xr400 nklr

[rhefferan@yahoo.com]

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CHAMPION BATTERY USERS (or others with single strip battery cell plugs) I had purchased a replacement battery for my KLR from SAMS Club about 10 months ago and last week it failed to start my bike. There are 2 things about this battery which may make it undesirable for some users. 1. To plug the cells, it has a single plastic strip with the cell plugs molded into the strip. IMO This is less desirable than the individual screw in plugs. It would have been tolerable if the extension of the strip, which is the pull tab, was not too long that it contacted the black plastic battery cover (that slides into the grooves at the top of the battery box). The pull tab had been pushed inward by the cover installation resulting in the first cell plug being lifted. This unsealed cell now could evaporate much more quickly and leak battery acid if the bike were dropped. UNACCEPTABLE! 2. The battery is a little taller than the cover grooves, which makes sliding in the cover over the battery difficult, but doable. Problem 1 above has resulted in damage to the first cell and replacement of the battery is required. I advise anyone who may have this model battery or type of plug strip, remove it and check the plug strip. I would recommend trimming the pull tab so that it cannot cause the above problem. Rex A7

[Robert J. Kaub]

Last year I bought a Champion 14LA2 battery at Sam's Club for around 25 US$, just to have around for a spare. Last Saturday I went to get the bike out of the shed and discovered that the boy had parked the bike and turned the key all the way to the left to the position that leaves the tail light on. Well, the battery was completely dead. Rather than mess with a three year old battery, I prepped the Champion battery and tried to install it. While it is clearly marked as a 14LA2, the Champion (made in Taiwan) is actually a little taller than the OEM battery and is a very tight fit in the battery box. The plastic top cover that normally slides right in had to be forced in enough to screw on the metal retainer that mounts on the side of the bike. The whole deal was just shitty as hell but I wanted to go for a ride so I pushed hard and got everything together. I hate it when shit that is supposed to fit doesn't. Thanks. Bob Kaub

[Conall O'Brien]

>From: "Robert J. Kaub" >To: "KLR" DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> >Subject: [DSN_klr650] Champion Battery >Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 15:45:31 -0400 > >Last year I bought a Champion 14LA2 battery at Sam's Club for around 25 >US$, >just to have around for a spare. >Last Saturday I went to get the bike out of the shed and discovered that >the >boy had parked the bike and turned the key all the way to the left to the >position that leaves the tail light on. Well, the battery was completely >dead. Rather than mess with a three year old battery, I prepped the >Champion battery and tried to install it. >While it is clearly marked as a 14LA2, the Champion (made in Taiwan) is >actually a little taller than the OEM battery and is a very tight fit in >the >battery box. The plastic top cover that normally slides right in had to be >forced in enough to screw on the metal retainer that mounts on the side of >the bike. The whole deal was just shitty as hell but I wanted to go for a >ride so I pushed hard and got everything together. I hate it when shit >that >is supposed to fit doesn't. >Thanks. >Bob Kaub > >

Bob, Try taking the battery box/cover to your local machine shop and have them mill a little bit of the plastic so the battery fits. I have a friend who really hates it when aftermarket parts don't fit and that is what he did in this same case. Just shave off a little bit to allow the battery cover to slide back in. Cheers, Conall _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Robert J. Kaub]

Rex: Looking at this battery, I just have the feeling that this battery just isn't going to last. We'll see. But, considering the price of around 25 US$, I can put a new one in every spring. In fact, the next time I'm in Sam's, I going buy another one. Thanks.

[Mark]

At 8:10 AM -0400 6/12/2001, Robert J. Kaub wrote:

>Rex: >Looking at this battery, I just have the feeling that this battery just >isn't going to last. We'll see. >But, considering the price of around 25 US$, I can put a new one in every >spring. In fact, the next time I'm in Sam's, I going buy another one. >Thanks.

The Wal-Mart near me has a battery for the KLR for $29.00 from "EverStart", but it has Yuasa stamped on it. Fits great, works great. Mark B2 A2 A3

[Peter Dahlheimer, MD]

i have the 400 "dual sported". it is quite tall. the corbin with the "dip" helps and aids in tight trails in my opinion. as far as i know, honda has no plans for an L version. i don't mind that at all. i think a dual-sported dirt version is a better bet anyway. same goes for the drz and the xr650.... _pete

----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Oaks" To: "Luke Reimer" Cc: "Glen Meyer" ; DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2001 10:38 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] XR250L? NKLR > I haven't heard much about the Honda 400 series expect that it's supposed to be > hot. Interesting think to watch though. I hope the damned think is of > reasonable height when and if it does come out. I didn't buy the Honda 650 Dual > Sport specifically because I don't like ballet toe dancing on a motorcycle. > > -- > bierdo > > Luke Reimer wrote: > > > Dont forget the KLR250 and the Yamaha TW200 ... if you truly want a fun > > little dual sport the TW200 with its fat back tire is geared for torque and > > a blast on trails ... a bit heavy for its size but fun. I think it shares > > the same basic engine as the XT225?? I truly forget my KLR 250 is NOT a > > mountain bike at times as I cruise around twisty roads. And it handles well > > off-road, its not KDX but takes a pounding and feels stable. > > > > But the Hondas are far superior off-road, so I'm waiting for a XR400L to > > come out ..... did they ever make these? Or maybe just buy the Baja Designs > > kit and license it in CA if thats possible. > > > > Luke > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dan Oaks > > To: Glen Meyer > > Cc: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 10:10 AM > > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] XR250L? NKLR > > > > > Because Honda subscribes to the same marketing practices that Apple has > > used so > > > successfully over the years. Develop the best product in the world, sell > > four of > > > them, then move on. It keeps the rest of 'em guessing. > > > > > > In my estimation. all motorcycle manufacturers are missing the boat. It > > seems like > > > if you want a choice in bikes you buy a Harley wannabe, or a crotch > > rocket, or a > > > dirt bike that is too tall for any Jap and most Americans to ride. They > > seem to > > > think that every bike rider wants to be part of a clan, or a squid, or get > > big air. > > > > > > I wish you could see people's eyes light up when they ride our Honda trail > > 90, or > > > the Yamaha XT225 (XR-XL250 wannabe) through the grove. That goes for > > experienced as > > > well as inexperienced riders. Everyone I know owns a big bike. > > > > > > By the way, I think the XT225 is probably the closest thing to an XL250 > > that you > > > can buy today. It's my new favorite. I can't wait to get it to the Rockies > > this > > > Summer. > > > > > > -- > > > bierdo > > > > > > Find all the bikes you like and buy one of each! > > > > > > > > > > > > Glen Meyer wrote: > > > > > > > What ever happened to the XR250 street legal dual sport? Why did Honda > > drop it? > > > > > > > > Glen Meyer- A13 > > > > Post Falls, (North) Idaho > > > > USA > > > > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Support Dual Sport News by subscribing at: > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >