2008 vs 2007 klr650 - on and offroad mini-comparison test from

[flowridej]

I just got my KLR yesterday and started pulling things apart today. I found out that it has the lower altitude jets in it even though it was originally purchased here in Colorado. According to the Clymer manual it should have a 145 main and 38 pilot. It has the 148 main and 40 pilot that the manual says is for use below 4000 feet. Does anyone have any experience with these different jet sizes? Also I think the idle mixture screw was all the way in. As I was drilling out the plug the bit pushed in for just a second but I really don't think there was near enough time and preasure to turn the screw in. Has anyone found this setup on there bike? I question if the dealer really knew what they where doing as the forks are sticking out at least 4 inches above the top of the triple clamp! It looks like it might cost me 20 bucks or so to get the new jets so I am wondering if I should just drop the money and get a jet kit (55-65). I don't plan on putting a pipe on any time soon but I would have the jets if I ever did. Can any riders for elevations from 5000-12000+ comment on jetting? thanks, Jason

[grufrude]

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

> > I just got my KLR yesterday and started pulling things apart

today. I

> found out that it has the lower altitude jets in it even though it

was

> originally purchased here in Colorado. According to the Clymer

manual

> it should have a 145 main and 38 pilot. It has the 148 main and 40 > pilot that the manual says is for use below 4000 feet. Does anyone > have any experience with these different jet sizes?

Jason, I just purchased a brand new 2006 KLR and live at 6200 feet here in Cheyenne Wyoming. The stock jetting is a bit lean to meet EPA requirements AT SEA LEVEL -- which means that my altitude, it is just about PERFECT as delivered. Last weekend I rode the bike to 9000 feet and it ran very well. I suspect that the EPA-approved sea level jetting results in a really well-adjusted bike for the real world up here in the inter-mountain West. I have an old RS BMW sport-tourer which is also jetted for EPA sea-level requirements, and it runs perfectly up here in Cheyenne. I'd be willing to bet that if we re- jetted our bikes for the high-altitiude specs in the manuals, we'd be plagued with the lean stumbles that the low-altitiude owners bitch about . . . Just a thought, Hugh

[Blake Sobiloff]

On May 4, 2007, at 8:40 PM, grufrude wrote:

> I'd be willing to bet that if we re- > jetted our bikes for the high-altitiude specs in the manuals, we'd be > plagued with the lean stumbles that the low-altitiude owners bitch > about . . .

Bravo, Hugh! Good answer. -- Blake Sobiloff http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> San Jose, CA (USA) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Sat, 05 May 2007 03:13:43 -0000 "flowridej" writes:

> I just got my KLR yesterday and started pulling things apart today. > I > found out that it has the lower altitude jets in it even though it > was > originally purchased here in Colorado. According to the Clymer > manual > it should have a 145 main and 38 pilot. It has the 148 main and 40 > > pilot that the manual says is for use below 4000 feet. Does anyone > > have any experience with these different jet sizes? Also I think > the > idle mixture screw was all the way in. As I was drilling out the > plug > the bit pushed in for just a second but I really don't think there > was > near enough time and preasure to turn the screw in. Has anyone > found > this setup on there bike? I question if the dealer really knew what > > they where doing as the forks are sticking out at least 4 inches > above > the top of the triple clamp! It looks like it might cost me 20 > bucks > or so to get the new jets so I am wondering if I should just drop > the > money and get a jet kit (55-65). I don't plan on putting a pipe on > any > time soon but I would have the jets if I ever did. Can any riders > for > elevations from 5000-12000+ comment on jetting? > > thanks, > Jason

<><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><> Jason, I think yesterday Bill Watson answered your question. But I was going through about 300 e-mails from the weekend so I might be wrong. Do you need more input? Mine would be leave the jets alone and install a No Toil Filter and use No Toil filter maintenance products. I think you'd be real close to perfect (for a KLR) with that combination at altitude. I think the stock exhaust works well on the KLR and you can better spend money on suspension or brake upgrades if you really think you need them. I also like the quiet exhaust systems cause more noise doesn't equal more power in many cases. And more noise does influence more people in a negative manner about all motorcycles. To adjust your mixture I'd put it at 1 1/4 turns out to start. Then with the bike hot (10 mile ride) turn the screw out till the idle gets rough. Then turn in until the idle gets rough. The turn it back 1/2 way between the two settings. And I'd leave it there. You shouldn't have any off idle stumbles but if you do you could turn it out the width of the slot in the mixture screw and test again. I wouldn't turn it out enough to get rid of minor popping on deceleration. Most folks that try to get more performance out of the KLR spend lots of money and don't get much return for it. I'm thinking if you want to race it you have the wrong bike. : ) But for getting you from point A to B reliably and with some comfort the KLR will get the job done. Just my thoughts. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[flowridej]

> I think yesterday Bill Watson answered your question. But I was

going

> through about 300 e-mails from the weekend so I might be wrong. Do

you

> need more input?

