doohickey article

[Desert Datsuns]

It's been about 12 years since I last did the Crown King trail from Lake Pleasant in the desert, up to Crown King in the pine trees. Back then we did it on dirt bikes, and I remember it being not too bad of a ride. So I figured I'd take the KLR up there yesterday. Keep in mind that I've been riding both street and dirt bikes for 20+ years. Big mistake. The trail has become A LOT worse over the years. It would have been a tough ride on a dirt bike, let alone the KLR. There were super steep inclines, with rock outcroppings in the trail, big rocks everywhere, creekbed river rocks, and some nasty "rock waterfall" spots. The first sign of trouble was when I couldn't get the bike out of a rut, and had to walk next to it as I tried to get the back tire out of the ditch. Not so easy when the trail is uphill, the ruts are big, and there's rocks everywhere. This was my first time dry heaving on the trail, there would be many more to come. From this point I could still see the trail below where I started, and thought about turning around and going home. I wish I had. Unfortunately I thought to myself, "how bad can it really be". I was going to find out the hard way. I then crashed twice. The first was on a steep incline, where there were ridges on the sides, and it was washed out in the center. I dumped the bike so the tires were on the ridge, and the handlebars were down in the center rut. It took some effort, but I was able to right the bike, and walk next to it while I powered it up past the gnarly spot. I took a 15 minute break trying not to puke. The second was on one of the rock waterfall type things. By this time I was so tired that I was having a hard time controlling the bike, and just couldn't put the wheels where I wanted to. On a 40 degree incline the front tire hit a rock outcropping and bounced up, while the rear tire drove it into a wheelie, and dumped the bike to the right. The bike ended up perpendicular to the trail, with the wheels uphill of the handlebars, and a void in the rocks below it. The exact situation which makes it physically impossible to stand it up. Being too tired to right the bike, I had to just let it sit there for a while as I took a break. I ended up having to use the luggage rack handle to drag the bike on it's side until it was pointing in a direction where I could right it. Due to the harshness of the trail, and the effort expended righting the bike, I had to take a solid 20 minute break to recuperate while I dry heaved from over-exertion. Luckily my crash bars and right highway peg took most of the impact. The last big issue was riding through a stream bed with boulders everywhere. This was the kind of area where the front tire goes over a rock and you case it when the front tire comes down. The aluminum skidplate was worth it's weight in gold, as it got ground-over and smacked into so many rocks. The constant continuous pounding of the rocks made my arms feel like I hadn't eaten in a week. I found a nice tree with a big flat rock, and just laid there for a while. At least now I was far enough in elevation that the temperature was cooling off, and there was a nice breeze. I could have easily taken a nap. After some more river bed riding, I took one last break. I ate my last protein bar, and finished off my second Gatorade. Fortunately the second half of the ride wasn't bad at all. Relatively easy trail riding. No more monster inclines or massive rocks. I bought another Gatorade at the General Store in Crown king, and relaxed in the cool pines for about 30 minutes before taking the normal dirt road home. I learned a few things on this ride. 1) The Dunlops are not good for serious off roading. 2) A 16t front sprocket is not good for serious off roading, I could have used a 14t on this ride. 3) The handlebars are way to low to ride while standing up, I need risers, and I'm only 5-10. 4) The aluminum skidplate was a must, I bashed that thing over so many rocks I lost count. -- Ryan Phoenix, AZ

[dooden]

But was it Fun ? Simple thing with the bars, is rotate them forward a bit, makes them a bit higher and more forward. Made standing on the pegs alot easier for me. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Desert Datsuns wrote: > > It's been about 12 years since I last did the Crown King trail from Lake > Pleasant in the desert, up to Crown King in the pine trees. Back then we > did it on dirt bikes, and I remember it being not too bad of a ride. So > I figured I'd take the KLR up there yesterday. Keep in mind that I've > been riding both street and dirt bikes for 20+ years. > > Big mistake. The trail has become A LOT worse over the years. It would > have been a tough ride on a dirt bike, let alone the KLR. There were > super steep inclines, with rock outcroppings in the trail, big rocks > everywhere, creekbed river rocks, and some nasty "rock waterfall" spots. > > The first sign of trouble was when I couldn't get the bike out of a rut, > and had to walk next to it as I tried to get the back tire out of the > ditch. Not so easy when the trail is uphill, the ruts are big, and > there's rocks everywhere. This was my first time dry heaving on the > trail, there would be many more to come. From this point I could still > see the trail below where I started, and thought about turning around > and going home. I wish I had. Unfortunately I thought to myself, "how > bad can it really be". I was going to find out the hard way. > > I then crashed twice. The first was on a steep incline, where there were > ridges on the sides, and it was washed out in the center. I dumped the > bike so the tires were on the ridge, and the handlebars were down in the > center rut. It took some effort, but I was able to right the bike, and > walk next to it while I powered it up past the gnarly spot. I took a 15 > minute break trying not to puke. > > > The second was on one of the rock waterfall type things. By this time I > was so tired that I was having a hard time controlling the bike, and > just couldn't put the wheels where I wanted to. On a 40 degree incline > the front tire hit a rock outcropping and bounced up, while the rear > tire drove it into a wheelie, and dumped the bike to the right. The bike > ended up perpendicular to the trail, with the wheels uphill of the > handlebars, and a void in the rocks below it. The exact situation which > makes it physically impossible to stand it up. Being too tired to right > the bike, I had to just let it sit there for a while as I took a break. > I ended up having to use the luggage rack handle to drag the bike on > it's side until it was pointing in a direction where I could right it. > Due to the harshness of the trail, and the effort expended righting the > bike, I had to take a solid 20 minute break to recuperate while I dry > heaved from over-exertion. Luckily my crash bars and right highway peg > took most of the impact. > > The last big issue was riding through a stream bed with boulders > everywhere. This was the kind of area where the front tire goes over a > rock and you case it when the front tire comes down. The aluminum > skidplate was worth it's weight in gold, as it got ground-over and > smacked into so many rocks. The constant continuous pounding of the > rocks made my arms feel like I hadn't eaten in a week. I found a nice > tree with a big flat rock, and just laid there for a while. At least now > I was far enough in elevation that the temperature was cooling off, and > there was a nice breeze. I could have easily taken a nap. > > After some more river bed riding, I took one last break. I ate my last > protein bar, and finished off my second Gatorade. Fortunately the second > half of the ride wasn't bad at all. Relatively easy trail riding. No > more monster inclines or massive rocks. I bought another Gatorade at the > General Store in Crown king, and relaxed in the cool pines for about 30 > minutes before taking the normal dirt road home. > > I learned a few things on this ride. > 1) The Dunlops are not good for serious off roading. > 2) A 16t front sprocket is not good for serious off roading, I could > have used a 14t on this ride. > 3) The handlebars are way to low to ride while standing up, I need > risers, and I'm only 5-10. > 4) The aluminum skidplate was a must, I bashed that thing over so many > rocks I lost count. > > > > -- > Ryan > Phoenix, AZ >

[Desert Datsuns]

No, it sucked. The first half totally sucked. The second half was nice, and the ride home was nice, but I'll never do that trail again. As for the bars, I'm probably just so used to the dirt bike setup for riding in the dirt, where the foot pegs and handle bars are further apart. I don't believe my gen 1 bike had as much of an issue, but my gen 2 just doesn't seem comfortable in that regard. Rotating the bars isn't a bad idea, but I think I'd be more comfortable with more height than that would give me. I'd like an inch-and-a-half or so. Would be nice to push the bar centerline closer to the fork centers as well, they're pulled pretty far back on my gen 2 bike. Ryan Phoenix, AZ Dooden wrote:

