klr650 :exhaust

[fasteddiecopeman]

Bob, I've used K270s front and rear since my OEMs died - no head shake UNLESS the steering head bearings are loose. Tightened mine twice over 46,000 kms. Ed

[dooden]

Ya what he said. Except running a 606 Front now. Dooden A15 Green Ape --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "fasteddiecopeman" wrote:

> > Bob, > I've used K270s front and rear since my OEMs died - no head shake

UNLESS the steering

> head bearings are loose. Tightened mine twice over 46,000 kms. > Ed >

[boulder_adv_rider]

ran 92 mph (gps said 82-83) 2-up and loaded down on a worn front 606 and fresh rear Mefo on miles of grooved pavement. slight shimmy due to the grooves but otherwise it felt like gliding on ice with a chainsaw running flat-out between my legs. Brian- who recommends 21 psi up front 28 psi in the rear and the love of Jesus in between. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "fasteddiecopeman" wrote:

> > Bob, > I've used K270s front and rear since my OEMs died - no head shake

UNLESS the steering

> head bearings are loose. Tightened mine twice over 46,000 kms. > Ed >

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote:

> > On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:46:22 -0400 LDHunter writes: > > KLRistas, > > > > I had a new Kenda 270 put on the front of my KLR yesterday and

took

> > it for a > > test drive and everything seemed normal. > > > > It has a fairly new (2K Miles) OEM Dunlop 750 on the rear and the > > bike has a > > total of 8K miles on it. > > > > I took it out for a ride yesterday afternoon and on the way home

I

> > passed a > > slow mover on a highway I've driven hundreds of times. > > > > After I passed I glanced at the speedometer and realized I was

going

> > 80 in a > > 55 zone so I let off the throttle and YIKES!!! The front end > > starting doing > > a little dance that reminded me of what they term as "head shake" > > common to > > sport bikes but it wasn't nearly as bad as what I've seen in > > videos. > > > > My best description I can give is it seemed to "wobble" with a > > slight side > > to side motion detected in the handlebars. > > > > Is this common with this tire? > > > > I never had this issue with the very well worn factory front tire. > > > > Frankly I'm "shaken" (pun intended) and now am worried about

riding

> > one of > > the most stable bikes I've ever owned. > > > > $bob$ > <><><><><><><><><> > <><><><><><><><><> > > $bob$, > > Have you checked all the front end fasteners to make sure nothing is > loose? > > If you have I'd go with a possible steering head bearing, rear shock > preload or improper tire inflation pressure as possible causes. > > Maybe Martin Earl will see this and add some input as he mounted

two new

> K270s on his bike this week and rode home last night. Of course he

as

> usual was putting 1 1/2 gallons in a 1 gallon bucket by carrying a > pressure washer home with him so he had some interesting wind

catching

> characteristics. > > I've used K270s exclusively for the last 23,800+ miles without

issues.

> > Best, > > Jeff Saline

Bob, Jeff and I did a complete bearing repack on my new to me 98 KLR. It started out as just a top seal replacement/full bearing repacking as the PO or earlier, had broken the seal--most likely trying to tighten the bearing with a chisel--who on this list would do such a thing! all of which we accomplished During my ride home (225 miles) I also experienced some head shake with brand new K270's. As Jeff mentioned, I also looked like a Beverly Hillbilly going down the road with excess sail area plus a highly weighted rear tire to front tire proportion. The head shake was not 'dangerous' but it was disconcerting at WO throttle. How fast? The needle was past 120, past the H in MPH, past the P in MPH, and past the M im MPH, all this into a stout 35+mph headwind. All at 5800rpms. I know I now have the worlds fastest indicating KLR . cough. Yeah, my speedo is going South/wacked or some such thing. Back to the tires. I unloaded the bike, rode it and it still experienced some 'wanderings' in the head. But not as bad as a mis-laden bike. I first checked the 'drag' of the bearings as described by Clymber-- checked good, but not with the slight drag as described/prefer ed by others here as 'list-wisdom'. I loosened the top nut, and moved the steering head spanner nut the distance of one 'notch' tighter, it no longer freely fell side to side but had a slight drag; rechecked the fork-pinch bolts for 18# of torque and buttoned it back up. It is better. I also will reexamine the rear preload before my departure next Saturday. The K270 is a lot squirmier than the D607's I just removed. Those are just the characteristic of the tires. I had one KLR with K270's for the past 24,000 smiles; this bike came with d607's and it was an interesting comparison between the two. Both bikes now have the K270's and most likely will remain that way, cough, for at least the next 5,000smiles--which I intend to do during the month of Sept. Film at 11. revmaaatin.

