From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V2 #161 Reply-To: klr650 Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Sunday, March 21 1999 Volume 02 : Number 161 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 13:22:54 +0100 From: Pippo Nicotera Subject: (klr650) Fred's help on 600! Hello' Fred... On 21-Mar-99, Fred Hink wrote: > Hi Pippo, > > How are you in Italy? My leg is healing up nicely. I may go for a > motorcycle ride tomorrow for the first time since I hurt myself. I need to > ride! It is in my blood. I'm fine, thank you, and I'm happy to know that you'll be back on the XR soon! > What is the weather like where you are? We are just starting into spring. It's almost the same here but,right in these days, we have a "Winter Strikes Back" movie rolling in our theaters :-{ so, no test runs for the moment! > Hope you get your Kawasaki running like you want it to. I hope so! After adjusting the valve train, I can hear it distinctly clicking, especially the left side (Maybe KACR?) but I guess it's fine since the bike is running fine enough! I adjusted valve clearances roughly in the centre of allowed range using the manual suggested shims. You know, I still would like to add some other little things, but I can't decide yet... things like: - - A new Alu handlebar (Yes, I've read the comparison on the DSN web site, I'm afraid that my 600 handlebar is considerably different from 650's one, so I don't know if a Renthal Desert will fit. I still have to figure-out a reliable method to measure my current stock steel handlebar! Any hint from original Part No.s for 600 & 650, Fred? - - The same goes for a skid plate! Mine is a thin Alu sheet shaped to perfection to shield the case and water pump. It's not bad, but I like the sturdy look of the Moose and I wonder if, with some modification. it will fit my poor 600. (Maybe I already placed this question, right???) - - Pro gel grips, but these are made in Italy and I'll find them over here! What else?!? Damn... I should plan better things to be asked! I'm sure there is something more but... > See you on the list. > > Fred Hink See ya, Fred! Best Regards from Pippo, "The Horse With No Name", in Italy! Long Live to the K'LR!!! - -- Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 17:22:33 +0100 From: Pippo Nicotera Subject: Re: (klr650) Dynojet kit in a 600 and jetlist Hello' Ted, Skip and fellow listers... On 21-Mar-99, Ted Palmer wrote: > Pippo Nicotera wrote: > > [DJ kit in euro 600] >> installed strictly as per the DJ instructions about tuning it with the >> K&N and the IDS (IDS currently with 10 disks). > > Can I assume that you used DJ "stage 1" specifications? No, I used the "Stage 2" specs.; DJ doesn't clarify what a "Modified Airbox" exactly is and, since on the 600 the airbox lid cannot be removed without allowing unfiltered air to enter the carb, I've made 4-1" holes in the right side of the airbox, 1-1" hole on the top, and removed the snorkel. I believe that this works as DJ supposed to, but I'm also looking into your modified airbox description, Ted. >> I have made some test runs removing the air filter and I believe this can >> be a good approximation (Am I wrong here?) > > K&N are supposed to flow quite well. > Now that you mention it, I'll have to see what the difference is > on the dyno between the 2 filters and no filter, when the time comes. > For now, I'll use the factory filter. The K&N for the 600 is not > available here in Oz. If I want one, I'll have to get it from > overseas. Sorry, Ted, but I'm almost sure that the K&N Filter for the 600 doesn't exist at all! I had a response from K&N telling me this! The Application Chart on the DJ site is wrong! I believe that they assumed 600 & 650 Filters were the same and never updated the chart! I think that, for a direct replacement of air filter, we should steer to Twin Air or something else! (Listers, any advice on this???) > Speeding up my 2 old bikes in a small market like Oz can be hard. > I can't get a jet kit for the CBX750 in Oz, but I can get a K&N > for it (it's on order right now). The same applies for Italy... North Europe is much better! > It sounds like DJ have a happy customer in Italy, at least. As I said before, the "fun factor" during the progress of the work has been greater than the results I had so far... but I consider this a success! > My 600 DJ kit is sitting here on the table next the screen. > I'm tempted to fit in now, but seeing how it compares to stock on a > dyno is also tempting. In my case it was easier... no dyno test facility in sight, so SOP method had to suffice! > Now that I have my test muffler in 3 pieces, I can see where I think > the greatest restriction is. Now I have to decide what to do about it, > and take some more pictures of it of course. I told you in a previous message that I'm reading about your work on the stock exhaust with great interest... I have mine retired after IDS installation, but I'm ready to unearth it if it's worth... I'll look like a leech, but I don't have nor the background, neither the tools to experiment the way you are... so I'll wait for the results! (Skip Faulkner, this applies also for your writings about the same subject... very interesting!) Ciao Ted & Skip... Best Regards from Pippo, "The Horse With No Name", in Italy! Long Live to the