Wilsons Sandbox

> Hi All, > Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit > them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my > stock (I think) bars ...

> Oh, and while on the subject, are the handguards supposed to cover the > levers? or will they come up above them? Will that still protect them > from breaking (again?) or are they just for show, or some hypothetical > tree barks?

> Last but not least, I had to hacksaw off the little balls from my > levers, now they feel totally wierd. Especially since I don't have the > gaurds on. Can I slap a new set of levers on with the balls intact, > fit the MSR's, have them be protected, and look decent doing it all? > Whaddayasay?

> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, jkhoei wrote: >> Hi All, >> Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit >> them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my >> stock (I think) bars ... > > That is correct. That end shaft thingy, as you put it, is intended for use > inside aluminum bars, whereas you have steel bars. > > There is a hack that can be done, however:

> Alternately, there is one vendor that has the correct pieces to fit steel > bars rather than rely on this hack. Anybody?

> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, jkhoei wrote: > > Hi All, > > Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit > > them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my > > stock (I think) bars ... > > That is correct. That end shaft thingy, as you put it, is intended

> inside aluminum bars, whereas you have steel bars. > > There is a hack that can be done, however: > > 1. Go to auto parts store. Get about 4 inches of fuel line that's about > the same diameter as the inside of your bars. > > 2. Go to hardware store with the bolt from the end thingy. Get a nut > that'll fit it, and a washer that's just barely smaller than the

> your bars. > > 3. Put bolt through handgrip end. Put enough fuel line over bolt so

> bit of the thread shows at the end. Add washer and nut. Tighten the nut > slightly until there's a little bit of pressure. > > 4. Insert into end of handlebar. Crank down on the bolt. The nut

> the washer towards the bolt head, which in turn will compress the fuel > line, which in turn will swell and jam in the bar-end. > > This is how MSR/Moose/etc. handle steel bars, they actually include the > fuel line pieces and nuts and washers all pre-selected. > > Alternately, there is one vendor that has the correct pieces to fit

> bars rather than rely on this hack. Anybody? > > > Oh, and while on the subject, are the handguards supposed to cover the > > levers? or will they come up above them? Will that still protect them > > from breaking (again?) or are they just for show, or some hypothetical > > tree barks? > > The problem with the stock KLR bars is that their bend is not

> with most handguards out there. The handguard ends up being low at the > steering head end and high at the bar tip, crossing the controls (which > are horizontal) at some point inbetween. I suppose it is possible to > creatively twist a handguard so that it is the correct height to

> the controls at all points, but those things are *tough*, and hard to > twist. > > > Last but not least, I had to hacksaw off the little balls from my > > levers, now they feel totally wierd. Especially since I don't have the > > gaurds on. Can I slap a new set of levers on with the balls intact, > > fit the MSR's, have them be protected, and look decent doing it all? > > Whaddayasay? > > Maybe. If you slide the right brake inwards, it might *just* give

> clearance to have the ball end on your brake lever. I agree that the > levers feel weird without the balls, but you get used to it. One of the > things I have thought about doing, if I can find my #$%@ Dremmel

> to simply re-shape the ball rather than cut it off entirely. Most of

> ball contributes absolutely nothing to the functionality of the lever. > > -E

> happen. Except that I don't have a vice in the garage. I guess I'll > have to run down to my dad's bodyshop and use theirs. Thanks.

> > And ... somehow I missed the whole bear thing. Glad you weren't on the > bike when it happened. Or were you?

> --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" > wrote: >> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, jkhoei wrote: >>> Hi All, >>> Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit >>> them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my >>> stock (I think) bars ... >> >> That is correct. That end shaft thingy, as you put it, is intended > for use >> inside aluminum bars, whereas you have steel bars. >> >> There is a hack that can be done, however: >> >> 1. Go to auto parts store. Get about 4 inches of fuel line that's about >> the same diameter as the inside of your bars. >> >> 2. Go to hardware store with the bolt from the end thingy. Get a nut >> that'll fit it, and a washer that's just barely smaller than the > inside of >> your bars. >> >> 3. Put bolt through handgrip end. Put enough fuel line over bolt so > that a >> bit of the thread shows at the end. Add washer and nut. Tighten the nut >> slightly until there's a little bit of pressure. >> >> 4. Insert into end of handlebar. Crank down on the bolt. The nut > will pull >> the washer towards the bolt head, which in turn will compress the fuel >> line, which in turn will swell and jam in the bar-end. >> >> This is how MSR/Moose/etc. handle steel bars, they actually include the >> fuel line pieces and nuts and washers all pre-selected. >> >> Alternately, there is one vendor that has the correct pieces to fit > steel >> bars rather than rely on this hack. Anybody? >> >>> Oh, and while on the subject, are the handguards supposed to cover the >>> levers? or will they come up above them? Will that still protect them >>> from breaking (again?) or are they just for show, or some hypothetical >>> tree barks? >> >> The problem with the stock KLR bars is that their bend is not > compatible >> with most handguards out there. The handguard ends up being low at the >> steering head end and high at the bar tip, crossing the controls (which >> are horizontal) at some point inbetween. I suppose it is possible to >> creatively twist a handguard so that it is the correct height to > protect >> the controls at all points, but those things are *tough*, and hard to >> twist. >> >>> Last but not least, I had to hacksaw off the little balls from my >>> levers, now they feel totally wierd. Especially since I don't have the >>> gaurds on. Can I slap a new set of levers on with the balls intact, >>> fit the MSR's, have them be protected, and look decent doing it all? >>> Whaddayasay? >> >> Maybe. If you slide the right brake inwards, it might *just* give > enough >> clearance to have the ball end on your brake lever. I agree that the >> levers feel weird without the balls, but you get used to it. One of the >> things I have thought about doing, if I can find my #$%@ Dremmel > tool, is >> to simply re-shape the ball rather than cut it off entirely. Most of > the >> ball contributes absolutely nothing to the functionality of the lever. >> >> -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 > > > > > >

>For those curious about the damage, I found a photo service called >'flickr' that seems decent, and uploaded a slideshow there. Try > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/29775813%40N00/sets/612132/ >and see what a bear does to Givi bags when it's lusting for WD-40 . > >-E > >