Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Tue Aug 19, 2003 7:11 pm**

Hi. I bought a KLR a year or so from a friend. Mechanically sound but cosmetically challenged 1998 model. Has Kenda 50/50 knobbies on it which I don't like at all for the street, when leaned over into a turn it feels like the front end is going to fold (any solutions to this other than "deal with it"?). I rode it previously when the previous owner had more street oriented tires on the bike and had no problems. I bought the bike for exploring, to be able to do 20-30 miles of gravel road if I came upon it and so I was thinking of putting an 80/20 tire on the bike but was looking for opinions. I think the Distanzia is more of a 90/10, correct? Also, I have to do something about the brakes. Perhaps fade would be a problem if I could ever get past the total lack of braking power. I like to ride fairly aggressively on the street but don't like to outride my brakes. I'm unsure whether to initially just try braided lines and Galfer pads, or go for the oversized rotor with pads/lines combo. I noticed that adding pads/lines is only $85.00 more if you buy them as a package with the MAP rotor. The FAQ says that Galfer also makes an oversized rotor but I could not find any mention of it on their website, can anyone e-mail me a reference. My only concerns about the MAP are that I recall in the past people having problems with the bracket breaking, has this been solved as I don't want to be 100 miles from nowhere and have this happen. Also, is there any availability on rotor protectors for the oversized units?. Finally, I can bottom out the front suspension easily (I'm 180 pounds). Have many people gone beyond Progressive Springs and installed Race-Tech emulators. Is it worth the additional hassle? Anyhow, appreciate any tips. Thanks Tony

Posted: **Tue Aug 19, 2003 8:26 pm**

> I bought a KLR a year or so from a friend. Mechanically sound but > cosmetically challenged 1998 model.

Welcome to the collective, Tony!

> Has Kenda 50/50 knobbies on it which I don't like at all for the > street, when leaned over into a turn it feels like the front end is > going to fold (any solutions to this other than "deal with it"?).

...

> it and so I was thinking of putting an 80/20 tire on the bike but

was

> looking for opinions. I think the Distanzia is more of a 90/10,

correct? Never tried the Distanzia, but have the Gripstera on my A3 model now and it's an excellent compromise, great on the street, passable on the dry dirt, scary in mud. A very good 80/20 tire IMO. About $180 delivered. Great fun hanging it out in the twisties.

> Also, I have to do something about the brakes. Perhaps fade would

be

> a problem if I could ever get past the total lack of braking

power. I

> like to ride fairly aggressively on the street but don't like to > outride my brakes.

...

>My only concerns > about the MAP are that I recall in the past people having problems > with the bracket breaking, has this been solved as I don't want to

be

> 100 miles from nowhere and have this happen. Also, is there any > availability on rotor protectors for the oversized units?.

SS lines, and Galfer greens made a big diffence for me. I'm still trying to conjure up the nickels for the big rotor. Another lister, Arden Kysley, had an alternate bracket machined -much sturdier.

> Finally, I can bottom out the front suspension easily (I'm 180 > pounds). Have many people gone beyond Progressive Springs and > installed Race-Tech emulators. Is it worth the additional hassle?

Start with the LR Progressive springs and fresh 10wt fork oil set at about 175cm from top (with fork tubes fully compressed). This solution worked great for me. I tried the 15wt but that was brutal and made the front end push out when cornering in the ruff. I have an A9 model setup for mostly dirt, and 10wt works great. If you ride mostly street, the 7.5wt may be just right depending on the surface and your style. I sometimes (often) ride agressively and the 7.5wt in the A3 does'nt (almost never) bottom out even with my 200lbs of American fatass. I generally depend on the front for 90-100% of the stopping power, tapping the rear only in the scary situations. If you do decide you need a different fork solution, you can resell the Progressive springs without much of a loss, but there's less of a market though for used fork oil, go figure. MarkB A3, A9

