stuck in neutral - - -

[weave7112003]

Would like a report from those that have oversize rotor in use.Brakes are a great thing to upgrade if it really performs. Thanks

[Guest]

I have the oversized front rotor kit on my KLR650 A12. I decided I needed to do something after we had a braking distance shoot-out in MSF Advanced Class. Everyone was riding their own motorcycles and we all had to perform maximum non-lockup braking from a set speed (probably 20 mph but my memory has faded) with the instructors measuring how far we went before we stopped. The Honda 600 racer replicas won with some nicely executed stoppies. The BMW 650 dual-sport was next best. Even the huge Triumph touring bike (with hard bags, no less) stopped only a little more poorly than the racer-replica Hondas. My KLR650 with stock rotors and brake pads was dead last by a factor of two. That is, it took me twice as far to stop as the next worst motorcycle. The instructors were sufficiently negatively impressed that they let me try the stopping drill several more times trying to improve my results. I was squeezing the front brake lever as hard as I could and chirping the rear tire as it threatened to lock up. After the braking distance shoot out one of the MSF instructors took me aside and gently suggested I might want to do something about my motorcycles brakes, as my motorcycle's exceptionally poor braking performance might tend to get me killed in stop-and-go traffic. He also observed that my KLR650's stopping performance was the worst he had seen in all the years he had been teaching the MSF Advanced Course. I took his suggestion to heart. I ordered an oversized front rotor kit from Fred Hink at Arrowhead Motorsports. I installed it (very easy installation even for non-mechanics like me). I love it and am never going back. As Fred predicted, I had about a 150 mile break-in period to get the rotor scrubbed in and the new brake pads broken in. I now can do stoppies (but only if I want them) on the street with Galfer green brake pads. With the puny one-pot stock front KLR650 caliper and normal 2-finger squeeze forces applied to the front brake lever I still have excellent modulation on dirt and loose surfaces with no front brake lock-up problems. Other than the high purchase price this rotor kit is all win and no lose. With the now-significantly reduced prices due to the group buy (good job, Mike and Fred), even the hideously high purchase price has come down. Very highly recommended if you ever ride on the street in traffic (particularly at highway speeds with idiots ahead of you suddenly slamming on their brakes), and ought to have been on the bike as it comes from the Kawasaki factory. Pathetic 1986 dirt-bike braking performance on motorcycles being ridden in today's aggressive traffic is not acceptable. Extreme front fork dive with the significantly improved braking due to the bigger rotor will soon have you wanting stiffer fork springs if you do not already have them. -- Marc, KLR650 A12, Loveland, Colorado USA Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2004 22:24:44 -0000 From: "weave7112003" Subject: Oversize Rotor Would like a report from those that have oversize rotor in use. Brakes are a great thing to upgrade if it really performs.

[Arden Kysely]

My A11 with the Braking oversized rotor and stock brake line stops much better than my A1 with stock rotor and braided steel brake line did. The big rotor was on the bike when I bought it. Not sure if I would have spent the bucks for it myself, probaby would have gone with stocker and steel line. If you're heavy or carry heavy loads, some sort of brake upgrade is definitely in order. __Arden --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "weave7112003" wrote:

> Would like a report from those that have oversize rotor in > use.Brakes are a great thing to upgrade if it really performs. > Thanks

[Dave Watkins]

From The Great White North, Last year I attended CMC 2003 in Moab and installed the first oversize rotor from Cycle Brakes that was available. I Had them ship the complete kit, lines and all to Fred's shop as I was leaving right away and there was no way I could get it installed prior to leaving from Calgary. On the trip down the total weight of the bike and rider was 558 Lbs. To say quick stops were a concern was an understatement. Once I installed the kit it was like a new bike. Even with the overload I was carrying I could stop in any situation without any worries. I posted a write-up after CMC last year to this list..... perhaps someone could find it and post it here for all to see/read again? I'm running out the door right now and will look for it later. In short, let me say that I feel that the rotor replacement coupled with a front spring set upgrade is without a doubt the most significant improvement I have made to the bike overall. While expensive I feel that to get the best results it's best to 1. replace both lines with stainless braided ones, 2. Upgrade the springs, 3. Replace the rotor. HTH Cheers, Dave Watkins Calgary, Alberta, Canada dave@... www.davewatkins.net Voice: 403-701-5746 Fax: 403-266-0626 Hardware/Software Sales, Service & Support Electronics Restoration Specialists -----Original Message----- From: weave7112003 [mailto:weave7112003@...] Sent: Friday, March 05, 2004 3:25 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Oversize Rotor Would like a report from those that have oversize rotor in use.Brakes are a great thing to upgrade if it really performs. Thanks 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

[Thor Lancelot Simon]

On Sat, Mar 06, 2004 at 12:45:45PM -0700, Dave Watkins wrote:

> > In short, let me say that I feel that the rotor replacement coupled with a > front spring set upgrade is without a doubt the most significant improvement > I have made to the bike overall. While expensive I feel that to get the best > results it's best to 1. replace both lines with stainless braided ones, 2. > Upgrade the springs, 3. Replace the rotor.

