From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V2 #725 Reply-To: klr650 Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Tuesday, August 17 1999 Volume 02 : Number 725 (klr650) Mail Order NKLR Re: (klr650) Dual STar, no KLR content Re: (klr650) eh--Hello ya'll Re: (klr650) Mail Order NKLR (klr650) New KLR Problem Re: (klr650) AS I SEE IT NKLR RE: (klr650) Dual STar, no KLR content Re: (klr650) AS I SEE IT NKLR Re: (klr650) Dual STar, NKLR Re: (klr650) Mail Order NKLR (klr650) RE:DualStar NKLR (klr650) Fw: BOUNCE klr650@lists.xmission.com: Non-member submission from ["a phipps" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 11:24:48 -0400 From: "R. Kaub" Subject: (klr650) Mail Order NKLR In the past ten years or so, we have become used to picking up the phone, placing an order, charging it to a credit card and having it delivered in two or three days, sometimes even the next day. I like that quick service and I must admit to having become a little spoiled by it as well. But those of us who are a little older (OK, old farts) remember when you looked in a catalog, filled out an order form (or wrote a letter), went and got a money order, sent it off via snail mail to the company and waited about a month for the item to show up. If it happened to be the wrong thing, which it often was, then you wrote a another letter, waited for a response, sent the item back and waited several more weeks. The whole process could take months. Phoning the company usually didn't work as the only phone was in the president's office and he was too busy boinking the secretaries to care about a customer order. As KLR riders and listers, we have become acquainted with several suppliers of KLR specific equipment who make and sell this stuff as an aside from their full-time occupations. This might mean that they have to pay all the bills at home and take care of the family BEFORE they take care of us. This also could mean that sometimes we have to wait for lengths of time that, by today's standards, are incredibly long and possibly frustrating to some. I also get the feeling that these people are genuinely nice folks who really want to help us out. Perhaps their missed due or promised delivery dates are caused by factors beyond their control. Perhaps they're just not organized. Who knows. What I would appreciate goes something like this: "We have your order. We are very busy. We really would like to sell you a XXXXXXXX but we don't have any in stock right now and we really don't know exactly when we can ship you one. It could be as long as several months. Do you still want to place an order?" I might not like the fact that I can't get what I want right now. But I would appreciate the candid answer. Thanks. Bob Kaub 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 08:46:21 -0700 From: "Steven Timm" Subject: Re: (klr650) Dual STar, no KLR content Right on Gino! I myself have added aftertermarket "stuff" to my KLR but didn't really need too. I've been waiting 13 weeks for my bench seat from Corbin but that hasn't stopped me from racking up 6700 km. The last trip was 1600 km in 2 days with a 1000 km done in a day. My point...We bought the KLR for what it is and that being an excellent bike, so when aftermarket "stuff" doesn't come right away ride the bike and enjoy! It's only "stuff"... - -----Original Message----- From: Pokluda, Gino To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 07:23 Subject: RE: (klr650) Dual STar, no KLR content > > >>>Absolutely. >I have read the postings. There is no excuse for discourteous treatment of >customers. Excuses for late filling......I am not placing orders with Dual >Star. I won't even consider it given the >experience of others on this list. ..... Dual Star as a vendor.<< > >Oh puleeze spare me. I was going to stay out of this, but this post sent me >off the edge. Sorry if what I have to say is insulting, but hey, the truth >hurts. From what I have seen over the past few years as being editor of >DSN, all I can say is that the typical US motorcyclist has become a >sniveling, spoiled brat. Maybe it is because of the "instant gratification" >times we now live in. Maybe it's because we have become too used to >everything having to be perfect and just right. I'm not a modern age >philosopher, nor do I claim to be a great human behavioralist, but we are >basically spoiled. We want it all and we want it now or we'll throw our >collective selves on the pavement and throw a tantrum. When it comes to >products offered by Dual Star, Happy Trails and other cottage industry >suppliers to KLR enthusiasts, all I have to say is you, the KLR rider, are >damn lucky to even have these products availble to you, even if takes a >month or two. Do you think Lockhart, Moose, MSR and such even care that you >have side protector racks, center stands and such available to you? Not >only no, but hell no. I've been waiting for a center stand for my DR350 >since April. I waited 8 months to get a fork brace for my XV920. It doesn't >bother me. Life will go on, trust me. But first you have to have a life, >so get