I don't think I heard from Bill but got input for a couple other people. I also talked to a couple local dealers Saturday when I had the bike apart. The consensus seems to be that the Kawasaki low altitude jetting works quite well here at altitude so I have left it alone for now.

> Mine would be leave the jets alone and install a No Toil Filter and

use

> No Toil filter maintenance products. I think you'd be real close to > perfect (for a KLR) with that combination at altitude.

I am not really familiar with there stuff. I have a K&N in my other bike. I have seen a few people say the K&N setup is not very good for the KLR and have never read anything bad about the No Toil so I will have to take a look at it soon.

> I think the stock exhaust works well on the KLR and you can better

spend

> money on suspension or brake upgrades if you really think you need

them.

> I also like the quiet exhaust systems cause more noise doesn't

equal more

> power in many cases. And more noise does influence more people in a > negative manner about all motorcycles.

Yeah, I really agree with that one. I looked at a nice, very well setup KLR a couple weeks ago. The big thing I did not like about it was that it had a SuperTrapp on it and it was REALLY loud. I am glad that I got one with the stock pipe still on it.

> To adjust your mixture I'd put it at 1 1/4 turns out to start.

Then with

> the bike hot (10 mile ride) turn the screw out till the idle gets

rough.

> Then turn in until the idle gets rough. The turn it back 1/2 way

I have it 1 1/2 turns out right now. How am I suppose to adjust this with the carb on the bike? I bought a very low profile "screwdriver" to make the adjustment. It is actually just a thumbwheel with a small screwdriver bit in it. I was not suprised that it did not fit but I was suprised that the bit, by itself, still would not fit! How has everyone adjusted there idle mixture? I guess I could tilt the carb temporarily to reach it but it would be better if there is a way to adjust in position.

> Most folks that try to get more performance out of the KLR spend

lots of

> money and don't get much return for it. I'm thinking if you want

to race

> it you have the wrong bike. : ) But for getting you from point A

I read enough before I got it to know that there is not much more performance to be had. That is OK, I think it will still be a good bike anyway. I just want it to run properly so I don't lose any of the potential performance that is there. It is suprising that Kawasaki could be so far off in their jetting recommendations. I trust the real world experience of the group here over the factory guidelines any day! Thanks Jeff and everyone for all the feedback. Jason

[GMac999]

I took a gasket sealer cap, took a common bit that fit the carb adjusting screw, cut the shank portion of the bit in half and glued it into the cap. It's tight, but it works. I just won't do it while it's hot due to the close exhaust header pipe. Takes longer, but it gets it done. GregM

> To adjust your mixture I'd put it at 1 1/4 turns out to start.

Then with

> the bike hot (10 mile ride) turn the screw out till the idle gets

rough.

> Then turn in until the idle gets rough. The turn it back 1/2 way

I have it 1 1/2 turns out right now. How am I suppose to adjust this with the carb on the bike? I bought a very low profile "screwdriver" to make the adjustment. It is actually just a thumbwheel with a small screwdriver bit in it. I was not suprised that it did not fit but I was suprised that the bit, by itself, still would not fit! How has everyone adjusted there idle mixture? I guess I could tilt the carb temporarily to reach it but it would be better if there is a way to adjust in position. -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of flowridej Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 12:58 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: proper jetting for above 4000 feet

> I think yesterday Bill Watson answered your question. But I was

going

> through about 300 e-mails from the weekend so I might be wrong. Do

you

> need more input?

I don't think I heard from Bill but got input for a couple other people. I also talked to a couple local dealers Saturday when I had the bike apart. The consensus seems to be that the Kawasaki low altitude jetting works quite well here at altitude so I have left it alone for now.

> Mine would be leave the jets alone and install a No Toil Filter and

use

> No Toil filter maintenance products. I think you'd be real close

to

> perfect (for a KLR) with that combination at altitude.