> > > But was it Fun ? > > Simple thing with the bars, is rotate them forward a bit, makes them a > bit higher and more forward. Made standing on the pegs alot easier for me. > > Dooden > A15 Green Ape > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Desert Datsuns wrote: > > > > It's been about 12 years since I last did the Crown King trail from Lake > > Pleasant in the desert, up to Crown King in the pine trees. Back then we > > did it on dirt bikes, and I remember it being not too bad of a ride. So > > I figured I'd take the KLR up there yesterday. Keep in mind that I've > > been riding both street and dirt bikes for 20+ years. > > > > Big mistake. The trail has become A LOT worse over the years. It would > > have been a tough ride on a dirt bike, let alone the KLR. There were > > super steep inclines, with rock outcroppings in the trail, big rocks > > everywhere, creekbed river rocks, and some nasty "rock waterfall" spots. > > > > The first sign of trouble was when I couldn't get the bike out of a rut, > > and had to walk next to it as I tried to get the back tire out of the > > ditch. Not so easy when the trail is uphill, the ruts are big, and > > there's rocks everywhere. This was my first time dry heaving on the > > trail, there would be many more to come. From this point I could still > > see the trail below where I started, and thought about turning around > > and going home. I wish I had. Unfortunately I thought to myself, "how > > bad can it really be". I was going to find out the hard way. > > > > I then crashed twice. The first was on a steep incline, where there were > > ridges on the sides, and it was washed out in the center. I dumped the > > bike so the tires were on the ridge, and the handlebars were down in the > > center rut. It took some effort, but I was able to right the bike, and > > walk next to it while I powered it up past the gnarly spot. I took a 15 > > minute break trying not to puke. > > > > > > The second was on one of the rock waterfall type things. By this time I > > was so tired that I was having a hard time controlling the bike, and > > just couldn't put the wheels where I wanted to. On a 40 degree incline > > the front tire hit a rock outcropping and bounced up, while the rear > > tire drove it into a wheelie, and dumped the bike to the right. The bike > > ended up perpendicular to the trail, with the wheels uphill of the > > handlebars, and a void in the rocks below it. The exact situation which > > makes it physically impossible to stand it up. Being too tired to right > > the bike, I had to just let it sit there for a while as I took a break. > > I ended up having to use the luggage rack handle to drag the bike on > > it's side until it was pointing in a direction where I could right it. > > Due to the harshness of the trail, and the effort expended righting the > > bike, I had to take a solid 20 minute break to recuperate while I dry > > heaved from over-exertion. Luckily my crash bars and right highway peg > > took most of the impact. > > > > The last big issue was riding through a stream bed with boulders > > everywhere. This was the kind of area where the front tire goes over a > > rock and you case it when the front tire comes down. The aluminum > > skidplate was worth it's weight in gold, as it got ground-over and > > smacked into so many rocks. The constant continuous pounding of the > > rocks made my arms feel like I hadn't eaten in a week. I found a nice > > tree with a big flat rock, and just laid there for a while. At least now > > I was far enough in elevation that the temperature was cooling off, and > > there was a nice breeze. I could have easily taken a nap. > > > > After some more river bed riding, I took one last break. I ate my last > > protein bar, and finished off my second Gatorade. Fortunately the second > > half of the ride wasn't bad at all. Relatively easy trail riding. No > > more monster inclines or massive rocks. I bought another Gatorade at the > > General Store in Crown king, and relaxed in the cool pines for about 30 > > minutes before taking the normal dirt road home. > > > > I learned a few things on this ride. > > 1) The Dunlops are not good for serious off roading. > > 2) A 16t front sprocket is not good for serious off roading, I could > > have used a 14t on this ride. > > 3) The handlebars are way to low to ride while standing up, I need > > risers, and I'm only 5-10. > > 4) The aluminum skidplate was a must, I bashed that thing over so many > > rocks I lost count. > > > > > > > > -- > > Ryan > > Phoenix, AZ > > > > > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com http://www.avg.com> > Version: 2012.0.2242 / Virus Database: 3222/6162 - Release Date: 09/13/13 >

[jet_doctor2002]

 The Powermad, or Roxx risers are the ticket for a KLR650.  I installed a 3 inch Powermad pivot type riser on my Gen 1 bike and it made a big difference.  If you just use a straight riser, it moves the bars back towards the rider as well as up.  With a double pivot riser, you not only get the bars up, but forwards as well.  This makes all of the difference in technical riding.  One of the best mods one could make to a KLR ridden in the dirt. Doug 