> Anyhow, appreciate any tips. > > Thanks > > Tony

Posted: **Tue Aug 19, 2003 8:38 pm**

Hey Tony, I'm going to be short here, cause I'm short on time. First thing, type in your key words in the "search archives" section, on the home page of this list, for lots-o-information. 1.TIRES: I love the Avon Gripsters for all out, corner carving, peg scraping, sportbike passing, street stuff. I have done some off road/dirt roads with them and they will do it, it just ain't great. I just put on some IRC GP 110's today, because they are real close to the street grip of the Avon's, but WAY better off road, and I plan on doing some more off road exploring. 2.BRAKES: I put on the Galfer braided lines and green pads and got about 50% better braking. Do it first. If you need more, get the rotor. I can grab the front brake lever (with all 4 fingers) and pull it back to almost the handle bar, and the front tire will howl, netting me some really good threshold braking, kinda like ABS. Good enough for me for now. They will fade with lots of hard use. 3.Race Tech Emulaters: I put these on and love them. I highly recommend them IF, your picky about having your front end do just what you want it to do. You have to adjust them, and your whole front end for that matter, to get it all working great. You can't just throw this stuff in and expect it to work for you right off the bat. (except for the springs, you just put those in) I spent alot of time dialing my front end in after adding springs, emulators, fork brace, boots, oil, and thats what really paid off. And I learned alot about what does what also, enableing me to better tune my front end at will. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Jones" wrote: > Hi. > > I bought a KLR a year or so from a friend. Mechanically sound but > cosmetically challenged 1998 model. > > Has Kenda 50/50 knobbies on it which I don't like at all for the > street, when leaned over into a turn it feels like the front end is > going to fold (any solutions to this other than "deal with it"?). I > rode it previously when the previous owner had more street oriented > tires on the bike and had no problems. I bought the bike for > exploring, to be able to do 20-30 miles of gravel road if I came upon > it and so I was thinking of putting an 80/20 tire on the bike but was > looking for opinions. I think the Distanzia is more of a 90/10, correct? > > Also, I have to do something about the brakes. Perhaps fade would be > a problem if I could ever get past the total lack of braking power. I > like to ride fairly aggressively on the street but don't like to > outride my brakes. I'm unsure whether to initially just try braided > lines and Galfer pads, or go for the oversized rotor with pads/lines > combo. I noticed that adding pads/lines is only $85.00 more if you > buy them as a package with the MAP rotor. The FAQ says that Galfer > also makes an oversized rotor but I could not find any mention of it > on their website, can anyone e-mail me a reference. My only concerns > about the MAP are that I recall in the past people having problems > with the bracket breaking, has this been solved as I don't want to be > 100 miles from nowhere and have this happen. Also, is there any > availability on rotor protectors for the oversized units?. > > Finally, I can bottom out the front suspension easily (I'm 180 > pounds). Have many people gone beyond Progressive Springs and > installed Race-Tech emulators. Is it worth the additional hassle? > > Anyhow, appreciate any tips. > > Thanks > > Tony

Posted: **Tue Aug 19, 2003 8:42 pm**

Tony Jones wrote:

> >Has Kenda 50/50 knobbies on it which I don't like at all for the >street, >

If you mean the K270, a lot of people aren't wild about their street manners, but since the only solution is different tires I suggest you play with air pressure, and just try to get used to them. Pirelli MT21s handle better on the street AND are better offroad, but don't last as long and cost more money.

> >Also, I have to do something about the brakes. >

snip

>Finally, I can bottom out the front suspension easily (I'm 180 >pounds). Have many people gone beyond Progressive Springs and >installed Race-Tech emulators. Is it worth the additional hassle? > >

Yes, I was using emulators, before I swapped out the entire front end. They do help. Devon A15-Z

Posted: **Tue Aug 19, 2003 11:56 pm**

Wonderful bike... I have really loved it but have to sell, you can view/bid on ebay, here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ViewItem&rd=1&category=6710&item=2428759538 thanks

Wilsons Sandbox

2002 klr 650 for sale (in north florida)

newbie upgrade questions (brakes, forks and tires)

newbie upgrade questions (brakes, forks and tires)

newbie upgrade questions (brakes, forks and tires)

newbie upgrade questions (brakes, forks and tires)

2002 klr 650 for sale (in north florida)