250 - 400cc enduro nklr

[robert bowman]

On Wednesday 27 April 2005 09:23, Mike Peplinski wrote:

> That's not must an oil change. They actually put "Harley Davidson" oil in > the things. It probably comes from the Harley Davidson Petroleum Company. > They're doing a lot of drilling in down town Milwaukee-must be oil rigs.

This thread is getting kind of old, but I can't resist: I use HD oil because I figure a couple of bucks per oil change isn't going to deplete my retirement fund. Using the same thought, I went into the other place and got an armful of genuwhine Suzuki oil -- now that stuff must be distilled from sacred Japanese badger fat to justify the price. One of these days, all my vehicles are going to be on a Rotella diet whether they like it or not.

[pete88chester]

> -----Original Message----- > From: jay carlson > > And the new Oilheads aren't nearly so reliable. Check the breakdown > stats from a IronButt.

From some of the problems I have heard about with BMW's I think they are over rated, especially considering what their cost. Germany has had an image of engineering quality, but I think that may be a thing of the past. I was watching a German news show on one of the sat.TV stations the other day & they were talking about unhappy stock holders at a Mercedes Benz stock holders meeting complaining about all the recalls they have had at MB due to bad design & how it is affecting the value of their stock. I think the most reliable products, auto & motorcycle now come out of Japan. It may be that in the future the best stuff will come from China! Pete Chester A16

[John Kokola]

I think it's been this way for thirty years. Longevity ... BMW bikes might have gotten the nod once upon a time, might still actually. Reliability ... the Japanese. --John Kokola

> -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On > Behalf Of pete88chester > > I think the most reliable products, auto & > motorcycle now come out of Japan.

[John Kokola]

Mystery solved. --John Kokola

> -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On > Behalf Of klr9992001 > > WE WAVE BUT NOT TO A-HOLES > DAN

[jay carlson]

I went into the other place and got an armful of genuwhine Suzuki oil -- now that stuff must be distilled from sacred Japanese badger fat to justify the price. The thread may be getting stinky, but that's classic. robert bowman wrote:

>On Wednesday 27 April 2005 09:23, Mike Peplinski wrote: > > >>That's not must an oil change. They actually put "Harley Davidson" oil in >>the things. It probably comes from the Harley Davidson Petroleum Company. >>They're doing a lot of drilling in down town Milwaukee-must be oil rigs. >> >> > >This thread is getting kind of old, but I can't resist: I use HD oil because >I figure a couple of bucks per oil change isn't going to deplete my >retirement fund. Using the same thought, I went into the other place and got >an armful of genuwhine Suzuki oil -- now that stuff must be distilled from >sacred Japanese badger fat to justify the price. > >One of these days, all my vehicles are going to be on a Rotella diet whether >they like it or not. > > > >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 > > > > > > > > >

[Rob Lefebvre]

I have been using Amsoil for 15 years in everything I own, including my lawn mower and snow blower. I had a Honda 3 wheeler (before they were considered dangerous) and what sold me on synthetic is cold starts during hunting season. I used to use Pennzoil 10w30 and had trouble starting the ATC200 in sub zero weather. Once started, it would then make very unhealthy noised for 10 minutes or more until it warmed up. With the synthetic, it spools right up due to the fact that Amsoil 10w30 does not experience a viscosity change at low temps. I don't sell the stuff or have any affiliation to the organization; I just have had very positive experiences with it in more than 10 vehicles over the past 15 years. It costs a lot, but not compared to the cost of a new car as I tend to run my cars well past 100k miles. Rob -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of robert bowman Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 8:23 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR650 real cost.

On Wednesday 27 April 2005 09:23, Mike Peplinski wrote: > That's not must an oil change. They actually put "Harley Davidson" oil in > the things. It probably comes from the Harley Davidson Petroleum Company. > They're doing a lot of drilling in down town Milwaukee-must be oil rigs. This thread is getting kind of old, but I can't resist: I use HD oil because I figure a couple of bucks per oil change isn't going to deplete my retirement fund. Using the same thought, I went into the other place and got an armful of genuwhine Suzuki oil -- now that stuff must be distilled from sacred Japanese badger fat to justify the price. One of these days, all my vehicles are going to be on a Rotella diet whether they like it or not. 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

[Rob Lefebvre]

I would have to agree. I spent most of the winter researching the BMW F650 as that was the bike I really had my heart set on. But if you spend some time digging around the F650 groups, you will find lots of frustrated owners. Fuel injection issues seem to be so common as to be expected. Lots of problems with dealers not willing or able to repair the system, and BMWNA unresponsive to customer needs. Add the fact that a 1997 with 20k+ miles goes for more than $4k and you have a recipe for severe frustration. Hard to beat the 2001 KLR I purchased for $2700 with 1700 miles on it! Rob -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of pete88chester Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 9:15 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR650 real cost.

> -----Original Message----- > From: jay carlson > > And the new Oilheads aren't nearly so reliable. Check the breakdown > stats from a IronButt.