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, wrote: No, it sucked. The first half totally sucked. The second half was nice, and the ride home was nice, but I'll never do that trail again. As for the bars, I'm probably just so used to the dirt bike setup for riding in the dirt, where the foot pegs and handle bars are further apart. I don't believe my gen 1 bike had as much of an issue, but my gen 2 just doesn't seem comfortable in that regard. Rotating the bars isn't a bad idea, but I think I'd be more comfortable with more height than that would give me. I'd like an inch-and-a-half or so. Would be nice to push the bar centerline closer to the fork centers as well, they're pulled pretty far back on my gen 2 bike. Ryan Phoenix, AZ Dooden wrote: [quote] > > > But was it Fun ? > > Simple thing with the bars, is rotate them forward a bit, makes them a > bit higher and more forward. Made standing on the pegs alot easier for me. > > Dooden > A15 Green Ape > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Desert Datsuns wrote: > > > > It's been about 12 years since I last did the Crown King trail from Lake > > Pleasant in the desert, up to Crown King in the pine trees. Back then we > > did it on dirt bikes, and I remember it being not too bad of a ride. So > > I figured I'd take the KLR up there yesterday. Keep in mind that I've > > been riding both street and dirt bikes for 20+ years. > > > > Big mistake. The trail has become A LOT worse over the years. It would > > have been a tough ride on a dirt bike, let alone the KLR. There were > > super steep inclines, with rock outcroppings in the trail, big rocks > > everywhere, creekbed river rocks, and some nasty "rock waterfall" spots. > > > > The first sign of trouble was when I couldn't get the bike out of a rut, > > and had to walk next to it as I tried to get the back tire out of the > > ditch. Not so easy when the trail is uphill, the ruts are big, and > > there's rocks everywhere. This was my first time dry heaving on the > > trail, there would be many more to come. From this point I could still > > see the trail below where I started, and thought about turning around > > and going home. I wish I had. Unfortunately I thought to myself, "how > > bad can it really be". I was going to find out the hard way. > > > > I then crashed twice. The first was on a steep incline, where there were > > ridges on the sides, and it was washed out in the center. I dumped the > > bike so the tires were on the ridge, and the handlebars were down in the > > center rut. It took some effort, but I was able to right the bike, and > > walk next to it while I powered it up past the gnarly spot. I took a 15 > > minute break trying not to puke. > > > > > > The second was on one of the rock waterfall type things. By this time I > > was so tired that I was having a hard time controlling the bike, and > > just couldn't put the wheels where I wanted to. On a 40 degree incline > > the front tire hit a rock outcropping and bounced up, while the rear > > tire drove it into a wheelie, and dumped the bike to the right. The bike > > ended up perpendicular to the trail, with the wheels uphill of the > > handlebars, and a void in the rocks below it. The exact situation which > > makes it physically impossible to stand it up. Being too tired to right > > the bike, I had to just let it sit there for a while as I took a break. > > I ended up having to use the luggage rack handle to drag the bike on > > it's side until it was pointing in a direction where I could right it. > > Due to the harshness of the trail, and the effort expended righting the > > bike, I had to take a solid 20 minute break to recuperate while I dry > > heaved from over-exertion. Luckily my crash bars and right highway peg > > took most of the impact. > > > > The last big issue was riding through a stream bed with boulders > > everywhere. This was the kind of area where the front tire goes over a > > rock and you case it when the front tire comes down. The aluminum > > skidplate was worth it's weight in gold, as it got ground-over and > > smacked into so many rocks. The constant continuous pounding of the > > rocks made my arms feel like I hadn't eaten in a week. I found a nice > > tree with a big flat rock, and just laid there for a while. At least now > > I was far enough in elevation that the temperature was cooling off, and > > there was a nice breeze. I could have easily taken a nap. > > > > After some more river bed riding, I took one last break. I ate my last > > protein bar, and finished off my second Gatorade. Fortunately the second > > half of the ride wasn't bad at all. Relatively easy trail riding. No > > more monster inclines or massive rocks. I bought another Gatorade at the > > General Store in Crown king, and relaxed in the cool pines for about 30 > > minutes before taking the normal dirt road home. > > > > I learned a few things on this ride. > > 1) The Dunlops are not good for serious off roading. > > 2) A 16t front sprocket is not good for serious off roading, I could > > have used a 14t on this ride. > > 3) The handlebars are way to low to ride while standing up, I need > > risers, and I'm only 5-10. > > 4) The aluminum skidplate was a must, I bashed that thing over so many > > rocks I lost count. > > > > > > > > -- > > Ryan > > Phoenix, AZ > > > > > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com http://www.avg.com> > Version: 2012.0.2242 / Virus Database: 3222/6162 - Release Date: 09/13/13 >

