From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V2 #145 Reply-To: klr650 Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Wednesday, March 17 1999 Volume 02 : Number 145 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 15:56:11 EST From: Roundr1@aol.com Subject: (klr650) We be or not We be...NKLR Fireball Stu writes: >I haven't met anyone from the list yet and am wondering >if all of you really exist. The only hard evidence I've >received costs me money... I've met a few of 'em Stu. Redondo and Hiro even gave me their pictures for my wallet, (thanks guys). I realize that this doesn't confirm their existence, but at least all it cost me was a few beers. The tic that bugs me is the strong sense of deja vu I get in their presence. Maybe it's all just a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago... John O. A10 Rolling Hills, CA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 14:08:02 -0700 From: "Pokluda, Gino F" Subject: RE: (klr650) We be or not We be...NKLR Fireball Stu writes: >I haven't met anyone from the list yet and am wondering >if all of you really exist. The only hard evidence I've >received costs me money... I've met Kurt, Fred, Bill Haycock to name a few. They are real. By the way, it is a conspiracy amongst us list verterans to prod new comers into spending as much money possible, especially through Fred Hink. When someone new signs on, we all make bets on how much money the new subscriber will spend on their KLR within the first two weeks. The winner gets to spend a weekend with one of Fred's calendar girls. Gino ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 16:20:30 -0500 From: "Stephen Rivett" Subject: (klr650) NKLR: KTM mailing list you can hook up to it at http://www.ktm.com.au/riders/mailing.html It's in Austrailian but I think we all have enough imagination to make sense of it :) Stephen Rivett ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 14:48:41 -0700 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) OIL >then put in a couple more glugs until the oil reaches the top of the glass. > This works out to 2.5 liters. In my bike at least, the factory capacity >of 2.5 liters coincides with the top of the sight glass. That is the crux of the controversy...Redondo reported the same experience...but I've done it twice carfully and get the same results as Eldon...mine reaches the top of the sight glass 8-10 ounces shy of 2.5 liters... Kurt ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 17:26:56 -0500 From: Stuart Heaslet Subject: RE: (klr650) We be or not We be...NKLR At 02:08 PM 3/17/99 -0700, Pokluda, Gino F wrote: >I've met Kurt, Fred, Bill Haycock to name a few. They are real. My email keeps reading that this is an established fact. > When someone new signs on, we all make bets on how much money the new subscriber >will spend on their KLR within the first two weeks. The winner gets to spend >a weekend with one of Fred's calendar girls. In keeping with sexist nature of most motorcycle prizes, Fred has become web-savvy lately, so maybe the real story is that the winner will get a titillating .jpg from Arrowhead's offshore server. Since it's only for a weekend, the lucky person would have to send it back on Monday morning. Might be rough, emotionally. Tough to go from regular to synthetic, then back again... Fireball Stu "My mother didn't breast feed me. She said she liked me as a friend." - -Rodney Dangerfield ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 17:26:02 -0500 From: "Brian Schoonveld" Subject: (klr650) drilling muffler Based on the muffler anatomy recently provided to the list (can't remember by who), I used a 10" long, 1/4" diameter drill bit and drilled one hole directly down the throat of the muffler (thru the spark arrestor I believe), then drilled 3 holes in a triangle pattern around the perimeter, going through both walls. Hard to tell, but it has to be breathing a little better than before. I can feel a pretty solid stream of exhaust when I put a finger in front of one the perimeter holes I drilled and goose the throttle. Did not make much of difference to the noise level I was happy to discover ........ the bike has just a little deeper throat to it now, and more of a 'thwack thwack' compared to stock sound. I think it sounds better now actually. I'm thinking about increasing the diameter size of the holes now ......... I'll report if something gets ugly. Sure does take a long time to rack up 500 miles (breaking it in) in a city! I'm only at 300 now, but my engine surely has 500 miles worth of revs by now, sitting at stop lights! My butt can still only take about an hour at a time though ......... hope the seat gets softer or I get ....... well, you know. Think I'll go find a bigger drill bit. Fred, I'm about to make you rich soon! Brian Schoonveld Indianapolis IN A13 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 17:31:12 -0500 From: Stuart Heaslet Subject: Re: (klr650) We be or not We be...NKLR At 03:56 PM 3/17/99 -0500, Roundr1@aol.com wrote: >I've met a few of 'em Stu. Redondo and Hiro even gave me their >pictures for my wallet, (thanks guys). John, But if you guys are from LA, then it's all extremely suspicious. Fireball Stu (a Santa Monica -born refugee) "Whom are you?" he asked, for he had been to night school. -George Ade ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 18:03:47 -0500 From: "Eric Jasniewicz" Subject: (klr650) KLR - Oil level recommendations by Kawasaki This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BE70A0.81094820 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable FWIW, I don't have a tech bulletin, but several months ago I wrote to = Kawasaki to ask about the oil level discrepancy, thank them for the Kawi = KLR luggage, and complain about my dealer. The Kawasaki factory = individual stated in writing to use the sight glass. He also basically = told me to go fly a kite as far as the dealer complaint :{ 1) Anyone EVER hear of someone seizing a 4-stroke under normal riding = conditions? (No, thus supporting Gino's Crisco concept, although I stick = with Golden Spectro because my shifting is noticeably smoother, and the = engine is quieter (yes I know Tom)) 2) Anyone EVER hear of a racing team using car oil? (No, except for = Valvoline, but I think they used bike-specific stuff) 3) Anyone EVER hear of people riding with a steady, slow oil leak, the = engine then lasting 60,000 miles+ (fixed oil leak or not)? (Yes, = therefore, what is this concern with oil level?) Keep some oil in the engine, try to change the oil and filter as often = as you can, and enjoy your bike until it blows up!!! :) Don't reply to me, I'm not here to argue, this is me sharing what I have = learned, and my opinion. Eric J - ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BE70A0.81094820 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
FWIW, I don't have a tech bulletin, = but several=20 months ago I wrote to Kawasaki to ask about the oil level discrepancy, = thank=20 them for the Kawi KLR luggage, and complain about my dealer.  The = Kawasaki=20 factory individual stated in writing to use the sight glass.  He = also=20 basically told me to go fly a kite as far as the dealer complaint=20 :{
 
