re; oil change

[Mike Hilton]

I don't want to start a tire thread but I do need the knowledge of those who are running MEFO ME99 Explorers, or have recently ran them. What is the recommended air pressure. I run 90% black top, use the bike to work off of. I know what the tire pressure specifications or in the KLR owners manual but feel that it is low. I would like to get the best mileage I can from these new tires. I replaced the OEM's at 4,400. Thanks, Mike Hilton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[boulder_adv_rider]

I believe it's same as the stock but admittedly not sure. I'm going by the User's Manual: F21psi R28psi. First-hand...I just ran my first set (from Fred) with 21 in front and 28 in rear (and of course the love of Jesus in between!). I had no problems with these levels. However, once I got a nail/flat in the rear, installed a tube with tons of small holes but fortified with Slime, I inflated it to 31psi (finally!) to get it to stop blead- leaking. On the hot highway of Vegas, the max tire pressure I recorded was 38 psi in rear. In my garage now and after some 4,500 smiles this ultra-ride, it's still holding that same 31 psi. It's worn but still good shape considering the speed, load I humped and terrain. A couple of chunks missing, a deep gouge here/there, a few knobs looking torn/slicing, but otherwise fabulous compared to the stock rear's performance! I ride it another 4,500 in a heartbeat with F21/R30. Note: I ran under 50% highway and tons of sand and off-road and hit rocks, ledge, you name it, and never got a pinch flat running F21 R28. Standard gas mileage until my intake clearance faded. I'd recommend F21 R30 if you're looking for highway/mileage. I'm lucky to get 2,500 out of the stock rear under similar conditions. Of course, this is at the service limit. I probably rode the stocks well beyond that to Kojack 5,000! It's not safe. Your rear Mefo will look like a tire after 4,500 unlike the stock. That's my experience...and I'm sticking to it.

[Dan Bittner]

Mike, I ran thru 2 sets of MEFO Explorers and mine liked 30 to 32 LBS on the front and 32 to 34 LBS rear depending on heat of the day and load for street duty. I ran the first set lower, in the mid twenties, and the front developed a weird wear pattern early on, long before it was worn out. Second set wore much better at the higher pressures and they stick really well on pavement. I agree with you and feel the pressure specs in the manual are to low for the street. Dan Bittner Sacramento, Ca.

----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Hilton To: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 2:08 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] MEFO USERS ONLY I don't want to start a tire thread but I do need the knowledge of those who are running MEFO ME99 Explorers, or have recently ran them. What is the recommended air pressure. I run 90% black top, use the bike to work off of. I know what the tire pressure specifications or in the KLR owners manual but feel that it is low. I would like to get the best mileage I can from these new tires. I replaced the OEM's at 4,400. Thanks, Mike Hilton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Spike55]

I'm on my second set of MEFOs and I'm keeping them at the higher pressures: 31-33psi F & 34-36 psi R. I too had an odd wear pattern develop on the front while running in the 20s F/R on the first set. I ran the first set for 7000 miles but changed them out so as to not have an issue develop when the bike received its annual state safety inspection ($30 pass/fail). I have 3000 on the second set now and they are still noisy at the higher pressures but I remain very confident with these tires. I don't do really, really hardcore trail blazing but I know from experience that these are good for everything else I come across in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hilton" wrote: > > I don't want to start a tire thread but I do need the knowledge of those who are running MEFO ME99 Explorers, or have recently ran them. What is the recommended air pressure. I run 90% black top, use the bike to work off of. I know what the tire pressure specifications or in the KLR owners manual but feel that it is low. I would like to get the best mileage I can from these new tires. I replaced the OEM's at 4,400. > Thanks, > Mike Hilton > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Mike Hilton]

Thanks for the response and the testimony... I have been running near stock on the OEM tires... Mike H.

----- Original Message ----- From: boulder_adv_rider To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 5:51 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: MEFO USERS ONLY I believe it's same as the stock but admittedly not sure. I'm going by the User's Manual: F21psi R28psi. First-hand...I just ran my first set (from Fred) with 21 in front and 28 in rear (and of course the love of Jesus in between!). I had no problems with these levels. Recent Activity a.. 7New Members b.. 1New Photos Visit Your Group Y! Sports for TV Game Day Companion Live fantasy league & game stats on TV. Yahoo! News Get it all here Breaking news to entertainment news Health Groups for people over 40 Join people who are staying in shape. . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Mike Hilton]

Thanks for the response Dan... I believe I'll go to the high side. Mike H.

