ama superbike races in fontana this sunday

[rick james]

I just got my first KLR, ('05, stock, with 2200 miles on it) which also happens to be my first motorcycle. After a few hundred miles, I'm finally feeling comfortable on it and I absloutely love it! What a great machine! I have noticed something, though, and I'm not sure if it is normal behavior for this bike or motorcycles in general: when I'm stopped, idling in neutral with clutch pulled all the way in, and shift into first gear, the bike jumps a little bit. It's nothing serious, just a small movement, but it is noticeable. Is this normal? If it is abnormal, I'd like to fix it early. I plan on having this bike for a long time, and I want to keep it in the best shape possible. Thank you all very much for your input. Go KLRs!!!

[Bogdan Swider]

> > I have noticed something, though, and I'm not sure if it is normal > behavior for this bike or motorcycles in general: when I'm stopped, > idling in neutral with clutch pulled all the way in, and shift into > first gear, the bike jumps a little bit. It's nothing serious, just a > small movement, but it is noticeable. >

You need to adjust your clutch. Probably best to do it below although you can do a fine adjustment at the lever Directions should be in the owners manual. Bogdan

[Rodney Copeland]

Couple questions to help answer yours. Does it do it when you first get ready to ride,when the bike is not quite warmed up? How much freeplay do you have in the lever. Many of our KLRs require a few revs with the clutch in, when gettin it warmed up to ride. This prevents a big crack goin into first, from neutral, cuz the clutch plates are kinda stuck together. Bogdan nailed it if you have over an inch of freeplay in the lever. Good luck and keep us posted, Rod --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "rick james" wrote:

> > I just got my first KLR, ('05, stock, with 2200 miles on it) which > also happens to be my first motorcycle. After a few hundred miles,

I'm

> finally feeling comfortable on it and I absloutely love it! What a > great machine! > > I have noticed something, though, and I'm not sure if it is normal > behavior for this bike or motorcycles in general: when I'm

stopped,

> idling in neutral with clutch pulled all the way in, and shift into > first gear, the bike jumps a little bit. It's nothing serious,

just a

> small movement, but it is noticeable. > > Is this normal? If it is abnormal, I'd like to fix it early. I

plan

> on having this bike for a long time, and I want to keep it in the

best

> shape possible. > > > Thank you all very much for your input. Go KLRs!!!

[Eric L. Green]

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005, Bogdan Swider wrote:

>> I have noticed something, though, and I'm not sure if it is normal >> behavior for this bike or motorcycles in general: when I'm stopped, >> idling in neutral with clutch pulled all the way in, and shift into >> first gear, the bike jumps a little bit. It's nothing serious, just a >> small movement, but it is noticeable. >> > You need to adjust your clutch. Probably best to do it below although you > can do a fine adjustment at the lever Directions should be in the owners > manual.

While that is true in his case, I'll note for further reference that if the bike has been sitting for a while with the clutch out and you pull the clutch lever and kick it into gear, it is normal for the bike to "jump" a little. That is because the clutch plates have a bit of "stiction" that is especially noticable when they've been sucking up to each other for a while. All multi-plate clutches do that, because there's nothing to force the clutch plates apart other than their normal warp (just as there's nothing to force your front disks apart other than the normal warp of the disk). Thus if they've been sitting up long enough to "stick" to each other, you'll get that little "jump" as the engine kicks them loose from their embrace. You'll notice more stiction with 20w50 than with 10w40 oil. Unless you live in Death Valley or normal summertime temperatures in your area are above 90 degrees, you probably want to just stick with 10w40 oil anyhow, it'll give you better lubrication during the very vital warm-up period. Synthetics will virtually eliminate stiction, but they cost a bundle and it's unclear that they'll result in longer engine life for a KLR engine. -E

[Rob Lefebvre]

I have a 2001 with 1700 miles on it that does this after sitting for more than a day. In fact, it snubs the engine when I shift into first gear. I changed oil but have not seen any change. I will try the clutch adjustment when it stops raining here (Green Bay, WI). I have just received the service manuals that I purchased on eBay but have not had time to look at them at all. Rob -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Eric L. Green Sent: Wed 4/27/2005 7:00 PM To: Bogdan Swider Cc: rick james; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] 1st gear "jump"...?

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005, Bogdan Swider wrote: >> I have noticed something, though, and I'm not sure if it is normal >> behavior for this bike or motorcycles in general: when I'm stopped, >> idling in neutral with clutch pulled all the way in, and shift into >> first gear, the bike jumps a little bit. It's nothing serious, just a >> small movement, but it is noticeable. >> > You need to adjust your clutch. Probably best to do it below although you > can do a fine adjustment at the lever Directions should be in the owners > manual. While that is true in his case, I'll note for further reference that if the bike has been sitting for a while with the clutch out and you pull the clutch lever and kick it into gear, it is normal for the bike to "jump" a little. That is because the clutch plates have a bit of "stiction" that is especially noticable when they've been sucking up to each other for a while. All multi-plate clutches do that, because there's nothing to force the clutch plates apart other than their normal warp (just as there's nothing to force your front disks apart other than the normal warp of the disk). Thus if they've been sitting up long enough to "stick" to each other, you'll get that little "jump" as the engine kicks them loose from their embrace. You'll notice more stiction with 20w50 than with 10w40 oil. Unless you live in Death Valley or normal summertime temperatures in your area are above 90 degrees, you probably want to just stick with 10w40 oil anyhow, it'll give you better lubrication during the very vital warm-up period. Synthetics will virtually eliminate stiction, but they cost a bundle and it's unclear that they'll result in longer engine life for a KLR engine. -E Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gabe]

