harley non-wavers nklr

[Joe Percival]

I noticed from reading the manual that the rear suspension is set up for what it calls an average man (150lbs). Guess that is average in Japan! Anyway, must one adjust both the preload and dampening or can I strike a happy compromise and only adjust one? If so, which would be better? I am 185lbs and the rear has felt a little soft especially offroad. I set it to 2 and 2 currently and it feels better but what should I be causes of? There is always something!! I'm kinda in the same boat. On the advice of many wonderful folks at the Moab rally, I changed the suspension to 2/2 and took the tire pressure down to 25 (or a little less). What a difference!!! I do not think that running the tires at low pressure on the street is a good idea and I saw significant wear on my MT21s from the trips to/from the dirt. I was unwilling however to carry a compressor with me. From the attitudes on this list it seems that many Motorcycle mechanics have become the rip-off con-artists that many auto mechanics currently hold title too. Is it true that when after 500 miles and the valve clearance should be checked that you cannot trust them to do this procedure for fear that they just write it off as OK without even looking??? WOW. Not sure this is anything new, and not sure it has to do so much with dishonesty as it does with lazyness and lack of attention to detail. (See "Zen And The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig written 26 years ago). From personal experience I can tell you that you are best off doing the work if you know how. I you do not know how, find a shop and a mechanic that you really trust and talk to him/her about what they are going to do and how they are going to do it.

[wileyE_@excite.com]

Give 'em the big thumbs-up, when they don't respond, roll it over to a big thumbs down. What about the guys that wave from across 6 lanes on a grass median divided freeway, you can hardly see their hand over the cars that have them (and you) boxed in? I miss these waves all the time, where do you draw the wave line?

[Kurt Simpson]

> When I reach the 500 mile break-in, what type of motor oil is > recommended...

No concensus here...but many use Mobil I (the older the better, but not after 500 miles more like 2,000); many use motorcycle specific oils (more expensive but no one will say you're crazy); some of us use heavier weight diesel oils to some ridicule...

> mechanics currently hold title too. Is it true that when after 500 > miles and the valve clearance should be checked that you cannot trust > them to do this procedure for fear that they just write it off as OK > without even looking??? WOW.

this is a fact, verified again and again by listers...and they will tell you that the KLR never needs adjustment at 500 miles...list archives tell a very different story. Do them yourself and we will walk you through it... Kurt