From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V2 #551 Reply-To: klr650 Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Friday, June 25 1999 Volume 02 : Number 551 (klr650) KLR statistics Re: (klr650) Back from bike trip.... (klr650) prog. springs/s.s.brakeline (klr650) New guy Re: RE: (klr650) FORK PRESSURE Re: RE: (klr650) FORK PRESSURE Re: (klr650) Fork Spring Replacement (klr650) Loose steering/kickstand Re: (klr650) KLR statistics ( Now NKLR ) Re: (klr650) electrical problem (klr650) Braking Systems (NKLR) (klr650) forks & lights Re: (klr650) Battery Monitor ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 18:05:26 EDT From: Oilie@aol.com Subject: (klr650) KLR statistics As best I can tell from the scanty data I have, all KLR650's sold in the US from 1987-99 have VIN's that begin with JKAKLEA... KLR250's begin with JKAKLMD... And Tengais (if you can find one) begin with JKAKLEB... Back in January I purchased the computerized records of all the motorcycles registered with the Texas DMV. At that time there were about 129,400 registered bikes, of which 425 had KLR650 VIN's, 177 had the KLR250's, and there were apparently no Tengais at all. Given the fact that Texas has about 20,000,000 residents now, that's about one KLR650 for every 47,000 Texans. If that same ratio holds true for all 265,000,000 US residents (and it may not), then we would expect that there would be approximately 5600 KLR650's on the roads and trails of America (an average of about 430 for each model year since 1987). If the same ratio holds true for Canada, they would have about 560 of them. In order to estimate total North American KLR650 sales, we would have to know what percentage of KLR650's are no longer on the road, and I have no idea what that number might be. It would be interesting to know how KLR sales are going these days, but I gather that Kawasaki doesn't like to release that sort of information for some inscrutable oriental reason. For what it's worth, the Kawasaki dealer in Denton (a suburb north of Dallas) told me that he sold 12 KLR650's in 1997 and only 6 in 1998. I believe that he usually sells them for less than MSRP. Anyway, it's sort of interesting to know that you have a spunky little motorcycle that so few other people own. (It seems like there's a low-mileage Electra Glide in the garage of about every third house here in north Dallas.) And as for the KLR250 owners, all I can say is that they are now outnumbered by those lucky people who have won a share of the Texas lottery over the years. Jim Henry, Co-Honcho Republic Of Texas Biker Rally Travis County Expo Center in Austin 9-11 June 2000 oilie@aol.com 972-386-7619 vox/fax 972-866-8363 rally hotline info Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 17:53:28 -0500 From: Bob Botha Subject: Re: (klr650) Back from bike trip.... Bill, thanks for the most interesting report, really enjoyed it Bob Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 17:57:38 PDT From: cosmo bojinski Subject: (klr650) prog. springs/s.s.brakeline List, thanks for the info,without this forum there is no way I would have considered changing fork springs and brakeline on a basically new bike (5000km.).Spend the money, it's like night and day in the braking department, and great feel on the road without that nosedive. I realize it's nothing you haven't heard before but it really is a great way to improve the bike and you don't even have to feel guilty 'cos it's all in the name of safety.( I can't help thinking though, why doesn't it come like this from the factory ??)... cosmo, lookin' for stopsigns. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:22:46 -0400 From: "Mark Quick" Subject: (klr650) New guy This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01BEBF59.40541780 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello, I have been reading your listings for a month or so and figured it was = time to introduce my self. My name is Mark Quick. I currently live in = Kirtland Ohio (berbs east of Cleveland). I'm a 32 year old family guy = with damn little time to ride. I have a 99 KLR 650 I purchased a few = months ago. I have put about 2500 street miles on it. The only thing I = have added to my motorcycle is LifeBright lights in order to be more = visible. I have a headlight modulator on order. There have been a few = motorcycle accidents in my area lately leaving me feeling very mortal. = I spent a lot of time on dirt bikes when I was a teenager in West = Virginia and decided to start riding again. It's much different here in = Ohio as compared to central WV where a grew up. It seems as though = people in Northern Ohio prefer their roads paved. If there are any = others in the area, I would like to here from you. I sure would like to = find some surfaces other then asphalt to ride on. =20 Sincerely, Mark=20 quick@buckeyeweb.com - ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01BEBF59.40541780 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hello,
 
