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starter trip
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:42 am
by sourdoughmedic
Morning All- Going to take my first road trip today, a whoppin 174 miles one way. Sleeping bag, Fly rod and gear are on the bike. Most of my trip is VA highway with a posted speed limit of 65. My bike currently has 300 miles on it of 45mph and lower speeds to and from work.
Besides being wary of the 4 and 18 wheeled driver, does anyone have any tips on what not to do with a loaded 2 wheeler? Including my weight, the load does not exceed 400 pounds. Shocks are on level 1 and rebound setting is still at store specs.
Anyone got a history on fuel economy with a loaded bike at high speeds?
Larry
09 KLR
starter trip
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:26 am
by rosslindberg
You might have to crank up the rear shock preload a bit if the handling is sqirrelydue to the weight of your gear. Other than that, forget about fuel mileage and other worries and just have fun.
Ross Lindberg
Fertile, MN
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "sourdoughmedic" wrote:
>
> Morning All- Going to take my first road trip today, a whoppin 174 miles one way. Sleeping bag, Fly rod and gear are on the bike. Most of my trip is VA highway with a posted speed limit of 65. My bike currently has 300 miles on it of 45mph and lower speeds to and from work.
>
> Besides being wary of the 4 and 18 wheeled driver, does anyone have any tips on what not to do with a loaded 2 wheeler? Including my weight, the load does not exceed 400 pounds. Shocks are on level 1 and rebound setting is still at store specs.
>
> Anyone got a history on fuel economy with a loaded bike at high speeds?
>
> Larry
> 09 KLR
>
starter trip
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 10:30 am
by fasteddiecopeman
Larry,
I got 56 mpg Imperial over 12,400 kms on my Alaska trip this summer, '04 loaded w/ gear. My partner (on an '08) got somewhat better. 56 Imp is about 45 mpg US.
Cheers and have fun!
Ed
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "sourdoughmedic" wrote:
>
> Morning All- Going to take my first road trip today, a whoppin 174 miles one way. Sleeping bag, Fly rod and gear are on the bike. Most of my trip is VA highway with a posted speed limit of 65. My bike currently has 300 miles on it of 45mph and lower speeds to and from work.
>
> Besides being wary of the 4 and 18 wheeled driver, does anyone have any tips on what not to do with a loaded 2 wheeler? Including my weight, the load does not exceed 400 pounds. Shocks are on level 1 and rebound setting is still at store specs.
>
> Anyone got a history on fuel economy with a loaded bike at high speeds?
>
> Larry
> 09 KLR
>
starter trip
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 10:55 am
by Jeff Khoury
Depending on wind, road conditions and my right wrist, I get between 42 and 47mpg.
Pack your weight as low as possible, adjust your rear preload to compensate for the extra weight and ride like everyone's out to kill you.
Take frequent breaks for water and rest.
Actual Cash Value: $0.02
-Jeff Khoury
----- Original Message -----
From: "sourdoughmedic"
To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 5:42:24 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Starter Trip
Morning All- Going to take my first road trip today, a whoppin 174 miles one way. Sleeping bag, Fly rod and gear are on the bike. Most of my trip is VA highway with a posted speed limit of 65. My bike currently has 300 miles on it of 45mph and lower speeds to and from work.
Besides being wary of the 4 and 18 wheeled driver, does anyone have any tips on what not to do with a loaded 2 wheeler? Including my weight, the load does not exceed 400 pounds. Shocks are on level 1 and rebound setting is still at store specs.
Anyone got a history on fuel economy with a loaded bike at high speeds?
Larry
09 KLR
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
starter trip
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:21 pm
by Paul Statham
Larry
I am not sure where you are located . I am a Canadian. I have 42,000 Kilometers (about 26,000 miles) on my 08 KLR bike. I have done a lot of long trips heavily loaded. If I ride 50 to 55 MPH I can get approx. 60 to 62 MPG (imperial Gallon) That would work out to about 50 to 52 MPG (US Gallon)
I have got as high as 75 MPG (Imperial Gallon) during a ride around Yellowstone park.
And yes I always figure my mileage out in imperial gallons whether I am in the US of A or Canada.
If I am flogging it down the interstate (which I really do not like) My mileage has gotten down as low as 48 MPG (imperial gallons)
So if you keep the revs down below 4500 RPM your gas mileage and oil consumption is quite good.
If not don't expect much.
