nklr- i'm moving fm tx to fl to md.

[Brad Davis]

Conall, I would be very interested in reading the service record of your 80,000 mile KLR. Just what maintenance and part replacements were necessary to get such a fantastic amount of service? Thanks, Brad Davis __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

[Conall O'Brien]

>From: Brad Davis >To: DSN_klr650@egroups.com, Conall O'Brien >Subject: 80,000 mi. KLR >Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 07:09:23 -0700 (PDT) > >Conall, >I would be very interested in reading the service >record of your 80,000 mile KLR. Just what maintenance >and part replacements were necessary to get such a >fantastic amount of service? > >Thanks, >Brad Davis >

Brad, Well the ironic thing is I'm pretty much a slacker when it comes to following the recommended service intervals. So, rather than set a bad example for the rest of the list, in regards to servicing, I'll focus on the way I have operated the bike. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy lovin' it up just as much as anybody else, and do so but don't have the space to work on the bike in a efficient manner. Call me an optimist, going through life simply hoping for the best. Lucky for me I learned of Gino's KLR newslatter( back issues still available I think) and at the time I already had a few years hands-on with the KLR, so I had a bit of a background as well as a support group( DSN News and this list). This is my second of three KLRs, the first was totaled when I hit a car. So safety should be #1, getting in a accident and crumpling the front forks is the quickest way to kill a KLR that I know of. Throttle control is very important here. This KLR is ridden each and every day as it is my only mode of transportation. Most trips are in excess of 45 miles each way, shortest normal trip is 20 mins. to work each day. I don't go over 5200 RPMs, and most of the time never over 5000 rpm.( Currently use a 16 tooth front sprocket- 43 rear).I make sure my chain is not too tight with myself seated on the bike. I start the bike and immediately warm it up by slowly riding 1/2 mile or so before going over 3000 rpms. I try to keep extra brake pads, sprockets ,cables,etc. on hand for timely replacements. Those are items I never skimp on. Sure, I've used Castrol 20W-50 for the life of the bike but at times the oil went unchanged for 10,000 miles. I had the valves adjusted once. I did the counterbalancer chain adjustment thing a couple of times. Change the spark plug every couple of years. About the only problems I've had are: replaced the battery a couple of times, blew the main electrical fuse once, maybe twice but not again in the past few years. odometer drive mechanism is toast, (never bothered to fix it), broken clutch cable, front sprocket retainer clip gave up once I now carry a spare one of those. Broken gear shifter, thats about all. I put at least 15000 miles a year on this KLR so most of the money goes to tires,brake pads, oil changes etc. Knock on wood , I never doubt the reliability (sp?) of my KLR, I take care of it and it takes care of me. Do you own a KLR Brad, or thinking about buying one? People say the '96 has been upgraded over my '90, but I tell you I've had a '89 a '90 and now a '93. I may be biased but I'm real happy with the old A3 and A4s. a3='89 a4='90 for you newbies out there. Oh yeah I ran Chevron supreme for most of it's life, went to Chevron 87 octane when gas prices peaked. Ping city, went back to 91/92 octane no more pinging. Question -Is it true there is not a distinct formula for 89 octane gas, that it is really a mix of the 87 and 92 octanes. Somebody told me they just blend the two underground tanks together and call it 89 octane. Anybody know for sure? L8R Conall http://www.klr650.com ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

[klrbud@aol.com]

Well, I am outta here and off to NAS Jacksonville, FL for 1 MO of school, then to Patuxent River, MD. I sure hope there are more riders in my new area than in Corpus Christi, TX. My bike is being sent via movers to JAX so I have it there for school, then I might ride it to PAX. River. Anyone ever done this route? Any advice? Thanks to all. Kurt Thomas AT1 USN Aircrewman/Aviation Electronics Tech. for thehttp://www.sikorsky.com/programs/stallion/dragon.html"> MH-53E HM-15 NAS Corpus Christi, TX Check out MY WEB PAGE http://members.tripod.com/kurt_thomas">http://members.tripod.com/kurt _thomas