[revmaaatin]

Top POSTED: I should have said I replaced the D606 tires with Kenda 270's. vs a D607. I liked the 606, but I had a fresh set of K270's on the shelf (two sets actually), so that is what we are riding! revmaaatin.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote: > > > > On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:46:22 -0400 LDHunter writes: > > > KLRistas, > > > > > > I had a new Kenda 270 put on the front of my KLR yesterday and > took > > > it for a > > > test drive and everything seemed normal. > > > > > > It has a fairly new (2K Miles) OEM Dunlop 750 on the rear and the > > > bike has a > > > total of 8K miles on it. > > > > > > I took it out for a ride yesterday afternoon and on the way home > I > > > passed a > > > slow mover on a highway I've driven hundreds of times. > > > > > > After I passed I glanced at the speedometer and realized I was > going > > > 80 in a > > > 55 zone so I let off the throttle and YIKES!!! The front end > > > starting doing > > > a little dance that reminded me of what they term as "head shake" > > > common to > > > sport bikes but it wasn't nearly as bad as what I've seen in > > > videos. > > > > > > My best description I can give is it seemed to "wobble" with a > > > slight side > > > to side motion detected in the handlebars. > > > > > > Is this common with this tire? > > > > > > I never had this issue with the very well worn factory front tire. > > > > > > Frankly I'm "shaken" (pun intended) and now am worried about > riding > > > one of > > > the most stable bikes I've ever owned. > > > > > > $bob$ > > <><><><><><><><><> > > <><><><><><><><><> > > > > $bob$, > > > > Have you checked all the front end fasteners to make sure nothing is > > loose? > > > > If you have I'd go with a possible steering head bearing, rear shock > > preload or improper tire inflation pressure as possible causes. > > > > Maybe Martin Earl will see this and add some input as he mounted > two new > > K270s on his bike this week and rode home last night. Of course he > as > > usual was putting 1 1/2 gallons in a 1 gallon bucket by carrying a > > pressure washer home with him so he had some interesting wind > catching > > characteristics. > > > > I've used K270s exclusively for the last 23,800+ miles without > issues. > > > > Best, > > > > Jeff Saline > > Bob, > Jeff and I did a complete bearing repack on my new to me 98 KLR. It > started out as just a top seal replacement/full bearing repacking as > the PO or earlier, had broken the seal--most likely trying to tighten > the bearing with a chisel--who on this list would do such a thing! > > all of which we accomplished > > During my ride home (225 miles) I also experienced some head shake > with brand new K270's. As Jeff mentioned, I also looked like a > Beverly Hillbilly going down the road with excess sail area plus a > highly weighted rear tire to front tire proportion. The head shake > was not 'dangerous' but it was disconcerting at WO throttle. > > How fast? The needle was past 120, past the H in MPH, past the P in > MPH, and past the M im MPH, all this into a stout 35+mph headwind. > All at 5800rpms. I know I now have the worlds fastest indicating > KLR . cough. > > Yeah, my speedo is going South/wacked or some such thing. > > Back to the tires. > > I unloaded the bike, rode it and it still experienced > some 'wanderings' in the head. But not as bad as a mis-laden bike. > I first checked the 'drag' of the bearings as described by Clymber-- > checked good, but not with the slight drag as described/prefer ed by > others here as 'list-wisdom'. I loosened the top nut, and moved the > steering head spanner nut the distance of one 'notch' tighter, it no > longer freely fell side to side but had a slight drag; rechecked the > fork-pinch bolts for 18# of torque and buttoned it back up. It is > better. > > I also will reexamine the rear preload before my departure next > Saturday. > > The K270 is a lot squirmier than the D607's I just removed. Those > are just the characteristic of the tires. I had one KLR with K270's > for the past 24,000 smiles; this bike came with d607's and it was an > interesting comparison between the two. Both bikes now have the > K270's and most likely will remain that way, cough, for at least the > next 5,000smiles--which I intend to do during the month of Sept. > Film at 11. > > revmaaatin. >

[LDHunter]

OK... I've ridden my KLR with the new front MEFO (Not Kenda) tire for a couple of hundred miles now including about half dirt riding and I must say that it feels wobbly and thin walled in comparison to the Dunlop 750 OEM that came on it. It's noodle like characteristics have made me loose faith in the stability of the bike and I'm ready to move on to a different front tire. I've been VERY happy with the tires on one of my KLX250S's that I have. I know that the bikes are lighter but the OEM tires on them have a quite aggressive tread design and are much wider than the MEFO where it counts. They have big burly knobs that stick out and grab more dirt at the edges to help keep the bikes from plowing where the MEFO seems to be more gently rounded like a street tire. I also liked the OEM Dunlop 750 tire from the front of my KLR but it's worn out pretty badly. Any ideas? Maybe a Dunlop 606? I've got a LOT Of use left with my OEM Dunlop 750 that's on the rear (second tire) so I hate to think of getting rid of it and I can't get one for the front as nobody carries them anymore so I wonder how well it will work with a 606 up front? I've replaced the tires on my OTHER KLX250S with Continental TKC-80's and they're fantastic on the street and very good on the dirt but I liked the front OEM tire better for sand and that's the only problem I've had with my KLR (front end plows in the soft stuff). I know that I'm wandering and babbling but I'm at wits end. I was so incredibly happy with my KLR until I replaced the front tire and now I've lost a lot of faith in it and it all seems related to that blankety blank tire. Ideas? Comments? $bob$ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Arden Kysely]

