preventative maintenance - long rant

[James Holland]

First thing I do to any new bike, strip it down, grease everything and pack all the electrical connectors with Petroleum Jelly. It seems like the factory just puts a spot of grease on bits and then assembles them, it never looks like the spread the grease around at all. Never been raised as an issue at any service, I reckon the mechanics are gratefull.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Nyffeler" To: "KLR List" DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2005 3:33 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Preventative Maintenance - long rant > > With the cold and snow were having I figured I'd disassemble the rear > swing > arm and unitrack to lube all the bearing surfaces. What I found was that I > should have done it the first week I owned my KLR. My '02 with 8K miles > had > very little grease on any of the shafts or linkages. And the shaft that > anchored the unitrack and the shaft that anchored the swingarm were > corroded. Along with the matching internal races. I think Kawasaki puts > just > enough grease on these surfaces to get the bikes out the door. > > With 20/20 hindsight I see that before tightening up all the fasteners on > a > new KLR an owner should dis-assemble all the entire rear suspension and > lube > all the moving areas as preventative maintenance. So for any newbie's, you > might extending you KLR's life by doing this before you start to > "customize" you KLR. > > I used the Clymer manual as my guide and everything was very straight > forward and easy to do. My next "procedure" is to replace the fork fluid. > I > was going to just drain it out the drain holes and replace it. But I'm > thinking that maybe I'll remove the forks so I can take a look at the > steering head bearings. I'm betting they are dying for a good shot of > grease > also. What say you? > > Jim Nyffeler > '02 KLR650 > '01 R1150GS > Lincoln, NE USA > COG 4547, IBA 8936, > BMWMOA 110521 > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[desertexplorer308 (Mark)]

Hi everyone. I've been reading the archives in anticipation of buying a new dual sport bike in the next couple months. 1) Is the CA model different? I might be able to save $500 on an '05 by driving 4 hours to Los Angeles from Vegas, but I know some CA motorcycles have smaller gas tanks and other smog equip I might want to avoid. 2) Is there a manual posted somewhere? I would like to study the maintenance of this fine machine. 3) I'm still trying to decide on KLR vs XR650L... they both fit me well 'in the showroom'. Mostly street riding (probably 80/20), and nothing hard core off road so I'm leaning to the KLR... I wish I could actually ride these things but the dealers aren't too keen on having miles put on brand new bikes.. Thanks all.. Mark --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Doug Herr]

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005, desertexplorer308 (Mark) wrote:

> 1) Is the CA model different? I might be able to save $500 on > an '05 by driving 4 hours to Los Angeles from Vegas, but I know > some CA motorcycles have smaller gas tanks and other smog equip > I might want to avoid.

I think the only difference is the evaporative canister. There are instructions to remove it thus make it the same as the 49 state bikes. Instructions here if you feel the need to remove it: http://www.klr650.marknet.us/decalif.html

> 2) Is there a manual posted somewhere? I would like to study > the maintenance of this fine machine.

The owners manual is pretty thin on anything important, better to just read the faq: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html -- Doug Herr doug@...

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "desertexplorer308 \(Mark\)" wrote:

> Hi everyone. > > I've been reading the archives in anticipation of buying a new dual sport

bike in the next couple months.

> > 1) Is the CA model different? I might be able to save $500 on an '05 by

driving 4 hours to Los Angeles from Vegas, but I know some CA motorcycles have smaller gas tanks and other smog equip I might want to avoid.

> > 2) Is there a manual posted somewhere? I would like to study the

maintenance of this fine machine.

> > 3) I'm still trying to decide on KLR vs XR650L... they both fit me well 'in the

showroom'. Mostly street riding (probably 80/20), and nothing hard core off road so I'm leaning to the KLR... I wish I could actually ride these things but the dealers aren't too keen on having miles put on brand new bikes..

> > Thanks all.. Mark >

For mostly street riding, the KLR is a clear choice over the Honda, but is there a reason you aren't considering the DR650 as well?