I have been reading your listings for = a month or so=20 and figured it was time to introduce my self.  My name is Mark = Quick. =20 I currently live in Kirtland Ohio (berbs east of = Cleveland). I'm a 32=20 year old family guy with damn little time to ride.  I have a = 99 KLR=20 650 I purchased a few months ago.  I have put about 2500 street = miles on=20 it.  The only thing I have added to my motorcycle is LifeBright = lights in=20 order to be more visible.  I have a headlight modulator on = order. =20 There have been a few motorcycle accidents in my area = lately leaving me=20 feeling very mortal.  I spent a lot of time on dirt bikes when I = was a=20 teenager in West Virginia and decided to start riding again.  It's = much=20 different here in Ohio as compared to central WV where a grew up.  = It seems=20 as though people in Northern Ohio prefer their roads paved.  If = there are=20 any others in the area, I would like to here from you.  I sure = would like=20 to find some surfaces other then asphalt to ride on.  =
 
Sincerely,
Mark
quick@buckeyeweb.com
- ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01BEBF59.40541780-- Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:24:06 EDT From: Carmic7@aol.com Subject: Re: RE: (klr650) FORK PRESSURE In a message dated 6/25/99 9:09:23 AM, PBlake@FDIC.gov writes: <> It seems to me that where I live in the north east with the temperature changes and all if I were to put the reccomended air in the forks at night when its 60 degrees out then ride the next day when its 80+ there must be at least 10 psi in the forks. I beleive that There must be a way to preload the fork springs by adding air - -neil Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:27:48 EDT From: Carmic7@aol.com Subject: Re: RE: (klr650) FORK PRESSURE In a message dated 6/25/99 9:24:46 AM, rkaub@binghamton.edu writes: <> Rob, and fellow listers, could the manual for the Klr be any worse? It seems to me that the ads say air adjustable front suspension, the 98's say up to 35 psi in forks and the manual says atmospheric, its a free for all. and there are aftermarket thingies available that connect both forks with a tube and you can pump them both to a pretty accurate pressure at once -neil Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:29:23 EDT From: Carmic7@aol.com Subject: Re: (klr650) Fork Spring Replacement In a message dated 6/25/99 9:26:10 AM, whaycoc@ibm.net writes: << I have made some clarifications and additions to the article - should now be clear that one does not remove the forks completely to replace fork springs - only if one wants to replace fork boots at the same time! Bill>> But remember if you don't loosten the top tripleclamp there will be a pretty messy fork cap afterwards! -neil Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:48:57 EDT From: Carmic7@aol.com Subject: (klr650) Loose steering/kickstand Hi listers' Its neil again and even though I tend to break things when I work on by happy A-8 Its too expensive to have a mechanic tweak every little thing,so I notices a little wiggle in the triple clamp bearings and I wonder if there is a special kawasaki wrench or is it just a std. bike tool? also, upon dismembering one's sidestand switch has anyone removed all the stuff or just bypassed the wiring and left all the gak? - -neil Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:15:06 -0500 From: "David M. King" Subject: Re: (klr650) KLR statistics ( Now NKLR ) > what it's worth, the Kawasaki dealer in Denton (a suburb north of Dallas) Oooh, I think the people in Denton might be awful angry to hear that they are a suburb of Dallas! I wouldn't show your face there for a while! :-) Seriously though, did you have to pay for those records from the DMV? How do you go about purchasing them? Thanks, David M. King River Oaks, TX (not a suburb of Fort Worth) Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:05:23 -0600 From: "Skip Faulkner" Subject: Re: (klr650) electrical problem >OK, I didn't get to the bike last night so we can still talk about whats >wrong without really knowing anything. > >My question, and the reason I didn't go right at the battery, is why did the >lights (blinker, N-light) not work right when the bike was running at speed? >If I look a the schematics it seems like all the loads come off the >regulator, not the battery. So if the battery was dead the lights, etc, >would work when the mag was spun up and the regulator was putting out proper >voltage? > >Bill Bill, All the charging system goes through the regulator/rectifier but the electrical load is drawn through the battery. Once your bike was jumped off, the ignition circuit is independent of the charging system and battery and will run off the magneto. If your battery is discharged