one. > >I'm off my soap box now. Send flames directly to me but be prepared, I'm >not in a good mood. > >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. > 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 10:52:18 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) eh--Hello ya'll >Also the kaw dealers bike is green so '99 I guess what should I know about >this year model and how much is this 500mile service everyone talkes about >cost ? > >Do y'all feel this is a qulity motorcycle and your experience with Kawasaki >how has it been? I am not trying to be an asshole, just a question. I do not >know how I would answer that question if possed to me about Triumph. > >Thanks in advance for the input > >Mike 97 >ps: I am in eastern NC is thier anyone on the list near ? Our webmaster, Bill Haycock has both along with a VFR...he's probably riding the Tiger (a '98) right now in New Brunswick. He likes them both. Kurt Grife, another lister, tested the new Tiger a couple of months ago. I'd like to think they are the best of their breed...the Tiger, a high-powered long range bike with superb brakes and some moderate off-road mostly fire-road capability. The KLR the best do anything go anywhere bike there is. Not a dirt bike, not a great single tracker, but willing and able to take on anything that anyone calls a road, and some of what people call trails. When you say green do you mean Olive or Teal Blue-Green, the former is an A14 Y2K, the other is probably a '99. As for dealers, the ratio has probably improved 1 to 10 in favor of good to bad experiences with Kawi dealers, it used to be about 1 to 35. So, I wouldn't hold high hopes. As for the 500 mile check, do it yourself for the price of three quarts of oil and a filter, we'll help you... Kurt 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 10:35:57 -0600 From: "Vik Banerjee" Subject: Re: (klr650) Mail Order NKLR >What I would appreciate goes something like this: >"We have your order. We are very busy. We really would like to sell you a >XXXXXXXX but we don't have any in stock right now and we really don't know >exactly when we can ship you one. It could be as long as several months. >Do you still want to place an order?" > >I might not like the fact that I can't get what I want right now. But I >would appreciate the candid answer. I think the reason people are getting excited about this topic is there are really three issues here and people are taking offence, perhaps, at something unintended. The issues as I see it are: 1) Does dual star make good stuff for us KLR riders? 2) Are Mike and Kari committed to DSing and helping out the community? 3) Is Dual Star's customer service good? I don't think anyone would argue a YES to both 1 & 2. The problems seem to arise at 3 - some people get good service some don't. Gino I wouldn't flame ya man, but I can't agree that simply because you make a product for the KLR you don't have to provide good service - specifically timely delivery of a product OR some notice that it will be delayed. I think people can deal with delays and small mistakes as long as they are kept informed of what's going on. I don't think its a question of growing up so much as having reasonable expectations and information on your order is a reasonable expectation - waiting at home for months with no idea when something would show up is not even remotely reasonable. Cheers, Vik 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 10:26:04 -0700 From: "Chin, Ben" Subject: (klr650) New KLR Problem Hello All, I just picked up a brand new '99 KLR over the weekend and absolutely love it! I use it as my commute bike within San Francisco, where there are lots of hills, potholes, sinkholes, half-paved streets, and stuck transit buses blocking the streets. All obstacles that the KLR dispatches (or avoids) with ease. However, I've already run into my first problem with the bike. After about 20 minutes of riding stoplight to stoplight, the gearbox gets funky. Specifically, I have a hard time shifting it to second gear without it dropping into neutral. And yes, I was shifting very assertively. Since the bike only has about 35 miles on it, is this characteristic just a normal break-in problem that will go away later? I've checked the mailing list archives, but didn't find anything other than general complaints about the gearbox. TIA, Ben 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 13:34:32 -0400 From: Stuart Heaslet Subject: Re: (klr650) AS I SEE IT NKLR At 08:25 AM 8/17/99 -0700, Tobin Lampson wrote: >AS I SEE IT...... > Modern consumerism sucks! Lessee now. It was about a week ago that somebody was complaining that nothing exciting was going on on the List. Well, as Hugh Grant would say in Hollywood, "There you have it!" Kurt, are we gonna be assessed bandwidth charges anytime soon? Stuart 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 13:46:12 -0400 From: Stuart Heaslet Subject: RE: (klr650) Dual STar, no KLR content At 08:22 AM 8/17/99 -0600, Pokluda, Gino wrote: >Oh puleeze spare me. I was going to stay out of this, but this post sent me >off the edge. How come we don't see editorials like this in DSN? I'd pay more ... Stuart 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 12:03:10 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) AS I SEE IT NKLR >At 08:25 AM 8/17/99 -0700, Tobin Lampson wrote: >>AS I SEE IT...... >> Modern consumerism sucks! > >Lessee now. It was about a week ago that somebody was complaining that >nothing exciting was going on on the List. >Well, as Hugh Grant would say in Hollywood, "There you have it!" > >Kurt, are we gonna be assessed bandwidth charges anytime soon? > >Stuart right...blame it on Morgan getting naked...it had to be Morgan..why not Killearney? Kurt 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 12:04:18 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) Dual STar, NKLR >>Oh puleeze spare me. I was going to stay out of this, but this post sent me >>off the edge. > >How come we don't see editorials like this in DSN? I'd pay more ... > >Stuart I think it has to do with something that happened a long time ago .....in BMW land... Kurt 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 12:10:44 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) Mail Order NKLR >3) Is Dual Star's customer service good? > >I don't think anyone would argue a YES to both 1 & 2. The problems seem to >arise at 3 - some people get good service some don't. > >Gino I wouldn't flame ya man, but I can't agree that simply because you make >a product for the KLR you don't have to provide good service - specifically >timely delivery of a product OR some notice that it will be delayed. I >think people can deal with delays and small mistakes as long as they are >kept informed of what's going on. I don't think its a question of growing >up so much as having reasonable expectations and information on your order >is a reasonable expectation - waiting at home for months with no idea when >something would show up is not even remotely reasonable. I think this is helpful Vik, but I've never heard anyone call Mike abusive as Ztib asserts. That is going way too far. IMO, Mike is his own worst enemy and Carrie isn't much better, they are perfectionists and they take huge pride in their products. If they could just become more realistic and more organized in follow-up communications they would be taking a step forward. As to Bill's original post I can imagine that Mike might have been irked that Bill, a customer of Baja Designs was calling him instead of Allan Roach. Bill's beef should be with Allan and Allan should be the one getting the product from Mike. Imagine PBI's response if one of the 30 people waiting for the 16T sprocket from Fred would call about the status of Fred's order. Do you think they would enjoy that inquiry? Kurt 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 11:13:59 -0700 From: "Stuart Mumford" Subject: (klr650) RE:DualStar NKLR Words of wisdom from my dear old Dad. " You can have it fast, right, or cheap Pick any two." Give DualStar a break. Even at Moab, with a whopping customer base of approx. 80 people, they were swamped. As far as attitude on the phone, there's 2 sides to every story.. are you sure you didn't come off not quite as pleasant as you would like to seem? CA Stu A13 < ---- "Can't we all just get along?" 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: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 12:14:46 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: (klr650) Fw: BOUNCE klr650@lists.xmission.com: Non-member submission from ["a phipps" ] - -----Original Message----- From: owner-klr650-digest@xmission.com To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 11:44 AM Subject: BOUNCE klr650@lists.xmission.com: Non-member submission from ["a phipps" ] >>From klrphipps@hotmail.com Tue Aug 17 11:44:33 1999 >Received: from [209.185.241.97] (helo=hotmail.com) > by lists.xmission.com with smtp (Exim 2.05 #1) > id 11GnHl-0005Du-00 > for klr650@lists.xmission.com; Tue, 17 Aug 1999 11:44:33 -0600 >Received: (qmail 99343 invoked by uid 0); 17 Aug 1999 17:44:02 -0000 >Message-ID: <19990817174402.99342.qmail@hotmail.com> >Received: from 137.28.55.145 by www.hotmail.com with HTTP; > Tue, 17 Aug 1999 10:44:01 PDT >X-Originating-IP: [137.28.55.145] >From: "a phipps" >To: stuart@heaslet.com >Cc: klr650@lists.xmission.com >Subject: Re: cross Canada trip >Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 10:44:01 MST >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed > > > >Hi Stuart and other listers: >I just checked my email and got your messages Stuart. Good to hear from >you. I've gotten a bit better at finding creative ways to sit on my Corbin >seat to ease my pain. Overall my cross Canada trip has been a great >experience. More rain than I would have liked, but still had a great time. >A definite highlight was doing the Gaspe Peninsula. Incredible scenery! >Nova Scotia was amazing too. We didn't have as much time there as we would >have liked but we did manage to do the Cabot Trail. We had to abort our >first attempt because it was so rainy and foggy but a week later (after >going to Newfoundland) we caught it on a beautiful day. We spent about five >days in Newfoundland. I really love that province. Very diverse & stunning >scenery. The people there are fantastic. They are very outgoing and >friendly. We stopped at a lake along the road to take some pictures and met >three Newfoundlanders having a picnic on the beach. They insisted that we >have lunch with them. They also invited us back to their house for a >traditional Newfoundland dinner. We didn't have time to have dinner with >them because we had a ferry to catch. My brother and I took about 10 rolls >of photos each during the trip. > >We decided to head for home through the US because we thought we would make >good time on the interstate hwys. Near Chicago I had a new chain put on. >The one I had on the bike had several tight links and was making all kinds >of popping sounds. The dealer said my sprockets were somewhat worn but that >it would take a few days for him to order new ones. He recommended putting >on an inexpensive non Oring chain and leaving the existing sprockets. He >assured me that the sprockets weren't too bad and that with a new chain I'd >be fine getting back to BC. We left the shop and put on about 300 km and >got a motel. Next morning, I went out to adjust my chain. On the right >side of the swing arm the plate that caps off the end of the swing arm was >gone along with the two nuts that go up against it. I was not too happy and >phoned the dealer who had put my chain on. He apologized and admitted that >the mechanic probably did not tighten the lock nut enough (either that or he >forgot to put the plate on all together?). He promised to ship me a new >plate and nuts to my home address and told me to use a couple large washers >and buy a couple nuts to use for making adjustments on that side of the >swing arm. A hassle but at least we got back on the road again. We put on >another 200 km or so. I was doing about 115km/h on the I 94 when I heard a >loud pop and my engine stopped. I coasted to the side of the interstate. >My chain had snapped. I was not a very happy guy at this point. By then, >my brother was under a lot of pressure to get back to Vancouver for work so >he continued on. I called a tow truck on my cellular phone. I got the bike >towed to Eau Claire Cycle, a Yamaha dealer in Eau Claire Wisconsin. The tow >truck driver didn't recommend the Kawi dealer because they apparently aren't >too friendly. The next day I went to the shop and met with the mechanic. >He said the chain had come apart at the master link and he thought that this >indicated the clip hadn't been put on all the way or was put on facing the >wrong direction. He hoped to be able to just put on a new chain for me. He >had to grind the chain out from around the front sprocket and then >discovered that the chain had cut a hole into my crank case. After a full >day on the phone with the shop that put on the chain, they agreed to pay for >parts to have the bike repaired. Looks like I am paying for labour and >shipping (for now). Eau Claire Cycle hauled the bike to the Kawi / Harley >dealer across town and the bike has been there since. It was supposed to be >ready yesterday but the service manager forgot to order one of the parts so >now I'm here until at least tomorrow. All this has really gotten me down. >I've essentially been stuck here in Eau Claire for a week. It has definitely >blown my budget for the trip. The labour, shipping, motels, and meals (all >in US dollars)is killing me. Once I get home I am going to look into what I >can do to try and get more money out of the shop that put on the chain. >Everyone I've talked to has told me that because the chain came apart at the >master link it probably wasn't put on correctly. That, combined with the >fact that the plate at the end of the swing arm was missing, tells me that >the mechanic may not have been focussed on what he was doing. Any opinions >or advice for me?? >On the bright side: Eau Claire is a nice city. Eau Claire Cycle was great. >The mechanic talked to the shop that put the chain on and really stood up >for me. They let me use their phone all day, they gave me a ride to my >motel, and they hauled my bike across town and gave me a ride to the Kawi >shop the next day. They also didn't charge me a penny. Apparently the guys >at the Kawasaki/Harley shop that are doing the repairs do good work. I'm >also lucky that the chain didn't lock up my rear wheel or tear up my leg. It >could have been a lot worse. > >I hope to be on the road again by tomorrow evening. Right now I'm using a >computer at the library at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Clair. If >anyone wants to send a reply to my hotmail account I'll be at the computer >for another half hour or so. Otherwise I'll be back at my work email >address in a few days. > >Al >96 KLR >Fort St. John, BC > > >______________________________________________________ >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. ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V2 #725 ****************************