Thank you everyone for your qiuck responses to my query! This KLR group is a great thing! The concensus is, then, that a little jump when dropping into first, especially when the engine is cold, and especially when heavier oils are used, is normal. I did use a heavier oil (15w40 semi-synth) this last oil change. I live in Tucson, and it's going to be hot as blazes in no time, so I figured I'd give the bike a little thicker oil to combat the searing desert temperatures. Thanks again! I look forward to picking the collective KLR brain more and more --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "rick james" wrote:

> > I just got my first KLR, ('05, stock, with 2200 miles on it) which > also happens to be my first motorcycle. After a few hundred miles,

I'm

> finally feeling comfortable on it and I absloutely love it! What

a

> great machine! > > I have noticed something, though, and I'm not sure if it is normal > behavior for this bike or motorcycles in general: when I'm

stopped,

> idling in neutral with clutch pulled all the way in, and shift

into

> first gear, the bike jumps a little bit. It's nothing serious,

just a

> small movement, but it is noticeable. > > Is this normal? If it is abnormal, I'd like to fix it early. I

plan

> on having this bike for a long time, and I want to keep it in the

best

> shape possible. > > > Thank you all very much for your input. Go KLRs!!!

[Bogdan Swider]

> > The concensus is, then, that a little jump when dropping into first, > especially when the engine is cold, and especially when heavier oils > are used, is normal.

Normal but not good. As I recall, Elden who has inspected many klr trannies stated that the first gear is often chipped. You should pull in the clutch and blip the throttle before shifting into first when the engine is cold; that frees the clutch plates and allows a smooth entry into gear. The shift into first should be smooth when the engine is warm. Again, if it's not adjust the clutch cable. Bogdan, who's sneaking out to the YMCA for a swim

[Gabe]

That's helpful info, thanks. I tried "blipping" the throttle and working the clutch a few times this morning, but it still gave me the clunk. It does subside as soon as the engine is warm, though. I am running a thicker (15w40) oil, in aniticipation of the blast furnace of a Tucson summer that is inevitably approaching. We have had some semi-cool (for Tucson) mornings (low 50s!) lately, though, which could account for some stickier than normal clutch plates, no? Sorry all you cold weather folk, don't mean to rub it in! But you'll be laughing soon enough, when the KLR and I are panting like tired dogs as we suffer through blazing asphalt and stoplights to get up into the higher elevations for some relief...thank God for the mountains! Gabe --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bogdan Swider wrote:

> > > > > The concensus is, then, that a little jump when dropping into

first,

> > especially when the engine is cold, and especially when heavier

oils

> > are used, is normal. > > Normal but not good. As I recall, Elden who has inspected many klr

trannies

> stated that the first gear is often chipped. You should pull in

the clutch

> and blip the throttle before shifting into first when the engine

is cold;

> that frees the clutch plates and allows a smooth entry into gear.

The shift

> into first should be smooth when the engine is warm. Again, if

it's not

> adjust the clutch cable. > > Bogdan, who's sneaking out to the YMCA for a swim

[Eric L. Green]

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005, Bogdan Swider wrote:

>> The concensus is, then, that a little jump when dropping into first, >> especially when the engine is cold, and especially when heavier oils >> are used, is normal. > > Normal but not good. As I recall, Elden who has inspected many klr trannies > stated that the first gear is often chipped. You should pull in the clutch > and blip the throttle before shifting into first when the engine is cold;

Or with the engine off, put the bike into first, pull in the clutch, and try to move the bike. If the bike's been sitting a while, you'll have to give it a pretty good "bump" to unstick the clutch. Then get on and start it up and ride. -E

[Blake Sobiloff]

On Apr 28, 2005, at 12:55 PM, Gabe wrote:

> That's helpful info, thanks. I tried "blipping" the throttle and > working the clutch a few times this morning, but it still gave me > the clunk. It does subside as soon as the engine is warm, though.

Every bike I've owned (a Yamaha, a Triumph, and now my KLR) has clunked hard into first gear at the first shift in the morning. I wouldn't worry about it.

> I am running a thicker (15w40) oil, in aniticipation of the blast > furnace of a Tucson summer that is inevitably approaching.

Actually, 40-weight oils are the thinner ones recommended by the owner's manual. You might want to consider 50-weight oils for summertime in your neck of the woods. (Mobil 1 15W-50 seems to be available in most Wal-Marts and it does a good job. I haven't used any non-synthetic 50-weight oils, though, so I can't make a recommendation if you prefer dead dinos.) -- Blake Sobiloff San Mateo, CA (USA)