[/quote]

[Desert Datsuns]

I just ordered the Rox 2 inch dual swivel risers for the stock bars. I had contemplated getting some high-rise atv style bars, but really want to move the bars forward as well, so they're in a more "dirt bike" position over the forks. The stock cockpit is just too cramped for serious off roading. I had thought about lowering the pegs, but on that last trail they were hitting rocks in the stock position, so I don't want to make it any worse. I broke off one of the feelers hitting a large river rock. Ryan Phoenix, AZ walk9940@... wrote:

> > > The Powermad, or Roxx risers are the ticket for a KLR650. I installed > a 3 inch Powermad pivot type riser on my Gen 1 bike and it made a big > difference. If you just use a straight riser, it moves the bars back > towards the rider as well as up. With a double pivot riser, you not > only get the bars up, but forwards as well. This makes all of the > difference in technical riding. One of the best mods one could make to > a KLR ridden in the dirt. > > Doug > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, wrote: > > No, it sucked. The first half totally sucked. The second half was nice, > and the ride home was nice, but I'll never do that trail again. > > As for the bars, I'm probably just so used to the dirt bike setup for > riding in the dirt, where the foot pegs and handle bars are further > apart. I don't believe my gen 1 bike had as much of an issue, but my gen > 2 just doesn't seem comfortable in that regard. Rotating the bars isn't > a bad idea, but I think I'd be more comfortable with more height than > that would give me. I'd like an inch-and-a-half or so. Would be nice to > push the bar centerline closer to the fork centers as well, they're > pulled pretty far back on my gen 2 bike. > Ryan > Phoenix, AZ > > Dooden wrote: > > > > > > > But was it Fun ? > > > > Simple thing with the bars, is rotate them forward a bit, makes > them a > > bit higher and more forward. Made standing on the pegs alot easier > for me. > > > > Dooden > > A15 Green Ape > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>, Desert Datsuns wrote: > > > > > > It's been about 12 years since I last did the Crown King trail > from Lake > > > Pleasant in the desert, up to Crown King in the pine trees. Back > then we > > > did it on dirt bikes, and I remember it being not too bad of a > ride. So > > > I figured I'd take the KLR up there yesterday. Keep in mind that > I've > > > been riding both street and dirt bikes for 20+ years. > > > > > > Big mistake. The trail has become A LOT worse over the years. It > would > > > have been a tough ride on a dirt bike, let alone the KLR. There were > > > super steep inclines, with rock outcroppings in the trail, big rocks > > > everywhere, creekbed river rocks, and some nasty "rock > waterfall" spots. > > > > > > The first sign of trouble was when I couldn't get the bike out > of a rut, > > > and had to walk next to it as I tried to get the back tire out > of the > > > ditch. Not so easy when the trail is uphill, the ruts are big, and > > > there's rocks everywhere. This was my first time dry heaving on the > > > trail, there would be many more to come. From this point I could > still > > > see the trail below where I started, and thought about turning > around > > > and going home. I wish I had. Unfortunately I thought to myself, > "how > > > bad can it really be". I was going to find out the hard way. > > > > > > I then crashed twice. The first was on a steep incline, where > there were > > > ridges on the sides, and it was washed out in the center. I > dumped the > > > bike so the tires were on the ridge, and the handlebars were > down in the > > > center rut. It took some effort, but I was able to right the > bike, and > > > walk next to it while I powered it up past the gnarly spot. I > took a 15 > > > minute break trying not to puke. > > > > > > > > > The second was on one of the rock waterfall type things. By this > time I > > > was so tired that I was having a hard time controlling the bike, and > > > just couldn't put the wheels where I wanted to. On a 40 degree > incline > > > the front tire hit a rock outcropping and bounced up, while the rear > > > tire drove it into a wheelie, and dumped the bike to the right. > The bike > > > ended up perpendicular to the trail, with the wheels uphill of the > > > handlebars, and a void in the rocks below it. The exact > situation which > > > makes it physically impossible to stand it up. Being too tired > to right > > > the bike, I had to just let it sit there for a while as I took a > break. > > > I ended up having to use the luggage rack handle to drag the bike on > > > it's side until it was pointing in a direction where I could > right it. > > > Due to the harshness of the trail, and the effort expended > righting the > > > bike, I had to take a solid 20 minute break to recuperate while > I dry > > > heaved from over-exertion. Luckily my crash bars and right > highway peg > > > took most of the impact. > > > > > > The last big issue was riding through a stream bed with boulders > > > everywhere. This was the kind of area where the front tire goes > over a > > > rock and you case it when the front tire comes down. The aluminum > > > skidplate was worth it's weight in gold, as it got ground-over and > > > smacked into so many rocks. The constant continuous pounding of the > > > rocks made my arms feel like I hadn't eaten in a week. I found a > nice > > > tree with a big flat rock, and just laid there for a while. At > least now > > > I was far enough in elevation that the temperature was cooling > off, and > > > there was a nice breeze. I could have easily taken a nap. > > > > > > After some more river bed riding, I took one last break. I ate > my last > > > protein bar, and finished off my second Gatorade. Fortunately > the second > > > half of the ride wasn't bad at all. Relatively easy trail riding. No > > > more monster inclines or massive rocks. I bought another > Gatorade at the > > > General Store in Crown king, and relaxed in the cool pines for > about 30 > > > minutes before taking the normal dirt road home. > > > > > > I learned a few things on this ride. > > > 1) The Dunlops are not good for serious off roading. > > > 2) A 16t front sprocket is not good for serious off roading, I could > > > have used a 14t on this ride. > > > 3) The handlebars are way to low to ride while standing up, I need > > > risers, and I'm only 5-10. > > > 4) The aluminum skidplate was a must, I bashed that thing over > so many > > > rocks I lost count. > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Ryan > > > Phoenix, AZ > > > > > > > > > > > No virus found in this message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com http://www.avg.com> > > Version: 2012.0.2242 / Virus Database: 3222/6162 - Release Date: > 09/13/13 > > > > > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com http://www.avg.com> > Version: 2012.0.2242 / Virus Database: 3222/6168 - Release Date: 09/15/13 >

