well i might of found the cause of the backfiring and not starting

[Ed Chait]

Hello list, name is ed, and I bought a '03 KLR 650 about a month ago. I've been riding since I was 19 (now 49), and I have to say that this bike is a complete blast! I've always preferred twins and thumpers, and I'm really enjoying my KLR. The closest bike that I've had to this one was an '89 XT 600 Yamaha, and while that bike was a bit more nimble off-road, it was not much fun to ride on-road, and most of my riding today is on pavement. The KLR was in very good shape with only 1500 miles on it. Guy I bought it from was completely clueless when it came to maintenance (which is interesting because he owns a radiator shop), so I immediately changed the oil and checked all fasteners. The front axle nut was completely loose and only being held on by the cotter pin (!). I've already done a few mods. Installed a barsnake and some gel grips, which made a very significant difference in vibration level. I also installed one of the UFO low front fenders, as that better suits the type of riding I will be doing. I also bought a magnetic drain plug and some sub-frame upgrade bolts, but I haven't installed these items yet. (BTW Fred, thank you for your excellent service and very fast shipping) A Supertrapp ISD2 went on next. I am extremely happy with this exhaust. The fit was excellent and the quality seems good enough. I know some people consider the stock exhaust to be the best option, but how a motorcycle sounds is very important to me. I'm a musician, and a nice sounding twin or thumper is music to my ears. I just don't enjoy riding a bike that sounds like a sewing machine, but that's just me. The weight savings was nice too. I installed it with 5 disks and bike is running great with no carb adjustments or jetting changes. It also seems to be running cooler than it was with the stock exhaust, which is interesting. The exhaust tone is sublime. I went for a short ride today and didn't come back for four hours:). Nice to meet all of you and thank you for all your expertise and your willingness to share it. ed A17

[Ed Chait]

Oops, I forgot the dumb questions! 1. The rear brake seems weak to me. I can't even lock the tire up on pavement, which I realize is not desirable in regards to stopping quickly, but am I supposed to be able to lock the tire up? This isn't a crotch rocket with a tiny rear brake. 2. The shifter seems to be a tad too inboard and high for my taste. I know I can change the height, but do the aftermarket shifters also help with this issue? I am now having to lift my foot off the peg to downshift. 3. When I change my fork oil, would going up to 15W be a good thing to do? I weigh about 200, and would like to stiffen the forks up a little. I know the Progressive springs would probably be a better solution, but if I can gain just a bit more stiffness by changing the oil, I would probably be OK. Ok, that's it for now, although more dumb questions are no doubt forthcoming:). ed A17

[Rodney Copeland]

Welcome Ed! I'm 49 with an 03, with 20 years XT 500 history and havin a blast as I'm sure you will! Cheers and happy midlife crisis, Rod

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Ed Chait" wrote: > Hello list, > > name is ed, and I bought a '03 KLR 650 about a month ago. I've been riding > since I was 19 (now 49), and I have to say that this bike is a complete > blast! I've always preferred twins and thumpers, and I'm really enjoying my > KLR. The closest bike that I've had to this one was an '89 XT 600 Yamaha, > and while that bike was a bit more nimble off-road, it was not much fun to > ride on-road, and most of my riding today is on pavement. > > The KLR was in very good shape with only 1500 miles on it. Guy I bought it > from was completely clueless when it came to maintenance (which is > interesting because he owns a radiator shop), so I immediately changed the > oil and checked all fasteners. The front axle nut was completely loose and > only being held on by the cotter pin (!). > > I've already done a few mods. Installed a barsnake and some gel grips, > which made a very significant difference in vibration level. I also > installed one of the UFO low front fenders, as that better suits the type of > riding I will be doing. I also bought a magnetic drain plug and some > sub-frame upgrade bolts, but I haven't installed these items yet. > > (BTW Fred, thank you for your excellent service and very fast shipping) > > > A Supertrapp ISD2 went on next. I am extremely happy with this exhaust. > The fit was excellent and the quality seems good enough. I know some people > consider the stock exhaust to be the best option, but how a motorcycle > sounds is very important to me. I'm a musician, and a nice sounding twin or > thumper is music to my ears. I just don't enjoy riding a bike that sounds > like a sewing machine, but that's just me. The weight savings was nice too. > I installed it with 5 disks and bike is running great with no carb > adjustments or jetting changes. It also seems to be running cooler than it > was with the stock exhaust, which is interesting. The exhaust tone is > sublime. > > I went for a short ride today and didn't come back for four hours:). > > Nice to meet all of you and thank you for all your expertise and your > willingness to share it. > > ed > A17

[Mike Peplinski]

The rear on my A15 does not lock up all that easy, but it can be done without too much effort. I'd check the brake lining. You don't say how long you've riden the KLR. If it were me, Ipd look at the various KLR sitets to find one with a picture of the shifter. Yours may be installed wrong. I've not had any trouble with the location of the shifter. I"ll let someone elso comment on the front springs. I'm also 200 and get along fine with the stock stuff, but then my riding is not very challenging either. Have fun, ride safe and ride often.

