painting an ims tank

[Don Van Dyke]

Actually, Happy Trails is making an adjustment to the nerf bars in response to a problem I reported. The mounting holes in the engine guard portion of my nerf bars did not match the holes on my frame, they were slightly more than 1/8 inch off. At first, Todd at happy trails thought my bike must have just been a bit off (or maybe he thought I was a bit off) and he offered to custom make one to fit my bike at no extra charge. Later he reported that their taps that cut the mounting holes into the engine guard had slipped, and they where readjusting their machinery. I am now waiting for an new engine guard. So Happy Trails scores one for responsiveness to customers. I'm not sure I would blame HT for the fork touching the bars, given that according to reports on this list, the handle bars on most KLR seem to turn more to the right than the left. The issue of the nerf bars touching might be more an issue of how the KLR is built, but I'll know more when I fit all the pieces together. At 05:31 AM 1/24/2005 +0000, wilkins5773 wrote:

>Thanks for the input on the nerf bars. I did end up sending an email >message to both KLR650.com and Happy-Trails asking about their >products. I'll let you know whether or not they respond this week. >It would seem that if they make their own products they could make >adjustments for the complaints some have had about fitment and the >forks hitting the bars. > >Steve Wilkins >A-18

Don Van Dyke Sacramento, California Moto@... www.intellection.org

[wilkins5773]

This morning I got a response from Happy Trails in reference to my question comparing their nerf bars to the ones on KLR650.com. I'll cut and paste Tim's response below: "The other is a knock off of my product and therefore they market it at a cut rate. I can tell you taht over the ears it has taken time to develop the PD and we are constantly making it better when we see a way to do. We offer an unconditional warranty on our products. If you crash it you own but if there is a problem with it we take care of it." I then ask if they have made any recent changes due to reported installation fitment problems or clearance problems resulting in contact with the KLR's forks. This is the response Tim sent... "IF YOU WANT TO RUN A pd nERF THE CLEARANCE IS TIGHT. The way it is built the PD on the Right side just ouches as the stop limits the travel. If you install it and turn it all the way and then tighten it that is probably the best way. I have had people call and try and tell me it limits the travel by 50%, after I talk with them and go through basic installation principles all is well. There was a change on 2005 foot peg distance that we had to adjust to. Bottom line is that reading is good but actually doing it is much better." Tim's comments were helpful to me so I've posted them for others who may be interested. Interestingly enough I haven't received a response yet from KLR650.com. If anyone has actually purchased nerf bars from KLR650.com (mashonline) I would be interested to hear from you. Steve Wilkins A-18

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/24/2005 11:01:22 AM Pacific Standard Time, wilkins@... writes: "The other is a knock off of my product and therefore they market it at a cut rate. I can tell you that over the ears it has taken time to develop the PD and we are constantly making it better When we see a way to do. We offer an unconditional warranty on our products. If you crash it you own but if there is a problem with it we take care of it." Steve, I'm another happy Happy Trails customer that can vouch for the unconditional warranty. I got a set of side racks and panniers from Tim back in '00. At the time I purchased mine Tim was just making an improvement to the design of his side rack. By some quirk I got a left side with the old design and a right with the newer one. Last summer I was conversing with Tim about how well his product has stood up to my abuse. Middle of all of this Tim tells me to go look at my left rack and see if the upper mounts were located different than on the right. When I confirmed this was so Tim explained the mix-up and sent me a new set of side racks on warranty. Pat G'ville, NV [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[L.D.]

I purchased the PD nerf bars from KLR650.com last summer . They fit perfectly (unlike some comments made in this forum about the Happy Trails units -at that time) and the kit even included the long handled T socket and hex key necessary to mount the kit. The bars are solid and the welds look very good. If I remember correctly the price difference was enough to pay for a new moose skid plate. Happy Trails is a good outfit (I've purchased several items from them) but they can over price an item just like anyone else. L.D. Graham wilkins5773 wrote: This morning I got a response from Happy Trails in reference to my question comparing their nerf bars to the ones on KLR650.com. I'll cut and paste Tim's response below: I haven't received a response yet from KLR650.com. If anyone has actually purchased nerf bars from KLR650.com (mashonline) I would be interested to hear from you. Steve Wilkins A-18 --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[James L. Miller Jr.]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "L.D." wrote:

> I purchased the PD nerf bars from KLR650.com last summer . They

fit perfectly (unlike some comments made in this forum about the Happy Trails units -at that time) and the kit even included the long handled T socket and hex key necessary to mount the kit. The bars are solid and the welds look very good.

> > If I remember correctly the price difference was enough to pay for

a new moose skid plate.

> > Happy Trails is a good outfit (I've purchased several items from

them) but they can over price an item just like anyone else.

