Guy,
Hello from a COG lister!
Oddly enough, a fork brace on a KLR650 _does_ make a huge improvement
in the KLR650's behavior in a crosswind. I live in Northern
Colorado (near Reverend Phil T.) and we know a thing or two about 50
mph gusty crosswinds.
I find a Happy Trail K-9 fork brace on my KLR650 A12 to be the single
biggest improvement in crosswind behavior I have tried.
I found boosting my tire pressure, particularly my front tire
pressure, to be the second biggest improvement. I run 26 psi in my
front Continental TKC-80, and 32 psi in my rear TKC-80. With lower
pressures I really notice instability in crosswinds.
Try taking your KLR650's front fender off and then ride in a
crosswind. Several list members (Bogdan, I believe) report improved
crosswind performance by replacing the stock KLR650's high wind sock
fender with an aftermarket UFO low fender. I put a fender brace
(stiffener) on my stock front fender and kept my stock front fender.
I found that it was the floppiness of the front fender rather than
its high profile that caused much of the crosswind instability on my
bike.
Last, I discovered that rider input was a very large contributor to
crosswind instability. I found that if I sat up straight, relaxed my
shoulders and arms, gripped the tank with my knees, and carefully did
not brace myself with the hand grips, I could banish crosswind
instability completely. The KLR just adjusts its lean angle
automatically in response to wind gusts, without my doing anything.
I now do not worry about crosswinds at all and I do not take any care
to schedule my rides to avoid possible crosswinds.
-- Marc, KLR650 A12, Loveland, CO USA
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 16:29:08 -0500 (EST)
From: "Guy B. Young II - COG Tech Ed"
Subject: Re: Re: Crosswind Training
Don't believe that would have helped.
I wasn't aware of it at the time, but a co-worker was ahead of me in
his car. He asked me earlier today how I managed to keep the bike
up-right, and on the road. He said it was all he could do to keep
his Trans Am in his lane.
My 'Stich is at the cleaners now.
Guy