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[Richard Gustafson]

I purchased a new 06 KLR in August and need to do the 500 mile service. One dealer I checked with quoted $300 to $400 pricing for this service, stating it's about a 4 hour check-up for the bike... oil change, valve clearance check, lube everything. After just paying $5250 OTD, is this next cost quote for the 500 mile service about right or is the quote a little high. Another dealer said he charges about $100, and advised waiting until 800 or 900 miles before I bring it in for service. Recommedations: re: install a fuel filter now? install a doohickey now or not necessary until more miles are on the bike? First bike... all street riding so far. Thanks. --------------------------------- Yahoo! for Good Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[rsanders30117]

I would not trust the dealer to properly adjust the valves. My preference is to set the valve at the maximum & to keep records of the settings, what's changed & when, what shims are installed, etc. I suggest you at least check your valves & record their initial setting to start your records. Also, assume your rear suspension has not been greased. Disassemble the rear end & grease everything including the pivot bolts (these will corrode if not greased). I wished I had done this at 500 mile on my A14 because at 6K mile my bolts had started to corrode when I got around to checking for the 1st time. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Richard Gustafson wrote:

> I purchased a new 06 KLR in August and need to do the 500 mile

service. One dealer I checked with quoted $300 to $400 pricing for this service, stating it's about a 4 hour check-up for the bike... oil change, valve clearance check, lube everything.

> > After just paying $5250 OTD, is this next cost quote for the 500

mile service about right or is the quote a little high.

> > Another dealer said he charges about $100, and advised waiting

until 800 or 900 miles before I bring it in for service.

> > Recommedations: re: install a fuel filter now? install a doohickey

now or not necessary until more miles are on the bike?

> > First bike... all street riding so far. > > Thanks. > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! for Good > Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[John Kokola]

Cue the flame war ... --John Kokola skotwheels wrote:

>As far as the doohickey goes ... you have a 1 yr full warranty on the >motor. I'm planning on waiting at least that long. > >

[Scot]

or ... not? i'll recant.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, John Kokola wrote: > Cue the flame war ... > > --John Kokola > > skotwheels wrote: > > >As far as the doohickey goes ... you have a 1 yr full warranty on the > >motor. I'm planning on waiting at least that long. > > > >

[Scot]

I removed my post because it sounds like I'm way off base. Perhaps you could explain? I'm just relaying what I was told by the dealer I bought the bike from (06 KLR650). At the time I bought the bike I asked specifically about the issues I'd read about on bigcee and other sites about the "doohickey" and even met with their service dept. which claims they've never had an issue or concern or even heard about this problem. I was assured that if something went wrong, that part was under warranty within the first year and it would be taken care of. If any of this is untrue, please inform me so that I can relay the information back to the dealer. Sorry for any misinformation! Scot

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, John Kokola wrote: > Cue the flame war ... > > --John Kokola > > skotwheels wrote: > > >As far as the doohickey goes ... you have a 1 yr full warranty on the > >motor. I'm planning on waiting at least that long. > > > >

[John Kokola]

I don't want to alarm you, nor do I want to fan any flames (there are strong opinions in each direction here). Many folks who would not wait to "do the 'doo" feel that way because they have had bad dealer/mechanic experiences (seems to be pretty common around here) and would not want the dealer rebuilding the motor if the doohickey were to fail, and the general consensus on this board seems to be that the dealers are by and large ignorant of this problem (i.e "We've never seen one fail"). There are plenty of high-mileage motors out there running with the stock doohickey, and there are plenty of tales of broken 'doos coming out of nearly new bikes. I won't make a strong recommendation one way or the other; I'm just glad the 'doo was done in my bike before I bought it. --John Kokola Scot wrote:

>I removed my post because it sounds like I'm way off base. Perhaps >you could explain? I'm just relaying what I was told by the dealer I >bought the bike from (06 KLR650). At the time I bought the bike I >asked specifically about the issues I'd read about on bigcee and other >sites about the "doohickey" and even met with their service dept. >which claims they've never had an issue or concern or even heard about >this problem. I was assured that if something went wrong, that part >was under warranty within the first year and it would be taken care of. > >If any of this is untrue, please inform me so that I can relay the >information back to the dealer. > >Sorry for any misinformation! > >Scot > >--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, John Kokola wrote: > > >>Cue the flame war ... >> >>--John Kokola >>

[dooden]

Scot, This has been a issue for long long time, most dealers of course will not admit it, nor I bet even are aware of the inner workings of a KLR. Cost is about $50 ish (I think I got mine from Jake long ago) for the lever and spring, I believe Fred sells it as a kit. (Look that one up) For me... Peace of Mind was worth $50 after seeing how some newer bikes had shattered levers, mostly did'nt want hardened steel bits and pieces floating in my oil sump area/gear box. Need a "special" wrench to hold the rotor to remove the bolt, but with creative processes in flow, many have made/modified working wrnechs to fit the billet. And of course the puller bolt to get the flywheel off. Lever and Spring / Wrench and Puller Bolt. As for the 500 mile service, unless you just cannot turn a wrench, in which working on the KLR is well documented, and easy to work on, why not do it yourself ? Highly recommend removing the swingarm and greasing everything !!! I had corrosion starting on mine in less than 5000 miles, absolute horror stories about removing these things "after" bolts are corroded, with torches and presses involved. Again really simple process if you are ready to do. I happen to have one of the $100 ish Larin MC/ATV lifts that holds the entire bike off the ground for just this kind of work. Valve check is pretty easy also, pop valve cover, set timing and check the gap and record it. IF all in spec, button back up and ride it. Changing the shims is a bit more work, but again not really hard, if you follow the guidelines online. I did wait until my warr. was up before changing the lever and spring however, but that was more of a timing thing for me. Pretty sure you will get all kinds of advise, shift through and do what you want. Enjoy your ride.. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Scot" wrote: > I removed my post because it sounds like I'm way off base. Perhaps > you could explain? I'm just relaying what I was told by the dealer I > bought the bike from (06 KLR650). At the time I bought the bike I > asked specifically about the issues I'd read about on bigcee and other > sites about the "doohickey" and even met with their service dept. > which claims they've never had an issue or concern or even heard about > this problem. I was assured that if something went wrong, that part > was under warranty within the first year and it would be taken care of. > > If any of this is untrue, please inform me so that I can relay the > information back to the dealer. > > Sorry for any misinformation! > > Scot > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, John Kokola wrote: > > Cue the flame war ... > > > > --John Kokola > > > > skotwheels wrote: > > > > >As far as the doohickey goes ... you have a 1 yr full warranty on the > > >motor. I'm planning on waiting at least that long. > > > > > >

[J Fortner]

1. Ride it 2. Buy a manual 3. Buy some tools 4. The petcock has filters in it 5. Save money

[Jim]

I have stated this before but if you choose to leave the OEM doo and spring in there then do not attempt to adjust it unless you know for sure both are intact. If the spring or doo are broken and you loosen the bolt you will be taking a giant step backwards and may not be aware of the advanced engine wear now taking place. My experince on my KLR was both were fine when I ugraded but I helped a friend with his new '03 and the spring was broken (and smashed flat by the balancer weight) with less than 2K miles on the bike. Any attempt to adjust his balancer chain would have resulted in a loosening of the chain and potentiall advaced engine wear. Sorry to increase your stress level if you are new to the KLR but the truth really will set you free. --Jim A-15

[Gary]

Dont do anything to that engine yourself while it is under warrenty.Some of the Kaw shops will not stand behind the bikes they sell if the owner so much as changes the oil him/her self. If you are going to do the doo.....buy the Doohickey and Spring and pay the dealer to install it for you....that way the engine is still under warrenty.Make sure they give you the stock one they take out so you know they replaced it.Dealers arent in bussiness so much to provide service as much as they are to make money.Some the unscrupulous dealers will screw you up the butt and wont even have the common courtesy to give you a reach around. I personally wont let a dealer turn a wrench on my KLR again.I end up working behind them anyway when they do. Regards,Gary