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[dsn_klr650] do your own valves you lazy %$#@!
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2000 10:13 am
by Kurt Simpson
> When I went to get the bike Saturday it stalled every time I came
> to a stoplight, idiots didn't reset the idle . Get home my gilrfreind
> asks , what is that wire hanging there? Idiots didn't plug the fan
> back in, good thing it was only 97 with 110% humidity ! ERRRRRRRRRRR.
> So fellow KLR enthusiasts please take a lesson from me. The
> knowledge gained from doing your own mechanical work far out weighs
> the supposed time/aggrevation saved.
We've seen this time and time again on the list over the past 2 1/2 years.
One lister seemed angry with me when I reported that the list archives
reveal about a 30 to 1 bad to good dealer experience. I still think it is
about right...
Kurt
[dsn_klr650] do your own valves you lazy %$#@!
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2000 12:12 pm
by Chuck Tanner
The problem I have run into with my New KLR is that there seems to be some provision to the Warranty that an authorized Kawasaki mechanic must perform (or as I have learned sign-off on) the 500 mile and further maintenance for the life of the Warranty for it to remain valid. In the Owners Manual there are * next to the maintenance items that must be done by such a mechanic. So if I want to keep my warranty valid I have no choice. Warranty says: You must take your KL650A14 to be maintained by incompetence at an authorized Kawasaki dealer. You must like it and you must pay premium for this lack of service. A side question: What weight Moble 1 Oil do you use in the KLR (South East region of US) for those of you that use it? Same as the Kawa 10w40? Thanks, Chuck A14
----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] garyot@... [b]To:[/b]
DSN_klr650@egroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Monday, July 31, 2000 10:19 AM [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_klr650] Re: do your own valves you lazy %$#@!
But Mike,
Aren't you now,enjoying the peace of mind that comes with
knowing that your bike was worked on by a "professional"?
Or are you wondering, what else did he botch up that just hasn't
shown up yet.
About now, I would be rechecking the valves to be sure he did
that right.
Gary (Had way too many bad experiences with "mechanics") Ott
69 XLH
73 T140
74 FXE
82 GS1100EZ
A6
--- In
DSN_klr650@egroups.com, "Mike Awesome" wrote:
>SNIP So fellow KLR enthusiasts please take a lesson from me. The
> knowledge gained from doing your own mechanical work far out weighs
> the supposed time/aggrevation saved.
>
> Mike more angry than Awesome
> A1 (running hot now )
> 1995 CBR F3
>
> p.s if ever in Central fla DO NOT use St Pete Kawasaki
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[dsn_klr650] do your own valves you lazy %$#@!
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2000 12:27 pm
by Rich Kickbush
Kurt Simpson wrote:
> We've seen this time and time again on the list over the past 2 1/2 years.
> One lister seemed angry with me when I reported that the list archives
> reveal about a 30 to 1 bad to good dealer experience. I still think it is
> about right...
>
> Kurt
>
It is a crappy ratio for sure. Seems to be the nature of the beast.
However,
there must be some dealers out there who are doing ok, or even a good
job. If
someone has a normal experience, ie bike problem, bike gets fixed in
reasonable amount of time, no nasty returns, I guess they would feel no
need
to chew up the bandwidth by posting - its what you should be able to
expect
after all, right? Now I'm all for doing the work yourself, but there's
times
when you can't. No garage, or no time, and esp. on tour. The Beautiful
Money
Wasters have a site where you can log your various experiences with
dealers -
maybe this is what we need. I feel like a jerk suggesting this, since I
don't
have the time at the moment to do this
myself, but if anyone felt so inclined...
Check it out at...
http://www.sanfransysco.com/pub/experience.html
Rich
[dsn_klr650] do your own valves you lazy %$#@!
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2000 1:40 pm
by racing43rd@aol.com
I had the good fortune to find a dealer (Golan's Honda In Warren Ohio) with a
competent service department around 1981. In fact they still have the same
service manager they had then. I still do the majority of my own work on my
Hondas and all the work on the other bikes. I'm on several other lists and
this 30 to 1 ratio seems pretty much universal, actually with the listers
from the UK it might even be higher.
Ed
Windsor Oh
1990 Honda Transalp
1990 Honda VTR250
1977 Yamaha XS750
1972 Triumph Bonneville
1985 Kawasaki454LTD
1979 Honda CX500
Coming soon KLR650
dr350 for my wife nklr
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2000 8:06 pm
by zootpatutie
My wife is taking an interest in the fun I'm having without her. She's not
interested in starting out as heavy as the KLR though and would like to do
more offroad with some onroad. Am looking at DR350's for her and am
interested in whether they had particular years to avoid such as the
problems heard about the pre 96 DR650's.
Thanks,
Todd
A9
[dsn_klr650] do your own valves you lazy %$#@!
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2000 8:12 pm
by PRBKLR@cs.com
I just had a similar experience. Took my bike to a "local bikeshop", from
which I had ordered a new rear tire (Bridgestone TW22 if anyone is interested
- $92). I mentioned to the guy about how I had seen them on the web for half
the price. He proceeded to go on about supporting your local bike shop,
online parts may be inferior, and how he's seen a lot of problems with online
tire purchases. He said he would stand behind anything I ordered through
him. Hey, I'm all for supporting my local bike shop. It's convenient, and
reasonably priced, and the guy seemed nice enough. I'd like to think if I
had a small business I would be able to develop a local group of loyal
customers. So fine, I get the tire mounted there, ride home and it's just as
smooth as silk! They balanced it perfectly, cleaned, lubed and adjusted the
chain, everything seemed to work fine. The next day I look at the back tire
and lo and behold!!!!!! The knuckle heads mounted the tire backwards!!!!!!!!
Good Grief!! I took the bike back to them and showed them the problem. The
guy says "Well, I don't think it really matters..." I cut him off and said,
"Look, they put these directional arrows on the tires for a reason I figure,
so I think it does matter and I would like it put on correctly." He agreed
and fixed the problem. It was an honest mistake, all be it a careless one.
Makes me wonder about my "local bikeshop".
Paul
Dallas
A13