pd nerf bar fitment
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:07 pm
--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "mbarney" wrote:
Hi Matt, Note:The only fitment problem I had with the PD Nerfs was that the right > fork tube contacted them when steering was at full right lock. I > didn't like that, and had to bend the upper horizontal tube of the right nerf to allow clearance. Quite a pain, but it clears now. BINGO @ fitment,unfortunately so. I love mine, BUT>>>> When I bought my new to me 2001 KLR, 2500miles last Nov, I also bought a set of used ebay nerfbars. After installation, I was puzzled why the bike made better turns to the left then the right.It was not until I had rode the bike over 3000miles that I commented on the difficulty I was having making Right hand turns when KLR/mechanic guru Jeff S. of South Dakota fame, said, "Look at this, the fork strikes the PD tube. I can fix that." We (I watched) chopped off (YIKES) the end and he welded it 180 degrees from its previous orientation (OCC calls the chop and weld, chop again if necessary, fabrication.) Previously, the orientation was top-tube forward of the bolt hole, corrected, it was tube trailing the mounting point. Jeff sent Happy trails an email, that "we experienced this problem, appears the jig is backwards, you might want to look at this, this is what we did to fix the problem," (without any compensation,etc), friendly email etal, FYI, could you look at this, etc. NO REPLY from happy trails. Yeah they are busy, but not to busy to take your money if you want to buy something.... This email of Matt's confirms something is not right with the HT PD nerf bar construction technique. Saying all this, I love my bars. I bought the bars because I knew I was going to fall down, I did, I have, I will, and front loaded the cost of PD bars as a preventative measure, it worked. Regarded as overkill by some, true, but if you don't fall down, you probably are riding very near the edge of the envelope. My envelope is much larger now than it was a year ago, and I have yet to replace anything that I "over-protected." And not one regret for doing so... I also bought the brake billet, reservoir cover and the aluminum shark fin for the bake brake disc, skid pan, mirror dampners, aluminum hand guards, and more, all of which have paid for themselves all ready in the form of parts I did not replace, while they were protecting the bike from me! Needless to say, the bike now turns equally easy left and right, and did I feel a little foolish at the time. I knew something was not quite right, nor would the fork lock to the right, had a huge, I mean really huge turning radius to the left. Mostly not recognizing the problem is related to to the phenomena I call "lack-of -recent experience" with MC's (last bike was an R50/5 in 1976.) The lack of recent experience is almost cured and I got a great bike with the professional help of Jeff S. and the cheering squad at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650 ! Thanks to you all. If you think somenting is not right. Ask. and read the FAQ's. Checking Millerized Pookie's installation instructions, it also showed the right side being bolted up in a trailing position. Millerized: does your fork strike the PD nerf bar? Any others out there have the fork tubes strike the PD tubes? Enquiring minds want to know. And thanks Matt, for posting the comment about the steering head striking the right horizontal brace. I should have posted it earlier, but thought it was an anomaly, obviously, it was't. Which makes the PD NERF Bar manufacturing snafu even more irratating. (Yes the forks are/were straight in the steering head, etal.) And what did we learn in all of this...well, most of all, this help (with a bunch more mods/improvements to follow, to include a Great Divide Ride) from my friend Jeff S. all came from an introduction on the KLR list. Thanks to all who constructivly add to the wit and wisdom of the KLR list. It is the best cult I have ever been in (;~). revmaaatin. Martin Earl mjearl@... 605-852-2424> The only fitment problem I had with the PD Nerfs was that the right > fork tube contacted them when steering was at full right lock. I > didn't like that, and had to bend the upper horizontal tube of the > right nerf to allow clearance. Quite a pain, but it clears now. > > -Matt