rear bearing maintenance?

[itiswhatitis@lvcm.com]

Hi. I'm just inches away from plunkin' some dolleros down for a dual sport, and the KLR is in the lead as a candidate. But I just gotta know one thing, before I do. I'm gonna be lookin' for some zip in my bike, for those occassional moments when I'll feel the need for a brief moment of speed. Of all the 600cc-range bikes, how quick is the KLR compared to the other dual sports on the street? I plan to do 80% street and 20% desert. Thanx in advance for your help. ChaoSun

[Steve Anderson]

As much as I think the KLR is a great bike, I have owned a honda, yamaha's, and got a fair bit of saddle time in the suzuki dual sports (enduros). List -- Please don't flay me but.. in stock configuration, the klr probably has the least pep of the bunch. It seems to have less power, and it is certainly much heavier. Of the couple of dozen bikes I've had, it probably has some of the least pep of them to be honest. I still really like the bike, but if having a really quick bike was at the very top of the list, it's not the right bike. If having a comfortable mid-size bike that doesn't really do anything all that well (including being very quick), but just does everything, and keeps the fun meter pegged, it's right there. These are MY OPINIONS.... Go ahead and express your own, I'm interested; please don't trash mine if I insulted your (our) beasts. I just don't think of "zip" when I think of the klr. Steve (very happy with my klr) Anderson

--- In DSN_klr650@egroups.com, itiswhatitis@l... wrote: > Hi. I'm just inches away from plunkin' some dolleros down for a dual > sport, and the KLR is in the lead as a candidate. But I just gotta > know one thing, before I do. > > I'm gonna be lookin' for some zip in my bike, for those occassional > moments when I'll feel the need for a brief moment of speed. > > Of all the 600cc-range bikes, how quick is the KLR compared to the > other dual sports on the street? I plan to do 80% street and 20% > desert. > > Thanx in advance for your help. > > ChaoSun

[Steve Anderson]

I agree with you, and I guess maybe I feel that all other things being equal, weight, reliability, etc., I can't get enough power. It really is doggie when you compare it to most of the bikes that I'VE owned, whether dual sport, dirt, or street. However, none of them were as good at everything, like riding 90mph at 110F heat for six or seven hours, and then just allow me to turn off on some stretch of dirt without a break. I've burned up both a honda and a yamaha enduro doing this, and taking my old suzuki GS750 off road could hardly be classified as fun. On the other hand, the KLR is one few bikes I've had that I have to slip the clutch to ride a good wheelie!! =P I kind of wish that the beast was just a little lighter, and if I grabbed a handful of throttle at 70mph, would just jump up to 90mph -- right now!! It does not do that, I've had bikes that would. My concern was that the original poster might be expecting the KLR to be this kinfd of bike; it isn't. No harm, no foul, Steve Anderson

--- In DSN_klr650@egroups.com, Jim Cunningham wrote: > Anyone who thinks the KLR is "doggy" is a power junky! If you want a bike > that can carry you, a passenger and luggage on tour, then turn around a > tackle the toughest fire road, the turn around a be a civil gas stingy > commuter bike, the KLR has NO EQUAL. If you want a screaming dirt bike you > are comparing apples and oranges. Hope you don't consider that "flaying" > > -----Original Message----- > From: k650dsn@a... [mailto:k650dsn@a...] > Sent: Friday, July 21, 2000 9:26 AM > To: DSN_klr650@egroups.com > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Re: Inches Away. > > > In a message dated Fri, 21 Jul 2000 11:17:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > "Steve Anderson" writes: > > List -- Please don't flay me but.. in stock configuration, the klr > probably has the least pep of the bunch. It seems to have less > power, and it is certainly much heavier. Of the couple of dozen > bikes I've had, it probably has some of the least pep of them to be > honest. > > >> > > Steve is right. The KLR is downright doggy in stock trim and a little > better once jetted and piped. If you want a fast dual sport, look to the > Yamaha powered MuZ, or the Suzuki DR650 or even the KTM 640 LC4. If you > want a fast and really fun bike with some easy dirt road ability, look at > the KTM Duke. > > Gino > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > Failed tests, classes skipped, forgotten locker combinations. > Remember the good 'ol days > http://click.egroups.com/1/7076/6/_/911801/_/964193169/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@s... > Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com

[Jim Hyman]

Rich, If your KLR's previous owner rode through water crossings regularly or used a high pressure water hose (including a garden hose) to clean the bike, these could be the cause of your bearing failure. I'd be sure to remove, inspect & regrease your front wheel bearings now. The Kawi service manual calls for lubricating the swing arm pivot & Uni-trak linkage every 6000 miles. This would be a good time to repack the front & rear wheel bearings. The KLR600 'Base' Service manual details wheel bearing service and recommends repacking the bearings every 2 years or 12,000 miles. Be sure to use wheel bearing grease. I always thoroughly clean out all the old grease & liberally force new grease into each wheel bearing until it is solidly packed. It's also a good idea to coat the axle with a skim coat of grease or anti-seize compound to prevent axle corrosion. For future reference, you can buy better quality bearings at a lower price from a local bearing house, located in all major metro areas. There's nothing wrong with the Kawi (or Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha) bearings, you just have to pay a far higher price for the 'convenience' of buying from the dealer (kinda like the $8.50 key blank that still needs to be cut). Q2 -> It's unlikely that the bearing had a manufacturing defect that appeared after 9k miles. Professor A9 Federal Way, Wa. [USA] "We get too soon old, & too late smart." ------------------------------- --- macdracer@p... wrote:

> I just spent $114.32 at the Kawi dealer, replacing 1 > totally destroyed rear bearing as well as the other > bearings and seals while they had this apart.

[snip]

> > My questions to the group are: > > 1.) how often do the rear bearings need to be removed and > greased, maintained, etc. Is there a preferred method? > > 2.) could one of the bearings failed due the lack of > maintenance, or was this most likely a defective part? > > Bike is an A12 with now 9000 miles. 7400 when I purchased > it and supposedly the dealer serviced the "entire" bike when > I bought it. > > Many lessons learned last weekend about maintenance, dealers, > and of course more bonding time with my KLR. > > Thanks in advance for any info. > > Rich. > A12 "Beast" > http://www.klr650.20m.com