1)  Anyone EVER hear of someone seizing a = 4-stroke under=20 normal riding conditions? (No, thus supporting Gino's Crisco concept, = although I=20 stick with Golden Spectro because my shifting is noticeably smoother, = and the=20 engine is quieter (yes I know Tom))
 
2)  Anyone EVER hear of a racing team using car = oil? (No,=20 except for Valvoline, but I think they used bike-specific = stuff)
 
3)  Anyone EVER hear of people riding with a = steady, slow=20 oil leak, the engine then lasting 60,000 miles+ (fixed oil leak or = not)? =20 (Yes, therefore, what is this concern with oil level?)
 
Keep some oil in the engine, try to = change the=20 oil and filter as often as you can, and enjoy your bike until it blows = up!!!=20 :)
 
Don't reply to me, I'm not here to = argue, this=20 is me sharing what I have learned, and my opinion.
 
Eric J
- ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BE70A0.81094820-- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 16:40:28 -0700 From: Bogdan Swider Subject: RE: (klr650) KLR - Oil level recommendations by Kawasaki Yeah me. According to MCN, when their guys were poking around Daytona they caught the Harley racing team pouring Mobil 1( the = automotive variety) down the gullet of one of their bikes at the track. [Bogdan = Swider] Yes I know they have a separate gearbox; so what? > 2)=A0 Anyone EVER hear of a racing team using car oil? (No, = except for > Valvoline, but I think they used bike-specific stuff) > =A0 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 16:44:52 -0700 From: "Fred Hink" Subject: (klr650) Blue Moon For the first time in along time I now have both the KLR Base Manuals and the KLR Supplement Manuals in stock at the same time. Fred ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 00:17:52 -0000 From: "Stevens, Greig (CALBBAY)" Subject: RE: (klr650) KLR - Oil level recommendations by Kawasaki MY LOCAL DEALER ADVISED NOT TO USE CAR OIL BECAUSE OF THE WET CLUTCH IN THE KLR (AUTOMOTIVE OILS TEND TO CAUSE THE CLUTCH TO SLIP). IT MADE SENSE AND I WASN'T PREPARED TO RISK CAUSING DAMAGE. MAYBE HE WAS JUST SPINNING A LINE TO GET ME TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT. GREIG, RIDE AND BE SEEN! Yeah me. According to MCN, when their guys were poking around Daytona they caught the Harley racing team pouring Mobil 1( the automotive variety) down the gullet of one of their bikes at the track. [Bogdan Swider] Yes I know they have a separate gearbox; so what? > 2) Anyone EVER hear of a racing team using car oil? (No, except for > Valvoline, but I think they used bike-specific stuff) > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 20:12:02 -0500 From: "Rob Tayloe" Subject: Re: (klr650) We be or not We be...NKLR - -----Original Message----- From: Pokluda, Gino F >... When >someone new signs on, we all make bets on how much money the new subscriber >will spend on their KLR within the first two weeks. The winner gets to spend >a weekend with one of Fred's calendar girls. Dang, I might already be a winner... I've come pretty close to spending as much on goodies and parts as I paid for my A2. Today I was brake day. I found that I needed the little rubber boots that protect the pistons in the caliper. Price $11.00 for the front and $8.66 for the rear, at two different Kawa dealers. Ride Safely, Rob Tayloe Columbus, Ohio ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 01:39:17 -0000 From: "Stevens, Greig (CALBBAY)" Subject: RE: (klr650) We be or not We be...NKLR I've only joined this week, thanks to Steve in Wisconsin. I ride an A1, which is in pretty good condition, but the rear shock will need attention some time in the future so I've been reading recent messages on this topic with vested interest (especially since a new Kawa assembly is so damn expensive). Would also like to get braided front brake line, centre stand, moose skid plate.... it's probably lucky for me (my wallet, that is) that I live Down Under and can't just rush out and buy all the things I've discovered on this list and other KLR sites (My local Dealer can't help and I haven't researched yet whether there are any other sources in Australia). Greig, RIDE AND BE SEEN! - -----Original Message----- From: Rob Tayloe [mailto:nukemoto@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 12:12 PM To: Pokluda, Gino F; klr650@lists.xmission.com