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my klr dilemma: woods thrasher or streeter beater
Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:29 pm
by Tumu Rock
I recently picked up a '93 KLR to add to my garage and now I'm faced
with a dilemma...
Do I turn the '93 beater into an all out off-road beater and keep
the '04 trimmed out for street or do I go the other way 'round?
The '93 already has a cracked and slightly leaky engine case so maybe
it's best I abuse it off road. then again, it already has a cracked
and leaky engine case so maybe I should pretty it up and keep it on
the road where it's case strength won't be as likely to be tested.
Also I already have the KLX front end on the '04 so it's less work to
keep it there and have the '04 as the long haul/off-roading-in-far-
away-places bike. I have to swap the front end on the '93 anyway
since the original forks are leaking and I have the fresh front end
off of the '04 to put on.
If I swap the KLX front end to the '93 and plan on using it for LD
trips including off road duty, it's not much of a loss if I wad it up
since it only cost me $800. On the other hand, it has an uncertain
number of miles and an uncertain maintenance history so maybe I
shouldn't trust it for long hauls...
What would you do in such a dilemma?
da Vermonster
I feel like the guy in Princess Bride..."ALl I have to do is figure
if you're the kind of guy who would put the poison in front of me..."
my klr dilemma: woods thrasher or streeter beater
Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:15 pm
by Jeff Saline
On Thu, 15 May 2008 23:29:51 -0000 "Tumu Rock"
writes:
> I recently picked up a '93 KLR to add to my garage and now I'm faced
>
> with a dilemma...
>
> Do I turn the '93 beater into an all out off-road beater and keep
> the '04 trimmed out for street or do I go the other way 'round?
>
> The '93 already has a cracked and slightly leaky engine case so
> maybe
> it's best I abuse it off road. then again, it already has a cracked
>
> and leaky engine case so maybe I should pretty it up and keep it on
>
> the road where it's case strength won't be as likely to be tested.
>
> Also I already have the KLX front end on the '04 so it's less work
> to
> keep it there and have the '04 as the long haul/off-roading-in-far-
> away-places bike. I have to swap the front end on the '93 anyway
> since the original forks are leaking and I have the fresh front end
>
> off of the '04 to put on.
>
> If I swap the KLX front end to the '93 and plan on using it for LD
> trips including off road duty, it's not much of a loss if I wad it
> up
> since it only cost me $800. On the other hand, it has an uncertain
>
> number of miles and an uncertain maintenance history so maybe I
> shouldn't trust it for long hauls...
>
> What would you do in such a dilemma?
>
> da Vermonster
>
> I feel like the guy in Princess Bride..."ALl I have to do is figure
>
> if you're the kind of guy who would put the poison in front of
> me..."
<><><><><><><><>
<><><><><><><><>
Tumu,
For my kind of riding I'd use the 04 with the KLX front end for my dirt
work and touring off pavement. My thinking is it's probably more
reliable and will be set up better than the 93. I want reliable when I'm
where it will be very uncomfortable having to address a nasty maintenance
issue.
I'd use the 93 for road duty with the stock forks from the 04 but I'd
probably add progressive springs and/or cartridge emulators. Maybe a
fork brace too. I'd put a good rear shock on the bike that was set up
well. Using it for paved travel it'll be easier to address any
maintenance issues if it fails. I'd also consider putting good street
tires on it and maybe even a smaller front wheel. I suppose the front
brake would then need some help so a 320mm rotor etc would be worth
consideration. Then when the brakes were a bit better I'd probably
figure out if the 685 or 705 kit was a better match for the machine.
Both bikes would get Thermo-Bobs.
Interesting problem to have. Motorcycle rich and motorcycle poor. Not
enough time/money to ride and work on two bikes.
Your Princess Bride comment had me laughing. Thanks!
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
my klr dilemma: woods thrasher or streeter beater
Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:46 pm
by LD
My vote...I'd make the older bike the street/commuter bike. Not sure where you live, but there's something to be said for having a low cost bike that you can park in any neighborhood without (much of) a care.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
turn signal reminder
Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 2:14 pm
by Larry Braley
Hi,
For some reason (maybe age) I seem to forget to cancel my
indicators quite often on my 08....or maybe it is the location of the
indicator light. Regardless, it's a bad habit.
I think I will pick up 2 of those piezo's and put one one each side
to eliminate the diodes and simplify the wiring.
Thanks for the idea.
LB.
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "prackley" wrote:
>
> I installed a piezo turn signal reminder/alarm today. The cost was
> roughly $8 for the materials and it took about 1/2 and hour to
> make/install it. It sounds great and is just loud enough to get my
> attention-- I used the 237-059 piezo from Radio Shack and followed
the
> instructions from this link:
>
>
http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/topic449.html
>
> This is something that's been on my to-do list for quite a while
and
> I'm glad I ginally got around to it. I used quick-disconnects on
the
> buzeer so if I get tired of hearing it I can disable it with a
qucik
> tug of the wire. I used some velcro tape to mount it to the
fairing
> behind the intsrument panel.
>
> Peter
> A19
>