question about choke cable....

[Mark St.Hilaire, Sr]

> works, but the plastic part of the fan got melted. The fan s engine is > working fine though, is there a way thay I can change only the plastic > fan? Please help me out, the whole part down here is about $360, and I > spent enough money when I bought the bike (7.400 us dollars).

Hi Gabriel, welcome to KLRdom! On the fan, Fred's the man - as always. Check out Arrowhead Motorsports at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr_engine.html About 3/4 of the way down on that page, you'll find the following: "Aluminum Radiator Fan Blades 20-4500 Hiltsystem Aluminum 39.95" That sounds just like what you need... Mark KLR650 Motorcycle Pages: http://klr6500.tripod.com/ HomePage: http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html My Adelphia Email can be "iffy." If you don't get a response, please try: KLR6500@...

[Bogdan Swider]

> Hello everyone. I just got a 03 klr. I live in Quito, Ecuador, the > middle > of the world. I got the bike two weeks ago and I am very excited. > This saturday I took my first fall, I was going to the Cotopaxi, whichi > is > the world s highest active volcanoe. Anyways, the bike fell on its left > side, and the radiator and the fan got messed up. The radiator still > works, but the plastic part of the fan got melted. The fan s engine is > working fine though, is there a way thay I can change only the plastic > fan? Please help me out, the whole part down here is about $360, and I > spent enough money when I bought the bike (7.400 us dollars). > > Gabriel Reyes > Quito, Ecuador. >

Hola Gabriel, a mi me gusta conocerle. Mark's advice is certainly one good option. I have another. I've never been to Ecuador but I have spent time in Mexico and Central America. In those countries there are many small talleres electricos that are a great resource for creative, inexpensive solutions. Take your fan to one of these guys - if my assumption is right and they exist in Quito. They'll figure out a way to make your fan work. There are advantages to living in a less developed country with lower wage rates. Buena Suerte, Bogdan

[The Mule]

----- Original Message ----- From: Hello everyone. I just got a 03 klr. I live in Quito, Ecuador, the middle of the world. I got the bike two weeks ago and I am very excited. This saturday I took my first fall, I was going to the Cotopaxi, whichi is the world s highest active volcanoe. Anyways, the bike fell on its left side, and the radiator and the fan got messed up. The radiator still works, but the plastic part of the fan got melted. The fan s engine is working fine though, is there a way thay I can change only the plastic fan? Please help me out, the whole part down here is about $360, and I spent enough money when I bought the bike (7.400 us dollars). Gabriel Reyes Quito, Ecuador. Welcome New Guy: I had this EXACT thing happen to my A14. I used two-part mix on-the-spot epoxy bonding agent to fuse the fan back onto the spindle. Just clean and trim up the pieces beforehand, and be sure the fan is centered over the spindle when the epoxy sets. I ran that KLR with that fan patch for about 2 years without any sign of weakening when I was *relieved* of the bike last year. Lesson learned from first rad? Got Dual-Star Rad-Guard installed the first week I had my current A17 (there are other brands of similar rad-guards out there, but I am *sure* of these). Already had at least 3 good falls on the left side since install that could have stressed, bent, or ruptured the radiator or fan. It's more than paid for itself in just 2 months. Great add-on. Do it the day after you epoxy the fan back together. Ride on... The Mule

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 6:38 PM -0400 5/19/03, The Mule wrote:

>----- Original Message ----- >From: >... the bike fell on its left >side, and the radiator and the fan got messed up. The radiator still >works, but the plastic part of the fan got melted. The fan s engine is >working fine though, is there a way thay I can change only the plastic >fan? Please help me out, the whole part down here is about $360, and I >spent enough money when I bought the bike (7.400 us dollars). > >Gabriel Reyes >Quito, Ecuador. > >The Mule wrote: > Welcome New Guy: > > I had this EXACT thing happen to my A14. I used two-part mix >on-the-spot epoxy bonding agent to fuse the fan back onto the spindle. Just >clean and trim up the pieces beforehand, and be sure the fan is centered >over the spindle when the epoxy sets.