K'LR!!! - -- Politicians should read science fiction, not westerns and detective stories. - -- Arthur C. Clarke ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 09:45:06 -0800 From: "Vik Banerjee" Subject: (klr650) Vest Problem Solved - NKLR Well I think I "solved" my problem with my electric vest being less warm on the GS vs. the KLR. I can't figure out why this seems to be the case while just testing the vest with the bike not running, but last night at 11pm when I was getting ready to leave my office and dash 100 (cold) kms home I was fiddling with things on my bike (GS500) with the vest turned on and bike idling. It got nice and toasty warm...just like on my KLR so I figured something had been funny when I rode in that morning and it was solved - one of those electrical gremlins that happen time to time. As soon as I start to ride the vest seemed to lose its warmth. So I have an hour to think about this as I freeze my acorns on the way home. I figured out that all the bikes I have owned (VFR, FZR, GSX-R, KLR w/ clearview +9, tank panniers and rally guards with spoilers) have had some sort of fairing and the GS is a naked bike with no wind protection at all. I just totally underestimated the cooling effect of a standard bike vs. one with a fairing. This led me to three conclusions: 1. boy I can be stupid! 2. I have a new found respect for my KLR's mini-fairing and those lovely tank panniers and acerbis hand guards. 3. I better order a handlebar mounted fairing for the GS for longer trips. A friend I told this story to today made fun of me and told me I knew nothing about bikes - so just in case any of you are thinking the same here is my response: You think I know F*ck nothing about motorcycles? Bullsh*t!!!! I know F*ck all about motorcycles! =) BTW - anyone know of any hand guards you could attach to a street bike like a GS500? Just for wind/rock protection - not for crash protection. Cheers, Vik ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 11:04:02 -0600 From: Alan Henderson Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR Electric vest problem > I can't figure it out.....the battery is not being >run down when I use the vest and since on both bikes I am wiring straight to >the battery with the supplied wiring I can't figure out why the vest is very >warm on my KLR, but only mildly warm on the GS500. Maybe its a stupid >mistake, but I can't think of what it is - any ideas? > >Cheers, > >Vik The vest has the same resistance value on either bike so the difference in heat output has to be the applied voltage. Your KLR regulator may be letting the voltage run at a higher value than the regulator on your GS500. The voltage your bike puts out going down the road depends on alot of different factors such as the total output of the charging system and the amount of load put on the system. If you were to check the voltage on both bikes under normal conditions, when riding using the vest, you should see that the voltage is higher on the KLR. Alan Henderson, Iowa A13 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 11:12:37 -0600 From: Alan Henderson Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR Electric vest problem >bikes under normal conditions, when riding using the vest, you should see >that the voltage is higher on the KLR. > Alan Henderson, Iowa A13 > Then again it could just be wind chill. It would still be interesting to see what the voltage is on both bikes going down the road. Alan ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 10:49:46 -0700 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: (klr650) GPS III+ and Touratech Mount.. Vik and others, I'm finally getting some time to mount my GPS on the bike. The Touratech comes with all German and the pictures are bad. The unit appears to roll into the mount by slipping the antenna under the rubber band and "snapping" it into place. There was a discussion on the GS list about this and people were talking about bending the mount in someway to give a firmer fit, also using the Velcro, and ? Any tips? Thanks, Kurt ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 10:52:27 -0700 From: Jeff Hayden Subject: [Fwd: (klr650) Brake noises] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------FF052C40DA959A59170D55D8 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit - --------------FF052C40DA959A59170D55D8 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Message-ID: <36F53132.979EEFC5@bigfoot.com> Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 10:49:38 -0700 From: Jeff Hayden Organization: ....has it's limitations X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Kurt Simpson Subject: Re: (klr650) Brake noises References: <005101be7180$89bbee60$240746a6@kurt> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >Speaking of brakes... My new A13 appears to have loose brake pads and > >they can be heard everywhere I go (chink - chink - chink). The pads > >seem to float on the pins and rattle against the rotor. Of course they > >don't make any noise when I apply the hydraulic fluid. > > > >This is my first KLR (<300 miles) and not sure if this brake noise is > >normal or should I see how good the Warranty guarantee is or is this > >something I have to live with? Kurt Simpson wrote: > I'm hard of hearing so I'm not much help...mine