low enough or you have high internal resistance in the battery ( bad cell etc..) the regulator will keep the battery off-line until the battery reaches a preset state of charge. Also, since the alternator is dependent on the battery for it`s field winding excitation, if the alternator is receiving enough current to excite the field, the alternator can`t produce. In other words, even with your bike running, until the battery reaches a state of charge sufficient to excite the alternator field, and there is sufficient charge to supply your load, you won`t have any current available to supply any load demands. Like what has been suggested, I would put a load tester on the battery after it`s charged. If one isn`t available, I would charge the battery to capacity and then see if the bike starts and runs your lights. If it does, but then is drawn down (lights dim and go out) then odds are it`s the battery , as long as the alternator is operating properly. To verify this, with battery hooked up, and engine running, check charging current at the battery terminals with an ammeter. Skip Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 00:14:18 EDT From: K650dsn@aol.com Subject: (klr650) Braking Systems (NKLR) There have been many rumors about Braking Systems, makers of the oversized rotor for the KLR650 and possibly the rumored twin piston front caliper. It looks like Braking is being absorbed by Motion Pro. A formal news release will come out soon. Gino Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 23:38:31 -0500 From: "Brian Schoonveld" Subject: (klr650) forks & lights Managed to get the progressives installed ......... does make a nice difference. I have immediately noticed that the dreaded KLR shakin' mirror syndrome is not as severe now. Bought a couple of tubes of pure silicone caulk to fill the handle bars as some have suggested before I install my gel grips. Anyone have any "tips" on getting the stuff in there, other than what seems obvious? Among several other tweaks and necessities I lightened Fred's inventory of last week, were the brightest halogen headlamp bulb (90/130), and the halogen tail light bulb. I highly, highly recommend the tail light bulb. I was amazed at the increased visibility of the running light portion, but when you hit the brake, there should be no doubt from anyone behind you that you're a stoppin'! Great safety feature! Thanks for several listrs' individual responses to my SOS this afternoon ....... all were helpful and appreciated. Oh yea ........ it's amazing how small a package Fred H can stuff $350 worth of KLR goodies into ....... anyone else ever notice? Brian Schoonveld Indianapolis IN A13 Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 22:36:34 -0600 From: "Skip Faulkner" Subject: Re: (klr650) Battery Monitor >I have always wanted a simple and inexpensive device that would give me >an indication of my battery charge and charging system overall. Looking >through an old issue of Motorcycle Consumer news I came across a short >article on the "Battery Monitor" by Electrical Connections Company. > >I called Lewis, the owner/operator and he gave me enough information to >conclude this device might fill our need for an easy to install and >simple (no moving parts) device to provide information on the charging >system. > >It is a three LED device that indicates green, yellow or red for the >state of the battery. > >I have one of these devices coming in the mail and will try it out and >provide a review of the device as well as instructions for installing. > >Question: Has anyone on the LIST used one of these devices? Any other >products used that LIST members like? > >Comments? > >Bill Bill, I`ve been using voltmeters on my bikes for years and have found then very useful for keeping an eye on the state of my battery and being able to foresee when the battery needed replacing, by noticing the trend toward longer charge cycles after start up and the starting of voltage levels dropping quicker when heavy loads are on. I prefer voltmeters or battery indicators with actual volt values instead of lights that indicate charge or discharge. I currently use an LED battery monitor with voltage values that also have color associated with them. If you want to monitor alternator performance, an ammeter is the only adequate method to use. You can also monitor load with an ammeter as an ammeter will show a zero output if there is no load except the engine running ( ignition is not dependent on the charging circuit) and as you turn on lights, and accessories, the amperage being drawn will be displayed on the ammeter. That`s why sometimes they are referred to as a load meter. Skip Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Subscribe to Dual Sport News...write to Editor@dualsport.org for info. ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V2 #551 ****************************