----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Bittner To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 11:45 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] MEFO USERS ONLY Mike, I ran thru 2 sets of MEFO Explorers and mine liked 30 to 32 LBS on the front and 32 to 34 LBS rear depending on heat of the day and load for street duty. I ran the first set lower, in the mid twenties, and the front developed a weird wear pattern early on, long before it was worn out. Second set wore much better at the higher pressures and they stick really well on pavement. I agree with you and feel the pressure specs in the manual are to low for the street. Dan Bittner Sacramento, Ca. ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Hilton To: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 2:08 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] MEFO USERS ONLY I don't want to start a tire thread but I do need the knowledge of those who are running MEFO ME99 Explorers, or have recently ran them. What is the recommended air pressure. I run 90% black top, use the bike to work off of. I know what the tire pressure specifications or in the KLR owners manual but feel that it is low. I would like to get the best mileage I can from these new tires. I replaced the OEM's at 4,400. Thanks, Mike Hilton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Mike Hilton]

Don, thanks for your response... I'm leaning toward high, not sure how high.

----- Original Message ----- From: Spike55 To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 7:26 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: MEFO USERS ONLY I'm on my second set of MEFOs and I'm keeping them at the higher pressures: 31-33psi F & 34-36 psi R. I too had an odd wear pattern develop on the front while running in the 20s F/R on the first set. I ran the first set for 7000 miles but changed them out so as to not have an issue develop when the bike received its annual state safety inspection ($30 pass/fail). I have 3000 on the second set now and they are still noisy at the higher pressures but I remain very confident with these tires. I don't do really, really hardcore trail blazing but I know from experience that these are good for everything else I come across in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Don R100, A6F --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hilton" wrote: > > I don't want to start a tire thread but I do need the knowledge of those who are running MEFO ME99 Explorers, or have recently ran them. What is the recommended air pressure. I run 90% black top, use the bike to work off of. I know what the tire pressure specifications or in the KLR owners manual but feel that it is low. I would like to get the best mileage I can from these new tires. I replaced the OEM's at 4,400. > Thanks, > Mike Hilton > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[boulder_adv_rider]

At the respective max weight ratings, both tires are maxed at 41 psi (cold). Recently, at highway speed my tires went from 31 psi (cold) to 38. So they do expand and heat-up on the highway and with (heinous!) loads. My guess is from this 41 psi, it could take at least 20% above this to nearly 50 psi before the risk of dismounting or otherwise exploding starts. I think for highway you could run the front upto 30psi and the rear to 35 psi with no worry whatsoever. Even the 41 psi F/R would be ok per the manufacturer (Mefo)--Germans make good stuff--but this will mean more vibration and less cushion when pushing big smiles. Now, my fear is alway pinch flats from under inflation (I ride sand/loose media), and I feel comfortable with the F21/R28 never allowing pinch flats. This pressure works on the highway for me, too. Simply, I don't fuss with pressure on the trip just keep it close to F21/R28. Some people like to "air down" below this, but too low I think you're rolling the dice (1) getting pinch flats if you're not riding a beach and (2) sheering a valve stem without rim locks. Brian - who has come to believe if riding your KLR in deep sand looks and feels like a wild bull ride...you're doing it right.

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "boulder_adv_rider" wrote:

> > At the respective max weight ratings, both tires are maxed at 41 psi > (cold). Recently, at highway speed my tires went from 31 psi (cold) > to 38. So they do expand and heat-up on the highway and with > (heinous!) loads. My guess is from this 41 psi, it could take at > least 20% above this to nearly 50 psi before the risk of dismounting > or otherwise exploding starts. >

From 31 to 38 psi is a 22% increase in pressure. One rule of thumb that I have seen suggests that if your tires heat up more than 10%, then you started with them too soft. Soft pressures=flexing sidewalls=heat. If you started off with higher pressure, the sidewalls would not flex as much, and the tires would run cooler. Last longer, too. In any case, if you started at 41psi, you would probably not come close to 50psi when hot. That said, even 50 psi is not going to blow your tire off the rim. Some tires take that much just to seat the bead.

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "boulder_adv_rider" wrote:

> > At the respective max weight ratings, both tires are maxed at 41 psi > (cold). Recently, at highway speed my tires went from 31 psi (cold) > to 38. So they do expand and heat-up on the highway and with > (heinous!) loads. My guess is from this 41 psi, it could take at > least 20% above this to nearly 50 psi before the risk of dismounting > or otherwise exploding starts. >

From 31 to 38 psi is a 22% increase in pressure. One rule of thumb that I have seen suggests that if your tires heat up more than 10%, then you started with them too soft. Soft pressures=flexing sidewalls=heat. If you started off with higher pressure, the sidewalls would not flex as much, and the tires would run cooler. Last longer, too. In any case, if you started at 41psi, you would probably not come close to 50psi when hot. That said, even 50 psi is not going to blow your tire off the rim. Some tires take that much just to seat the bead.