good vibes !

[Riley]

Did you get shafted? Probably! I've done my valves and the valves on my buddies 2 KLRs many times with out loosening any engine mounts. You can take the tan off without cutting those ties by unscrewing the the phillips screws that go into the rad and reservoir. but it would be The fact that I've been doing all my own maintenace for the last two years shows you how happy I've been with dealer service though! I've picked up bikes with gas running down the engine side cases, rear brakes that worked once, loose or missing fastners, and evidence that paid for work just wasn't done, not to mention a couple bills for routine maintenace on my BMW that almost made my faint. This is at three different dealers. Riley Montreal A15

----- Original Message ----- From: To: "wilkins5773" Cc: "Dual Sport News" DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 10:41 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Did I get the shaft? I don't think it's possible to get the valve cover off > without removing the upper engine mount bolt, and that bolt still had the > undisturbed red factory thread lock on it. > > Thanks, Steve from Graham, NC. > >

[Riley]

Shoulda used spell check on that one... tan = tank but it would be The fact = bout it would be a pain. The fact... Argggghh Riley A15 Montreal

----- Original Message ----- From: "Riley" To: "KLR" DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 10:38 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Did I get the shaft? > Did you get shafted? Probably! I've done my valves and the valves on my > buddies 2 KLRs many times with out loosening any engine mounts. You can > take the tan off without cutting those ties by unscrewing the the phillips > screws that go into the rad and reservoir. but it would be The fact that > I've been doing all my own maintenace for the last two years shows you how > happy I've been with dealer service though! I've picked up bikes with gas > running down the engine side cases, rear brakes that worked once, loose or > missing fastners, and evidence that paid for work just wasn't done, not to > mention a couple bills for routine maintenace on my BMW that almost made my > faint. This is at three different dealers. > > > Riley > Montreal > A15 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: "wilkins5773" > Cc: "Dual Sport News" DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 10:41 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Did I get the shaft? > I don't think it's possible to get the valve cover off > > without removing the upper engine mount bolt, and that bolt still had the > > undisturbed red factory thread lock on it. > > Thanks, Steve from Graham, > NC. > > > > > > > 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 > > > > >

[Paul Dent]

> Those of you who don't do your own service and rely on a dealer,

and absolutely know that the valves were done by them, what have you been paying for such a service? I just paid $250 (including parts etc.) for the 6K service, which did include an adjust as 3 of the 4 valves were apparently tight. However, it did not include the swingarm bearing lube, which is listed as required at this interval. The mech said that would have been an additional $100 at least. I'm gonna try to get to it myself sooner than later. This is also in SF.

[Mark St.Hilaire, Sr]

> However, it did not include the swingarm bearing lube, which is > listed as required at this interval. The mech said that would have > been an additional $100 at least. I'm gonna try to get to it myself > sooner than later. This is also in SF.

This may help: http://klr6500.tripod.com/swingarm.htm Mark --------------------------------------- KLR650 Motorcycle Website: http://klr6500.tripod.com/

[The Mule]

> Hey folks, I have a 500 mi. service question. I took my new KLR back > to my local dealer last week to have the first valve check

done.............. I wouldn't dwell on the shroud on/shroud off issue as proof. It can be done w/o removal. This in no way negates the probability that they didn't do it anyway. Devon and I did the valves on my A17 at 14,000 miles for it's first time, and only one intake was barely out of spec. Maybe a fluke, but I don't believe new KLR's go far out of spec in their youth. If you know how KLR's with tight and loose valves sound (and anyone with a KLR should make it a point to get acquainted with the sound of their mount with low/high oil, loose/tight balancer chain, 87/93 oct. gas, Tweety/chiseled out pipe, lean/rich mixing, etc.) then you can listen for the tapping that the looser side of tolerance valves should have. Once you know that sound and then don't hear it, you can guestimate when you need to open it up and check/reshim again. Back when I was letting a shop do my valves, I gave them a spec sheet to fill out that listed each of the four valve clearance measurements before and after, as well as shim sizes before and after. If an adjustment is made, the engine should sound different too. Without being there when they do it, that's about the best that can be done to keep them honest. But I won't be letting a shop do my valves anymore. Along the same lines.......... Today I did stop by the old shop to get the yearly inpection sticker. The guy made a bee-line for the brakes and exclaimed "you need new brake pads". Ummmmmmm..............I just replaced the pads two weeks ago at Walt's (!)...........see what we're dealing with? The shop manager didn't push it, though. He remembers the last time I was there to pick up my bike (two years ago?) when they told me it was ready, and I found my Odyssey battery out of the bike and being used on another bike project. Then they acted like it was no problem!........adios amigos! Steve The Mule A17

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 2004-04-21 12:09:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time, msaint@... writes:

> > >the less attention the mechanics seem to pay it. A Ducati dealer > >wouldn't survive if they treated the bikes like most Kawi dealer treat > >KLRs. > > > Devon, I've been thinking about your post, and am curious about it. I've > never had a Ducati, and don't know anyone who does. (That's not saying much, > I only have a couple friends who ride.) > > I've thought of a few possibilities concerning the meaning of what you've > said, but wonder what you actually had in mind when you wrote that. Are > Dukes very expensive, so their owners wouldn't put up with any > service-related crap? Very troublesome, so owners would be upset if they > missed a lot of riding days because of inept service? Few and far between so > that the dealers had better take care of the customers they've got? > > Inquiring minds wanna know! (Grinning) > > Mark >

My observation over 30 years of riding has been that shops selling the cult brands tend to be owned by enthusiasts themselves and that makes all the difference in the quality of service they provide. Even though it's your bike, it tends to get treated as if it was theirs. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]