doohickey madness

[puzzledpanthermlm]

I'm going to be riding in the rain for the first time since purchasing my KLR650 a few months ago. The bike is completely stock. I'm traveling from Southern California to the Portland, OR area and the initial weather reports indicate rain the entire way. I have waterproof jacket, pants, gloves, and boots. I'm curious about visibility with a face shield, how the bike handles in the rain on the freeway, and I need all the tips I can get. I will have about 100lbs of gear.

[Mike T]

Packing tape helps in sealing helmet and junctions of riding gear. HD trash bags are great for waterproofing gear. Check your electrical connections for GOOD sealing, incl. under the seat. Tire tips I am sure will come from others who live in wetter climates. Oh, try Rain-X on your visor or a good waxing - really helps in letting the water stream off of the visor. Also, I have used anti-fog treatment on the inside when I was running my beemer in wet areas. The usual recommendation of not riding in the middle of the lane you choose stands (debris, oil, antifreeze), unless the tarmac is channeled by cars - stay on high ground and watch for minor color variations in the water ahead of you. 25 years ago I had to ride up to Portland and it rained hard. My electrics started to go bad, so I tucked in behind big rigs. It worked well, but the margin of error for debris avoidance on the road was obviously reduced. Good luck and keep sharp. Mike T A16 Las Vegas -----Original Message----- From: puzzledpanthermlm [mailto:puzzledpanther@...] Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 1:51 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Tips for riding in the rain I'm going to be riding in the rain for the first time since purchasing my KLR650 a few months ago. The bike is completely stock. I'm traveling from Southern California to the Portland, OR area and the initial weather reports indicate rain the entire way. I have waterproof jacket, pants, gloves, and boots. I'm curious about visibility with a face shield, how the bike handles in the rain on the freeway, and I need all the tips I can get. I will have about 100lbs of gear.

[Mike T]

Also check out sites like this: http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/rain_riding.htm Mike T A16 Las Vegas -----Original Message----- From: puzzledpanthermlm [mailto:puzzledpanther@...] Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 1:51 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Tips for riding in the rain I'm going to be riding in the rain for the first time since purchasing my KLR650 a few months ago. The bike is completely stock. I'm traveling from Southern California to the Portland, OR area and the initial weather reports indicate rain the entire way. I have waterproof jacket, pants, gloves, and boots. I'm curious about visibility with a face shield, how the bike handles in the rain on the freeway, and I need all the tips I can get. I will have about 100lbs of gear. 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 . Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[monahanwb]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "puzzledpanthermlm" wrote:

> I'm going to be riding in the rain for the first time since > purchasing my KLR650 a few months ago. The bike is completely > stock. I'm traveling from Southern California to the Portland, OR > area and the initial weather reports indicate rain the entire way.

They handle just fine, if they run. Just guessing, I'd say about 50% of new KLRs don't like to run in heavy rain. Seems as if the carb vent hose gets water in it and that stoppers things up in the fuel flow. Also, if the bike is running well, you still have to deal with the faceshield getting covered with raindrops and you're glasses or whatever getting steamed up. It's a pain in the a$$, I've been doing it every day for weeks around here. So be prepared to add a t- fitting and hose to your existing carb vent. And carry a few hankerchiefs to dry shield and glasses every so often. Further, the KLR kicks up lots of water at your boots. More than my other bikes do. So plan on being waterproof to the max in the boot/calf/leg area. Plastic bags over your socks?

[TM1669@cs.com]

Also watch for standing water. If its unavoidable try to ease off the throttle and hit the water with the wheels as straight as possible. Try not to brake while going through the water. In deeper pools of water I have had my feet blown off the footpegs and to the rear of the bike. If you brace for it its not to bad but the first time it scared the hell out of me.

[bigfatgreenbike]

puzzledpanther@... wrote:

>I'm going to be riding in the rain for the first time since >purchasing my KLR650 a few months ago. The bike is completely >stock. I'm traveling from Southern California to the Portland, OR >area and the initial weather reports indicate rain the entire way. I >have waterproof jacket, pants, gloves, and boots. I'm curious about >visibility with a face shield, how the bike handles in the rain on >the freeway, and I need all the tips I can get. I will have about >100lbs of gear. > >

