removing dents from your tank

[tourer1961]

After a demo ride at Americade this past week, I have become very interested in the 650 KLR. My question to all of you, Is it really nessasary to do all the modifications I've read on this board? Is the bike that bad? I just want a daily commuter and a bike to travel to Vermont ( 125 miles away )to do some fire road riding.

[scott quillen]

NO...the bike is NOT that bad - I enjoy my '87 VERY much and have only done the doohickey and spring replacement. I DO intend to install the Progressive Larry Roesseler fork springs (the stockers are just WAY too soft) eventually and maybe even the Progressive rear shock/spring. So...from a pure reliability standpoint, the only "MUST-DO" IMHO is the doohickey/spring replacement. I'm sure others will add their .02 Regards, Scott --- tourer1961 wrote:

> After a demo ride at Americade this past week, I > have become very > interested in the 650 KLR. My question to all of > you, > Is it really nessasary to do all the modifications > I've read on this > board? Is the bike that bad? > I just want a daily commuter and a bike to travel to > Vermont ( 125 > miles away )to do some fire road riding. > > > > > > 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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[matteeanne@yahoo.com]

It's fine right out of the showroom, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. But like anything else, can be improved by throwing money at it. --- tourer1961 wrote:

> After a demo ride at Americade this past week, I > have become very > interested in the 650 KLR. My question to all of > you, > Is it really nessasary to do all the modifications > I've read on this > board? Is the bike that bad? > I just want a daily commuter and a bike to travel to > Vermont ( 125 > miles away )to do some fire road riding. > > > > > > 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 > > > > > >

__________________________________ Discover Yahoo! Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. Check it out! http://discover.yahoo.com/weekend.html

[Eric L. Green]

On Tue, 14 Jun 2005, tourer1961 wrote:

> Is it really nessasary to do all the modifications I've read on this > board?

Nah, other than the balancer adjuster lever.

> Is the bike that bad?

It's a bit fragile if you are going to do dirt with it. You'll want to armor it up under those circumstances. If you intend to stay on the street, it's fine. Dial in the suspension (you may need to add preload to the front unless you weigh 150 pounds like the Japanese engineers who designed it, but that's a quick trip to your local hardware store for a link of PVC pipe), put on tires appropriate to your riding style once the stockers wear out, and ride. I rode my bike for a year without a single modification other than the doohickey and a taller windshield for the rainy season (and the latter is just me discovering that rain *HURTS* when it slaps into you at 75mph!).

> I just want a daily commuter and a bike to travel to Vermont ( 125 > miles away )to do some fire road riding.

For fire road riding, you'll probably want to add Tusks or etc. to protect your controls, they tend to break off easily when you drop the bike, and you probably want a radiator protector too (those are expensive!). Once you have those, just ride. For commuting, it's fine as-is. -E

[Guy B. Young II]

You will get varying opinions on this, but the only thing - IMHO - is to replace the doohickey. All the rest of the crap is/are just farkles to make the bike more 'manly' and to allow it to better suit your individual taste. Buy it; ride it. Then after a number of miles you find that something is bothering you, fix it. DO NOT go out and buy a bunch of stuff right out of the chute because you read it was the 'hot thing to do.' Good luck in your decision. Guy A16 Richmond, VA -----Original Message----- From: tourer1961 Sent: Jun 14, 2005 7:51 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Thinking of buying a KLR After a demo ride at Americade this past week, I have become very interested in the 650 KLR. My question to all of you, Is it really nessasary to do all the modifications I've read on this board? Is the bike that bad? I just want a daily commuter and a bike to travel to Vermont ( 125 miles away )to do some fire road riding. 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

[Pat Schmid]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "tourer1961" wrote:

> After a demo ride at Americade this past week, I have become very > interested in the 650 KLR. My question to all of you, > Is it really nessasary to do all the modifications I've read on this > board? Is the bike that bad? > I just want a daily commuter and a bike to travel to Vermont ( 125 > miles away )to do some fire road riding.

I've had two KLRs. The 1st had 48,000 miles when it meet an SUV. Its replacement has 70,000 miles. Neither bike ever gave me a reason to to do anything but change the oil, adjust the valves and reapir what I break on the trail. As it has grown on me I've done the PS springs, Race Tech Valves, SRC fork brave, steel brake lines, Moose shifter, IMS gas tank, HT skidplate, HT side rack, HT panniers, White Power shock, Excel rims, growing the rear rim to an 18", barkbusters, Honda CR HI bend handle bars, folding mirrors, DR footpegs, Dynajet kit, FMF Q pipe and a Corbin flat seat for road trips. But don't get the idea that any of those were neccessary. Just my way of tricking out what has been just a flat out fun bike to ride. Pat G'ville, NV

[Mike Peplinski]

NO. You don't have to do anything to have a great bike. What you will find is that most KLR owners (thats most) become passionate about their bike and can't leave it alone. The KLR needs so little maintenance that about all you can do to it is change out parts.