From some of the problems I have heard about with BMW's I think they are over rated, especially considering what their cost. Germany has had an image of engineering quality, but I think that may be a thing of the past. I was watching a German news show on one of the sat.TV stations the other day & they were talking about unhappy stock holders at a Mercedes Benz stock holders meeting complaining about all the recalls they have had at MB due to bad design & how it is affecting the value of their stock. I think the most reliable products, auto & motorcycle now come out of Japan. It may be that in the future the best stuff will come from China! Pete Chester A16 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

[ron criswell]

You are right on that. The new VW's have had a lot of problems with recall and quality. Never being that enamored with German stuff. I did own 2 of the old VW's which were fun .... but when I go to Mexico and rent an old VW I ask why we were so enamored with them. Underpowered and unsafe (but simple). And the 924 Porsche ........ didn't have a great reputation and expensive to repair. But the joke I always like was "How did Ferdinand Porshe convince the world that going backwards at 85 mph in a 911 was good handling?" This was due to the engine being behind the rear axle like a VW and the notorious Corvair. I had a 175 cc Penton once (technically Austrian I think but same thing). It had a Sachs engine with a neutral between each gear, left side kick - start (never made any sense to me on a dirt bike), and a counter shaft sprocket that was pressed on rather than bolted on. No I'll take Japanese engineering any day. All manufacturers screw up occasionally or cut corners and make something that is a bad design. But I have had better luck with Japanese cars and motorcycles than anything else. Running WFO and often with maintenance neglect with no serious problems. People are amazed I ride my 650 KLR single halfway across the country. I was a little nervous doing it at first but it will make a believer out of you. You could never have that same confidence with say a Brit single. Criswell

On Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at 07:14 PM, pete88chester wrote: > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: jay carlson >> >> And the new Oilheads aren't nearly so reliable. Check the breakdown >> stats from a IronButt. > > From some of the problems I have heard about with BMW's I think they > are over rated, especially considering what their cost. Germany has > had an image of engineering quality, but I think that may be a thing > of the past. I was watching a German news show on one of the sat.TV > stations the other day & they were talking about unhappy stock holders > at a Mercedes Benz stock holders meeting complaining about all the > recalls they have had at MB due to bad design & how it is affecting > the value of their stock. I think the most reliable products, auto & > motorcycle now come out of Japan. It may be that in the future the > best stuff will come from China! Pete Chester A16 > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > >

[jay carlson]

Speaking of cursed, I owned a 2001 Jetta diesel. Mesmerized by the prospect of a 50 mpg car, I bought one without doing my usual research. Oops. It was back to the dealer 6 times in less than a year. When I first got the car, I went to check the oil. No dipstick. I called the dealer, and he said he'd have to order one and it would be there in 2-3 weeks. I should have known right there. I told him I'd be there in an hour, and there better be one waiting at the service desk. The last time, it had to be towed back because the ignition system gave up the ghost. The dealer presented me with a bill for almost $300. WTF? He stated: "We're finding that these failures are caused by owners who have long keychains with lots of keys, and that's not covered under warranty." Needless to say, the car was out the door (and I didn't pay the bill). Never again. Ron Criswell wrote:

>You are right on that. The new VW's have had a lot of problems with >recall and quality. Never being that enamored with German stuff. I did >own 2 of the old VW's which were fun .... but when I go to Mexico and >rent an old VW I ask why we were so enamored with them. Underpowered >and unsafe (but simple). And the 924 Porsche ........ didn't have a >great reputation and expensive to repair. But the joke I always like >was "How did Ferdinand Porshe convince the world that going backwards >at 85 mph in a 911 was good handling?" This was due to the engine being >behind the rear axle like a VW and the notorious Corvair. > >I had a 175 cc Penton once (technically Austrian I think but same >thing). It had a Sachs engine with a neutral between each gear, left >side kick - start (never made any sense to me on a dirt bike), and a >counter shaft sprocket that was pressed on rather than bolted on. > >No I'll take Japanese engineering any day. All manufacturers screw up >occasionally or cut corners and make something that is a bad design. >But I have had better luck with Japanese cars and motorcycles than >anything else. Running WFO and often with maintenance neglect with no >serious problems. People are amazed I ride my 650 KLR single halfway >across the country. I was a little nervous doing it at first but it >will make a believer out of you. You could never have that same >confidence with say a Brit single. > >Criswell >On Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at 07:14 PM, pete88chester wrote: > > > >> >> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: jay carlson >>> >>>And the new Oilheads aren't nearly so reliable. Check the breakdown >>>stats from a IronButt. >>> >>> >>From some of the problems I have heard about with BMW's I think they >>are over rated, especially considering what their cost. Germany has >>had an image of engineering quality, but I think that may be a thing >>of the past. I was watching a German news show on one of the sat.TV >>stations the other day & they were talking about unhappy stock holders >>at a Mercedes Benz stock holders meeting complaining about all the >>recalls they have had at MB due to bad design & how it is affecting >>the value of their stock. I think the most reliable products, auto & >>motorcycle now come out of Japan. It may be that in the future the >>best stuff will come from China! Pete Chester A16 >> >> >> >> >> >>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 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > >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 > > > > > > > > >

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[Lujo Bauer]

I'm pretty fond of my oilhead. In 20-odd K miles and soon-to-be 1.5 years of ownership, I've had the following problems: 1. Dealer incorrectly attached fuel-line quick disconnects, leading to small gas leak when tank was completely full. Dealer fixed. 2. Bolts holding stupid plastic rear fender loosened. Noticed and tightened. 3. Tail light filament in tail/brake light bulb burnt out, electrical system compensated by supplying low voltage to the brake light filament until I replaced the bulb. Other than that, zero problems or niggles of any sort. Of course, I would expect any modern bike would be equally trouble-free while it's still young. -Lujo jay carlson wrote:

> And the new Oilheads aren't nearly so reliable. Check the breakdown > stats from a IronButt. > > 200k on a crotch rocket? I'm sure there's probably one out there > (somewhere).

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