nklr: looking for riding amigos for baja and/or copper canyon

[wudwork@hotmail.com]

Tom, my 2 cents. First, congrats on the bike. I took home my 2002 (A16) 1 month ago and just finished the 500 mile breakin. I spent a lot of time doing similar research and expect when you do same you will find: 1. Tank bag: Look in Wal-Mart. They have a bag that seems to work for many for < $20. 2. Skid plate and shifter: Look at www.happytrails.com I just bought the cruise pegs, shifter and plate and don't know how much they are required, but peace of mind is worth quite a bit to me. 3. Centerstand: Look at the Photos and Files section of this group. Some folks made a rear wheel lift from 2x4's and love them. Price is right. I made one and used it to lift the bike to put some blocking under skid plate (NOT on oil plug). That got the front wheel off the ground and make front shock spring replacement real easy. SS Brake line: I rode about 50 new miles before replacing both lines. I honestly can say it made a noticable difference. The replacement of front springs made considerable difference as well. 4. Windshield: Try stock first, you might like it. Enjoy your bike, we do..

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Tom Roper" wrote: > Looking to buy a '02 KLR this week, my dealer finally got one in. > Questions; > Who should I check with for a tank bag? > Plan on spending 80% time on pavement, 20% fire roads/trails, is the stock > skid plate & shifter ok for that? > Anyone make a windshield thats wider than stock? > Also expect to get a centerstand, lowering links and SS brake line. Probably > a pipe in the near future too. Would like to keep the noise level down tho. > Open to suggestions. > Tom Roper > '98 Concours > Mo.

[Cheryl Dyck]

I just bought a new 2002 KLR 650 a few weeks ago and I'm looking to do some mods I was thinking of changing the clutch cable to a hydraulic one, and better tires next summer. Any other things to change I should put on the my to do list. I ride about 50/50 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[bradcdavis]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Cheryl Dyck" wrote:

> I just bought a new 2002 KLR 650 a few weeks ago and I'm looking to

do some mods

> I was thinking of changing the clutch cable to a hydraulic one, and

better tires next summer.

> Any other things to change I should put on the my to do list. > I ride about 50/50 > >

I would say get the better tires this summer and nix the hydraulic clutch. What is wrong with the OEM clutch cable anyway? Use the $$ for some useful gear like luggage racks, fork springs, doohickeys. etc... Brad in NC

[klrz4ever]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Cheryl Dyck" wrote:

> I just bought a new 2002 KLR 650 a few weeks ago and I'm looking to

do some mods

> I was thinking of changing the clutch cable to a hydraulic one, and

better tires next summer.

> Any other things to change I should put on the my to do list. > I ride about 50/50

If you ride it much on the street, you'll need new tires before next summer. I'd nix the clutch upgrade in favor of Progressive Suspension fork springs and a braided steel front brake line. After that, a good skid pan and some decent hand guards. There are lots of goodies available for the KLR, but this is a good start for performance and protection. __Arden

[judjonzz]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "klrz4ever" wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Cheryl Dyck" wrote: > > I just bought a new 2002 KLR 650 a few weeks ago and I'm looking

to

> do some mods > > I was thinking of changing the clutch cable to a hydraulic one,

and

> better tires next summer. > > Any other things to change I should put on the my to do list. > > I ride about 50/50 > > > If you ride it much on the street, you'll need new tires before next > summer. I'd nix the clutch upgrade in favor of Progressive

Suspension

> fork springs and a braided steel front brake line. After that, a

good

> skid pan and some decent hand guards. There are lots of goodies > available for the KLR, but this is a good start for performance and > protection. > > __Arden

If you're riding 50/50 dirt and street, I'd recommend doing it the other way around: Skid pan and lever protectors first. After a week of hard pounding in Wyoming, I wished I had more suspension, but without the protection, I might have had to leave the bike behind. Jud Semper ubi sub ubi.

