3klr ride

[dmuhlen]

I picked up a new 2004 KLR250 for my wife a couple of months ago. The bike seems to have some sort of alignment problem and I was wondering if anyone else had heard of this. When I purchased the bike, I rode it home from the dealer. For the first mile or so, it seemed to give off some bluish-white smoke from the exhaust area. I had purchased a KL125 for my son at the same time, and the dealer had agreed to follow me home with the 125 in the back of his pickup. We both noticed the smoke, but after about a mile it went away, and we didn't think much more of it. We got the bikes home (about 4 miles from the dealer), and the next day I was looking over the 250 and noticed that the rear tire had been rubbing on the muffler. That was what made the smoke. It appears the tire was just barely rubbing the muffler, and it only took a mile or so to rub the corner off the first row of knobs and create a little clearance between the tire and the muffler. I called the dealer and explained the situation, and he said to bring it on in and they'd take a look at it. I then began looking the bike over really well and when you look straight on from the rear it appears the rear wheel is tilted to the right (muffler) side at the top by at least a good 1/2 inch or so. I wasn't sure the cause of the tilt, and brought it back into the dealer. He kept it for a few days and Kawasaki replaced the rear tire and the muffler (some paint had rubbed off the muffler) under warranty. He also shimmed the rear muffler mounting bolt by adding a few washers between the muffler and the frame. He said he had contacted Kawasaki and they had checked a 250 at the warehouse and they could barely fit a piece of paper between the tire and muffler when the rear suspension was compressed as with a rider on. He said Kawasaki had instructed them to shim the muffler. I thought this washer repair was kind of mickey mouse, but took the bike as we had a ride scheduled that weekend. During the weekend ride I spent some time following my wife with her on the KLR250 and I on my KLR650, and it definitely appeared that the back wheel of the 250 had a tilt to the right at the top. After a couple of outings I decided to look into this a little further. I put the 250 on my motorcycle lift and removed the front and rear axles and slipped in a couple of 3 foot steel rods in their place so they would stick out a foot or so on each side of the bike. If you view the bike from the rear the two rods are not parallel. The rods definitely show a tilt to the right at the top of the rear wheel. I did not go further and replace the swingarm pivot bolt with a rod, so don't know for sure if it's in the frame or the swingarm. Anyway, I've brought it back to the dealer, who as of yesterday has it out at a frame shop getting the alignment checked and trying to find out where the problem is. During one conversation with the dealer, they said that Kawasaki was aware of this problem and had stopped shipment of 2004 KLR250's. I'm supposed to call the dealer back on Monday and get an update. I've seen some of you have posted about purchasing 2004 KLR250's. Anyone notice anything like this on their bikes? When I was in the dealer a few weeks ago he had a used KLR250 (Barbie style, not sure what year) that I looked over pretty good for comparison and it didn't show any signs of the misalignment I'm seeing on my 2004. I'd appreciate any info or insight any of you may have. David Muhlenkamp 2002 KLR650 2004 KLR250

[Mike T]

You have done a pretty fair job on assessing the problem. I too would not be comfortable with a NEW bike having this issue. I would also be concerned with 3rd party solving this issue by drilling and bending things to get it right. Keep us posted as what is done by the dealer and his 3rd party shop. Your trust in the dealer must surely be strained at this point... Mike T A16 Las Vegas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- FIGHT BACK AGAINST SPAM! Download Spam Inspector, the Award Winning Anti-Spam Filter http://mail.giantcompany.com -----Original Message----- From: dmuhlen [mailto:dmuhlen@...] Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 2:40 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] 2004 KLR250 I picked up a new 2004 KLR250 for my wife a couple of months ago. The bike seems to have some sort of alignment problem and I was wondering if anyone else had heard of this. When I purchased the bike, I rode it home from the dealer. For the first mile or so, it seemed to give off some bluish-white smoke from the exhaust area. I had purchased a KL125 for my son at the same time, and the dealer had agreed to follow me home with the 125 in the back of his pickup. We both noticed the smoke, but after about a mile it went away, and we didn't think much more of it. We got the bikes home (about 4 miles from the dealer), and the next day I was looking over the 250 and noticed that the rear tire had been rubbing on the muffler. That was what made the smoke. It appears the tire was just barely rubbing the muffler, and it only took a mile or so to rub the corner off the first row of knobs and create a little clearance between the tire and the muffler. I called the dealer and explained the situation, and he said to bring it on in and they'd take a look at it. I then began looking the bike over really well and when you look straight on from the rear it appears the rear wheel is tilted to the right (muffler) side at the top by at least a good 1/2 inch or so. I wasn't sure the cause of the tilt, and brought it back into the dealer. He kept it for a few days and Kawasaki replaced the rear tire and the muffler (some paint had rubbed off the muffler) under warranty. He also shimmed the rear muffler mounting bolt by adding a few washers between the muffler and the frame. He said he had contacted Kawasaki and they had checked a 250 at the warehouse and they could barely fit a piece of paper between the tire and muffler when the rear suspension was compressed as with a rider on. He said Kawasaki had instructed them to shim the muffler. I thought this washer repair was kind of mickey mouse, but took the bike as we had a ride scheduled that weekend. During the weekend ride I spent some time following my wife with her on the KLR250 and I on my KLR650, and it definitely appeared that the back wheel of the 250 had a tilt to the right at the top. After a couple of outings I decided to look into this a little further. I put the 250 on my motorcycle lift and removed the front and rear axles and slipped in a couple of 3 foot steel rods in their place so they would stick out a foot or so on each side of the bike. If you view the bike from the rear the two rods are not parallel. The rods definitely show a tilt to the right at the top of the rear wheel. I did not go further and replace the swingarm pivot bolt with a rod, so don't know for sure if it's in the frame or the swingarm. Anyway, I've brought it back to the dealer, who as of yesterday has it out at a frame shop getting the alignment checked and trying to find out where the problem is. During one conversation with the dealer, they said that Kawasaki was aware of this problem and had stopped shipment of 2004 KLR250's. I'm supposed to call the dealer back on Monday and get an update. I've seen some of you have posted about purchasing 2004 KLR250's. Anyone notice anything like this on their bikes? When I was in the dealer a few weeks ago he had a used KLR250 (Barbie style, not sure what year) that I looked over pretty good for comparison and it didn't show any signs of the misalignment I'm seeing on my 2004. I'd appreciate any info or insight any of you may have. David Muhlenkamp 2002 KLR650 2004 KLR250 List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Harvey Hicks]