Subject: Re: (klr650) We be or not We be...NKLR - -----Original Message----- From: Pokluda, Gino F >... When >someone new signs on, we all make bets on how much money the new subscriber >will spend on their KLR within the first two weeks. The winner gets to spend >a weekend with one of Fred's calendar girls. Dang, I might already be a winner... I've come pretty close to spending as much on goodies and parts as I paid for my A2. Today I was brake day. I found that I needed the little rubber boots that protect the pistons in the caliper. Price $11.00 for the front and $8.66 for the rear, at two different Kawa dealers. Ride Safely, Rob Tayloe Columbus, Ohio ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 20:42:49 -0500 From: don roger Subject: (klr650) The Taylor-Roger circuit breaker mod This is the mod worked out by my building on Jake Taylor's good idea. He = was my inspiration, and now my hero :) Briefly, I put two thermal-resettable circuit breakers of the type that = fit into blade type fuseholders in SERIES with the existing fuse block = by disconnecting the wiring at the "bullet" connectors just at the fuse = block. To make the breakers easier to access, I found they would fit in the = tool box if I scrunched the tool bag all the way over to one side. I = chose to put the pair of breakers ( in in-line fuseholders) in the right = corner of the tool box. I drilled a hole in the tool box and a matching = hole in the wall of the tool-box cavity in the rear fender. I fed the = wires over to the original fuse block area, and plugged them into their = respective bullet/receptacle connections. . I then replaced the existing = fuses with 35 amp fuses to make sure they wouldn't go at or before a = circuit breaker kicked off. That's the concept overview. The parts were all available at my local = auto-parts store (Canadian Tire for my fellow Canadians) =20 qty 2 blade-type in-line fuseholders qty 1 20 amp thermal-reset circuit breaker designed to fit into the = above fuseholder qty 1 10 amp thermal-reset circuit breaker designed to fit into the = above fuseholder "bullets" and mating receptacles sized to fit the Kawa stuff crimp-type qty 4 butt connectors crimp-type wire as-required. 16 ga, 14 ga - about 6' of each. Suitable grommets to protect the wires from the edges of the holes. Stretchy plastic tape, as-used to wrap leaky water pipes and make = emergency repairs to water hoses on cars. (better than electrical tape = for the application, I used it to make a "loom" of the 4 wires coming = out of the tool box) Tools needed are wire strippers, crimping tool, drill or dremel tool = for making the holes (I took out the tool box and used a drill to make a = hole in it, then used a dremel tool to cut the hole in the fender).=20 Make sure you put the right circuit breaker in the right circuit, and = match the wire gauges correctly! Now I can get at the breakers if I ever need to without having to do the = whole side panels and seat removal trick.=20 If I ever find I don't like it, I can just unplug it, pull out the = wiring, REPLACE THE BIG FUSES, and reconnect the stock wires. It would = probably be nice to cover the holes at the tool box too. We can do the lecture-and-slide-show thing for your group if you like = (expenses plus); book through Jake Taylor. Don "Its not plagiarism if you admire the person whose idea you stole" = Roger ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 20:52:40 -0500 From: don roger Subject: (klr650) Shift lever won't grab onto shift-shaft After reading the previous notes on this problem, my opinion FWIW, after = owning a few "beater" bikes is that it is RARE that the shift shaft = itself is badly worn. They are usually very hard, and the shift lever by = design is very soft.=20 Although the "clamp it and resaw the slot" fix may work, I recommend a = brand-new shift lever; OEM or aftermarket, your choice: as the wear on = the splines of the lever will have rounded them off and made the = likelihood of recurrence much stronger than if you go whole hog and = spring for a new lever. =20 BTW - I found a Honda XL200r lever has the same spline and worked in a = pinch (with a little bending) Don Roger AKA "Roger the Bodger" (ask your Brit friends about it!) ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V2 #145 ****************************