klr versus klx300r cam inspection / adjustment

[mighty_oak1@yahoo.com]

Hi All, I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900 miles on it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my full fledged Class M license. Sunday I drove over to the course they have laid out next to drivers license beureau (just to practice) and man is that thing small. I don't know how you could get anything much larger than a 250cc around that course. Is there anything I can do to make the bike a little easier to handle in a confined area. Pump up the tires? Lower the bike? I don't have access to anything smaller and now I'm kinda worried. Only in Illinois would they expect you to pass a motorcycle driving test on a course barely big enough for a bicycle. Any thoughts would be appreciated. B.J. Morris A16

[Arden Kysely]

For tight turns, you need to keep the bike pretty upright and use a lot of steering lock to get it around the circle. Be prepared to slip the clutch a little if the bike tries to stall, but a KLR should putt- putt around a slow turn pretty well. Try it a few times in your driveway--it gets easier and easier. You'll be surprised at how tight that tall bike can turn once you get the hang of it. Keep practicing, and good luck! Arden Kysely A11 "Mr. K"

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., mighty_oak1@y... wrote: > Hi All, > > I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900 miles on it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my > full fledged Class M license. Sunday I drove over to the course they have laid out next to drivers license beureau (just to practice) > and man is that thing small. I don't know how you could get anything much larger than a 250cc around that course. Is there anything > I can do to make the bike a little easier to handle in a confined area. Pump up the tires? Lower the bike? I don't have access to > anything smaller and now I'm kinda worried. Only in Illinois would they expect you to pass a motorcycle driving test on a course > barely big enough for a bicycle. > > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > B.J. Morris > A16

[RM]

On Mon, 12 Nov 2001 mighty_oak1@... wrote:

>Class M license. Sunday I drove over to the course they have laid out >next to drivers license beureau (just to practice) and man is that >thing small. I don't know how you could get anything much larger than a >250cc around that course. Is there anything I can do to make the bike a >little easier to handle in a confined area.

I avoided this mess by taking the MSF ridercourse. I got to do this kind of stuff on a TW200. For the KLR, trying getting your butt off the seat a little (to the outside), keeping your body upright, and leaning the bike way over. Let the bike idle in first and go round-and-round until you feel good about it. Is it possible for the bike to make the u-turn? I don't know.. RM

[Ryan Newman]

> I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900 miles on

it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my

> full fledged Class M license.

In Az the MC permit is for 6 months. I rode on the permti for the *whole* 6 months so that I'd be very used to the bike before I went for my license. After 5.5 months I went a rode the course, I passed with flying colors. I suggest that you ride the bike till your very comfortable with it. There aren't any real "tricks" to the course, you just have to be comfortable with the bike. IMHO 1 month is probably not enough seat time. Ryan Phoenix

[Joe]

Another classic example of dumb-asses who have never ridden a bike, setting up the course. These are the same group that pass laws like the infamous motorcycle seatbelt law that some clown "official" tried to get passed in NY sometime back. What "skill" does driving around a bicycle course, translate into operating a motorcycle on the street/road, in a safe manner? God help us..... Joe Blanchard A15 Kansas

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Ryan Newman" wrote: > > I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900 miles on > it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my > > full fledged Class M license. > > In Az the MC permit is for 6 months. I rode on the permti for the *whole* 6 > months so that I'd be very used to the bike before I went for my license. > After 5.5 months I went a rode the course, I passed with flying colors. I > suggest that you ride the bike till your very comfortable with it. There > aren't any real "tricks" to the course, you just have to be comfortable with > the bike. IMHO 1 month is probably not enough seat time. > Ryan > Phoenix

[Joe]

----- Original Message ----- From: To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 2:18 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] NKLR Motorcycle Lincense > Hi All, > > I've had my '02 KLR650 for about a month now (I've put almost 900 miles on it) and feel that I'm just about ready to try to get my > full fledged Class M license. Sunday I drove over to the course they have laid out next to drivers license beureau (just to practice) > and man is that thing small. I don't know how you could get anything much larger than a 250cc around that course. Is there anything > I can do to make the bike a little easier to handle in a confined area. Pump up the tires? Lower the bike? I don't have access to > anything smaller and now I'm kinda worried. Only in Illinois would they expect you to pass a motorcycle driving test on a course > barely big enough for a bicycle. > > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > B.J. Morris > A16 Try experimenting with using the rear break while turning. I keep the throttle slightly open and use the rear break to control speed. For me this is smoother then getting on and off the throttle while attempting a tight turn. Joe NW Pa A13

[Brad Morris]

My permit is 1 year, and it only allows me to be riding alongside someone with a class M license during daylight hours. It's really frustrating when all of your friends are fair weather riders and they put their bikes away after Labor Day like they're friggin' boats. Please don't flame me but most of the 900 miles on my bike were done riding by myself out in the country on the warm Saturday & Sunday afternoons we've been blessed with this year. Yes I could get busted for driving without a license, but I'm just too weak to sit here and stare at my brand new KLR on a sunny, 70 degree day, when the leaves are turning in the Illinois River Valley and not ride. I'm going to take my test Wednesday. I spent a couple of hours over at the Drivers License course today (they are closed) and was able to complete (without putting a foot down) the slalom that ends with a 20ft wide U-turn 7 out of 10 times. It is the hardest of the 5 tests you have to do. All of the others I can do pretty easily. Everybody I've talked to said they will cut you some slack if you just put your foot down, and will usually let you try the maneuver again (within reason). The odds should be in my favor. If I fail then I will take the MSF class at my local community college next year. Wish me luck, B.J.

> In Az the MC permit is for 6 months. I rode on the > permti for the *whole* 6 > months so that I'd be very used to the bike before I > went for my license. > After 5.5 months I went a rode the course, I passed > with flying colors. I > suggest that you ride the bike till your very > comfortable with it. There > aren't any real "tricks" to the course, you just > have to be comfortable with > the bike. IMHO 1 month is probably not enough seat > time. > Ryan > Phoenix > > > 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

[Arden Kysely]

Brad, Good luck with your test. In the meantime, don't get caught! Years ago in California the permit was good for daylight only, no passengers. I'll admit to bending those rules a bit, as well as a few others. You should take the MSF course whether you pass the test or not, and take your time learning all you can about motorcycle control. One thing that everyone on this list will probably agree on is that you can't be too good a rider for all the situations you're going to face in traffic. Arden Kysely A11 "Mr. K"

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Brad Morris wrote: > My permit is 1 year, and it only allows me to be > riding alongside someone with a class M license during > daylight hours. It's really frustrating when all of > your friends are fair weather riders and they put > their bikes away after Labor Day like they're friggin' > boats. Please don't flame me but most of the 900 miles > on my bike were done riding by myself out in the > country on the warm Saturday & Sunday afternoons we've > been blessed with this year. Yes I could get busted > for driving without a license, but I'm just too weak > to sit here and stare at my brand new KLR on a sunny, > 70 degree day, when the leaves are turning in the > Illinois River Valley and not ride. > > I'm going to take my test Wednesday. I spent a couple > of hours over at the Drivers License course today > (they are closed) and was able to complete (without > putting a foot down) the slalom that ends with a 20ft > wide U-turn 7 out of 10 times. It is the hardest of > the 5 tests you have to do. All of the others I can do > pretty easily. Everybody I've talked to said they will > cut you some slack if you just put your foot down, and > will usually let you try the maneuver again (within > reason). The odds should be in my favor. If I fail > then I will take the MSF class at my local community > college next year. > > Wish me luck, > B.J. > > > > In Az the MC permit is for 6 months. I rode on the > > permti for the *whole* 6 > > months so that I'd be very used to the bike before I > > went for my license. > > After 5.5 months I went a rode the course, I passed > > with flying colors. I > > suggest that you ride the bike till your very > > comfortable with it. There > > aren't any real "tricks" to the course, you just > > have to be comfortable with > > the bike. IMHO 1 month is probably not enough seat > > time. > > Ryan > > Phoenix > > > > > > 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/ > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Find a job, post your resume. > http://careers.yahoo.com

[Duvall Ed]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., RM wrote:

> Is it possible for the bike to make the u-turn? I don't know.. > > RM

I just took the test last year out here in WA state (because they don't have resiprocity with NJ) on my friends brand new R1150 GS and it handled it, so I'm sure the KLR would be fine too. I imagine the tests are very similar, with the cones set up closely together and having to weave through them, making u turns, a quick stop, etc. If you're really concerned, you could probably get the dimensions of the course, and lay it out yourself in a parking lot and practice the hard manuevors. If you have some basic slow speed skills, you should do fine. Good luck, Ed WouldLoveaR1150GS, WA

[BGRDSHARK@aol.com]

In California they also have a circle and I practiced when the DMV was closed. I went back and observed a road test being conducted. The bike was a 900 Honda. He had a little trouble doing the circles. Then the tester told him that he only had to keep the front wheel between the lines to be successful at the maneuver. That made it a bit easier. Good Luck Bgrdshark [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]