From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V2 #1039 Reply-To: klr650 Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Wednesday, October 20 1999 Volume 02 : Number 1039 Re: (klr650) Service Horror RE: (klr650) KLR: Starting technique Re: (klr650) : Wobble Re: (klr650) RE: Questions Re: (klr650) KLR Manuals Re: (klr650) Questions Re: (klr650) Questions Re: (klr650) Service Horror ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 15:17:02 +1000 From: Ted Palmer Subject: Re: (klr650) Service Horror Carlos Y. Gonz=E1lez quoted: [view from the other side of the counter] Fair enough. Maybe as bike riders we're more in touch with how a bike works and what should be done, so we're more likely to pick a bad job. Whatever, in my experience dodgey jobs get done far too often and we see very fundamental mistakes that shouldn't be made by experienced people. That is the reason why I won't buy a new Kawasaki again. If the dealers can't service a relatively simple bike like mine, what will happen when they're given something really really complicated like a four cylinder? I don't know if the situation is the same for other brands, I've never had another new bike since I bought the KLR. =20 Mister_T Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to dsneditor@softhome.net for info. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 22:11:07 -0700 From: "Drew" Subject: RE: (klr650) KLR: Starting technique One thought: don't ride in hot weather with a low battery. Just over a year ago I rode 400 miles to Portland, OR with a buddy. After slicing up a nice, curvy stretch of blacktop northwest of Portland, we stopped briefly for a drink. Huh, briefly turned into two hours as we waited for his bike's battery to recover enough juice to BUMP start. That's right, couldn't even bump start the darn thing for two hours. What happened? His fan started after we stopped in the 100 degree weather. What little juice was left in his battery was depleted in no time. Well, 'guess I shoulda seen it comin' 'cause we jumped his bike when we started off on the trip. And that's not to mention the stop in Coos Bay to replace his nearly toothless sprocket. after venturing down a nice, .We both own KLRs; his is a '93 and mine is a '95. We left the northern CA coast late in the afternoon. Also, don't waste your battery's energy with the choke on when the bike is warm. Drew '84 VF500F '75 CB400F Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to dsneditor@softhome.net for info. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 21:11:18 -0700 From: Eberhart Subject: Re: (klr650) : Wobble Add a third name" Robinson" that is what we call them in the pacific northwest. Eberhart 93 KLR Bogdan Swider wrote: > -----Original Message----- > From: Ian Cariolo [SMTP:icariolo@MIT.EDU] > Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 12:49 PM > Oh,oh....Now we've got 2 names, Roberts & Forstner. When I get home > I'll check the screwdriver catalogue Carb Screw Jake supplies with every > order of his fine wares. Bogdan > > If my memory servers me correctly, they're referred to as 'Forstner' > heads. > > Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to dsneditor@softhome.net for info. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 11:03:32 +0100 From: drainr@TBEUK.COM Subject: Re: (klr650) RE: Questions Message is sent with MIME. Attachments are base64 encoded - --TFS-with-MIME-and-DIME Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable =20 )Sarah forgot the mention the 'tweet'=2E I heard it on someone else's= =20 )KLR for the first time on the weekend=2E Yes, tweety must be killed! =20 Reply:- SAVE THE TWEET=2E =20 I loved the tweety sound my old '87 used to make=2E =20 The 98 model I bought has no tweet at all=2E I asked the dealer who=20 re-checked the packaging and found no tweet at all in the crate=2E =20 If anyone wants to give their tweet a new home, I will gladly pay big=20 bucks plus transport fees=2E =20 Richard D '98KLR650 C3 24k(and not even