dirt hurts.

[Larry Barnett]

Does anyone know what the proper "official" height of the fork tubes should be in the triple clamps? I bought my 2002 klr about a month ago, and I've noticed on several other klr's that this measurement can vary considerably. Mine protrude up in the triple clamps about 2 3/8" inch. Thanks. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Find a job, post your resume. http://careers.yahoo.com

[monahanwb@yahoo.com]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Larry Barnett wrote:

> Does anyone know what the proper "official" height of > the fork tubes should be in the triple clamps? I > bought my 2002 klr about a month ago, and I've noticed > on several other klr's that this measurement can vary > considerably. Mine protrude up in the triple clamps > about 2 3/8" inch. Thanks. > >

You are sinking, and fast. They should be flush at the top.

[Devon Jarvis]

The front end is lowered on your KLR by 2 3/8"? My A15 would do a slow weave when decelerating from 105mph, with the stock steering geometry. I'm sure your bike has delightfully quick steering, but does it seem "nervous" or twitchy at highway speeds? Devon A15 monahanwb@... wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@y..., Larry Barnett wrote: > > Does anyone know what the proper "official" height of > > the fork tubes should be in the triple clamps? I > > bought my 2002 klr about a month ago, and I've noticed > > on several other klr's that this measurement can vary > > considerably. Mine protrude up in the triple clamps > > about 2 3/8" inch. Thanks. > > > > > > You are sinking, and fast. They should be flush at the top. > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > 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 > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Ted Palmer]

Larry Barnett wrote:

> Does anyone know what the proper "official" height of > the fork tubes should be in the triple clamps?

[...] Every factory picture I've seen has the top of the tubes level with upper surface of the top triple clamp. Have a look at your owners manual. Mister_T Melbourne Australia

[Larry Barnett]

Nope, not at all. But it currently handles REALLY BAD here in these Arizona sand washes. Maybe that's because of the forktube setting....dunno. I think I'll lower 'em to the top and try the results....will let you know. Thanks for the input. --- Devon Jarvis wrote:

> The front end is lowered on your KLR by 2 3/8"? My > A15 would do a slow weave > when decelerating from 105mph, with the stock > steering geometry. I'm sure > your bike has delightfully quick steering, but does > it seem "nervous" or > twitchy at highway speeds? > > Devon > A15 > > monahanwb@... wrote: > > > --- In DSN_klr650@y..., Larry Barnett > wrote: > > > Does anyone know what the proper "official" > height of > > > the fork tubes should be in the triple clamps? > I > > > bought my 2002 klr about a month ago, and I've > noticed > > > on several other klr's that this measurement can > vary > > > considerably. Mine protrude up in the triple > clamps > > > about 2 3/8" inch. Thanks. > > > > > > > > > > You are sinking, and fast. They should be flush > at the top. > > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Be part of the Adventure! > > > > 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 > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > 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 > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Find a job, post your resume. http://careers.yahoo.com

[Devon Jarvis]

If you have the stock K750 Dunlop tires, I can assure you that the bike handles REALLY BAD in sand with the stock steering geometry also. In sand it seems that the front tire choice is critical. I have ridden KLR650s in sand with stock tires (horrible), with IRC GP110s (rideable but requires muscle to stay on course), and Kenda K270 (best in the sand so far). I am using the IRCs because they are great on the road and OK off of it. When I wear out the IRCs I'll try the Kendas. I am 5'7" and using the suspension at its full height. Unless you can't touch down, I would put the forks back up where they're supposed to be. Stock, the KLR steers quick enough that dropping the front end is unneccesary. Devon Larry Barnett wrote:

> > Nope, not at all. But it currently handles REALLY BAD > here in these Arizona sand washes. Maybe that's > because of the forktube setting....dunno. I think > I'll lower 'em to the top and try the results....will > let you know. Thanks for the input. > > --- Devon Jarvis wrote: > > The front end is lowered on your KLR by 2 3/8"? My > > A15 would do a slow weave > > when decelerating from 105mph, with the stock > > steering geometry. I'm sure > > your bike has delightfully quick steering, but does > > it seem "nervous" or > > twitchy at highway speeds? > > > > Devon > > A15 > > > > monahanwb@... wrote: > > > > > --- In DSN_klr650@y..., Larry Barnett > > wrote: > > > > Does anyone know what the proper "official" > > height of > > > > the fork tubes should be in the triple clamps? > > I > > > > bought my 2002 klr about a month ago, and I've > > noticed > > > > on several other klr's that this measurement can > > vary > > > > considerably. Mine protrude up in the triple > > clamps > > > > about 2 3/8" inch. Thanks. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > You are sinking, and fast. They should be flush > > at the top. > > > > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > > > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > > Be part of the Adventure! > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Be part of the Adventure! > > > > 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 > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Find a job, post your resume. > http://careers.yahoo.com

[k650dsn@aol.com]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Devon Jarvis wrote:

> If you have the stock K750 Dunlop tires, I can assure you that the

bike

> handles REALLY BAD in sand with the stock steering geometry also. > > In sand it seems that the front tire choice is critical. I have

ridden

> KLR650s in sand with stock tires (horrible), with IRC GP110s

(rideable

> but requires muscle to stay on course), and Kenda K270 (best in the

sand

> so far). I am using the IRCs because they are great on the road and

OK

> off of it.