Years ago, on KLR #1, I paired an MT-21 knob on the front with a no- longer-available MT70 on the rear and it worked fine. Just remember what you've got on the front end when you're on the street and you'll be fine. However...no front tire I've ever run on a KLR has prevented the front end from pushing in the soft stuff. A knob will help, but the throttle is the key. Give it a little gas in those soft corners (all corners, really) and see if that doesn't make a difference. If you're running low pressure in the Mefo, you might try pumping it up a bit to stiffen the sidewalls. They look to have enough knobs to grab pretty well, though I haven't tried one. I agree with you on the KLX tires, I've ridden an '06 and an '09. I enjoyed them both a lot and thought the stock tires were spot on for a dual-sport. __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, LDHunter wrote: > > OK... I've ridden my KLR with the new front MEFO (Not Kenda) tire for a > couple of hundred miles now including about half dirt riding and I must say > that it feels wobbly and thin walled in comparison to the Dunlop 750 OEM > that came on it. It's noodle like characteristics have made me loose faith > in the stability of the bike and I'm ready to move on to a different front > tire. > > > > I've been VERY happy with the tires on one of my KLX250S's that I have. I > know that the bikes are lighter but the OEM tires on them have a quite > aggressive tread design and are much wider than the MEFO where it counts. > They have big burly knobs that stick out and grab more dirt at the edges to > help keep the bikes from plowing where the MEFO seems to be more gently > rounded like a street tire. > > > > I also liked the OEM Dunlop 750 tire from the front of my KLR but it's worn > out pretty badly. > > > > Any ideas? Maybe a Dunlop 606? I've got a LOT Of use left with my OEM Dunlop > 750 that's on the rear (second tire) so I hate to think of getting rid of it > and I can't get one for the front as nobody carries them anymore so I wonder > how well it will work with a 606 up front? > > > > I've replaced the tires on my OTHER KLX250S with Continental TKC- 80's and > they're fantastic on the street and very good on the dirt but I liked the > front OEM tire better for sand and that's the only problem I've had with my > KLR (front end plows in the soft stuff). > > > > I know that I'm wandering and babbling but I'm at wits end. I was so > incredibly happy with my KLR until I replaced the front tire and now I've > lost a lot of faith in it and it all seems related to that blankety blank > tire. > > > > Ideas? Comments? > > > > $bob$ > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[LDHunter]

Arden, However...no front tire I've ever run on a KLR has prevented the front end from pushing in the soft stuff. A knob will help, but the throttle is the key. Give it a little gas in those soft corners (all corners, really) and see if that doesn't make a difference. Yup... I'm doing that but our soft sand can also be DEEEEP... If you're running low pressure in the Mefo, you might try pumping it up a bit to stiffen the sidewalls. They look to have enough knobs to grab pretty well, though I haven't tried one. Tried that... No luck. Just compared mine to the KLX tires and the KLX tires make them look like sport bike tires. I agree with you on the KLX tires, I've ridden an '06 and an '09. I enjoyed them both a lot and thought the stock tires were spot on for a dual-sport. You made me curious. I went and checked and they're also Dunlops! D603 which is an EXCELLENT tire! I wish I could buy a few! Excellent tire!!! Just as a matter of interest... I'd sell one of my 2006 Green KLX's. Anyone interested send me your email and I'll fire you a bunch of pictures and details. I've got $3400 in each of them and they're both under 1500 miles and are both nearly like new. One is lowered and has the new TKC-80's and the other has 1100 miles and isn't lowered. A buddy of mine asked me to pick up both and then backed out on buying the second one when his wife found out and I really don't need two... Besides... I want to put a VStrom 1000 in my garage next to my KLR and KLX to round out the dual sport stable and need the space... $bob$ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[LDHunter]

KLRistas, One more question and I'll quit plaguing y'all with dumb questions.... Do the Dunlop 606's howl? The rear D603 on my KLX was "howling" at 50mph and above, and that's why I bought the TKC-80's. I found it very uncomfortable to add that howl to the wind turbulence that was already driving me crazy... Yeah, yeah, yeah.... I know... I want my cake and eat it too... $bob$ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[stevedyer@cox.net]

Like a pair of Panzers roaring down the cobblestone main road through of a sleepy French village. Steve ---- LDHunter KLRistas, (snip) Do the Dunlop 606's howl? $bob$