>From: >To: tourer1961 , DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Thinking of buying a KLR >Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2005 17:08:08 -0700 (PDT) > >It's fine right out of the showroom, don't let anyone >tell you otherwise. But like anything else, can be >improved by throwing money at it. > >--- tourer1961 wrote: > > > After a demo ride at Americade this past week, I > > have become very > > interested in the 650 KLR. My question to all of > > you, > > Is it really nessasary to do all the modifications > > I've read on this > > board? Is the bike that bad? > > I just want a daily commuter and a bike to travel to > > Vermont ( 125 > > miles away )to do some fire road riding. > > > > > > > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >__________________________________ >Discover Yahoo! >Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. Check it >out! >http://discover.yahoo.com/weekend.html > > > >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 > > > > > > >

[Michael Silverstein]

I've put about 4000 miles on my A18 and have only replaced the balancer adjuster, just because I place a lot of importance on reliability and peace of mind. If all I went on was paved and dirt roads that would be the extent of my modifications. I weigh about 200lbs and take the KLR on a lot of tight trails with bumps and jumps so I bottom out the forks petty often. Because of that I will probably upgrade the fork springs. Other than that I will probably put lever and radiator guards on. I often hesitate to ride as agressively as I'd like because I'm agraid of going down on the exposed radiator. Again, there's that peace of mind thing. Mike A18

> -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mike Peplinski > Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 10:08 AM > To: mbennett@...; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Thinking of buying a KLR > > > NO. You don't have to do anything to have a great bike. What > you will find > is that most KLR owners (thats most) become passionate about > their bike and > can't leave it alone. The KLR needs so little maintenance > that about all you > can do to it is change out parts. > > >From: > >To: tourer1961 , DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > >Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Thinking of buying a KLR > >Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2005 17:08:08 -0700 (PDT) > > > >It's fine right out of the showroom, don't let anyone > >tell you otherwise. But like anything else, can be > >improved by throwing money at it. > > > >--- tourer1961 wrote: > > > > > After a demo ride at Americade this past week, I > > > have become very > > > interested in the 650 KLR. My question to all of > > > you, > > > Is it really nessasary to do all the modifications > > > I've read on this > > > board? Is the bike that bad? > > > I just want a daily commuter and a bike to travel to Vermont ( 125 > > > miles away )to do some fire road riding. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >__________________________________ > >Discover Yahoo! > >Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the > weekend. Check it > >out! > >http://discover.yahoo.com/weekend.html > > > > > > > >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 > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.3/15 - Release Date: > 6/14/2005 > >

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[Eric L. Green]

On Wed, 15 Jun 2005, Mike Peplinski wrote:

> can't leave it alone. The KLR needs so little maintenance that about all you > can do to it is change out parts.

SNORT! Compared to a big multi-cylinder sport bike with its dozens of valves, multiple carbs to synchronize, plastic out the yazoo, etc., you are of course correct, the KLR is a dirt-simple motorcycle and there's little "there" there. However, a lot of people come into motorcycling thinking you can treat a motorcycle like a car, i.e., take it to the dealership once every 5,000 miles to get the oil changed and it'll last forever. It don't work like that! The chain is always needing lubing. Oil changes every 2,000 miles. Valve adjustments. Chain adjustments. Tire pressures need checking more often because the tires have more surface area in ratio to their volume than car tires and thus lose air pressure more rapidly. Neglect a bike, and you'll end up with a valve careening through your piston, a chain disintegrating on the highway and bashing a hole in your crankcase as it ruins your rear countershaft bearings, a tire blowing out at 75mph and sending you soaring off the heights of I-5 at the Oregon-California border to get an awesome view of the canyon below, for a second or two before you fall into it to your death.... well, you get the point. Plus there's the fact that good motorcycle mechanics are about as scarce as hen's teeth. I don't bother wrenching my Chevy pickup truck. Every mechanic in the world knows how to work on a Chevy pickup truck. When I got my KLR, I ended up buying a pair of torque wrenches (a 3/8" one in inch-pounds and a 1/2" one in ft-pounds), tire irons, and various other assorted and sundry tools so I could do my own work on the bike without having Joe Hacker who'd never seen a KLR before mess my bike up. Anyhow, yes, the KLR needs very little maintenance -- FOR A MOTORCYCLE. But that last clause is an important one. -E

[CA Stu]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Michael Silverstein" wrote:

> I've put about 4000 miles on my A18 and have only replaced the

balancer

> adjuster, just because I place a lot of importance on reliability

and

> peace of mind. > > If all I went on was paved and dirt roads that would be the extent

of my

> modifications. > > I weigh about 200lbs and take the KLR on a lot of tight trails with > bumps and jumps so I bottom out the forks petty often. Because of

that I

> will probably upgrade the fork springs. Other than that I will

probably

> put lever and radiator guards on. I often hesitate to ride as > agressively as I'd like because I'm agraid of going down on the

exposed

> radiator. Again, there's that peace of mind thing. > > Mike A18 >

Hi Mike, to kill two birds with one stone, you may want to consider the new oversize tank for the KLR. I've only seen one, but the tank shrouds are integral, and will protect the radiator. Also, vents are molded into the new tank. Thanks CA Stu