Have fun ride safe
Paul
--- On Fri, 9/18/09, rosslindberg wrote:
From: rosslindberg
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Starter Trip
To:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
Received: Friday, September 18, 2009, 9:25 AM
You might have to crank up the rear shock preload a bit if the handling is sqirrelydue to the weight of your gear. Other than that, forget about fuel mileage and other worries and just have fun.
Ross Lindberg
Fertile, MN
--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, "sourdoughmedic" wrote:
>
> Morning All- Going to take my first road trip today, a whoppin 174 miles one way. Sleeping bag, Fly rod and gear are on the bike. Most of my trip is VA highway with a posted speed limit of 65. My bike currently has 300 miles on it of 45mph and lower speeds to and from work.
>
> Besides being wary of the 4 and 18 wheeled driver, does anyone have any tips on what not to do with a loaded 2 wheeler? Including my weight, the load does not exceed 400 pounds. Shocks are on level 1 and rebound setting is still at store specs.
>
> Anyone got a history on fuel economy with a loaded bike at high speeds?
>
> Larry
> 09 KLR
>
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
starter trip
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:03 pm
by spike55_bmw
Until you get a good sense of how your engine operates, check your engine oil level with every fuel stop. It only takes a few seconds to do.
I can run two-lanes all day, keeping it below 5,500 - 6,000 rpms and the engine won't use any noticable of oil. If I'm running 70 - 80 mph for any amount of time (6,000+ rpms), I will 'pump' it out and by the end of the day (400 miles), I'll need to add some.
Always check it sometime during your trip.
Don R100, A6F
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "sourdoughmedic" wrote:
>
> Morning All- Going to take my first road trip today, a whoppin 174 miles one way. Sleeping bag, Fly rod and gear are on the bike. Most of my trip is VA highway with a posted speed limit of 65. My bike currently has 300 miles on it of 45mph and lower speeds to and from work.
>
> Besides being wary of the 4 and 18 wheeled driver, does anyone have any tips on what not to do with a loaded 2 wheeler? Including my weight, the load does not exceed 400 pounds. Shocks are on level 1 and rebound setting is still at store specs.
>
> Anyone got a history on fuel economy with a loaded bike at high speeds?
>
> Larry
> 09 KLR
>
starter trip
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:16 pm
by Monty
Larry,
Everyone is giving good advice. Just keep tabs on your bikes basics. You already have a "feel" for it so use that as a good gage on how things should be. KLR's have a habit of shaking things loose. Be prepared to tighten nuts and bolts as needed. Your trip isn't that many miles but a great start. It's so easy to over think things. Try to do a good road prep and then have some fun. Take a cell phone for emergencies. Most everyone has said something about bumping up you suspension settings. This is good advice. Adding weight always makes the bike handle different. For the distance you're traveling fill up the tank going and coming. Keep in mind if you don't need all that fuel it will be easier to handle the bike with less weight especially up high in the gas tank.
Making a pack list is a good thing and really helps sort our what you forgot or took and didn't need next time out. Make sure everything is strapped down good. Loose tie downs or bungies can be a dangerous thing.
Let us know how it goes. Don't forget your flies!
Monty
"ride safe and may all roads lead to adventure"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
starter trip
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:18 pm
by Jeffrey
"Until you get a good sense of how your engine operates, check your engine oil level with every fuel stop. It only takes a few seconds to do."
I can't check my oil level unless the bike sits for at least 15 mins and the oil falls back dn to the bottom of the engine.
Jeffrey
starter trip
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:14 pm
by hershonm
Hi Jeffrey!
Here's what I do:
1. At the first fuel stop, after refueling I ask the supermodel in my follow motor home to hold my bike upright for 15 minutes - after we move the bike from the pump area, of course. While we wait, I check the nuts and bolts that threaten to loosen and fall off my new KLR. I find that I barely have time to tighten all the hardware before my oil has settled comfortably into the sump. I've decided that 15 minutes isn't long enough for hot oil to drain down that far, so I wait 20. It's a new KLR, after all, and worth the delay.
At that point I lay a spirit level across the saddle, kneel on the foam pad my riding friend has so kindly provided, and eyeball the oil level in the (perhaps wrongly located) window. If the window is properly placed in the engine case (who knows?), and if the oil is level with the lines embossed in the case, I thank my scantily clad friend, ask the crowd to disperse and continue my journey.