a chirp) ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and=20 intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they =20 are addressed=2E If you have received this email in error please notify=20 the system manager=2E This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by=20 MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses=2E www=2Emimesweeper=2Ecom ********************************************************************** - --TFS-with-MIME-and-DIME Content-Type: TEXT/RTF; name="MSGCC.RTF" Content-transfer-encoding: base64 e1xydGYxXGFuc2kgXGRlZmYwXGRlZmxhbmcxMDI0e1xmb250dGJse1xmMFxm cm9tYW4gVG1zIFJtbjt9e1xmMVxmcm9tYW4gU3ltYm9sO317XGYyXGZzd2lz cyBIZWx2O319DQp7XGNvbG9ydGJsO1xyZWQwXGdyZWVuMFxibHVlMTI3O1xy ZWQwXGdyZWVuMTI3XGJsdWUwO1xyZWQwXGdyZWVuMTI3XGJsdWUxMjc7XHJl ZDEyN1xncmVlbjBcYmx1ZTA7DQpccmVkMTI3XGdyZWVuMFxibHVlMTI3O1xy ZWQxMjdcZ3JlZW4xMjdcYmx1ZTA7XHJlZDEyN1xncmVlbjEyN1xibHVlMTI3 OztccmVkMFxncmVlbjBcYmx1ZTI1NTsNClxyZWQwXGdyZWVuMjU1XGJsdWUw O1xyZWQwXGdyZWVuMjU1XGJsdWUyNTU7XHJlZDI1NVxncmVlbjBcYmx1ZTA7 XHJlZDI1NVxncmVlbjBcYmx1ZTI1NTsNClxyZWQyNTVcZ3JlZW4yNTVcYmx1 ZTA7XHJlZDI1NVxncmVlbjI1NVxibHVlMjU1O31ccGFwZXJ3MTIyNDBccGFw ZXJoMTU4NDBcbWFyZ2wxODAwXG1hcmdyMTgwMFxtYXJndDE0NDBcbWFyZ2Ix NDQwDQpcZ3V0dGVyMCBcZGVmZm9ybWF0XHNlY3RkIFxwYXJkXHBsYWluIHtc cGxhaW4gXGYwIFxjYjcgXGNmMCAgICAgIFwKICAgICApU2FyYWggZm9yZ290 IHRoZSBtZW50aW9uIHRoZSAndHdlZXQnLiAgSSBoZWFyZCBpdCBvbiBzb21l b25lIGVsc2UncyBcCiAgICAgKUtMUiBmb3IgdGhlIGZpcnN0IHRpbWUgb24g dGhlIHdlZWtlbmQuICBZZXMsIHR3ZWV0eSBtdXN0IGJlIGtpbGxlZCFcCiAg ICAgXAogICAgIFJlcGx5Oi1cCiAgICAgU0FWRSBUSEUgVFdFRVQuXAogICAg IFwKICAgICBJIGxvdmVkIHRoZSB0d2VldHkgc291bmQgbXkgb2xkICc4NyB1 c2VkIHRvIG1ha2UuXAogICAgIFwKICAgICBUaGUgOTggbW9kZWwgSSBib3Vn aHQgaGFzIG5vIHR3ZWV0IGF0IGFsbC4gSSBhc2tlZCB0aGUgZGVhbGVyIHdo byBcCiAgICAgcmUtY2hlY2tlZCB0aGUgcGFja2FnaW5nIGFuZCBmb3VuZCBu byB0d2VldCBhdCBhbGwgaW4gdGhlIGNyYXRlLlwKICAgICBcCiAgICAgSWYg YW55b25lIHdhbnRzIHRvIGdpdmUgdGhlaXIgdHdlZXQgYSBuZXcgaG9tZSwg SSB3aWxsIGdsYWRseSBwYXkgYmlnIFwKICAgICBidWNrcyBwbHVzIHRyYW5z cG9ydCBmZWVzLlwKICAgICBcCiAgICAgUmljaGFyZCBEXAogICAgICc5OEtM UjY1MCBDMyAyNGsoYW5kIG5vdCBldmVuIGEgY2hpcnApXAoqKioqKioqKioq KioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioq KioqKioqKioqKioqKioqXApUaGlzIGVtYWlsIGFuZCBhbnkgZmlsZXMgdHJh bnNtaXR0ZWQgd2l0aCBpdCBhcmUgY29uZmlkZW50aWFsIGFuZCBcCmludGVu ZGVkIHNvbGVseSBmb3IgdGhlIHVzZSBvZiB0aGUgaW5kaXZpZHVhbCBvciBl bnRpdHkgdG8gd2hvbSB0aGV5ICAgXAphcmUgYWRkcmVzc2VkLiBJZiB5b3Ug aGF2ZSByZWNlaXZlZCB0aGlzIGVtYWlsIGluIGVycm9yIHBsZWFzZSBub3Rp ZnkgXAp0aGUgc3lzdGVtIG1hbmFnZXIuXApcClRoaXMgZm9vdG5vdGUgYWxz byBjb25maXJtcyB0aGF0IHRoaXMgZW1haWwgbWVzc2FnZSBoYXMgYmVlbiBz d2VwdCBieSBcCk1JTUVzd2VlcGVyIGZvciB0aGUgcHJlc2VuY2Ugb2YgY29t cHV0ZXIgdmlydXNlcy5cClwKd3d3Lm1pbWVzd2VlcGVyLmNvbVwKKioqKioq KioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioq KioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKioqKlwKXHBhciB9fQ== - --TFS-with-MIME-and-DIME-- Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to dsneditor@softhome.net for info. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 14:08:02 +1000 From: Ted Palmer Subject: Re: (klr650) KLR Manuals Wanda Mears alter ego, Steve, wrote: > I have 98 KLR and have a question. I have the base manual for the > KLR600, do I need the much talked about supplement? [...] As you have the base manual you have already bought the most expensive manual. The supplements are mcuh cheaper in comparison, although much thinner too but you do get the right specs and correct diagrams for your bike. Worth the money I'd say. Today I'll be collecting a 650A series supplement from a dealer so now I'll almost have the whole set, just have to get some KLX manuals now. Mister_T Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to dsneditor@softhome.net for info. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 14:29:43 +1000 From: Ted Palmer Subject: Re: (klr650) Questions Shayne Seefeldt wrote: [...] > problems people are having. So, in your opinions, is the bike reliable? Of course. As KLRs are simple as bikes in general go, we prefer to do our own maintenance. A lot of the folks here like to tour and visit remote areas which tends to make us more self-reliant. > Is it low maintenance? Compared to what? Two strokes are low maintenance. > What are the general problems I can look forward > to? Fairly ordinary things. > As an avid off-roader (I live in Calgary, Canada so the terrain is > typical foothill and mountain), how will it compare to a XR 650 or > similar non-dual 4 stroke? And does anyone know if it will only be in > the color green for the year 2000 (I much prefer the blue)? An XR will beat a KLR offroad, like a KTM will beat an XR. If you want to trailer your bike to the bush and trailer it home then get an XR, or better still look at a KLX650R. If, like a lot of us here, you ride the freeway to the bush, have your fun then freeway it home, then get the KLR. If your favourite bit of bush is the other side of the country, the KLR will get you there and back without complaint. You wouldn't try that with an XR. Mister_T Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to dsneditor@softhome.net for info. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 21:48:25 -0700 From: "Drew" Subject: Re: (klr650) Questions Shayne, As an avid off-roader (I live in Calgary, Canada so the terrain is typical foothill and mountain), how will it compare to a XR 650 or similar non-dual 4 stroke? -- The KLR is heavy and wide compared to true dirt bikes. However, the KLR650 makes a wonderful street bike. It does not wash out on me even in the tightest of corners where the pegs are locked at 90 degrees (well, not quite 90 degrees, 'cause at 90 I would be on me arse -- but it is easy to drag the pegs :). It is well suited to rough, twisty roads. The large gas tank provides good range while the liquid cooling makes it a durable ride. As stated previously (in not so many words), its time in the market speaks to its wide appeal; there are few bikes that have lasted as long with as little change. Drew '95 KLR '89 NX650 (gone but not forgotten) Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to dsneditor@softhome.net for info. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 21:51:48 -0500 From: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Carlos_Y._Gonz=E1lez?=" Subject: Re: (klr650) Service Horror > Maybe they (dealer service dept) think I'm a cheap bastard because I bought a single > cylinder trail bike and not the top-of-the-line sportster. > Mister_T I think this "cheap trail bike" idea might have a large part to do with the disrespect our KLRs get at a lot of dealers. They probably figure these bike don't get ridden anywhere but on a farm or a trail. So they probably figure there's no harm in sending out a bike without making sure that the bead on a new tire is seated so the tire doesn't flop around, or that they inflated the front tire to 80 psi, or that the drive chain tensioner cap on the swingarm is completely loose and about to contact the rear sprocket. And I bet some of them figure why apologize to the owner of the bike, cuz its just a cheap dirtbike, he won't care. I sincerely think that *some* techs actually think like this, judging from the responses that I've gotten from them personally after asking them (nicely, I might add) to "re-fix" my bike. Unfortunately, of the three times my (entire) bike has been to the dealer, I seemed to have gotten these types of individuals twice. Not a good track record, and it kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth knowing that what those techs did was essentially careless and really could have put your safety unnecesarily at a greater risk. Oh well, I'm not bitter. In all fairness to the good techs out there, here is post from a real pro on the ZRX list (no I don't have one, I just wish I did. Gino, you lucky bastard :) ) >My question is this. What would all of you expect from this dealer at this >point? a discount? the gas got all over my engine and pipes and the clear coat >on my new