As someone mentioned, the carb vent gets blocked by water on some bikes. The fix is called the "T-mod", and the parts cost $2.50 at a hardware store or auto store. You buy a vacuum hose T-fitting and 2' of hose. You cut the vent hose about 6" away from the carb, fit the Tee, and run the second hose up on top of the battery. Clean your faceshield really well, then wax it. The rain will blow off pretty easily. Rain-x does not alays work on plastic. If it's pouring rain, then oil on the road is less of a concern. But do watch out for the middle of the lane, anywhere there's been bumper-to-bumper traffic you get an oil slick. Put your gear in garbage bags inside your luggage, double bag them if necessary. Bring extra gloves so you can switch halfway there, since gloves are really hard to get on once they get wet inside. -- Devon Brooklyn, NY A15-Z '01 KLR650 '81 SR500 cafe racer "The truth's not too popular these days....." Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man

[Lujo Bauer]

> As someone mentioned, the carb vent gets blocked by water on some bikes. > The fix is called the "T-mod", and the parts cost $2.50 at a hardware > store or auto store. You buy a vacuum hose T-fitting and 2' of hose. You > cut the vent hose about 6" away from the carb, fit the Tee, and run the > second hose up on top of the battery.

I would add that you should be careful how you route and secure the vent hose when you're doing the T-mod. I once ended up with a partially melted hose that caused the carb to inhale some water and choke -- exactly what I had been trying to avoid. -Lujo

[DAN DYER]

I would recomend a product called Fog City (I think) I live in Portland and have used this product on all my helmets. It's a clear piece of flexible plastic that attatchs to the inside of your helmet visor. This will keep you visor from fogging up. Also, watch out for standing water on I-5. The stretch from Eugene to Portland has become very rutted. Have fun and try to stay dry. Dan Mike T wrote: Also check out sites like this: http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/rain_riding.htm Mike T A16 Las Vegas -----Original Message----- From: puzzledpanthermlm [mailto:puzzledpanther@...] Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 1:51 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Tips for riding in the rain I'm going to be riding in the rain for the first time since purchasing my KLR650 a few months ago. The bike is completely stock. I'm traveling from Southern California to the Portland, OR area and the initial weather reports indicate rain the entire way. I have waterproof jacket, pants, gloves, and boots. I'm curious about visibility with a face shield, how the bike handles in the rain on the freeway, and I need all the tips I can get. I will have about 100lbs of gear. 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 . Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 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 . Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[jwalsh21@cox.net]

Harley Davidson trash bags now? What next; HD cosmetics? -Jim in AZ

> > Wrom: KEDOTWFAOBUZXUWLSZLKBRNVW > Date: 2003/12/19 Fri PM 11:40:32 EST > To: "'puzzledpanthermlm'" > CC: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> > Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] Tips for riding in the rain > > Packing tape helps in sealing helmet and junctions of riding gear. HD trash > bags are great for waterproofing gear. ...

[Chris]

On Sat, Dec 20, 2003 at 04:33:26AM -0800, Dan Dyer wrote:

> I would recomend a product called Fog City (I think) I live in Portland and have used this product on all my helmets. It's a clear piece of flexible plastic that attatchs to the inside of your helmet visor. This will keep you visor from fogging up. Also, watch out for standing water on I-5. The stretch from Eugene to Portland has become very rutted. Have fun and try to stay dry. > > Dan >

I second the Fog City Pro Shield, it's basically a peel and stick sheet of vinyl that acts like a mini storm window. It is pretty much magical how well it works. Take your shield and clean it absolutely spotless, then follow the instructions. My only tip is that when the shield is off and you are sticking on the shield that you curve the shield up to match how it is when on the helmet. The reason, if you stick the Fog City shield on when the visor is stretched out flatter, when you curve it back up, it will bubble....which is intolerable while riding. Once it's on, at night you get the very slightest bit of a halo around oncoming lights but it is FAR less noticeable than any fogging you'd get. As far as the visor goes, using 303 Aerospace Protectant, a biodegradeable ArmorAll sort of thing, works great to help water run off the outside as well as making it much easier to clean bugs off when you make a stop. You apply it, rub it in, and buff it until it's completely streak free. Lasts me a couple months before I need to reapply it and it won't make your shield brittle like Rain-X will. -- ___ ______ _____ __ ________ ___ / _ |< < / == / ___/__ / /_ /_ __/ / __ ____ _ ___ /__ \ / __ |/ // / ****/ (_ / _ \/ __/ / / / _ \/ // / ' \/ _ \ /__/ /_/ |_/_//_/ == \___/\___/\__/ /_/ /_//_/\_,_/_/_/_/ .__/ (_) 8600 miles*Russel Lines*Supertrapp Race* /_/ http://www.panix.com/~cesser/mybike/