wiring problem?

[Gordon P]

I rode my new KLR to work and home yesterday (40 km round trip) for the first time, and it was a hoot, but on arrival at home I did what I do every time I arrive on my 750 lb Road Glide and reached into my right jacket pocket to press the garage door opener. This means I'm coasting downhill to the garage using just the rear brake (right hand on opener). I was shocked how little the rear brake alone was slowing me down. Is this normal? If it is, what mod besides a braided line would improve this? Thanks in advance, Gord BTW, I lowered my bike 1 1/2 inches, cut 2 1/2 off the side stand's 1 inch tube, and then TIG welded an adjustable stud and jam nut(s) to the tube so it can be adjustable for any height back to factory. I figure if I ever take a REALLY loaded trip I can fine-tune the side stand. Oh, and I welded a nice 1" flat washer to the bottom as a larger foot for the stand.

[Doug Herr]

On Sat, 12 May 2007, Gordon P wrote:

> I rode my new KLR to work and home yesterday (40 km round trip) for the > first time, and it was a hoot, but on arrival at home I did what I do > every time I arrive on my 750 lb Road Glide and reached into my right > jacket pocket to press the garage door opener. This means I'm coasting > downhill to the garage using just the rear brake (right hand on > opener). I was shocked how little the rear brake alone was slowing me > down. Is this normal? If it is, what mod besides a braided line would > improve this?

Was this the first use of the rear brake since?: 1. Applying chain lube. 2. New brake pads. 3. Cleaning *anything* in the rear. 4. Riding an a dusty area. The biggest one for me is to make sure I check the rear brake after lubing the chain. A very small bit of over-spray will have an amazing effect on the rear brake ability. The other big issue that surprises many, is that new pads don't work as well as the old pads until they have worn to the contours of the disk. Mine took much less time to "burn in" then expected, but you do need to be careful about that sort of thing. -- Doug Herr doug@... A16 in Oakland, California

[blocloc]

Tired of dealing with the ergonomic problem thats in the brake pedal I made a 1/2" spacer for the top area. Made it a whole lot easier--all of the sudden the available rear brake is just fine.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Herr" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 9:38 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Feeble rear brake? > On Sat, 12 May 2007, Gordon P wrote: > >> I rode my new KLR to work and home yesterday (40 km round trip) for the >> first time, and it was a hoot, but on arrival at home I did what I do >> every time I arrive on my 750 lb Road Glide and reached into my right >> jacket pocket to press the garage door opener. This means I'm coasting >> downhill to the garage using just the rear brake (right hand on >> opener). I was shocked how little the rear brake alone was slowing me >> down. Is this normal? If it is, what mod besides a braided line would >> improve this? > > Was this the first use of the rear brake since?: > > 1. Applying chain lube. > 2. New brake pads. > 3. Cleaning *anything* in the rear. > 4. Riding an a dusty area. > > The biggest one for me is to make sure I check the rear brake > after lubing the chain. A very small bit of over-spray will have > an amazing effect on the rear brake ability. > > The other big issue that surprises many, is that new pads don't > work as well as the old pads until they have worn to the contours > of the disk. Mine took much less time to "burn in" then > expected, but you do need to be careful about that sort of thing. > > > -- > Doug Herr > doug@... > A16 in Oakland, California > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[Blake Sobiloff]

On May 12, 2007, at 8:07 AM, Gordon P wrote:

> on arrival at home I did what I do > every time I arrive on my 750 lb Road Glide and reached into my right > jacket pocket to press the garage door opener.[...] > I was shocked how little the rear brake alone was slowing me > down. Is this normal? If it is, what mod besides a braided line would > improve this?

Hi Gord! It's all about weight distribution--your Road Glide has lots of weight over the rear wheel, making it responsive to a lot of rear brake, but your KLR has much less weight (and probably a smaller rear disc). Also, on a new bike it'll take a while for the pads to "bed in" to the rotor and come up to full effectiveness. There aren't many mods available for the rear brake because it seems to work quite well for most folks. You should be able to lock the rear wheel with it if it's been bedded well and functioning correctly. (Although, if you do lock it up I'd recommend keeping it locked until you come to a stop, as releasing it if the wheels aren't aligned is an easy way to high-side yourself.) -- Blake Sobiloff http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> San Jose, CA (USA) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Kevin Powers]

Gordon - If none of the above suggestions work, check to make sure that the brake pad is seated properly in the caliper. If it isn't, only a portion of the pad will press against the disk, resulting in truly feeble braking. -- Kevin Powers White Bear Lake, MN

On 5/12/07, Blake Sobiloff wrote: > > On May 12, 2007, at 8:07 AM, Gordon P wrote: > > on arrival at home I did what I do > > every time I arrive on my 750 lb Road Glide and reached into my right > > jacket pocket to press the garage door opener.[...] > > I was shocked how little the rear brake alone was slowing me > > down. Is this normal? If it is, what mod besides a braided line would > > improve this? > > Hi Gord! It's all about weight distribution--your Road Glide has > lots of weight over the rear wheel, making it responsive to a lot of > rear brake, but your KLR has much less weight (and probably a smaller > rear disc). Also, on a new bike it'll take a while for the pads to > "bed in" to the rotor and come up to full effectiveness. > > There aren't many mods available for the rear brake because it seems > to work quite well for most folks. You should be able to lock the > rear wheel with it if it's been bedded well and functioning > correctly. (Although, if you do lock it up I'd recommend keeping it > locked until you come to a stop, as releasing it if the wheels aren't > aligned is an easy way to high-side yourself.) > -- > Blake Sobiloff > > http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> > http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> > San Jose, CA (USA) > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Crazy canuck]

Everything 'appears' to be in place and yes!.......the pad needs to 'wear in' a bit because I can see it hasn't scuffed the rotor in all places. As I pushed down harder on the brake pedal, ergonomically I felt like I had reached the end of my ankle's range of motion , so if it doesn't improve in a 100 kms or so, I'll think of doing something to make an adjustment to the pedal itself. Thanks all --------------------------------- Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[blocloc]

When I applied the rear brake it felt like I was putting my foot in a bucket. Made that spacer and rear brake is more than adequate--try it you'll like it! I just chucked some alum scrap up in the lathe and turned down a piece with a 3/8" spud on the bottom. Made teeth with a file and hammered it in. Drilled a hole and stuck in a cottor key--works like a champ.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Crazy canuck" To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 1:00 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re:Feeble rear brake? > Everything 'appears' to be in place and yes!.......the pad needs to 'wear > in' a bit because I can see it hasn't scuffed the rotor in all places. As > I pushed down harder on the brake pedal, ergonomically I felt like I had > reached the end of my ankle's range of motion , so if it doesn't improve > in a 100 kms or so, I'll think of doing something to make an adjustment to > the pedal itself. > Thanks all > > > --------------------------------- > Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's > on, when. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[Jeff Saline]

On Sat, 12 May 2007 15:07:33 -0000 "Gordon P" writes:

> I rode my new KLR to work and home yesterday (40 km round trip) for > the > first time, and it was a hoot, but on arrival at home I did what I > do > every time I arrive on my 750 lb Road Glide and reached into my > right > jacket pocket to press the garage door opener. This means I'm > coasting > downhill to the garage using just the rear brake (right hand on > opener). I was shocked how little the rear brake alone was slowing > me > down. Is this normal? If it is, what mod besides a braided line > would > improve this? > Thanks in advance, > Gord

SNIP <><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><> Gord, The mod I'll suggest you consider is putting the garage door opener in your left pocket. Then you can use the front brake while opening the door. : ) Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[Crazy canuck]

I tried that but it didn't seem 'right' having to find neutral every time I entered the relatively short driveway, and doing the U-turn around my 'cage' to back into the garage. Besides, when I bought this bike I figured anything my HOG could do, the KLR would do better later, Gord --------------------------------- Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jim Priest]

On 5/14/07, Crazy canuck wrote:

> Besides, when I bought this bike I figured anything my HOG could do, the KLR would do better

With the KLR you don't use the driveway - you go through the yard!! My wife LOVES it when I do that! Jim