

Jake, sunny 90 degree day here in FLA and 200% humidity!

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

Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 17:30:51 -0400
From: "J.Taylor" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) [NKLR] Oh, one more thing before I go....

In the same Rider issue (JUNE! I forgot to put that in the last post,
sorry), there is a readable article on travel in "Newf'nlin" (also known
as Newfoundland, unless you happen to speak the same language as Don
Roger! :~o) Anyway, I could see where the siren song of this remote
beaut cold be hard to deny! At least during summer time (when the
livin's easy).This place just begs KLR! Anyway, if you want to hurt
yourself, read the article.

Jake, pained by his Florida residency.

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 11:06:41 -0400
From: "Steamroller" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Fw: (klr650) Scraping Pegs

- -

>Yes I have. It is possible to lean over that far, but it was on the
original
>OEM tires that were nearly worn out, almost like racing slicks, and it was
>on a well worn chip and glue like surface, completely dry with a high
>traction quotient. Lot's of bite. And I only did it once. Didn't crash
>though, came close, but I held it. 45 mph posted speed at about 60 plus.
>Turn was slightly banked, to the left. Coming the other way I don't think I
>could do it
>The tires I have on now, Dunlop K139 front, IRC GP-1 rear, I don't think
>have the traction to allow this now, but I do get down there. Sometimes all
>the way down, like a crash, 8^), HEEHAA. Ask Fred, he's supplied enough
>repair/replacement parts.
>If this were primarily a street ride for me I would go with the Avon
AM33/34
>front and rear.
>But for the street I have a Concours and that scrapes all the time. Just
>recently sold my Goldwing as it didn't suit my riding style. Too much like
a
>lead sled.
>Later, NY Pete
>
>

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 17:51:51 -0400
From: "Bob Zeliff" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) Stopped in the woods,,,, the winner is!!!

The fix to my "Stopped in the Woods" problem is a new battery.   The old
battery was well maintained...on a :tender" all winter and full of fluid.
It likely lost a cell to internal structual damage
due to the rough roads.   It tested 10V no load,  lights on 2.8 volts and
saging.  I put a new battery in this morning and all is well.

I got several great replys...all with good advice.

Drum roll...and the the winner of fame and forture (sorry no big  guns
available) is Jeff Smith of
Burnes WI, who recommended checking for a low battery cell.

Thanks All

bob
A10

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 18:33:40 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: (klr650) 13T Ridden and rated

Did a dual sport ride on the 13T countershaft sprocket, 4300 RPM 55mph
5000RPM 65MPH, the real trick is that the single track that was marginal
before on the KLR is real fun it adds that little something to the bottom end
for serious tight off road work.  It's a cheap mod that pays off and you can
change back to street gearing iin 15-20 minutes when done.

Having a ball
Larry

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

Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 21:40:35 -0700
From: "Karl Raupp" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (klr650) One more oil question

    OK, I have one final oil question ;)  Tonight after getting home from
work, I added some oil and started the engine.  I let it run for a minute or
so and then checked the sight glass.  Surprisingly, the oil in the sight
glass was kind of 'milky', almost whitish.  Is this normal?

Thanks again!
Karl

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End of klr650-digest V2 #383
****************************