From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V2 #150 Reply-To: klr650 Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Thursday, March 18 1999 Volume 02 : Number 150 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 21:14:14 EST From: KenReither@aol.com Subject: Re: (klr650) Pelican case alternative In a message dated 3/18/99 6:53:21 PM Central Standard Time, owner- klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com writes: << (klr650) Pelican case alternative >> Gino, how would you mount these cases on the KLR? Ken Reither Kingwood, TX ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 19:33:56 -0700 From: "Fred Hink" Subject: Re: (klr650) Magnet in Oil - -----Original Message----- From: Jeffrey Doyle To: Arne Larsen Cc: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 11:08 AM Subject: Re: (klr650) Magnet in Oil >A magnetized oil drain plug may be a better way to go. If >anybody knows of any sold for the KLR it is worth mentioning. Mention....Mention....Mention :<) I sell em, how many do you want? >When you pry the oil filter cover off you will notice that the filter >fits in pretty snug and is centered on a mounting pin. One problem that I have seen but not lately is the filter cover tends to have a problem with the mounting lugs breaking off. Was it because the tube inside the filter can only be installed one way? Or just tightening the bolts unevenly? I have one of these in stock if anyone needs one. Fred ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 21:37:04 EST From: Krgrife@aol.com Subject: Re: (klr650) Magnet in Oil In a message dated 3/18/99 6:30:49 PM Pacific Standard Time, moabmc@lasal.net writes: > Was it because the tube > inside the filter can only be installed one way? Yes. Kurt Grife ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 02:41:54 +0000 From: Sarah Barwig Subject: Re: (klr650) Magnet in Oil > One problem that I have seen but not lately is the filter cover tends to > have a problem with the mounting lugs breaking off. Was it because the tube > inside the filter can only be installed one way? Or just tightening the > bolts unevenly? I have one of these in stock if anyone needs one. > And here I just thought I'd overtorqued the hell out of the poor things after witnessing a small family brawl in the street. Too much adrenaline not good for tightening bolts. Borrowed some extractors from a friend and managed to retrieve the bolt end from the hole. I picked up a couple of bolts of the appropriate size in hardened steel from the corner OSH. (Yes, I know they're a megalomart - they were the only thing open at 8pm on Saturday) So should I replace 'em with Kaw OEM? Or do you think my fix will be acceptable? It seems to work, but I'd hate to screw something up... Sarah - -- Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, There is a field. I'll meet you there. -Rumi ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 21:49:24 -0500 From: Tim Bootle Subject: Re: (klr650) Pelican case alternative Ok, I fouled that up the first time. Here is the Sears case link as one hyperlink. http://shop.sears.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/;execmacro/dispProdsSCS.d2w/report?prrfnbr=13522&prmenbr=6970 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 20:06:04 -0700 From: "Fred Hink" Subject: Re: (klr650) Magnet in Oil - -----Original Message----- From: Sarah Barwig To: KLR list Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 12:53 PM Subject: Re: (klr650) Magnet in Oil I picked up a couple of bolts of the >appropriate size in hardened steel from the corner OSH. (Yes, I know they're a >megalomart - they were the only thing open at 8pm on Saturday) So should I >replace 'em with Kaw OEM? Or do you think my fix will be acceptable? It seems >to work, but I'd hate to screw something up... Hi Sarah, What happened to Baja? I see you have subscribed to the "Big sister Kates school of motorcycle maintenance". Those bolts should be OK. They don't have to be very tight. Just to hold the cover on. The O-ring seal inside does the sealing. Take a deep breath next time and count to ten before tightening those 6mm bolts. Remember, it is spelled finesse. ;<) Fred ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 21:44:13 EST From: LPetty4585@aol.com Subject: (klr650) Brake lines speed bleeders Just finished installing front/rear russell SS lines w/speed bleeders, lines are plastic coated and went on real well, good fit. Speed bleeders saved lots of time bleeding lines, worth the extra$, now I can use the brakes . Thanks for the advice. Larry ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 22:08:49 -0500 From: Bryan Moody Subject: Re: (klr650) bad dealers Ztib@aol.com wrote: > snip > I wonder how the Concours Group guys handle dealer incompetence. Pretty much the same way you do. In other words, there is no organized effort to pinpoint good/bad dealers. :( Personally, I don't deal with crappy dealer service departments. I do ALL of my own maintenance with the exception of mounting tires on the Connie, and have started buying my OEM parts from Banzai. That way I know it's done right and fairly inexpensively. Good dealers IMO: Grand Prix Kawasaki in El Paso, TX I had a problem when I was making the CCC with what seemed like a bad wheel bearing. Called them Saturday afternoon about an hour before closing, they gave me directions to the shop. Since all of the service bays were full, they helped me pull the front wheel off of my bike in the parking lot and found the problem. No charge. Fair