Yup, it happened to me once and I fixed it the same way. It's a $2 fix and the repair is still holding 5 years later. Mark

[lemmingkiller2001]

Hello, I was hoping for some advice. I am 19, about 6'1", and 145lbs. I have had my motorcycle endorsment for about a year now. Currently i ride a 150cc Aprilia Scarabeo (automatic motorcycle /scooter ?). I consider myself to be quite sufficiant with that, and do a fair bit of highway riding on it. But now i am looking at buying a bigger bike. I have read more reviews than i can list and have looked seriously at several bikes. Ninja 500r, Yamaha fz1, Klr 650, Monster 620ie dark. However the one i have considerd most seriously is the KLR. First, would i do okay with my size / experiance? Second, this "doohicky" problem, how soon do i have to get it fixed? Third, is it fun, does it ever feel underpowerd? What if any modifications are nessecary for a solo lond distance trip from my home in Maryland, to either Arizona, or Northern California? I hope that is not too much to read, i would really apreciate and feedback. As well if any one is interested in buying an 02' Aprilia Scarabeo 150 with 3k on it, i am selling one. Ciao! P.S. sorry if you get messages like these all of the time

[bigfatgreenbike]

james_bacinski@... wrote:

>Hello, >I was hoping for some advice. I am 19, about 6'1", and 145lbs. I >have had my motorcycle endorsment for about a year now. Currently i >ride a 150cc Aprilia Scarabeo (automatic motorcycle /scooter ?). I >consider myself to be quite sufficiant with that, and do a fair bit >of highway riding on it. But now i am looking at buying a bigger >bike. I have read more reviews than i can list and have looked >seriously at several bikes. Ninja 500r, Yamaha fz1, Klr 650, >Monster 620ie dark. However the one i have considerd most seriously >is the KLR. >First, would i do okay with my size / experiance? >

Yes. I'm 5'7", I bought a dipped seat. You would be able to flat-foot a KLR. And especially stock, the power delivery is not what you'd expect from 650cc. It's very easy to ride. Tractorlike.

>Second, >this "doohicky" problem, how soon do i have to get it fixed? >

Somewhere in between right away, and never. One person opened up a motor with 1,000mi and found it broken. Another guy put 98,000mi on his stock KLR with no problem. It depends on how you feel your luck runs. How much help you have locally? People occasionally have wrench parties, these are a great place to deal with the doohickey (besides borrowing the special tools, you may have 3-4 people who have already changed it out and are familiar with the task). There was just one held in DC.

>Third, >is it fun, does it ever feel underpowerd? >

Compared to a Scarabeo? No. Compared to many other bikes I have ridden, sure. But it's the most fun bike I've ridden so far, and far and away the most versatile. And besides, it's more fun and exciting to go 40mph on a fire road than 120mph on a highway. And the KLR will go 75-80mph all day.

>What if any modifications >are nessecary for a solo lond distance trip from my home in >Maryland, to either Arizona, or Northern California? >

Besides the doohickey, I would do the T-mod (almost free mod to carburetor bowl vent hose that fixes a problem some bikes have in the rain), and put some sort of radiator guard bar on it. 145lb and street riding, the stock suspension will be quite soft but OK. There are a whole mess of things you can do to the suspension, or just fit a 16t front sprocket and cupholder. A sheepskin seat cover is nice, almost as nice as aftermarket seats which are more money. Different windshields, luggage etc.... -- Devon Brooklyn, NY A15-Z '01 KLR650 '81 SR500 cafe racer "The truth's not too popular these days....." Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man

[Gregory Roberts]

---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "lemmingkiller2001"

>Hello, >I was hoping for some advice. I am 19, about 6'1", and 145lbs.

Hi, James. From my experience, you can get advice here most any time.

> I >have had my motorcycle endorsment for about a year now. Currently i >ride a 150cc Aprilia Scarabeo (automatic motorcycle /scooter ?). I >consider myself to be quite sufficiant with that, and do a fair bit >of highway riding on it. But now i am looking at buying a bigger >bike.

That's a fairly normal progression.

> I have read more reviews than i can list and have looked >seriously at several bikes. Ninja 500r, Yamaha fz1, Klr 650, >Monster 620ie dark. However the one i have considerd most seriously >is the KLR.

Ninja 500 R is a good bike. Adequate power, been around forever so there are plenty of spare parts, should they ever be needed. You can't afford the FZ1. Lots of folks bought them, lots of folks wrecked them, so the insurance experience factor has them rated right alongside of a GSXR1000 & such. The Monster 620 is nice, slightly underpowered for its class, and I hope you have a good shop close by as the Desmodromic valve system requires lots of care & feeding. The KLR is Great! (But we're a little biased here.)

>First, would i do okay with my size / experiance?

Size is fine. Excellent, actually, as with your long legs you shouldn't have any problem reaching the ground (unlike some of us who have a 28" inseam.) Experience... well, you have 3K on your scooter. That at least gets you used to living in traffic. Riding the KLR will be a little different due to the braking and shifting / manual clutch. (here I'm guessing that the Aprillia has an automatic clutch / transmission)

> Second, >this "doohicky" problem, how soon do i have to get it fixed?

I dunno. Recent reports here on the list show folks replacing them the first week. Other reports show folks changing them out with 20+ thousand miles and the device hadn't failed. But it is something that needs to be done to protect the engine, so go ahead and plan to bite the bullet soon.

> Third, is it fun,

Sure, otherwise I'd sell mine.

> does it ever feel underpowerd?

Sure, but then, I feel that way about a liter-class sportbike, too.

> What if any modifications >are nessecary for a solo lond distance trip from my home in >Maryland, to either Arizona, or Northern California?

Doohickey (to ensure engine life), some sort of luggage to carry your junk in. You'd probably appreciate a larger windscreen and a Vista Cruise or similar throttle lock to let you rest your right hand. Carry chain lube.

>I hope that is not too much to read,

Nah.

> i would really apreciate and >feedback.

Hope this helps.

>P.S. sorry if you get messages like these all of the time

This is what these lists were meant for -- the exchange of information on a topic of common interest. Greg Roberts

[Chris]

>> I have read more reviews than i can list and have looked >>seriously at several bikes. Ninja 500r, Yamaha fz1, Klr 650, >>Monster 620ie dark. However the one i have considerd most seriously >>is the KLR. > > Ninja 500 R is a good bike. Adequate power, been around forever so > there are plenty of spare parts, should they ever be needed. You > can't afford the FZ1. Lots of folks bought them, lots of folks > wrecked them, so the insurance experience factor has them rated right > alongside of a GSXR1000 & such. The Monster 620 is nice, slightly > underpowered for its class, and I hope you have a good shop close by > as the Desmodromic valve system requires lots of care & feeding. The > KLR is Great! (But we're a little biased here.)

Just wanted to add some more emphasis to this. To step up from that scooter I would strongly advise a guideline of >>First, would i do okay with my size / experiance? > > Size is fine. Excellent, actually, as with your long legs you > shouldn't have any problem reaching the ground (unlike some of us who > have a 28" inseam.) > > Experience... well, you have 3K on your scooter. That at least gets > you used to living in traffic. Riding the KLR will be a little > different due to the braking and shifting / manual clutch. (here I'm > guessing that the Aprillia has an automatic clutch / transmission) >

[Stu]

I initially got a KLR as a stepping stone to get my wife used to the idea of me riding on the street, and buying a fast sportbike. It worked. Get a KLR, the only guys that like them are the guys that own them, and they love them. Thanks Stu Mumford PS They're cheap to own and operate, don't cost a lot when you drop them, go like the clappers, and let's see you take an FZ1 on some singletrack!

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" wrote: > > >> I have read more reviews than i can list and have looked > >>seriously at several bikes. Ninja 500r, Yamaha fz1, Klr 650, > >>Monster 620ie dark. However the one i have considerd most seriously > >>is the KLR.

[Paul Dent]

> Ninja 500r, Yamaha fz1, Klr 650, > Monster 620ie dark. However the one i have considerd most seriously > is the KLR.

I have a Monster and the KLR so I can speak to those two. I completely agree that you should forget about the FZ1. That is not a beginner bike by any means. And you really don't want a Ninja Anyway, it really depends on what you want the bike for. If you intend to do any off-road riding then it's a no brainer. I also don't know if you're considering new or used. (I'd recommend used.) However, I gather from your post that you will be doing mostly road riding and maybe some long distance. For that use I'd break it down as follows: KLR pros: Cheaper to buy and maintain Much cheaper to drop (and you will drop it), tolerates abuse Much safer and easier to ride (you're up high, people see you, deals with potholes and other obstructions much better) Very friendly power supply Adequate power for most situations Good in the twisties (but the Monster is faster) Good wind protection, much warmer in winter Easier to adapt to touring (with the JC Whitney top case and a good tank bag, you can fit a lot of stuff for not much $) Very comfortable riding position and suspension Great mileage and range Water cooled KLR cons: Lower power, slow to rev Kinda butt-ugly (but we like it that way), cheap plasticky look and semi-obnoxious graphics Sorta flexible frame, not particularly stable, subject to highway cross-winds Poor stock brakes Vibrates Doohickey Monster pros: Quicker Sexier Higher quality components, fit and finish Outstanding brakes More sporty suspension, more precise handling The feel and the sound! Much less vibration, feels like an inline-4 next to the KLR Great wide powerband New ones are fuel injected New ones are 6 speed Monster cons: Expensive to drop (and you will drop it), tank dents very easily = $$ Somewhat more expensive to maintain, although not as much as people think (the KLR has shimmed valves too, and a similar maintenance schedule) Harder to fit with luggage No wind protection, optional windscreen doesn't do much You will spend $$$ adding pipes, mirrors, seat and other fancy mods (of course this applies to the KLR too but in a different way) Stiff (but very precise) clutch Do the math and get whichever pushes your buttons. You can't go wrong either way. They're both great bikes. Good luck and let us know when you get the KLR Paul A16L 01 M750 'G' SF, CA