From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V1 #199 Reply-To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Wednesday, August 26 1998 Volume 01 : Number 199 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:20:53 From: robert kaub Subject: (klr650) Acerbis Handguard I ordered a right handguard to replace the one broken in my fallover. You can buy a single handguard from Acerbis but note that they DON'T come with any hardware as the complete set does. You have to use the hardware you have. To be fair, Acerbis did offer to send replacements for any damaged hardware to me at no charge if I needed it. (I called to see if I was supposed to receive hardware with the replacement handguard.) Also, the replacement handguard is just shipped in a puff-bag without any wrapping or even a plastic bag to protect it. Mine arrived with several scratches that don't affect usefullness but might offend somebody who likes their stuff to arrive in perfect condition. Installation of the handguard was just as awful as the original one. I had to enlarge one mounting hole, enlarge the radius at the handlebar clamp end and grind the rib away where it interferes with the passage of the clamp bolt for the handlebar clamp. All that aside, I'm convinced the handguard saved me from a mashed right hand and broken brake lever when I fell over. It's worth $25.00 and some installation aggravation! I had mounted spoilers on the handguards and the right spoiler was major scratched but not broken. Acerbis only sells the spoilers in sets for about $20.00. I chose to use the scratched one for now. To sum it up, I would recommend the Acerbis handguard as a definite improvement over the stock handguards. Metal handguards would undoubtedly work, too but might be even harder to install than the nylon Acerbis guards. Thanks. Bob Kaub SUNY Binghamton Watson School Student Shop PO Box 6000 Binghamton, NY 13902 607-777-2715 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:28:46 From: robert kaub Subject: (klr650) Insurance I would recommend, based on my experience, that you DO NOT buy insurance from National General Insurance Co., Code #23728. I got on to them from a friend several years ago and have never had a claim. Well, their service sucks. Their reps are snotty and uncooperative and they still haven't done anything to get my bike fixed despite repeated phone calls that often go unanswered. I still don't have an estimate of damages yet even though they say they sent somebody to look at the bike a month ago. Luckily, my bike is only slightly damaged and I'm fixing at my own expense to get back on the road. Tell your friends! Can anybody recommend a good insurance company as I plan to change when the current policy expires. Thanks. Bob Kaub SUNY Binghamton Watson School Student Shop PO Box 6000 Binghamton, NY 13902 607-777-2715 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:45:21 -0400 From: "Darren Koepp" Subject: RE: (klr650) 2 up? Doug, Lets plan a time to get together and I will let you try out my KLR. Just don't scuff It ;) From the sound of it you seem pretty experienced, I guess Mr Freeze will tolerate you. Your partner (wife?) can hop on the back to see how she likes it. I work near Culpeper Va. (down 29) Any day is good. Let me know. I am really active on the weekends but we could make that work too if It is better for y'all. I met a guy named Joe on this list we talked about riding in George Washington National Forest (Central Va. near Harrisonburg.) I have received some info on this and it sounds like it has a tremendous amount of ORV trails. I have info on maps, phone numbers and addresses. I am planning on KLRing across the USA on the http://transamtrail.com/ So I need to practice right. ;) Darren / A12 "Mr Freeze" - -----Original Message----- From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com [mailto:owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Douglas J Bouley Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 1998 3:21 PM To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Subject: Re: (klr650) 2 up? Hi, Darren, Yes, sir, there are some fine rides around here, for sure. We had some good times on more-or-less "real" roads in West Virginia... the fire road thing in the Blue Ridge, though, sounds wonderful. If/when we get our KLR, I'll drop you a note and maybe we can go riding. So, it all comes down to finding one to test ride. Which, of course, is true of every bike, huh?!? Best, Doug ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 07:08:49 -0700 (PDT) From: frjsmithjr@webtv.net (Francis Smith) Subject: (klr650) Used Corbin Seat The seat has been sold. Thanks for all of the responses. Jim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 10:10:55 -0400 From: PAT_HENSLEY@HP-USA-om32.om.hp.com Subject: (klr650) GearCalc >>> The tallest you can fit is a 16T front. Here is some data for you (thanks to lister Pat Hensley's excellent GearCalc Program): _____________________ <<<< Thanks for the comment. Anyone can download GearCalc at: www.ironjungle.com FWIW, I give free registration to anyone that asks. Pat Austin, TX ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 08:17:42 -0600 From: "Fred Hink" Subject: Re: (klr650) Insurance - -----Original Message----- From: robert kaub To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Wednesday, August 26, 1998 7:37 AM Subject: (klr650) Insurance >I would recommend, based on my experience, that you DO NOT buy insurance >from National