a18 for sale in mi

[Jimmy]

Luckily I had ordered my lowering links before I picked up my 06 KLR a week ago Saturday. I thought I had checked all fasteners the day I brought the bike home. When I went to remove the lower link pivot bolt nut, which is normally torqued to 72 ft. lbs. I found it was hanging on by 2 threads after only 114 miles. I took a couple of pictures and plan on letting my dealer know. You would think the extremely large fasteners that require so much torque would be tightened. The next freeway ride to work could have well been my last. I will have to email KLR650 and thank them for prompt shipment of my lowered kick stand and lowering links. Link/kickstand install went flawlessly. Noticed the chain tightened up a bit. Loosed that. The biggest problem was the kickstand kill switch which I will disarm soon enough. Jimmy A6F [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Oldrice]

[RANT] I had to trailer my bike home from the dealer. I just bought an 06 as well. Upon pushing it into the garage I noticed a funny knocking noise when I used the front brake. In a few minutes I was all over my bike. Front axle nut was on by a thread - no cotter pin. Pretty much all the plastic fasteners were all loose. Loctite them bad boys. Handlebars were lose. All controls were loose. Headlight was pointed up in the air. Seat bolts were very lose. Battery terminals were loose. Both fork boots were at half way and not tightened. Subframe bolts were loose. Misc wire harnesses were not tucked or routed properly. Not to my liking anyway. Especially the rear lights harness. The list goes on. When I say "loose" I mean you could turn the nuts/bolts/fasteners with your fingers. This is the third bike I've bought 'new' from a dealer. First one that came to me like this though. After my three buying 'new' experiences I've decided to not ever buy a bike new again. I wrote a letter to my dealer, took pictures and will deliver this folder in person next week. This to me is a safety issue as a lot of people don't go through their bikes properly when buying new. They just get on and ride. It should be that way but one should also do thorough checks and know what to look for too. I am appalled at the lack of 'treatment' by dealers/salespeople to buyers and as a side note, I think those paying the premium price in cash should at least be treated better. [/RANT] Geoff- www.oldrice.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jimmy" To: "dsngroup" <> Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 9:24 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Fastener Check Luckily I had ordered my lowering links before I picked up my 06 KLR a week ago Saturday. I thought I had checked all fasteners the day I brought the bike home. When I went to remove the lower link pivot bolt nut, which is normally torqued to 72 ft. lbs. I found it was hanging on by 2 threads after only 114 miles. I took a couple of pictures and plan on letting my dealer know. You would think the extremely large fasteners that require so much torque would be tightened. The next freeway ride to work could have well been my last. I will have to email KLR650 and thank them for prompt shipment of my lowered kick stand and lowering links. Link/kickstand install went flawlessly. Noticed the chain tightened up a bit. Loosed that. The biggest problem was the kickstand kill switch which I will disarm soon enough. Jimmy A6F

[Jim]

Oh yeah Geoff, you will fit right in here. Congrats on the new bike. --Jim A-15

> [RANT] > I had to trailer my bike home from the dealer. I just bought an 06

as well.

> Upon pushing it into the garage I noticed a funny knocking noise

when I used

> the front brake. In a few minutes I was all over my bike. Front axle

nut was

> on by a thread - no cotter pin. Pretty much all the plastic

fasteners were

> all loose. Loctite them bad boys. Handlebars were lose. All controls

were

> loose. Headlight was pointed up in the air. Seat bolts were very lose. > Battery terminals were loose. Both fork boots were at half way and not > tightened. Subframe bolts were loose. Misc wire harnesses were not

tucked or

> routed properly. Not to my liking anyway. Especially the rear lights > harness. The list goes on. When I say "loose" I mean you could turn

the

> nuts/bolts/fasteners with your fingers. > > This is the third bike I've bought 'new' from a dealer. First one

that came

> to me like this though. After my three buying 'new' experiences I've

decided

> to not ever buy a bike new again. I wrote a letter to my dealer, took > pictures and will deliver this folder in person next week. This to

me is a

> safety issue as a lot of people don't go through their bikes

properly when

> buying new. They just get on and ride. It should be that way but one

should

> also do thorough checks and know what to look for too. > > I am appalled at the lack of 'treatment' by dealers/salespeople to

buyers

> and as a side note, I think those paying the premium price in cash

should at

> least be treated better. > > [/RANT] > > Geoff- > www.oldrice.com

[John Kokola]