[RobertWichert]

My spring was broken. The lever was fine. I have seen pictures of broken levers, so I know it has happened, but I believe Fred has state previously that he has seen more broken springs than broken levers. If Kawasaki had a real engineer work on that piece of the engine, it would have been a real tensioner, like the cam chain has. That seems to work pretty well. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 9/21/2013 7:37 AM, Fred Hink wrote:

The new model spring is actually stronger than the old model. The problem with the new spring is that is too long. It works great for a few thousand miles and then there is no tension left to make the adjustment needed. So a shorter coil spring or the torsion spring is needed. I m not sure I have heard of any late model springs breaking. The early model springs would break but that may be caused by the doohickey breaking first. It s hard to tell. Which came first, (the chicken or the egg) or the broke doohickey or the broke spring? Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com [b]From:[/b] sh8knj8k@... [b]Sent:[/b] Saturday, September 21, 2013 2:59 AM [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] RE: Doohickey article The current (Oct.) issue of Rider magazine has an interesting article on the KLR 650 doohickey issue. I think if I had read this article three months ago, I would not have done the doohickey up grade on my 09 model. I previously owned a first generation KLR which I did the upgrade on and would do that one again if I owned an older bike. Joe Grove Issaquah, WA ~~~I believe the spring used in the factory motor is still an issue, at least there were multiple reports of spring failures in 08' and later motors, and the uprated springs available in the after market doo kits fix the problem...others may have better and different ideas Best, Jake Reddick Fla. "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him had better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, josephgrove42@... wrote: The current (Oct.) issue of Rider magazine has an interesting article on the KLR 650 doohickey issue. I think if I had read this article three months ago, I would not have done the doohickey up grade on my 09 model. I previously owned a first generation KLR which I did the upgrade on and would do that one again if I owned an older bike. Joe Grove Issaquah, WA