dealers, (again IMO): Forsyth Motosports in Winston-Salem, NC Fair selection of bikes, pretty good clothing selection, NEVER have parts in stock for either the KLR or the Connie. Their old parts guy (John Hunter, now at Honda High Point) was very willing to help you out and make sure you got what you needed, the new guys just don't seem to care. Greensboro Harley-Davidson, Greensboro, NC They have gotten MUCH better with new ownership. Good selection of new Kawasaki's, friendly help. Still don't have any depth of parts, but are very willing to help you out. If they had more parts coverage they would rate an A. Poor dealers: Lee Kawasaki in Thomasville, NC No bikes, no parts, want to deal mainly in watercraft and ATV's. I'm happy to oblige them, since I don't own either. - -- Bryan Moody Greensboro, NC 86 Concours, 94 KLR650 COG Southeast Area Director http://www.concours.org/se IBA: BBG, CCC Gold ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 22:10:11 +0000 From: Jeffrey Doyle Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR - Good dealers, bad dealers Eric Jasniewicz wrote: > > I offer no explanation, but all four Kawasaki dealers I dealt with in CT > were great, unfortunately, two of them are no longer in business. A thanks > to Bridgsches (RIP), Old Saybrook (RIP), Willows, and Midtown (even though > Kurt and John can have a attitude!;). Extremely helpful, knew their stuff, > they shared an interest with you, and were kind of like Fred Hink. > > Eric, I purchased my KLR from Saybrook Kawasaki/Yamaha (and eventually Suzuki which they inherited from Valley Cycle in Winthrop R.I.P.) and I still have the original dealer license plate bracket intalled! I really miss having the convenience of that dealership being nearby and the people that worked there always gave me 1st class treatment. Though I do as much of my own maintenance as I can I now use New England Cycle Works in Groton and have been really satisfied with their work because the KLR is a rare machine for them to repair and they have a limited number of mechanics trained for it. They took their time with it, had difficulty getting certain parts from Kawasaki, but did a real good job (of course I paid the usual mega bucks). However I do drive the sales people crazy as I take my tour through the new bikes every year. I hope they live long enough to see me come back with cash because the next bike I get has to be the Harley. Not to beat a dead horse into the ground but the following dealers in my immediate area have all gone under since demand started dropping off in the '70s (Middlesex and New London County): Ralph Strong's - BMW, Yamaha, Triumph (Waterford) Clinton Yamaha - Yamaha (Clinton) Saybrook Kawasaki/Yamaha - and later Suzuki (Saybrook) Valley Cycle Sales- Suzuki, Honda (Winthrop) Bill's Harley Davidson - HD spoken only (Clinton) Rusconi's - Triumph (Middletown) Marino's - Honda (Middletown) Miller's - Ducks and Guzzis (Clinton) though it's possible they moved but I haven't heard Pike Cycle Sales - Cz and Jawa (Centerbrook) Sved's? - British spoken (near Devil's Hopyard) Shuster's - BSA the power the glory (Meriden) I may have missed one. And this is only in two counties. Time has seperated the "riders" from the "enthusiasts" and obviously there weren't enough "riders" to keep it all going. We need more riders to fill the void that these ghost dealers leave behind. The way it looks there is health everywhere in the motorcylce market and I'm hopeful that the next century will be a motorcycle rich environment. If it is, MMI won't be able to turn out people fast enough to fill new and expanding dealerships with mechanics and managers. Let the games begin. Jeff A2 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 03:06:21 +0000 From: Sarah Barwig Subject: Re: (klr650) Magnet in Oil > Hi Sarah, > > What happened to Baja? I'm due to set out on Saturday about noon to rendezvous with the group at Anza Borrego. Then we're heading across the border Sunday morning at Tecate. The rest of the group's heading down from San Francisco. I'll be out of email range for 10 days (will I make it????) but I'll regale you with tales upon my return. :) > I see you have subscribed to the "Big sister Kates school of motorcycle > maintenance". Those bolts should be OK. They don't have to be very tight. > Just to hold the cover on. The O-ring seal inside does the sealing. o-ring? there's supposed to be an o-ring? I should look into that... > Take a > deep breath next time and count to ten before tightening those 6mm bolts. Yeah, well the second time around, I got the general torque spec out of the manual and borrowed a friend's torque wrench and stopped when the wrench said to. :) Sarah - -- Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, There is a field. I'll meet you there. -Rumi ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 22:18:37 -0500 From: Tim Bootle Subject: (klr650) [NKLR] trailer questions BTW is it [NKLR] or (NKLR) for non klr related? My questions about a trailer. Don't laugh. Don't. I want to build a trailer to haul my canoe behind my KLR. I'm doing this because I am selling my SUV and want to still be able to get my canoe to the water. While the water is only 2 miles from my canoe storage facility, I will probably decide to take the canoe to the Florida keys this summer, about 300 miles away. That said: I calculate the weight of the trailer, canoe and stuff to be 150~200 pounds depending on the stuff. I weigh 230 pounds and the bike is about 370 with panniers. So, I want to pull a 200 lb trailer with a 600 lb bike/rider combo. Question #1 Is this safe or stupid? Question #2 Should the trailer hitch attach to the swingarm or to the frame? Question #3 Are there other questions that I perhaps don't know to ask? Thanks so much, -Tim Bootle, A7 with 14000 miles. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 07:27:31 -0800 From: "Darrel & Deanna" Subject: (klr650) Gripsters -- tubeless? Pete- I had the same concerns about the Gripsters. My local bike parts supplier didn't recognize the availability of the tube type (TT) because their supplier's catalog only listed the tubeless (TL) evidently because they didn't want the added cost of stocking both. I called the 800 customer service phone number for Avon and was informed that although they make both types, the only difference is the lettering (tubeless) or lack thereof on the tire. It's a marketing thing. They said that some bike makers spec a tubless tire or not and the tire makers are happy to comply. The cost difference is negligible from a users standpoint. Ride Sane, Darrel A12 'avenger' Digester ********************** From: "Hamilton, Peter F" Got a new set of Avon Gripsters for the KLR from DK the other day. The packaging sez they're tubeless tires. Called DK about this and they said that the tubeless and tube tires are one and the same. They lying to me??? - - --pete ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 22:31:38 +0000 From: Jeffrey Doyle Subject: Re: (klr650) Tire/Exhaust Rubbing One can easily see the clearance on the > swingarm, fender sides, or frame, when the bike is sitting still, but I > think you brought up a point that can easily be overlooked. > > Jeff > A2 Forgot to mention that I read in the KLR650 archives that it's a good idea to use a bash plate on the rear fender if you install the lowering links and intend to ride the bike harshly. Since your exhaust system is not stock then your situation seems to be more of an exhaust pipe manufacturer compatibility issue for sidewall clearance with any tires designed that will fit that bike. I usually read installation instructions pretty thoroughly to see if they post any special notes etc....Sometimes they mention things that are exceptional. Jeff A2 > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 19:37:43 -0800 From: "Robert Morgan" Subject: Re: (klr650) [NKLR] trailer questions Tim I have less than zero experience towing anything behind a motorcycle. However, having sailed boats for 35 years, flown a few airplanes, crashed a number of hangliders, and paddled a couple of canoes, I am very aware of the affect the wind can have on things that move. The first thing that came to my mind was how much a side blast would affect the small patch of tire you have on the ground. Sounds sketchy to me. Remember the force of the wind increases with the square of the velocity. Morgan ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 20:44:21 -0700 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR - bad dealer stories. | "...we've had 1 good story for every 30 bad on Kaw dealers.... |Any Newbie reading this would be very put off on a purchase, and I think = |the ratio is wrong." The last thing in the world I would want to do is to discourage anyone newbie or not from buying the best value in motorcycledom...but they have a right to know what they're getting into. Buy the bike and find someone else to service it or better service it yourself. As the resident librarian of the archives I have a pretty good handle on the contents of the 12,000 messages...and I would say 30 to 1 is about right...there isn't any business I know of that can survive with that kind of customer treatment but they are...at least for now. Kurt ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 19:53:32 PST From: "scott blakney" Subject: (klr650) First Shift of the Day This lurker finally has a question that necessitates exposure. My A13 with 600 miles (yes, I have obeyed the break-in rules and have had the valves adjusted and oil changed) does not like the first gear engagement of the day. Even with the clutch fully pulled in, with a sufficient pause, when the shift lever is placed into first there is a clunk followed by engine stall, or a minor tooth meshing sound and a jerk. Yeah, I know, rider technique. New guy. I don't like to mash it into gear, but it demands it. Is this normal? I don't want to start down the slippery slope of the oil question. Oh, alright I will. It is Torco 10w-40. A motorcycle specific oil. My affection for the machine grows every time I ride it. So far my riding has consisted of hilly, narrow country roads 50%paved and 50%dirt and gravel. Went through 7 low water crossings yesterday and learned to get my feet out of the way if you cross at speed! I think the bike is ugly as all hell, but ugly in a brutishly handsome way. This is only my second bike, the first being a Kawasaki 750 twin, bought in 1979 and sold in 1982. I bought the KLR sight unseen. I bought in on faith. I came across you guys (God Bless you all) by accident when the motorcycle/mid-life crises set in. After reading the posts and the humour I just HAD to get one of these machines. Many, many thanks to you all. While I am running on and on here I might add that I have already ordered a Dual Star centerstand and concluded that I just better adapt my 5'7" body to the bike rather than lower it with the links and compromise its dual purpose. Thank-you for this forum. Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V2 #150 ****************************