could have been making that racket and > I'd never know it...why not try your warranty? Maybe you'll surprise us...we've had 1 > good story for every 30 bad on Kaw dealers.... > > Kurt Kurt and group, I took the noisy brake condition into my locate dealer's shop and as expected the noises I hear "Are Normal". The mechanic placed his hand on the caliper housing and pronounced, "It is OK!". Secure with that knowledge, I ventured off into never never land to continue my Phase 1 break in period. I did another 56 miles yesterday. Only 294 miles to go until I ask the "All Knowing Mechanic" to check my valves for proper clearances and verify that various nuts and bolts are still at proper torque and change the oil and filter. Any bets on how many of those tasks will be deemed "Normal"? I am mechanically inclined, so it looks like I'll be making a bike lift and buying more metric tools. Can never have enough tools. I'll admit that yesterday was Saturday and the shop only had two mechanics on duty. All I could see of one of them was assholes and elbows deep in a Vulcan. I got the one who answers the phones at the desk as his hands were clean. I had to ask him "are your hands clean?" as he fondled my front rotor! I'll do another 50 or so miles today as the weather is perfect - mid 70's. But, before I go, I think I'll spray down the rotor with some brake cleaner. R&S Kawasaki, in Albuquerque, does have a great sales force and the credit department manager was extremely glad to take my cash payment for the A13. - -- Jeff, KLR650-A13 --- http://www.flash.net/~n5ujj - Down Home Page http://www.flash.net/~n5ujj/hamstuff - HAM It UP Page - --------------FF052C40DA959A59170D55D8-- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 09:59:58 -0800 From: "Robert Morgan" Subject: Re: (klr650) New Headlight concern.. Brian does the same thing happen high or low beam? Sounds to me like you might have a broken filament. When you tap it it makes contact and burns till it cools off and separates. Morgan ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 10:22:55 -0800 From: "Arne Larsen" Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR Umbrella Girl - Kinda - -----Original Message----- From: Vik Banerjee To: Fred Hink ; LPetty4585@aol.com ; KLR650@lists.xmission.com Date: Sunday, March 21, 1999 7:38 AM Subject: Re: (klr650) NKLR Umbrella Girl - Kinda >Arne, > >Two more pitchers of beer if I see a UG pic of you in a speedo posing next >to your new KLR on Fred's UG page - and yes before you ask, I'll double it >if you are dealing with a double nose bleed in the pic! The scary thing is, is that not too many years ago I would have done it. Whew, I shudder at the thought... >=) > >Cheers, > >Vik (keep in mind the beer offer is only good at the Moab Rally so now >you'll have to come to that Arne) > I guess the beer's a lot cheaper there eh? Arne - keepin' his cloths on these days. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 07:38:03 -0800 From: "Rob Gendreau" Subject: Re: (klr650) Pac-Safe Information from Australia They say the Pac-Safe is mostly designed to frustrate slashers, pickpockets, grab-and-dashers, etc. I think most of the market is backpacking international tourists. I HAVE experienced break-ins in Canada, but not by humans. By porcupines. It's amazing what they'll chew through. I saw a car that had it's BUMPER gnawed down a couple of mm's. They'd be a good challenge for this product. BTW, I was challenged by US Customs on my return to the States a couple of years ago about the chicken wire I had in my truck. Ms. Custom Agent wanted to know what it was for, etc. When I explained it was to prevent porkies from eating my truck, she got really huffy. Cost me about a twenty minute inspection. So if you plan on coming into the states with subversive rubber coated chicken wire, make sure you have bail money and a good lawyer. Rob "it really happened" Gendreau - --------- > I wish they did have beta testers, I want to go after one of those nets with > a pair of scissors, I doubt they would hold up to it. I think they are best > suited for preventing slashings rather than overnight protection. I will > vouch that while you are traveling through Canada anything tied down will be > safe from theft if you don't park at a mall. - -- Rob Gendreau Oakland, California gendreau@ccnet.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 10:24:24 -0800 From: Lois Eberhart Subject: Re: (klr650) ignition sticking I repin locks at work all the time that other people have used WD40 in. That stuff collects a lot of dust .Graphite works OK but is messy. I use a product called LAB LUBE on all the locks I work on. It is a Teflon powder, not as messy and very slick in locks. Doesn't take much to do an excellent job of lubing any kind of lock. Sarah Barwig wrote: > So, my key is being a bit finicky about going into the ignition. Once > I settle it into the pins, it turns fine, but getting it in and out is a > bit of a bear. Is it ok for me to put WD40 on the key and use it to lube > up the pins? Or is that bad? Or is there a better commonly available > substance? > > Sarah > > -- > Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, > There is a field. > I'll meet you there. > -Rumi ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V2 #161 ****************************