>From: "Ed Chait" >To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com>,"Ed Chait" >Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] intro and a few dumb questions >Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2005 22:19:24 -0700 > > > > >Oops, I forgot the dumb questions! > > >1. The rear brake seems weak to me. I can't even lock the tire up on >pavement, which I realize is not desirable in regards to stopping quickly, >but am I supposed to be able to lock the tire up? This isn't a crotch >rocket with a tiny rear brake. > >2. The shifter seems to be a tad too inboard and high for my taste. I >know >I can change the height, but do the aftermarket shifters also help with >this >issue? I am now having to lift my foot off the peg to downshift. > >3. When I change my fork oil, would going up to 15W be a good thing to do? >I weigh about 200, and would like to stiffen the forks up a little. I know >the Progressive springs would probably be a better solution, but if I can >gain just a bit more stiffness by changing the oil, I would probably be OK. > >Ok, that's it for now, although more dumb questions are no doubt >forthcoming:). > >ed >A17 > > > > >Archive Quicksearch at: >http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html >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 > > > > > > >

[Randall Marbach]

The folks on this board just keep getting younger and younger.... Welcome Ed... from a too soon to be 54yr old f*rt, who still has a cast on his wrist from when he fell off his A17 on a jeep trail at DVDaze. Randy from Burbank A17 Ken in GI Joe colors A9 Barbie 2000 Valkyrie (up for sale) --- Rodney Copeland wrote:

> > > Welcome Ed! > I'm 49 with an 03, with 20 years XT 500 history and > havin a blast as > I'm sure you will! > Cheers and happy midlife crisis, > Rod > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Ed Chait" > wrote: > > Hello list, > > > > name is ed, and I bought a '03 KLR 650 about a > month ago. I've > been riding > > since I was 19 (now 49), and I have to say that > this bike is a > complete > > blast! I've always preferred twins and thumpers, > and I'm really > enjoying my > > KLR. The closest bike that I've had to this one > was an '89 XT 600 > Yamaha, > > and while that bike was a bit more nimble > off-road, it was not much > fun to > > ride on-road, and most of my riding today is on > pavement. > > > > The KLR was in very good shape with only 1500 > miles on it. Guy I > bought it > > from was completely clueless when it came to > maintenance (which is > > interesting because he owns a radiator shop), so I > immediately > changed the > > oil and checked all fasteners. The front axle nut > was completely > loose and > > only being held on by the cotter pin (!). > > > > I've already done a few mods. Installed a > barsnake and some gel > grips, > > which made a very significant difference in > vibration level. I > also > > installed one of the UFO low front fenders, as > that better suits > the type of > > riding I will be doing. I also bought a magnetic > drain plug and > some > > sub-frame upgrade bolts, but I haven't installed > these items yet. > > > > (BTW Fred, thank you for your excellent service > and very fast > shipping) > > > > > > A Supertrapp ISD2 went on next. I am extremely > happy with this > exhaust. > > The fit was excellent and the quality seems good > enough. I know > some people > > consider the stock exhaust to be the best option, > but how a > motorcycle > > sounds is very important to me. I'm a musician, > and a nice > sounding twin or > > thumper is music to my ears. I just don't enjoy > riding a bike that > sounds > > like a sewing machine, but that's just me. The > weight savings was > nice too. > > I installed it with 5 disks and bike is running > great with no carb > > adjustments or jetting changes. It also seems to > be running cooler > than it > > was with the stock exhaust, which is interesting. > The exhaust tone > is > > sublime. > > > > I went for a short ride today and didn't come back > for four hours:). > > > > Nice to meet all of you and thank you for all your > expertise and > your > > willingness to share it. > > > > ed > > A17 > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: >

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html

> 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 > > > DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > >

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[wesw650]

it looks like the fuel system was fine, i got a new plug and still had no spark?????? so i checked the manual to find that the only symptom that occurred in not starting,no spark and back fiers was a faualty or shorted out exiter coil(wich is on the stator) the chance of it being faualty was slim because it had not to long ago been replaced for a upgraded electuralux high output one to run the extra lights and heated clothing. so upon checking all the wiers that i could get to easily and finding nothing i decided to look inside the side cover when i got the thing off i found that the red lead had worn through its srink wrap and was ocaionaly grounding out on the case and was resting on it now wich woud explain why i would have no spark. i have not put it back together because i lacked extra shrink wrap and the shop was closed but hopefuly that was the culprit.