2. At the second fuel stop, before I open the gas cap, I ask my supermodel friend to help me lift the rear end of my new KLR up and back and onto its aftermarket center stand. Once it's on the stand, I spray my chain with (a) WD40, (b) Chain Wax, (c) pancake syrup or (d) SPF40 sunscreen. In my scrupulously conducted tests, nothing works better than pancake syrup - and I love the aroma, don't you?
After doing the chain maintenance and filling the fuel tank, we repeat the steps in part 1. After all, who can tell what's come loose, what rubber nuts or grommets have rotted and fallen away, what gluttonous oil consumption may have accompanied my insane craving for revs beyond 4,000 sustained...? O the guilt....
3. At the third stop, we remove side covers, seat and battery. We take the new KLR's battery into the motor home, where my supermodel traveling companion has kindly provided distilled water, a small plastic eye-drop syringe and a Battery Tender Junior. We fill the cells to the upper line, and attach the charger wires to the posts. When the little light indicates a fully charged state, we slide the battery back into the bike, hook up the wires and remount the seat and side covers.
While the battery has been charging, I've been checking the fasteners on my new KLR with the torque wrench from the motor home. And adjusting the balancer chain tensioner. Once I removed the cover from the oil filter chamber to make dead sure the center pin was in fact there, not lost in some icky drain pan.
It seems to me that the above instructions should get you to your fishing spot and home again, but if you intend to journey further in the future, merely post to the forum again. We're all here to help.
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jeffrey" wrote:
>
> "Until you get a good sense of how your engine operates, check your engine oil level with every fuel stop. It only takes a few seconds to do."
>
> I can't check my oil level unless the bike sits for at least 15 mins and the oil falls back dn to the bottom of the engine.
>
> Jeffrey
>
starter trip
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:57 am
by fasteddiecopeman
My GAWD! I CAN'T believe that he FORGOT:
CHECKING THE PRESSURE IN THE TIRES...!
Ed ; >)
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "hershonm" wrote:
>
> Hi Jeffrey!
> Here's what I do:
> 1. At the first fuel stop, after refueling I ask the supermodel in my follow motor home to hold my bike upright for 15 minutes - after we move the bike from the pump area, of course. While we wait, I check the nuts and bolts that threaten to loosen and fall off my new KLR. I find that I barely have time to tighten all the hardware before my oil has settled comfortably into the sump. I've decided that 15 minutes isn't long enough for hot oil to drain down that far, so I wait 20. It's a new KLR, after all, and worth the delay.
>
> At that point I lay a spirit level across the saddle, kneel on the foam pad my riding friend has so kindly provided, and eyeball the oil level in the (perhaps wrongly located) window. If the window is properly placed in the engine case (who knows?), and if the oil is level with the lines embossed in the case, I thank my scantily clad friend, ask the crowd to disperse and continue my journey.
>
> 2. At the second fuel stop, before I open the gas cap, I ask my supermodel friend to help me lift the rear end of my new KLR up and back and onto its aftermarket center stand. Once it's on the stand, I spray my chain with (a) WD40, (b) Chain Wax, (c) pancake syrup or (d) SPF40 sunscreen. In my scrupulously conducted tests, nothing works better than pancake syrup - and I love the aroma, don't you?
>
> After doing the chain maintenance and filling the fuel tank, we repeat the steps in part 1. After all, who can tell what's come loose, what rubber nuts or grommets have rotted and fallen away, what gluttonous oil consumption may have accompanied my insane craving for revs beyond 4,000 sustained...? O the guilt....
>
> 3. At the third stop, we remove side covers, seat and battery. We take the new KLR's battery into the motor home, where my supermodel traveling companion has kindly provided distilled water, a small plastic eye-drop syringe and a Battery Tender Junior. We fill the cells to the upper line, and attach the charger wires to the posts. When the little light indicates a fully charged state, we slide the battery back into the bike, hook up the wires and remount the seat and side covers.
>
> While the battery has been charging, I've been checking the fasteners on my new KLR with the torque wrench from the motor home. And adjusting the balancer chain tensioner. Once I removed the cover from the oil filter chamber to make dead sure the center pin was in fact there, not lost in some icky drain pan.
>
> It seems to me that the above instructions should get you to your fishing spot and home again, but if you intend to journey further in the future, merely post to the forum again. We're all here to help.
>
> --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jeffrey" wrote:
> >
> > "Until you get a good sense of how your engine operates, check your engine oil level with every fuel stop. It only takes a few seconds to do."
> >
> > I can't check my oil level unless the bike sits for at least 15 mins and the oil falls back dn to the bottom of the engine.
> >
> > Jeffrey
> >
>