> > L.D. Graham

When you can steal an idea you save all the design and tooling costs. When you send the idea overseas, reverse engineer it and pay rice and fishheads, you save all that money paying some American worker for his skills time and effort. I'd rather pay (and have many times) for good old 'merican engineering than some low life thief at a cut rate. Tim's customer service more than makes up for that "extra cost". Go ahead, flame away. I'm Asbestos Man today! Just my opinion, I might be wrong millerized

[Ron Crandell]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "James L. Miller Jr." wrote:

> > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "L.D." wrote: > > I purchased the PD nerf bars from KLR650.com last summer . They > fit perfectly (unlike some comments made in this forum about the > Happy Trails units -at that time) and the kit even included the long > handled T socket and hex key necessary to mount the kit. The bars > are solid and the welds look very good. > > > > If I remember correctly the price difference was enough to pay for > a new moose skid plate. > > > > Happy Trails is a good outfit (I've purchased several items from > them) but they can over price an item just like anyone else. > > > > L.D. Graham > > When you can steal an idea you save all the design and tooling > costs. When you send the idea overseas, reverse engineer it and pay > rice and fishheads, you save all that money paying some American > worker for his skills time and effort. > > I'd rather pay (and have many times) for good old 'merican > engineering than some low life thief at a cut rate. Tim's customer > service more than makes up for that "extra cost". > > Go ahead, flame away. I'm Asbestos Man today! > > Just my opinion, I might be wrong > millerized

Amen James!! IF I can get what I want/need from one of these fine folks, I will do it every time. (Fred, Tim, Mike, Jake, Dual-Star, and anyone I've missed who has supported this KLR fraternity all along) I figure that I really didn't spend all that much for the bike, so I can afford to buy the best when I'm buying farkles.. Ron in MN

[wilkins5773]

Not to take away from Tim or any of the fine folks at Happy-Trails, but lets remember that we ride a bike that was made in a foreign land by a bunch of guys who probably don't even speak English. We've already failed the "Buy American" test. Now when it comes to building nerf bars, how are we to know who came up with what? To look at the two versions, at least on the surface, they appear to be identical products, maybe even made by the same folks, with a $71 price difference. If the two products are apples to apples in quality but not in price, sooner or later something is probably going to give. In fact, most businesses in today's competetive marketplace offer to match a lower price if you find it elsewhere. I'm simply looking in from a third party commmon sense perspective and have never had any dealings with either company. But I am careful how I spend my money and look for the best deal. With that said, I still appreciate the efforts Happy-Trails has made towards the KLR community. Steve Wilkins A-18

[Douglas Bouley]

Anybody have first-hand experience with the H-T PD Nerf bars? They ain't cheap, but they look pretty useful on the web site, and installation looks simple. Primary use will be on-road/dirt roads (not much real off-road). My concern is to protect the radiator stuff, of course. I'm one of those people who can fall off a bike at a gas station. (d@mn3d leg splint...) Thanks, Doug impatiently awaiting delivery of new bike

[Analog Aardvark]

They're heavy, expensive, and work really well... I saw a KLR go down at 55+ on a dirt road with PD bars, slide, catch, and highside itself at a decent clip. Enough of an impact to totally FLATTEN a Jesse box and crush the KLR subframe into the wheel... and though the headlight fairing looks like it's been sandblasted, the tank and shrouds don't even have a scratch, must less damage. That did crack one of the PD mounts, though, which was an easy weld. I also have them on my own bike, which sees a fair bit of abuse, and love them. Though mine, too, developed a thin crack near one of the welds, from vibration and stress I think since it's never gone down at high speed. -Luke PS You can search the list here: http://dsnklr650.gavinmac.com/ --- Douglas Bouley wrote:

> Anybody have first-hand experience with the H-T PD > Nerf bars? > > They ain't cheap, but they look pretty useful on the > web site, and > installation looks simple. Primary use will be > on-road/dirt roads (not > much real off-road). My concern is to protect the > radiator stuff, of > course. I'm one of those people who can fall off a > bike at a gas > station. (d@mn3d leg splint...) > > Thanks, > Doug > impatiently awaiting delivery of new bike > > > 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 > > > DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > >

__________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less. dsl.yahoo.com

[Douglas Bouley]

Hi, Dirk, Well put: "getting to your favorite crash spot"! I've done my share of body damage on road bikes just loosing them at parking lot speed. The KLR rad set up looks a little fragile to me and I plan to have mine a long time, with any luck. Doug dirk@... wrote:

>Hi Doug, > >I have the P-D Nerf bars on my bike and really like them. They protected my bike >from a couple of crashes on gravel roads. (I seem to be a really bad off-road >rider...) Not only do they protect your rad, but they also look pretty rad, and >the footpegs are a nice addition when you have to go a long way to get to your >favorite crashing spot. It's just another way to shift body position to avoid >fatigue and monkey butt. For some folks, it's also a place to strap gear, >keeping it low and forward rather than high up on the tank or way out back on >the luggage rack. > >I liked it so much I bought a set (used) for my dad's KLR because he liked the >looks of it so much...and he never rides off road. > >Dirk > > > >Quoting Douglas Bouley : > > > >>Anybody have first-hand experience with the H-T PD Nerf bars? >> >>They ain't cheap, but they look pretty useful on the web site, and >>installation looks simple. Primary use will be on-road/dirt roads (not >>much real off-road). My concern is to protect the radiator stuff, of >>course. I'm one of those people who can fall off a bike at a gas >>station. (d@mn3d leg splint...) >> >>Thanks, >>Doug >>impatiently awaiting delivery of new bike >> >> >>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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