[Adrian Scott Abshire]

Hi all! Now for the first of what is sure to be a barrage of needless questions. I will read the FAQs before asking too many (I promise)... Should I go ahead and replace the subframe bolt or is this something that can wait a while (new 2003 KLR delivered today). Also has anyone tried the Travelcade Gel Seat? Is it worth the money or should I just get a Russell or Corbin flat seat? Thanks, Scott ===== ======================================================== Adrian Scott Abshire Senior Systems Analyst/Developer - G&B Solutions Cell: 409-338-7693 Fax: 303-236-6691 Office: 303-236-4713 1989 Foretravel U300 36' GrandVilla Diesel Pusher 2001 BMW F650GSA - my new ride! Check out my website: http://www.rvhabitat.com - Our Home on the Web! Quote: "640K ought to be enough for everybody." BILL GATES, Microsoft,1981 __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com

[Mark St.Hilaire, Sr]

Scott, welcome to the KLR community!

> Should I go ahead and replace the subframe bolt or is > this something that can wait a while (new 2003 KLR > delivered today).

In my humble opinion, this is one of the things that should be done pretty much right away. Off-roading the bike seems to be the "instigator" of this problem, but I changed out my subframe bolts in case my big butt slapped the back end down a bit too hard in normal riding. It's pretty cheap and easy to do, and could save all kinds of hassle and expense...

> Also has anyone tried the Travelcade Gel Seat? Is it > worth the money or should I just get a Russell or > Corbin flat seat?

This is kind of an oil thread situation, there will be as many opinions as there are saddles. For $199 plus shipping I got the flat Corbin, and my princess rear-end couldn't be any happier. I did 1400 miles in two days not long ago, and had NO sore butt complaints! (A sheepskin is a good thing on any saddle.) I hope that helps - best of luck! Mark Glitter is coined to meet the moment's rage; Genuine lives on from age to age. - Goethe's "Faust" KLR650 Motorcycle Pages: http://klr6500.tripod.com/ HomePage: http://home.adelphia.net/~msaint/index.html My Adelphia Email can be "iffy." If you don't get a response, please try: KLR6500@...

[steve pye]

----- Original Message ----- From: "Adrian Scott Abshire" > Hi all! > Also has anyone tried the Travelcade Gel Seat? Is it > worth the money or should I just get a Russell or > Corbin flat seat? > Thanks, Scott > Welcome to the wonderful world of KLR's. I would definitely go with a flat Corbin or Russell if you can afford them. If you're on a budget try www.sporttour.com, they have a replacement seat that is very similar to the flat Corbin but a fair bit cheaper. I have the Sport Tour seat on my bike and I've been very happy with it. Cheers, Steve A11

[RM]

On Fri, 11 Oct 2002, Mark St.Hilaire, Sr wrote:

>>Should I go ahead and replace the subframe bolt or is >>this something that can wait a while (new 2003 KLR >>delivered today). >In my humble opinion, this is one of the things that should be done >pretty much right away.

I agree that it's a problem, but I'm not sure that it's quite as urgent as you suggest. I don't know of any cases where the rear subframe bolts have failed early on. In fact, the failure rate seems pretty low overall. Not that I'm suggesting to ignore them... On the contrary, I think they should be upgraded on all bikes. It's just that I'd put them a little lower on the priority list than some other things (like the doohickey ferinstance). RM

[Adrian Scott Abshire]

So what would be the first things you would do to the bike to ensure safety and reliability? Scott --- RM wrote:

> > On Fri, 11 Oct 2002, Mark St.Hilaire, Sr wrote: > > >>Should I go ahead and replace the subframe bolt or > is > >>this something that can wait a while (new 2003 KLR > >>delivered today). > > >In my humble opinion, this is one of the things > that should be done > >pretty much right away. > > I agree that it's a problem, but I'm not sure that > it's quite as urgent as > you suggest. I don't know of any cases where the > rear subframe bolts have > failed early on. In fact, the failure rate seems > pretty low overall. > Not that I'm suggesting to ignore them... On the > contrary, I think they > should be upgraded on all bikes. It's just that I'd > put them a little > lower on the priority list than some other things > (like the doohickey > ferinstance). > > RM >

===== ======================================================== Adrian Scott Abshire Senior Systems Analyst/Developer - G&B Solutions Cell: 409-338-7693 Fax: 303-236-6691 Office: 303-236-4713 1989 Foretravel U300 36' GrandVilla Diesel Pusher 2001 BMW F650GSA - my new ride! Check out my website: http://www.rvhabitat.com - Our Home on the Web! Quote: "640K ought to be enough for everybody." BILL GATES, Microsoft,1981 __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com