horns compared: twin fiamm vs stebel nautilus compact

[Jud Jones]

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

> > I was also wondering about opinions on "bark-busters". There seem to > be a lot of models out there. Do these work ith the stock > hand-gaurds, or do you need to replace those as well? (Most mention > that they have the metal gaurds and then, at an additional cost, the > shrouds.) >

You can't leave the stock hand guards in place, but you can trim them and mount them to the metal guards. Or, you can cut up detergent jugs or old tires to make wind deflectors.

[Mike Peplinski]

While these mods look really cool they probably won't come into play on the road. You'll hear a lot about the "doohickey". This is a known problem area for the KLR and is easily addresses. Some never replace it and never have problems. Rarely does it fail and actually destroy the engine but quite a few of them are found broken or cracked when the owner pulls it. The cam chain tensioner(dohickey) and its attending spring are culprits, fairly easily replaced but it does require some special tools and an afternoon in the garage. Other than that, just go ride. You can sort out the farkle later. Ride often; ride safe. and enjoy.

>From: "wiselp" >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] New rider seeking advice on safety upgrades >Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:53:29 -0000 > >Hello everyone! >I am new to this group and new to motorcycles in general. I am buying >a 2005 KLR this Friday and have signed up to take a motorcycle safety >course to learn how to ride responsibly. >It seems like there a lot of threads concerning mods for the KLR, but >I was wondering what would be good upgrades for a new rider, >specifically in terms of protection to the bike. I was thinking that >I should go ahead and install radiator and waterpump guards. Are >there any other suggestions? I plan on riding about 80/20 on/off. > >Thanks in advance. >Lauren > > > > >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 > > > >

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[Blake Sobiloff]

On Oct 18, 2006, at 4:31 AM, wiselp wrote:

> I was also wondering about opinions on "bark-busters". There seem to > be a lot of models out there. Do these work ith the stock > hand-gaurds, or do you need to replace those as well?

With some bark busters you can hack up the original hand guards and make them work; search the archive for folks who have done so successfully. IMHO, bark busters are the most difficult bit of farkle I've installed. I have Enduro Engineering ones, but from what I've heard the process is just about as difficult with any other manufacturer's product as well. You have to saw off the outside end of the throttle tube. I wanted to replace my grips at the same time I was installing the EE bark busters, and discovered (like everyone else) that the left one is melted to the bar so you have to use a file to get all the old grip off. The bark busters don't perfectly fit the curve of the stock handlebars, so to get them in the right orientation you have to literally find a manhole cover, stick one end into one of the holes in the cover, and bend the bar into a better shape. Also, with the EE units, the piece of hose they give you to make the expander plugs fit more securely inside the bar ends is too small. I spent several hours trying to get the darned things on and eventually gave up; I cut them in half and only used half of the material. That worked fine. Oh, and once you get that done you get to drill four holes in each bark buster for the screws that hold the EE wind guard in place. Once you go through all that, though, they do work and they work well. They protected the controls on my bike after my last accident enough that Matt was able to ride my bike out without trouble; the clutch lever rotated a bit on the handlebar (probably while the mirror was being snapped off), but everything still worked. I doubt the hand controls would have survived at all if it weren't for the bark busters. -- Blake Sobiloff http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> San Jose, CA (USA)

[Analog Aardvark]

> On Oct 18, 2006, at 4:31 AM, wiselp wrote: > > I was also wondering about opinions on > "bark-busters". There seem to > > be a lot of models out there. Do these work ith > the stock > > hand-gaurds, or do you need to replace those as > well?

Blake Sobiloff wrote: [massive summary: they're a huge hassle to install] I have Maier woodspro's. They went on without too much hassle without drilling anything and they're tough as nails. I haven't seen another model as stout--no "slotted" areas to snap, to flimsly plastic, just good thick metal all the way through. It's a close tolerance between the "nub" on the inboard end of the brake lever (the thing that triggers the brake light) and the barkbuster, but not usually a problem I think. I made the stockers fit over them using a torch and some persuasion. It's unattractive but very functional. Alternately you can pay another $?? for the Maier plastic wind guard (the metal bars are already tapped). -Luke __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

[Spike55]

On my recent BMW trip, the lead guy had a Stebel. I got the squirrel to run the right direction. Don R100, A6F --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Analog Aardvark wrote:

> > Awhile ago we were talking about horns. I just > upgraded the horns on both my bikes and thought I'd > share a subjective side-to-side comparison. I mounted > a pair of Fiamm freeway blasters (high and low) to the > KLR, and a single Stebel Nautilus Compact to my > nighthawk. Both are run with relays and thick wire (I > want to say 12 gauge but I'm not 100%). I put the > Fiamms on the KLR because I'd heard of problems with > the Stebel's air compressor dealing with dust, and my > KLR sees plenty of dust. The nighthawk, though, is > never offroad, and I wanted the loudest horn I could > reasonably fit. I won't go in the details of the > nighthawk mount, but it's basically nestled between > the fork legs under the headlight. > > Subjectively--the Stebel is a LOT louder. I mean a > *LOT*. The twin Fiamms on the KLR sound like an early > 70s American sedan--on the loud end of what you might > reasonably expect from a big American vehicle. The > Stebel is the same sort of tone, but in a piercingly > loud, urgent, about to have some idiot parked in your > backseat kind of way. Neither is the the overwhelming > bone-shaking terror-inducing dumptruck out of control > assault I was hoping for, but the Stebel is a > satisfying attempt for the size it takes up. I > believe nothing short of proper large air horns can > get what I want... in my daydreams I have a KLX250 > with 182dB bigrig air horns rigged up as a commuter > weapon, but it's a long way off > > Just thought some folks might be curious. The Stebel > is a LOT louder, no comparison. It also comes with a > nipple on the air intake so you can hook up a tiny > breather filter, or run it to your airbox if you > wanted, but I'm not sure if I will. > > -Luke (ears still ringing) > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com >