Just to add to this. I can tell you with the HT fork brace and Dunlop K139 tire -which has the stiffest sidewall of any tire I have ever used- the KLR will move through sand better than any bike its size has a right to. Gino

[mc-guy@shaw.ca]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Devon Jarvis wrote:

> The front end is lowered on your KLR by 2 3/8"? My A15 would do a

slow weave

> when decelerating from 105mph, with the stock steering geometry.

I'm sure

> your bike has delightfully quick steering, but does it

seem "nervous" or

> twitchy at highway speeds? > > Devon > A15 >

I have an A15 that I bought new this past summer, which was set at 2 3/8 as well. It handles fine except in loose gravel, where it's a real handful. Obviously, this must be one of the reasons. Dave

> monahanwb@y... wrote: > > > --- In DSN_klr650@y..., Larry Barnett wrote: > > > Does anyone know what the proper "official" height of > > > the fork tubes should be in the triple clamps? I > > > bought my 2002 klr about a month ago, and I've noticed > > > on several other klr's that this measurement can vary > > > considerably. Mine protrude up in the triple clamps > > > about 2 3/8" inch. Thanks. > > > > > > > > > > You are sinking, and fast. They should be flush at the top. > > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Be part of the Adventure! > > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > > > Post message: DSN_klr650@y... > > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@y... > > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@y... > > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@y... > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Russell D. Stephan, Sr. Tech Analyst]

PLEASE RESPECT THE AUTHOR'S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS AND OBSERVATIONS MAY BE DISTRIBUTED FOR NONCOMMERCIAL USE AS LONG AS THIS COPYRIGHT AND THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR BANNER ARE INCLUDED. (C) Copyright 2001 by Russell D. Stephan. All rights reserved. email: rstephan@... ------- The weekend of 11/10/01. Dirt Hurts. Or so a saying goes in another one of my non-moto leisure activities. Yes, it hurts, but this weekend it was a kind of pain I can live with and embrace. For those of you street riders that have never traded knee pucks for nobbies, you're missing out. For those of you Deal's Gap riders that have never visited North Carolina's National Forest Service off-road vehicle trails, you're missing irreplaceable smiles and good times. Oh, you'll be hurting after all is said and done. But, you won't be in enough pain to want to stop. I had more slow speed fun this last weekend than I have experienced in quite a while. Mud, dust, cold mountain water. Blue sky, dripping sweat, and fallen leaves. The smell of dusty pine needles littering the line before your tires. You like powering your street bike through the curves? How about the challenge of moving your dirt bike up twenty feet of steep mud and boulders? How about threading your machine up from a cold running river through an eight inch channel on a five foot vertical stream bank? Squids you say? Oh yeah, squids infest the dirt too. What the hell was that guy thinking? A stock 4x4 Chevy S10 blazer with square street tires and running boards? Good thing he thought to bring a tow strap and buddies stupid enough to let him come along. Lane splitting through traffic? Yep, did some of that too. Nothing moves through the dirt/rocks/mud like a bike. Of course, there is that capable-of-getting-air 300hp dune buggy Jack's nephew built -- the exception which proves the rule. You come around a bend in the mountain only to be greeted with five or six 4x4's stacked up waiting to ford an obstacle. There's not much space to go around. But, you do with a smile and a wave to the stranded cagers. These gridlocked drivers don't seem to mind your speedy leap-to-the-front aggressiveness. As a matter of fact, they applaud it! Busted trannies, fried front ends, leaking gear lube, and open checkbooks. Sitting on an overlook watching some poor shmuck roach a drive train component. Climbing the second-to-last rise only to stumble on someone performing major surgery on his running gear. NAPA is four hours that way and no tow truck is coming in here. Amazing the whole place isn't completely clogged up with rusty machinery wounded by the mountains. People and their looks of astonishment. You actually enjoy riding a bike in here? How do you do it? From my point of view, it's easier than getting that pig of an ATV through this mess -- you'd better be comfortable with the stay-on-the-gas concept, though. Big bore DP bikes stay home and on your groomed "trails". These routes are for the little machines that draw snickers on the street. A broken clutch cable got you down? Throw in the towel and sulk home? Fuck no! Get out the baling wire and rig up something that will last through five hours of serious kidney busting abuse. This kind of riding is measured not with odometer miles (17), but by the number of hours spent afield and the intensity of painful dinner time muscle cramps. Color it a very enjoyable Saturday. Thanks, *************************************************************************** Russell D. Stephan, Voice: (614) 760-3065 Senior Technical Analyst Fax: (614) 760-3360 Technology Management Consulting, Inc. email: rstephan@... 9980 Brewster Lane, Suite A. russell.stephan@... Powell, Ohio 43065 URL: http://www.tmconsult.com