From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V1 #355 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 Thursday, November 12 1998 Volume 01 : Number 355 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 13:55:28 -0600 From: Alan Henderson Subject: (klr650) weather >We could talk about the weather, but then you'd all make me feel worse than I >already do. > >MN Ron (dashing through the snow..........) > Yesterday we had temps about 30 degrees F, rain, snow and 50+ mile per hour winds. Needless to say I wasn't out on my bike yesterday. Today is nice but I'm cleaning house and getting called out on trouble calls.(I work for the electric co.) Maybe tommorrow! Alan Henderson Iowa A13 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 15:10:40 -0500 From: MRatta@ADE.com Subject: (klr650) KLX parts? Anyone have any KLX parts they want to sell? Would be nice to find someone with a dead KLX650A model.. I want to use the monoshock and swingarm on my KLX650C. TIA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 17:23:56 -0000 From: "Eric Jasniewicz" Subject: (klr650) FYI, electrical capacity of KLR as described by Saeng Paul at Saeng was kind enough to answer a question regarding capacity of the KLR charging system, recommendation for using their Night Cutters. This was his response/recommendation: KLR output 180-190 watts I would suggest using 35 watt bulbs in night cutters or only one light with 55 watts ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 17:25:23 -0000 From: "Eric Jasniewicz" Subject: (klr650) KLR electrical system capacity I emailed Baja Designs a while back asking if they could re-do the stator, anything to increase alternator output. I no longer have the original response, but I do recall them saying they couldn't increase the alternator output without blowing the stock voltage regulator. Apparently, this is yet another difference between the KLR and the KLX (no comments James!). ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 17:26:10 -0000 From: "Eric Jasniewicz" Subject: (klr650) Splitfire plugs comment 1 - Don't waste your money, no one I know has ever noticed a performance increase due to plug change, except for replacing an old or fouled plug. Everyone I know uses NGK, probably because when one of us was a kid, their father bought NGK plugs, and set a trend the rest of us followed (you use NGK, I guess I should use them then). 2 - EXCEPT!!! Once, I noticed a performance DECREASE. I had a Ninja 900 with Keihin smooth bores, pop-ups, aftermarket cams of unknown origin. Figured I would give the split fires a shot, bike started idling roughly, not running smooth. Swapped back to NGK's, all was well with the world. I can't think of a reasonable explanation for this, but that was my experience using them. 3 - As mentioned elsewhere, the two-stroke guys I know swear at them, not by them. 4 - IMO, the two prong deal is snake oil. It merely offers more potential paths for the spark to travel the path of least resistance, but it also blocks the flame front. Somewhere I read (don't start up with me again guys!) that some racers will swap plugs in multi-cylinder engines so as to keep the bend in the electrode facing out from the center of the cylinder, to reduce interference with the flame front by the electrode. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 18:16:26 -0500 From: Todd Emsley Subject: Re: (klr650) Splitfire plugs comment Eric wrote: "I had a Ninja 900 with Keihin smooth bores, pop-ups, aftermarket cams of unknown origin. Figured I would give the split fires a shot, bike started idling roughly, not running smooth. Swapped back to NGK's, all was well with the world". Spark plugs are mysterious. I have had assorted Japanese and German dirt bikes that would not run with Champions, but ran great on NGK's. Absolutely no explanation. Use NGK, it's easier. Todd A11 Wilmington, Delaware ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 18:21:12 -0500 From: Todd Emsley Subject: Re: (klr650) FAQ....request for submissions... Great List! Todd A11 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 18:45:45 -0600 From: Ken Belfatto Subject: (klr650) Chicago area KLR riders The weather forecast is looking good for Sat breakfast. Partly sunny high 52. Does anyone know of any trails in the area? Kenny South Elgin IL A12 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 20:38:27 -0600 From: "Daniel L. Hill" Subject: (klr650) Service manual I am looking for the best KLR650 service manual. Thanks for any help dhill005@odu.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 21:00:03 -0500 From: Tom Simpson Subject: Re: (klr650) Service manual At 08:38 PM 11/11/98 -0600, Daniel L. Hill wrote: >I am looking for the best KLR650 service manual. Thanks for any help Kawasaki makes the best. Of course, its the only one in existance, too. :) - -Tom '96 KLR 650 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 23:50:47 -0600 (CST) From: Carlos Yonan Gonzalez Subject: Re: (klr650) I'm taking her apart! Hey Guys, Just wanted to let everyone know that I got the KLR all put back together after I put new rings and valve oil seals in. Started right up (much to my amazement, as I thought I would screw something up) and I've put about 50 miles on it so far. I'll probably have to wait till next spring to put enough miles on it to be able to tell if it is still burning oil. Thanks to everyone for the help! Carlos Milwaukee P.S. I've been running the bike at less that 4,000 RPM for break in. Is this about right? How long should I take it easy with the bike? P.P.S Fred, you mentioned something about bearings somewhere in the head while commenting on another post. Did I miss something? I didn't notice any bearings around the cams or the caps on my 91. All I saw was groves on the left intake and exhaust caps to allow for oil flow, and holes in the cams themselves so oil can get under the right hand caps. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 00:00:53 -0600 (CST) From: Carlos Yonan Gonzalez Subject: Re: (klr650) Engine Problem On Wed, 11 Nov 1998, Larry wrote: > my exhaust cam was showing extreme signs of wear. So now the head is off > the bike. When I place the exhaust cam back in the head and snug the cap > bolts, the cam can wiggle from side to side and up and down (this is bad!). > The exhaust cam was hitting the head cover and the head itself. That is > what was causing the noise. > Hi Larry, Where are your cams worn, on the lobes or where the caps go? This is a stab in the dark, but the little studs that go in the cam cap holes have a top side and a bottom side. Take the little stud out and notice that one side has a taper and the other side is a flat cut. The taper should be on top, it should go in the cam caps. The flat side should go into the head itself. Maybe it it is backwards and it could be causing too much clearance between the cam journals and the cam. I dont know for sure if this would actually cause a larger clearance, but its worth checking. Good Luck, Carlos ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 09:42:56 -0000 From: Ian Ellison Subject: (klr650) RE: klr650-digest V1 #354 > Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 10:45:20 -0700 > From: Rob Gendreau > Subject: Re: (klr650) GPS Mounts > > Paul Christenson asked: > > >I want to mount my Garmin GPS 12XL onto my KLR. > > >My concern is with engine vibration. Do I need to do any kind of shock > >protection for this unit? I know about the CycoActive mount, but I dont > >want to pay $86 for it. > > While I agree it's expensive, I've used the CycoActive (actually > Touratech) mount and it works great. It's incredibly bombproof, but it's > awful hard to justify the expense; it is an industrial piece of art, but > perhaps overkill. > > If I was going to do it over again, I'm not sure I'd even use a handlebar > mount. I've found that off-road I usually stop to use the GPS anyway, so > maybe hanging it around my neck on a lanyard or putting it below the > clear plastic might be a better way to go. > > You might also try West Marine; they have a variety of GPS and small > electronics mounts that might be modified for your KLR. > > > Rob Gendreau > Oakland, California > gendreau@ccnet.com > > ------------------------------ > > > What about a tank bag with a clear map pocket on top? Ian Ellison Enfield India Motorcycle Challenge Don't be left out - sponsor me NOW! http://www.poptastic.com/iane/ for more info New email from 14/11/98: iane@beaver-valley.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 07:51:00 -0700 From: "Fred Hink" Subject: Re: (klr650) I'm taking her apart! - -----Original Message----- From: Carlos Yonan Gonzalez To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Wednesday, November 11, 1998 10:56 PM Subject: Re: (klr650) I'm taking her apart! > >Hey Guys, > >Just wanted to let everyone know that I got the KLR all put back together >after I put new rings and valve oil seals in. Started right up (much to >my amazement, as I thought I would screw something up) and I've put about >50 miles on it so far. I'll probably have to wait till next spring to put >enough miles on it to be able to tell if it is still burning oil. Thanks >to everyone for the help! > >Carlos >Milwaukee > >P.S. I've been running the bike at less that 4,000 RPM for break in. Is >this about right? How long should I take it easy with the bike? Congratulations on getting your bike back together right! I would think that 500 easy miles would have the rings back in good shape. What did you use to break the glaze on your cylinder? Did you check the wear on the piston or cylinder? >P.P.S Fred, you mentioned something about bearings somewhere in the head >while commenting on another post. Did I miss something? I didn't notice >any bearings around the cams or the caps on my 91. All I saw was groves >on the left intake and exhaust caps to allow for oil flow, and holes in >the cams themselves so oil can get under the right hand caps. > > > I was just suggesting a cheaper alternative of having a machinist make some bearings for the cams rather than replacing the head. Of course the stock head uses no separate bearings but relies on the aluminum in the head for the bearing surfaces. I never liked this idea just for this reason. Fred ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 06:44:41 -0800 From: "Rob Clement" Subject: Re: (klr650) Update on 99' KLR clankshaft noise Sorry, I missed your first message. You may have heard this already. As you know, even brand new KLRs are noisy, mechanically, under accelleration in lower RPM ranges. The good news is that they don't get much worse over time. They may be noisier than some bikes because they have a more durable but noisier rod-crank (roller) bearing. Piston slap probably isn't the source, since KLRs would be set up tighter than air-cooled engines like the DR650's, which run at higher cylinder and piston temperatures and have to cope with more aluminum piston expansion than our liquid-cooled KLRs. I've considered a DR650 too, and it's a good bike. For me, it's not as fast or as durable as I like, so I bought a new KLR650 A12 (in August of '97). I'm betting the KLR650 is more durable and will run many more miles before overhaul than any air-cooled DP big thumper out there. I like the large 6.1 gallon fuel tank. Its main drawback for me is the awkward and difficult valve adjustment process. I'm checking my clearances each time I change oil, and I haven't had to mess with the clearances yet (I have my fingers crossed, and I miss the XL and NX rocker arm screw-and-nut-behind-a-cap arrangement). My KLR has minor mods (pipe, main jet, air filter), runs very strong and fast, and clatters and clanks like a diesel engine below 3500 revs. I love it. I hope you got useful feedback on this subject. I don't see it in the "posted" stuff. Rob C. A12 3.8k PS---If you get a DR650, let us know how it works out. I'd like to read your impressions, since I was interested in a DR too. - -----Original Message----- From: James F McFaden To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Monday, November 09, 1998 7:57 PM Subject: (klr650) Update on 99' KLR clankshaft noise >Hi All, >First, thanks for all the replies and info on my new KLR's engine noise. >It wasn't detonation or anything that easy. The dealer where I bought it >said it was piston slap, and normal for this bike. I took it to another >dealer and he said it was crankshaft or rod bearing noise which is normal >for this bike and he couldn't do anything unless a service rep said fix it. > I talked to a service rep in Santa Ana, California and he said the engine >is normally noisy and he couldn't do anything unless the dealer said it >needed fixing. Is that "Catch 22"? Anyhow I guess I'm stuck with a >clanker. Too bad, it's a nice bike otherwise, except for the brakes. It's >a good thing this bike has a lot of engine braking because that's half of >the braking system. I can't believe it passed any DOT braking tests. I >think I'm going to trade it in for a DR650SE. It's 20 pounds lighter, has >dual piston brakes and you can't hear it coming a block away. >Jim in Dallas > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 06:58:50 -0800 From: "Rob Clement" Subject: Re: (klr650) Update on 99' KLR clankshaft noise PPS (I forgot to comment on KLR650 brakes.): The front brake is a problem for me, because it's spongy and gives little feedback. Front and rear brakes will lock the wheels, so braking "power" isn't the issue, for me. They do stop the bike pretty quickly, and the tire traction is the limiting factor. I just don't like the feel of the front brake. Some guys install a braided line, which they say helps. I haven't done that, and I'm getting used to my stock, spongy, front brake. What's the issue for you with your brakes? Does the front brake run out of lever travel on hard stops? Mine feels like it might, but it never has. Rob C. - -----Original Message----- From: Rob Clement To: James F McFaden ; klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Thursday, November 12, 1998 6:46 AM Subject: Re: (klr650) Update on 99' KLR clankshaft noise >Sorry, I missed your first message. You may have heard this already. As >you know, even brand new KLRs are noisy, mechanically, under accelleration >in lower RPM ranges. > >The good news is that they don't get much worse over time. They may be >noisier than some bikes because they have a more durable but noisier >rod-crank (roller) bearing. Piston slap probably isn't the source, since >KLRs would be set up tighter than air-cooled engines like the DR650's, which >run at higher cylinder and piston temperatures and have to cope with more >aluminum piston expansion than our liquid-cooled KLRs. > >I've considered a DR650 too, and it's a good bike. For me, it's not as fast >or as durable as I like, so I bought a new KLR650 A12 (in August of '97). >I'm betting the KLR650 is more durable and will run many more miles before >overhaul than any air-cooled DP big thumper out there. I like the large 6.1 >gallon fuel tank. Its main drawback for me is the awkward and difficult >valve adjustment process. I'm checking my clearances each time I change >oil, and I haven't had to mess with the clearances yet (I have my fingers >crossed, and I miss the XL and NX rocker arm screw-and-nut-behind-a-cap >arrangement). > >My KLR has minor mods (pipe, main jet, air filter), runs very strong and >fast, and clatters and clanks like a diesel engine below 3500 revs. I love >it. I hope you got useful feedback on this subject. I don't see it in the >"posted" stuff. Rob C. A12 3.8k > >PS---If you get a DR650, let us know how it works out. I'd like to read >your impressions, since I was interested in a DR too. >-----Original Message----- >From: James F McFaden >To: klr650@lists.xmission.com >Date: Monday, November 09, 1998 7:57 PM >Subject: (klr650) Update on 99' KLR clankshaft noise > > >>Hi All, >>First, thanks for all the replies and info on my new KLR's engine noise. >>It wasn't detonation or anything that easy. The dealer where I bought it >>said it was piston slap, and normal for this bike. I took it to another >>dealer and he said it was crankshaft or rod bearing noise which is normal >>for this bike and he couldn't do anything unless a service rep said fix it. >> I talked to a service rep in Santa Ana, California and he said the engine >>is normally noisy and he couldn't do anything unless the dealer said it >>needed fixing. Is that "Catch 22"? Anyhow I guess I'm stuck with a >>clanker. Too bad, it's a nice bike otherwise, except for the brakes. It's >>a good thing this bike has a lot of engine braking because that's half of >>the braking system. I can't believe it passed any DOT braking tests. I >>think I'm going to trade it in for a DR650SE. It's 20 pounds lighter, has >>dual piston brakes and you can't hear it coming a block away. >>Jim in Dallas >> >> > > > ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V1 #355 ****************************