A cloudy, windy 50-degree day became much better when Ed called this morning. "Scott got his new '04 KLR yesterday. He wants to put some miles on it today. We'll be at your house about 1." Sure nough, they showed and away we rode. The 3 KLRs headed south down dirt roads, headed east on county roads, then north, then west around the lake, and south back to home. Did some more dirt roads here and there. Even saw an elk. Elk are pretty rare in Oklahoma. Several years ago the state put some elk in the game refuge north of the house. Course they didn't read the signs and stay on the refuge. Now there are not many of them left. This one only had one horn but it was good size. Scott was leading and slowed down for the elk. The elk was on the other side of the fence when I arrived. He watched us as we rode slowly by. We got to the house just before dark. Scott had a little over a hundred miles showing when he left here. Cold wet weather is coming early in the week with possible light snow. Glad I got to ride today. Harvey A15

[dmuhlen]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike T" wrote:

> You have done a pretty fair job on assessing the problem. I too

would not be

> comfortable with a NEW bike having this issue. I would also be

concerned

> with 3rd party solving this issue by drilling and bending things to

get it

> right. Keep us posted as what is done by the dealer and his 3rd

party shop.

> Your trust in the dealer must surely be strained at this point... > > > Mike T > A16 > Las Vegas > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------

-------- Actually, the dealer has been fairly helpful so far. We'll see what I find out from them on Monday. David M A16

> ---------- > FIGHT BACK AGAINST SPAM! > Download Spam Inspector, the Award Winning Anti-Spam Filter > http://mail.giantcompany.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dmuhlen [mailto:dmuhlen@y...] > Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 2:40 PM > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_klr650] 2004 KLR250 > > I picked up a new 2004 KLR250 for my wife a couple of months ago.

The

> bike seems to have some sort of alignment problem and I was

wondering

> if anyone else had heard of this. When I purchased the bike, I rode > it home from the dealer. For the first mile or so, it seemed to

give

> off some bluish-white smoke from the exhaust area. I had purchased

a

> KL125 for my son at the same time, and the dealer had agreed to > follow me home with the 125 in the back of his pickup. We both > noticed the smoke, but after about a mile it went away, and we

didn't

> think much more of it. We got the bikes home (about 4 miles from

the

> dealer), and the next day I was looking over the 250 and noticed

that

> the rear tire had been rubbing on the muffler. That was what made

the

> smoke. It appears the tire was just barely rubbing the muffler, and > it only took a mile or so to rub the corner off the first row of > knobs and create a little clearance between the tire and the

muffler.

> I called the dealer and explained the situation, and he said to

bring

> it on in and they'd take a look at it. I then began looking the

bike

> over really well and when you look straight on from the rear it > appears the rear wheel is tilted to the right (muffler) side at the > top by at least a good 1/2 inch or so. I wasn't sure the cause of

the

> tilt, and brought it back into the dealer. He kept it for a few

days

> and Kawasaki replaced the rear tire and the muffler (some paint had > rubbed off the muffler) under warranty. He also shimmed the rear > muffler mounting bolt by adding a few washers between the muffler

and

> the frame. He said he had contacted Kawasaki and they had checked a > 250 at the warehouse and they could barely fit a piece of paper > between the tire and muffler when the rear suspension was

compressed

> as with a rider on. He said Kawasaki had instructed them to shim

the

> muffler. I thought this washer repair was kind of mickey mouse, but > took the bike as we had a ride scheduled that weekend. > > During the weekend ride I spent some time following my wife with

her

> on the KLR250 and I on my KLR650, and it definitely appeared that

the

> back wheel of the 250 had a tilt to the right at the top. After a > couple of outings I decided to look into this a little further. I

put

> the 250 on my motorcycle lift and removed the front and rear axles > and slipped in a couple of 3 foot steel rods in their place so they > would stick out a foot or so on each side of the bike. If you view > the bike from the rear the two rods are not parallel. The rods > definitely show a tilt to the right at the top of the rear wheel. I > did not go further and replace the swingarm pivot bolt with a rod,

so

> don't know for sure if it's in the frame or the swingarm. > > Anyway, I've brought it back to the dealer, who as of yesterday has > it out at a frame shop getting the alignment checked and trying to > find out where the problem is. During one conversation with the > dealer, they said that Kawasaki was aware of this problem and had > stopped shipment of 2004 KLR250's. I'm supposed to call the dealer > back on Monday and get an update. I've seen some of you have posted > about purchasing 2004 KLR250's. Anyone notice anything like this on > their bikes? When I was in the dealer a few weeks ago he had a used > KLR250 (Barbie style, not sure what year) that I looked over pretty > good for comparison and it didn't show any signs of the

misalignment

> I'm seeing on my 2004. I'd appreciate any info or insight any of

you

> may have. > > > David Muhlenkamp > 2002 KLR650 > 2004 KLR250 > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

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