I am not really familiar with there stuff. I have a K&N in my other bike. I have seen a few people say the K&N setup is not very good for the KLR and have never read anything bad about the No Toil so I will have to take a look at it soon.

> I think the stock exhaust works well on the KLR and you can better

spend

> money on suspension or brake upgrades if you really think you need

them.

> I also like the quiet exhaust systems cause more noise doesn't

equal more

> power in many cases. And more noise does influence more people in

a

> negative manner about all motorcycles.

Yeah, I really agree with that one. I looked at a nice, very well setup KLR a couple weeks ago. The big thing I did not like about it was that it had a SuperTrapp on it and it was REALLY loud. I am glad that I got one with the stock pipe still on it.

> To adjust your mixture I'd put it at 1 1/4 turns out to start.

Then with

> the bike hot (10 mile ride) turn the screw out till the idle gets

rough.

> Then turn in until the idle gets rough. The turn it back 1/2 way

I have it 1 1/2 turns out right now. How am I suppose to adjust this with the carb on the bike? I bought a very low profile "screwdriver" to make the adjustment. It is actually just a thumbwheel with a small screwdriver bit in it. I was not suprised that it did not fit but I was suprised that the bit, by itself, still would not fit! How has everyone adjusted there idle mixture? I guess I could tilt the carb temporarily to reach it but it would be better if there is a way to adjust in position.

> Most folks that try to get more performance out of the KLR spend

lots of

> money and don't get much return for it. I'm thinking if you want

to race

> it you have the wrong bike. : ) But for getting you from point A

I read enough before I got it to know that there is not much more performance to be had. That is OK, I think it will still be a good bike anyway. I just want it to run properly so I don't lose any of the potential performance that is there. It is suprising that Kawasaki could be so far off in their jetting recommendations. I trust the real world experience of the group here over the factory guidelines any day! Thanks Jeff and everyone for all the feedback. Jason 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front

[Ross Lindberg]

> I have it 1 1/2 turns out right now. How am I suppose to adjust

this

> with > the carb on the bike? I bought a very low profile "screwdriver" > to make the adjustment. It is actually just a thumbwheel with a > small > screwdriver bit in it. I was not suprised that it did not fit but I > was > suprised that the bit, by itself, still would not fit! How has > everyone > adjusted there idle mixture? I guess I could tilt the carb > temporarily to > reach it but it would be better if there is a way to adjust in > position. >

Actually, there is an easier way. Fred at Arrowhead sells a replacement screw with a handy knob on it for easy adjustment. I installed mine on Sunday. A very easy install. At first glance it might seem a bit spendy at around $21, but the ease of adjustment makes it a worthwhile addition to your bike. No tools, no straining, no fighting trying to adjust a screw you can't even see. I recommend it highly. Ross Lindberg Fertile, MN

[Ernie Campbell]

fred no longer has those screws, the manufacturer is no longer making them. Eagle mike had one left that he sold me. Ernie Campbell

----- Original Message ----- From: Ross Lindberg To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 10:12 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: proper jetting for above 4000 feet > I have it 1 1/2 turns out right now. How am I suppose to adjust this > with > the carb on the bike? I bought a very low profile "screwdriver" > to make the adjustment. It is actually just a thumbwheel with a > small > screwdriver bit in it. I was not suprised that it did not fit but I > was > suprised that the bit, by itself, still would not fit! How has > everyone > adjusted there idle mixture? I guess I could tilt the carb > temporarily to > reach it but it would be better if there is a way to adjust in > position. > Actually, there is an easier way. Fred at Arrowhead sells a replacement screw with a handy knob on it for easy adjustment. I installed mine on Sunday. A very easy install. At first glance it might seem a bit spendy at around $21, but the ease of adjustment makes it a worthwhile addition to your bike. No tools, no straining, no fighting trying to adjust a screw you can't even see. I recommend it highly. Ross Lindberg Fertile, MN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Norm Keller]

>with the carb on the bike? I bought a very low >profile "screwdriver" to make the adjustment

Buy a 1/4" hex screwdriver bit which fits the mixture screw and grind the bit down to 1/2 the length of the hex portion. Works fine. The flip side is that one adjustment is all that is likely needed. Norm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Matt]

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

> > I'll be keeping my mutant ass hauler > > Mike Torst > > > Is that thing still alive?

Matt

> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >