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nklr suzuki dr350 opinions... good/bad,etc...
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:10 pm
by Terry Taylor
My kids ride smaller dirtbikes and are still on their learning curves of becoming better riders.I find myself at this point always waiting on them to catch up,which tends to get the KLR on the hot side of temp gauge alot especially in July/August Oklahoma heat.We ride in tight wooded single track areas (crosstimbers) where the KLR is capable but does not excell.As gas prices soar I depend more & more on the KLR as a commuter although it still gets a healthy amount of off-road.I have been giving thought lately to adding a stablemate for trail riding purposes.My limited research SO FAR is pointing me towards a used DR 350,preferrably the street legal type (I could strip equipment for immediate trail riding but keep in box if needed to use as a back up commuter if problem occurs w/ KLR - 30k on odometer,you never know).I would appreciate any feedback good/bad either way pertaining to the DR 350.Thank you my fellow lista's.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nklr suzuki dr350 opinions... good/bad,etc...
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:31 pm
by Jud Jones
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Terry Taylor wrote:
>
> My kids ride smaller dirtbikes and are still on their learning curves of becoming better
riders.I find myself at this point always waiting on them to catch up,which tends to get the
KLR on the hot side of temp gauge alot especially in July/August Oklahoma heat.We ride in
tight wooded single track areas (crosstimbers) where the KLR is capable but does not
excell.As gas prices soar I depend more & more on the KLR as a commuter although it still
gets a healthy amount of off-road.I have been giving thought lately to adding a stablemate
for trail riding purposes.My limited research SO FAR is pointing me towards a used DR
350,preferrably the street legal type (I could strip equipment for immediate trail riding but
keep in box if needed to use as a back up commuter if problem occurs w/ KLR - 30k on
odometer,you never know).I would appreciate any feedback good/bad either way
pertaining to the DR 350.Thank you my fellow lista's.
>
>
>
The DR350 is a great bike. You won't win any races on it, but it is a competent trail bike,
and the SE (street legal) model may just be the hot ticket for adventure touring in places
like Copper Canyon. The off-road version was my first 'modern" dirt bike, and my GF
recently picked up a '96 SE at a good price.
nklr suzuki dr350 opinions... good/bad,etc...
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 1:44 pm
by Larry
Agree 100%. It is a shame Suzuki dropped that bike for the narrower
focused 400. As I recall, it was the only 350 with electric start and
it was solid built with a decent seat.
Larry.
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote:
> The DR350 is a great bike. You won't win any races on it, but it is
a competent trail bike,
> and the SE (street legal) model may just be the hot ticket for
adventure touring in places
> like Copper Canyon. The off-road version was my first 'modern" dirt
bike, and my GF
> recently picked up a '96 SE at a good price.
>
nklr suzuki dr350 opinions... good/bad,etc...
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:16 pm
by revmaaatin
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Terry Taylor wrote:
>
> My kids ride smaller dirtbikes and are still on their learning
curves of becoming better riders.I find myself at this point always
waiting on them to catch up,which tends to get the KLR on the hot
side of temp gauge alot especially in July/August Oklahoma heat.We
ride in tight wooded single track areas (crosstimbers) where the KLR
is capable but does not excell.As gas prices soar I depend more &
more on the KLR as a commuter although it still gets a healthy amount
of off-road.I have been giving thought lately to adding a stablemate
for trail riding purposes.My limited research SO FAR is pointing me
towards a used DR 350,preferrably the street legal type (I could
strip equipment for immediate trail riding but keep in box if needed
to use as a back up commuter if problem occurs w/ KLR - 30k on
odometer,you never know).I would appreciate any feedback good/bad
either way pertaining to the DR 350.Thank you my fellow lista's.
>
Hello Terry,
If I understand the 'real' problem, is that the KLR bike is running
hotter than you would like.
Just curious, how does running an aircooled motor that will be used
in the woods, and will be in a position that is 'playing
catchup/wait' for the youngsters help your problem of overheating?
Have you considered changing the coolant to 80/20 water/antifreeze?
Or is the 'real' problem, that you are the one 'hot' for another bike-
-not that that has EVER happened to me. cough. Or anyone else on this
list.
revmaaatin.
oh no, a grease thread
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:45 am
by Richard Bassett
Don't laugh too loudly about the bacon fat. Pig fat is probably a better lubricant than you think. At Foxton on the shaky North Island of New Zealand, a homesick Dutchman has built a full-sized truly working replica of an old Dutch wind-powered flourmill. You can even buy his stone-ground flour.
Have you ever wondered about the bearing technology used for those heavy, slow-turning wooden sails, engineered before modern materials and roller- or ball-bearings had been invented? Shaft: cast iron. Bearing blocks: (wait for it) ... granite. Rock! A giant grain of sand, but polished, unlike the grains on sandpaper. Lubricant? Pig fat.
At first, they (in NZ) tried pork dripping, ie cooked fat, but it made a lot of mess and did not work. It has to be raw fat. I would avoid bacon fat, as it would contain salt - highly corrosive.
Moly grease: The SKF bearing catalogue from the 1960s stated that moly grease was not recommended for a ball or roller bearing as the moly can roll onto the tracks, build up, and jam the bearing. I've used it for swing-arms and never had a problem. I would not risk it in a wheel bearing.
Locks: Oil is not recommended for the key and barrel as it can become sticky, especially if it attracts dust. Then the little springs inside can't push the tumblers onto the key and the lock jams. Graphite dust is the preferred lube. WD40 or similar is probably OK because most of it evaporates without leaving enough sticky film behind to cause a problem (you hope).
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nklr suzuki dr350 opinions... good/bad,etc...
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:52 am
by roncriswell@sbcglobal.net
List?? Mine is a mile long but I ran into a guy who actually owned
over 200 bikes. He used to be a dealer ..... and he carried more
obscure models. MZ's, Moto Guzzis, the Royal Enfield from India. Now
you know why he owns that many. My father - in - law who has never
had a toy in his life comes over and looks in my garage and says "My
God, why does a man need 3 motorcycles?" My response is "Because I
can't have 20." He shakes his head walking off know ing his daughter
married a moron.
Criswell
On Aug 3, 2008, at 10:16 PM, revmaaatin wrote:
> --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Terry Taylor wrote:
> >
> > My kids ride smaller dirtbikes and are still on their learning
> curves of becoming better riders.I find myself at this point always
> waiting on them to catch up,which tends to get the KLR on the hot
> side of temp gauge alot especially in July/August Oklahoma heat.We
> ride in tight wooded single track areas (crosstimbers) where the KLR
> is capable but does not excell.As gas prices soar I depend more &
> more on the KLR as a commuter although it still gets a healthy amount
> of off-road.I have been giving thought lately to adding a stablemate
> for trail riding purposes.My limited research SO FAR is pointing me
> towards a used DR 350,preferrably the street legal type (I could
> strip equipment for immediate trail riding but keep in box if needed
> to use as a back up commuter if problem occurs w/ KLR - 30k on
> odometer,you never know).I would appreciate any feedback good/bad
> either way pertaining to the DR 350.Thank you my fellow lista's.
> >
> Hello Terry,
>
> If I understand the 'real' problem, is that the KLR bike is running
> hotter than you would like.
>
> Just curious, how does running an aircooled motor that will be used
> in the woods, and will be in a position that is 'playing
> catchup/wait' for the youngsters help your problem of overheating?
>
> Have you considered changing the coolant to 80/20 water/antifreeze?
>
> Or is the 'real' problem, that you are the one 'hot' for another bike-
> -not that that has EVER happened to me. cough. Or anyone else on this
> list.
>
> revmaaatin.
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]