General Insurance Co., Code #23728. >I got on to them from a friend several years ago and have never had a claim. >Well, their service sucks. Their reps are snotty and uncooperative and >they still haven't done anything to get my bike fixed despite repeated >phone calls that often go unanswered. I still don't have an estimate of >damages yet even though they say they sent somebody to look at the bike a >month ago. >Luckily, my bike is only slightly damaged and I'm fixing at my own expense >to get back on the road. Tell your friends! > >Can anybody recommend a good insurance company as I plan to change when the >current policy expires. Thanks. >Bob Kaub >SUNY Binghamton >Watson School Student Shop >PO Box 6000 >Binghamton, NY 13902 >607-777-2715 > > DAIRYLAND!!! Fred ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:06:49 +0000 From: "J. Rex Brown" Subject: (klr650) Rear Ride Height I believe my `95 KLR 650 has been altered in the rear suspension dept. The ride height seems to be terribly low and the bike easily bottoms riding two up. The previous owner had added a bunch of cruiser-ish crap to the bike and I'm beginning to wonder if he did a little weaving on the suspension too. The rear shock links look very long, I measured them and they are 5 1/2" from bolt to bolt. A buddy has an `86 KLR 600 and his links are much shorter. My question is: how long are these links supposed to be? - J. Rex Brown Director of Information Services ___________________________ National Association of Legal Secretaries 314 E. 3rd St. #210 Tulsa, Ok 74120 voice 918.582.5188 fax 918.582.5907 http://www.nals.org/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:59:00 -0500 (CDT) From: Dale Borgeson Subject: (klr650) KLR front brake pads You may remember a few weeks ago that I posted a question about EBC pads in the KLR and how the ones I installed didn't work very well. I got a couple of replies that said that they seemed ok. Yesterday I pulled the EBC pads and installed a new set of Kawasaki stock pads and they work MUCH better. I think that I'll stick with the OEM pads for the future. I was very surprised by this turn of events. I've been using EBC in my other bikes for years and they have always been equal or superior to the OEM pads. Well, that doesn't seem to be the case with the KLR. Just my experience. Cheers - -- Dale Borgeson dalebor@tiny.net Minneapolis, MN U.S.A. "Motorcycle Touring For Beginners" at www.visi.com/~dalebor ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:01:07 -0400 From: Bill Wright Subject: Re: (klr650) Insurance robert kaub wrote: > I would recommend, based on my experience, that you DO NOT buy insurance > from National General Insurance Co., Code #23728. > Can anybody recommend a good insurance company as I plan to change when the > current policy expires. Thanks. > Bob Kaub Bob, Got my insurance from Geico, check their web site. Relating to your present problems, I think every state has an insurance commisioner. It is their job to monitor the practices of insurance companies in their state. We have a good one in Georgia and he makes the insurance companies toe the line. A call to your commissioner may be just the ticket to break loose your log jam. Bill Wright Hotlanta, GA. 98 KLR650 - "Special K" - 15k miles ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 10:24:12 -0500 From: David M. King Subject: Re: (klr650) Fork set up on my new KLR? Mister_T wrote: > A not unusual new KLR problem. > You bike supplier has not prepared the bike out of the crate correctly. > The top of the fork tubes should be flush with the top of the top triple > clamp. I walked by a 1999 KLR the other day at the local dealership and it had the fork tubes up about an inch or so. Kind of makes you wonder what else might be wrong. If any of y'all know of other things that should be checked after purchasing a new KLR, post them please. I'll gather them together and maybe we can get them on the web site. David M. King ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 08:43:39 -0700 From: Dreas Nielsen Subject: RE: (klr650) Re: (NKLR) Drool time Strangely, I can't get there via Internet Explorer 3.0 on NT workstation 4.0 (I get a 404 error), but I can via any other combination of browser and operating system that I've tried. I've never (knowingly) seen this problem before, but now I'm going to be suspicious every time I get a 404 error. I guess I should upgrade to IE4 soon (or switch to Netscape). Thanks to all for the whacks upside the head. Dreas > -----Original Message----- > From: skip faulkner [SMTP:msfaul@digisys.net] > Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 1998 8:35 PM > To: Dreas Nielsen > Subject: Re: (klr650) Re: (NKLR) Drool time > > > > > > Skip Faulner wrote: > >> > >> Be sure and put on your bib before looking, keep that drool off > the > >> keyboard. > >> http://www.ne.su.se/~cw/dvm/ > >> > >> > >Skip, > >I can't locate this URL--is it in fact correct? > > > >Dreas Nielsen > > > Dreas, > Yes it`s correct. I just typed it in on the address header at the > top of > my internet home page and hit enter, and was beamed right to > dreamland. > Maybe your server doesn`t go there, it`s a European site. > Skip ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:42:06 -0700 From: "Eric Rhoads" Subject: Re: (klr650) Insurance - -----Original Message----- From: Bill Wright To: robert kaub Cc: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Wednesday, August 26, 1998 8:01 AM Subject: Re: (klr650) Insurance >>>>>>>>> I have Geico on my cars.....maybe will change.....I have excellent driving record....but their rates for my KLR were out of line. I'm insured with Progressive now. ericR ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 10:37:55 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) Tank Panniers. >I know that I have read about some of you guys that have the Aero Stitch >tank panniers. Anyway what size do you guys have and what all can you fit in >them? Also does anyone have a set they would like to part with?? Either size works. Gino has the smaller competition size, Bill Haycock and I have the larger standard size. The trick is to put both straps in front of the gas tank filler. I run mine with the Kawi Tank Bag and Dual Star Co-Pilot... Kurt ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 10:42:30 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: (klr650) NKLR..liberated.... > My wife also complains about the seat, but she can handle about 150 miles >at a time. She`s in good shape and athletic but she has let me know in no >uncertain terms that SHE is getting her own bike, she hates riding two up >when we hit the trails (some nonsense about men always wanting to drive and >be in control, I can`t figure where she gets this stuff), so she is getting >her own bike. Kathleen, et al...please note that while there may be others I am the only man that I know or have seen to ride as a passenger while my partner drove. She loved that Hawk... Kurt A12 (very liberated and politically correct..right?) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 10:46:52 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) seats (Corbin-Russel-Travelcade) > If you visit the factory and buy direct you'll have the pleasure > of meeting some great folks, (especially the owner Tom, and the > lovely and knowledgeable Renee), see all of the available materials > and colors, and get a plant tour. Ron, wasn't it the ever so lovely Renee that talked you into those wild purples to match your olive green flame retardant air bag deployable Austin Powers riding suit? (;-) No one on the list can say you aren't a man of style... Kurt ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 10:51:14 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) Used Corbin Seat - -----Original Message----- From: Francis Smith To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Wednesday, August 26, 1998 8:09 AM Subject: (klr650) Used Corbin Seat The seat has been sold. Thanks for all of the responses. Jim Jim at that price you could have sold a few hundred of them. I think you should have started a contest at $10 a piece, "why my butt needs a new Corbin." Then picked the best essay and donated the rest to prizes at next year's Moab rally...Someone got lucky...I think we should call it the "Jim memorial corbin seat"...l(;-) Kurt ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 13:07:13 From: robert kaub Subject: (klr650) Aerostich Darien I got a new Darien jacket and it's kinda stiff. Anybody got any hints on the best way to soften it up. I didn't get the liner. Thanks. Bob Kaub State University of New York PO Box 6000 Binghamton, NY 13902 607-777-2715 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:04:34 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: (klr650) Power mods... >At 05:18 PM 8/25/98 -0700, you wrote: >>OK, in a similar vein, is it true that someone out there has a KLR-750 mod >setup? I >>have a mildly ported 5angle head on my '89 now and I NEED MORE POWER!!!!! :P > > I've also had, not to blow the horn too loudly, lots of experience in making them bigger. For example, the 200cc Honda XR top ends will go onto 100cc motors, yielding 175cc. Have one of these running now and it's not what you'd give yer 6-year old to learn to ride on. Need to machine the cases but the rest bolts more or less on. I doubt that one can make a 1-liter single out of the KLR, but a sizable bore increase should be possible, making 750 within easy range. If anyone else has info on doing this, please let us know. I am not going to stir up displacement wars in here, but it would be nice to make some monster motors for the interested. Things that will help us all get started would be bore and stroke, deck hgt (from the pin bore to piston crown), etc. Usually the stock motor can be sleeved quite a bit bigger and then a much larger piston fitted. if one wants to keep stock liner, things remain a hair smaller but there is still usually lots of room to grow. Best regards, Hoyt > > >Belfab CNC: http://www.freeyellow.com/members/belfab/belfab.html >Best MC Repair- http://www.freeyellow.com/members/batwings/best.html >Camping/Caving- http://www.freeyellow.com/members/batwings/caving.html > =>May you live in interesting times <= > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:07:19 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) Aerostich Darien >I got a new Darien jacket and it's kinda stiff. Anybody got any hints on >the best way to soften it up. I didn't get the liner. Thanks. >Bob Kaub >State University of New York >PO Box 6000 >Binghamton, NY 13902 >607-777-2715 Everyday that you wear it it gets better but if you are in a hurry wash it according to the directions in Nikwax soapless wash followed by Nikwax wash-in...Fades the color...softens the fabric and makes you look like an Adventure Tourer poseur... Kurt A12 ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V1 #199 ****************************