Hate to say it, Geoff, but based on what I've read here I'm not surprised. Make sure that your forks have been lowered from the shipping position, can't remember what that is but there should be something in the KLR650 FAQ regarding this. First thing I would do would be to take a torque wrench and a Loctite stick to the bike. Sorry about your bad experience. --John Kokola -----Original Message-----

>From: Oldrice > >[RANT] >I had to trailer my bike home from the dealer.

[Greg Schmidt]

Ouch! I'd be ticked too. I know you live in my area, What dealer did you buy from? Good thing you didn't ride it home, I probably would have...and taken the long way home. Congrats on the new bike though - I haven't bought a new one since '83. Nice to be the first to put butt prints in a stock seat. -CamoGreg

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Oldrice" wrote: > > [RANT] > I had to trailer my bike home from the dealer. I just bought an 06 as well. > Upon pushing it into the garage I noticed a funny knocking noise when I used > the front brake. In a few minutes I was all over my bike. Front axle nut was > on by a thread - no cotter pin. Pretty much all the plastic fasteners were > all loose. Loctite them bad boys. Handlebars were lose. All controls were > loose. Headlight was pointed up in the air. Seat bolts were very lose. > Battery terminals were loose. Both fork boots were at half way and not > tightened. Subframe bolts were loose. Misc wire harnesses were not tucked or > routed properly. Not to my liking anyway. Especially the rear lights > harness. The list goes on. When I say "loose" I mean you could turn the > nuts/bolts/fasteners with your fingers. > > This is the third bike I've bought 'new' from a dealer. First one that came > to me like this though. After my three buying 'new' experiences I've decided > to not ever buy a bike new again. I wrote a letter to my dealer, took > pictures and will deliver this folder in person next week. This to me is a > safety issue as a lot of people don't go through their bikes properly when > buying new. They just get on and ride. It should be that way but one should > also do thorough checks and know what to look for too. > > I am appalled at the lack of 'treatment' by dealers/salespeople to buyers > and as a side note, I think those paying the premium price in cash should at > least be treated better. > > [/RANT] > > Geoff- > www.oldrice.com > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jimmy" > To: "dsngroup" <> > Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 9:24 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Fastener Check > > > Luckily I had ordered my lowering links before I picked up my 06 KLR a week > ago Saturday. I thought I had checked all fasteners the day I brought the > bike home. > When I went to remove the lower link pivot bolt nut, which is normally > torqued to 72 ft. lbs. I found it was hanging on by 2 threads after only 114 > miles. > I took a couple of pictures and plan on letting my dealer know. You would > think the extremely large fasteners that require so much torque would be > tightened. The next freeway ride to work could have well been my last. I > will have to email KLR650 and thank them for prompt shipment of my lowered > kick stand and lowering links. > Link/kickstand install went flawlessly. Noticed the chain tightened up a > bit. Loosed that. The biggest problem was the kickstand kill switch which I > will disarm soon enough. > Jimmy A6F >

[Doug Herr]

On Mon, 1 May 2006, Oldrice wrote:

> Handlebars were lose. All controls were > loose. Headlight was pointed up in the air.

Ah, you got lucky. Some people don't find out for months that can't trust a dealer. Welcome to the list. -- Doug Herr doug@...

