[dsn_klr650] tire pressure / oil sightglass

[Jim Barthell]

#1 I have 42lbs front and rear in my metzlers. #2 My theory on this has to do with the internal guts of the engine getting bigger over the years displacing more and more oil. At one time I had an email from a Kawasaki technician at the factory saying use the sightglass. YMMV. #3 A leather Corbin will work very well, If possible make an appointment and ride out to the factory.... they will fit it to yer butt. Unfortunately, all your test rides will be without a cover in place and the bare foam is much more abrasive than the leather cover. If you wear synthetic riding gear you _will_ slide around after the seat is covered if there is any kind of slope in the seat. Jim Barthell

> -----Original Message----- > From: Tom Vervaeke [mailto:tom_vervaeke@...] > Sent: Monday, August 21, 2000 7:57 PM > To: KLR-650 List > Subject: [DSN_klr650] Tire Pressure / Oil Sightglass > > > Okay: > > I know this is old hat but I'm getting contradictory info. > > Question #1 > ----------- > My 99 KLR650 says put 21 PSI front and 21 PSI rear for the OEM > tires with 1 rider. Put 28 PSI rear if 2 riders or lots of > stuff on back. A recent ride report from Adam Stahnke, who > has Avon Gripsters (AV24) said he used 32 PSI F & R the entire > trip and it worked fine. Is the higher pressure something specific > to Avon's, Adam, or wrong? My OEM tires are coming off in the > next 500 miles and I've got 2 sets of fresh tires: 1 set of > Avon AV24's and one set of Metzler Sahara's. Not sure which to > try first but I'd like to use the tire pressure that will make > the tires last a long time. > > Question #2 > ----------- > Oil level. Is the sight glass on my KLR in the wrong place as > Eldon says? I find it hard to believe that Kawasaki has the sight > glass in the wrong spot for 15 years. However, when I did a recent > oil change 2.5L put the oil level above the top of the sight > glass. Which is right? I don't want to have insufficient oil but > on the other 87 bikes with sighglasses it was always right on the > right place on the bike. > > Question #3 > ----------- > Want to get an aftermarket seat for more long distance comfort. > While the stock KLR seat is not bad for an OEM unit it's not > going to work for my butt for 500+ or 12 hour ride days. Is the > Corbin for the KLR with the front part filled in the way to go? > Leather or Vinyl? I actually don't like Corbin's service but their > product is pretty good. Any comments would be appreciated. > > > Thanks, > > tom (A13 newbie) > > > > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 10:52:09 -0700 > From: Adam Stahnke > Subject: NKLR-Return from KLR Adventure > > I keep it short and simple. This was one of the best vacations I have > ever taken. Sunsets, a sunrise, a moonrise, hot springs, > campgrounds, > vineyards, rivers, lakes, the Pacific, an historic hotel, joshua trees, > redwoods, deer, black bears, European tourists, and Harley riders that > don't wave. Here is a quick run down: > > Bike: A7, stock engine/exhaust, Uni-filter. > The plan: Ride up 101 and 1. I got to Arcata, layed out the maps and > made the choice to cross the Shasta-Trinity area and hit Hwy 395. > Total miles ridden: About 2K. > Number of days on road: 6 > Shortest day: 185 miles (Bridgeport to Lone Pine with side trips off > road in Mono Lake Area, June Lakes, Mammoth, and Alabama Hills) > Longest day: 425 miles, 10 hours on bike due to construction and > wildfires. (Arcata to Bridgeport) > KLRs spotted: 1 Y2K outside of Garberville. > KLR problems: None mechanical. I did loose a plastic black insert in > one of the radiator shrouds, and my bike computer mount fell apart > while > off road, hence the unknown total mileage. I also discovered that > large > displacement water cooled bikes don't like upper 30's F at 7,000' > elevation. > Little things that made a big difference: Alleve. Platypus(fill it > anywhere). 16 tooth front sprocket. A camp towel. Aerostitch sells > the "Evapodana." I bought a camp towel and used it he same way. Soak > it and wrap it around your neck it hot weather. > Tire report: Gripster AM24s. 32 PSI the entire way. Excellent > performance, low noise. Good on fireroads with loaded bike. I hit > some > sandy areas around Mammoth and the Alabama Hills. Not fun on a loaded > bike! I bailed out of those area quickly. I never aired down or > unloaded the bike, but I am sure the tires would be adequate. > > > > ===== > ========================================================= > Tom Vervaeke, Colorado, USA |Email: tom_vervaeke@... > '99 Kawi KLR-650 A13, 3.1K |Ph: 719-495-2152 (home) > '96 BMW R1100GS, Black 60K |Ph: 719-590-2133 (work) > Colorado DualSporters Group |Ph: 719-650-4578 (cell/riding) > Try: http://www.egroups.com/group/Colorado-Dualsporters > ========================================================= > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail Free email you can access from anywhere! > http://mail.yahoo.com/ > > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > 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 > >