I can't imagine ever wanting more rear brake -- it's trivial to lock up the rear on pavement with the stock configuration. Thor

[Mark Sampson]

I'm happy with the stock brakes-----but I'm usually riding in loose dirt and rocks. I don't want a stronger front brake---but I can see where guys that burn up the pavement would. Mark Sampson www.bigdogadventures.com

[Paul Dent]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Sampson" wrote:

> > I'm happy with the stock brakes-----but I'm usually riding in > loose dirt and rocks. I don't want a stronger front brake---but I

can

> see where guys that burn up the pavement would.

I bought my A16 with the oversize rotor and Progressive springs already installed. Although I therefore can't compare it to stock, I think having less brake would be downright perilous on the street. I am seriously considering steel braided lines as the action is still spongy. Of course my other bike is a Monster with dual Brembos up front (too much brake for the city, actually). When I have the KLR off road, I see the value in having weaker brakes, but my riding is 98% street and I have to put that top priority. The rear brake is fine, as someone else posted. It's easy to lock. Speaking of front brakes, I notice that as I come to a stop under moderate to strong braking, I feel a shudder from the front as I approach zero MPH. It got better when I replaced the stock tires with Gripsters, but it's still there. Anyone else experiencing this? Paul A16L 01 M750 'G' SF, CA

[Keith Saltzer]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Dent" wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Sampson" > wrote: > > > > I'm happy with the stock brakes-----but I'm usually riding in > > loose dirt and rocks. I don't want a stronger front brake---but I > can > > see where guys that burn up the pavement would. > > > I bought my A16 with the oversize rotor and Progressive springs > already installed. Although I therefore can't compare it to stock,

I

> think having less brake would be downright perilous on the street.

I

> am seriously considering steel braided lines as the action is still > spongy. Of course my other bike is a Monster with dual Brembos up > front (too much brake for the city, actually). When I have the KLR > off road, I see the value in having weaker brakes, but my riding is > 98% street and I have to put that top priority. > > The rear brake is fine, as someone else posted. It's easy to lock. > > Speaking of front brakes, I notice that as I come to a stop under > moderate to strong braking, I feel a shudder from the front as I > approach zero MPH. It got better when I replaced the stock tires > with Gripsters, but it's still there. Anyone else experiencing

this?

> > Paul > A16L > 01 M750 'G' > SF, CA

Hey Paul! Any and every time I have felt exactly what you are talking about, (shuddering just as you are close to a complete stop) I have found that the steering stem head was a bit loose. When I have adjusted and tightened it all up (and I go a tad tighter than what the manual suggests) all the shuddering goes away. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

[Dave Watkins]

Good point MrMoose..... And the braided lines will remove the spongy feeling when you apply the brakes.... Cheers, Dave Watkins Calgary, Alberta, Canada dave@... www.davewatkins.net Voice: 403-701-5746 Fax: 403-266-0626 Hardware/Software Sales, Service & Support Electronics Restoration Specialists Hey Paul! Any and every time I have felt exactly what you are talking about, (shuddering just as you are close to a complete stop) I have found that the steering stem head was a bit loose. When I have adjusted and tightened it all up (and I go a tad tighter than what the manual suggests) all the shuddering goes away. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

[James L. Miller Jr.]

Shift lever broken (if still stock one) or loose , shift fork (inside the cases) or linkage (also inside). Closer examination will tell you. millerized

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Ron" wrote: > Just went for a ride - sort of. After a stop, and coming down the gears and > going for first (2002 KLR 650 only 11000 miles - good care - no wheelies > mostly single up light loads - in other words babied) > Anyway I could not get it to shift into first - then it would not go back up > to second - now it flat won't go into any gear. I have what appears to be > normal shift lever movement. There was no grinding - no clunks - nothing. > Simply would not go into first and now will not shift out of neutral. The > side stand switch has been 'defeated' , the neutral light is lit - just will > not go into any gear. > Any ideas out there??? > Ron in Montana > A-16 > A-8 > H-D Road Toad