tank has now started to delaminate from underneath (you could see it >collecting at the weld at the outside bottom or side of the tank). What do you >think they should do to compensate me for this incident? I have already paid >the boneheads. Would they not have tested the friggin tank before sending the >thing out. I could have burned myself or my bike could have gone up in flames. Well, there is boneheads in the world, won't deny it. But I wouldn't go in pretending the world almost ended. The squeaky wheel will get the grease, and I'm sure they will have some conscience and be willing to cut you a deal. But.... Not to rant, (Ok, maybe only a little...) but its very tiring everytime a story like this comes around, and everyone starts going off how moronic mechanics are at dealerships.... Quite frankly, considering how much schooling it takes to become one, and how little the job pays, we must be morons. I made more as a burger flipper...so don't expect the industry to be filled full of people that are really good at math, if you get my drift. Secondly, everytime I hear people talking about how horrible we are, I think about the hundreds of screwed up carbs I clean because someone decided they were smart enough to do it, or engine rebuilds, or oil changes for that matter.....If there's people out there with way better mechanical skills than dealer mechanics, they sure hide well. If someone feels they need to do the work themselves to make sure its done right, I say right on. All the power to them, been doing it for years myself.....but who will you take it to when you screw it up? Or when you can't for the life of you figure out whats causing that ticking sound? You got it...those "mentally challenged" mechanics at the dealership....Because they know their stuff (most of the time). I won't even pretend to say there isn't people in the industry that shouldn't be....maybe there's more than a few. But this isn't a shocker, this goes in any industry. You have your bad shops, you learn your lessons and move on. Now that I feel better....I would try to get them to pay for the tow truck, but I think you're dreaming on that one. Most likely you'll have to work it out some other way, something like free labor on your next tune up. Most shops will more than happily make deals on labor, but aren't allowed to pay out money....I would also make sure they DETAIL your bike until they rub the paint off....to get the rest of the gas off, and as part of your retribution. And tell them you want the tank full when you pick it up ;) Sorry for sounding uncaring....its not that I think its "no big deal", if I was in your shoes I would have been quite upset too, and would expect some action, maybe even some heads to roll. But with or without your desk smacking and foot pounding around the service department, the mechanic that caused your problem is most likely already in his own hell. If he heard about it before he left, he didn't sleep well tonight. He'll run it through his head a hundred times on how he messed up and how he'll make sure he doesn't do it the next time. Then he'll have to go through some long bitch- out fest at work with the boss. He'll fully realise that he risked someones life through his carelessness. He realises that every minute of his time on the clock, if he messes up a single, solitary thing out of the thousands of things he does through a single day, he could kill someone, let alone cause thousands of dollars of damage to a unit. It can be one of the most stressful jobs that I can think of. Like being a surgeon, except you don't get to play golf on the weekends, or buy and drive the cadillac ;) God, I'm starting to wonder why I didn't stick with burger flipping... Ryan - who has messed up a couple single, solitary things in his time, but hasn't killed anyone langford@oz.net Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to dsneditor@softhome.net for info. ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V2 #1039 *****************************