[Oldrice]

Hi John, I wouldn't say I had a bad experience, just one that could have used a little improvement. It's a good thing I know bikes or most of this stuff could have gone unnoticed. And yeah, I did go over the entire bike (all the exposed stuff) with loctite and a torque wrench. All this being said, I do truly love this bike! I can't wait to farkle it out though! Brake lines, guards, doohickey, etc,.. One of the things I'm working on now is waterproofing it. Most the electrical is done now (I was up late last night!) and the t-mod is being done now. Back to the garage... Geoff- www.oldrice.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "John Kokola" To: "Oldrice" ; "dsngroup" dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 10:45 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Fastener Check Hate to say it, Geoff, but based on what I've read here I'm not surprised. Make sure that your forks have been lowered from the shipping position, can't remember what that is but there should be something in the KLR650 FAQ regarding this. First thing I would do would be to take a torque wrench and a Loctite stick to the bike. Sorry about your bad experience. --John Kokola -----Original Message----- >From: Oldrice > >[RANT] >I had to trailer my bike home from the dealer. 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 Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 Yahoo! Groups Links

[Jimmy]

This is my first showroom new bike since an XR-75 in 1975. First "enduro" since an old Yamaha 360 20 years ago. I have wanted a dual sport for ever it seams, but I was hesetant to by used not knowing what I would get. Last 4 bikes were HD's. So weight and vibration are not the problem with me that they seam to be to the group. I am not big unless your measuring around. 28" inseam made the lowering links a must. I will return to stock configuration after getting a dished corbin. I do feel this is a huge safety issue. Nothing you can blame on Kawasaki, but they should hold their dealers to a higher standard. Jimmy A6F Red w/ Blue loctite Oldrice wrote: [RANT] I had to trailer my bike home from the dealer. I just bought an 06 as well. Upon pushing it into the garage I noticed a funny knocking noise when I used the front brake. In a few minutes I was all over my bike. Front axle nut was on by a thread - no cotter pin. Pretty much all the plastic fasteners were all loose. Loctite them bad boys. Handlebars were lose. All controls were loose. Headlight was pointed up in the air. Seat bolts were very lose. Battery terminals were loose. Both fork boots were at half way and not tightened. Subframe bolts were loose. Misc wire harnesses were not tucked or routed properly. Not to my liking anyway. Especially the rear lights harness. The list goes on. When I say "loose" I mean you could turn the nuts/bolts/fasteners with your fingers. This is the third bike I've bought 'new' from a dealer. First one that came to me like this though. After my three buying 'new' experiences I've decided to not ever buy a bike new again. I wrote a letter to my dealer, took pictures and will deliver this folder in person next week. This to me is a safety issue as a lot of people don't go through their bikes properly when buying new. They just get on and ride. It should be that way but one should also do thorough checks and know what to look for too. I am appalled at the lack of 'treatment' by dealers/salespeople to buyers and as a side note, I think those paying the premium price in cash should at least be treated better. [/RANT] Geoff- www.oldrice.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Norm Keller]

>When I went to remove the lower link pivot bolt nut, >which is normally torqued to 72 ft. lbs. I found it was >hanging on by 2 threads after only 114 miles.

Same with my A18 when picked up new. Rad hose clamps were loose too. Norm --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jimmy]

Thanks Norm, After reading your post, I walked straight out to the garage and got at least a 1/4 turn on all 4 rad clamps. This is my daily driver unless we have a torrential downpour (Houston) and we do at times. I hate to feel like an early test pilot just because I'm riding a new bike. This is my second week with the group and everyone seams to get along great and have a lot of knowledge on the KLR. I feel like one of the guys and I thank you all for you hospitality. It is good to learn from your mistakes, but it is better to learn from the mistakes of others. I hope I can benefit more from the latter and your many years of experience. Thank you all again, Jimmy A6F Spring, TX. Norm Keller wrote:

>When I went to remove the lower link pivot bolt nut, >which is normally torqued to 72 ft. lbs. I found it was >hanging on by 2 threads after only 114 miles.

Same with my A18 when picked up new. Rad hose clamps were loose too. Norm --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1 /min. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 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 Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]