why we celebrate the 4th of july! way nklr

[Jim Cunningham]

I have a most perplexing problem with my 1988 KLR650 (19000 miles). When I get up to about 50 miles per hour a fairly loud knocking sound starts and gets worse the faster I go. I have been trying to troubleshoot this problem for weeks now and I have found out a lot of things I think it IS NOT, but the problem persists. At first I thought it my be a loose rod, but it does not seem to be related to engine RPM. I can put the rear wheel up on a stand, put the bike in 5th gear and rev it up to 4Krmp with no knocking sound at all. Also, I can get the bike going down a hill at about 60 miles an hour with the sound very prominent. If I pull in the clutch and let the engine RPM fall to idle (1000rpm) the sound does not diminish at all. When the speed starts to fall below 50 the sound fairly quickly disappears. This sound started not too long after I put a new sprockets and chain on; the front sprocket is oversized by two teeth. So, I though this must be the source. But again, putting it up on stand a revving produces no sound. I even removed the front sprocket cover and all of the chain guard assembly, and this made no difference in the sound. It is very difficult while riding to determine the location of the sound although If I lean over the tank I can't hear it until I sit back in the normal riding position. Could this be a worn cam chain that can no longer be adjusted? I have also thought that maybe its a bad water pump?? If anyone has any ideas about this, please send them along. This is driving me crazy and I have a long trip planned in about a month which I will be reluctant to take if this problem persists. Jim Cunningham

[Stuart Mumford]

>Being a Brit I often sense that the hostility towards >us still remains during the 4th july weekend.

It's true, but I can verify that the Brits resent the Americans and not the other way around. I lived in Enfield (North London) as a youngster, and emigrated to the USA for 2 yrs, then back to the UK for a year, then back here to Riverside permanently. It so happens that during my 7th grade year, my US History class covered the American Revolution, then the next year, in England 6th form (8th grade) my history class covered... the American Revolution. Needless to say, the events were portrayed very differently, with each nation accusing the other of atrocities, cowardice, duplicity, etc. Needless to say, I collected the one and only "F" of my academic career that year in England. The real lesson that event taught me is that a goodly portion of society is totally convinced that their civilization and/or culture is the correct one, everyone else's is stupid and perverted. History is very subjective... I must say however that as an Englishman in America, I was treated as something special and with great affection by my new American friends. The year I spent as an American in England, the English kids made fun of my accent, picked on me and generally ostracized me from their social events. So I say to you Mr. Englishman, look to your countrymen for the true TransAtlantic hostility. CA Stu