cheaper front brake lever????

[Rick Brown]

Is there a supplier for the 14 tooth gear anybody would like to suggest?   Thanks, Rick [b]From:[/b] E Hines [b]To:[/b] Dooden ; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Wed, May 12, 2010 8:04:42 PM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Riding in 4th   I have always thought of putting a 16 on the front and a 45 on the rear.  That would be close to stock, but when I got to the dirt I could throw on a 15 or 14 and have more fun.  When I am mostly off road or just local riding I like the 14 with the 43 stock rear.  The bike is much more fun this way.  I did notice a little loss in the miles per gallon.  Most of my problem  with this is in the wrist.  I am not a fast rider, but I like to get up to speed quickly. ____________ _________ _________ __ From: Dooden To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com Sent: Wed, May 12, 2010 8:37:07 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Riding in 4th   Well I had 14/45 on for a while, playing offroad/trails it was wonderful, highway (around my parts posted limit is 55) it was pretty buzzzzzzzzzzzzzy, alright for 50 miles or so to say the campground where I was headed, but not something I would want stay at if on highway alot. When I had to start commuting 55 miles one way it went back to stock 15/43. Have left it that way, kinda stinks in the woods, but almost never do the real nasty stuff since my wife is out front on her 4 wheeler. Always make her take point so the ride is at her speed and not mine. Only takes a few minutes to change front and/or rear sprocket if I got other plans. Dooden A15 Green Ape --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, RobertWichert wrote: > > Folks, > > I am seriously considering changing to a 14 tooth front sprocket. For > the following reasons: > > 1) I went riding on a sandy road two weeks ago, and I never got out > of first gear. Ever. > 2) There are times when I would like to go slower, with enough > throttle to make a difference. This even happens in parking lots. When > I learned to ride, we put HUGE sprockets on the back and just crawled > along. I did lots of gnarly stuff like that and didn't know the difference. > 3) From what I can tell, I will still be able to ride at 80 mph (my > highway speed preference) without getting above 5500 rpm. > 4) Does anybody have a "speed in gears" chart for the KLR 650? > 5) I know that Kawi was looking for compromise, but I think they may > have opted for less revs to keep people from freaking out. For me, the > extra 500 rpm is not scary. And I don't care if I hit 100 mph or not. > > Any advice from the gallery? Jud? > > > Robert P. Wichert P.Eng > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > > > > > > > > > ============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ======== > > > On 5/12/2010 3:47 PM, Jud wrote: > > > > > > Tall gearing is great on the right bike. The KLR is not the right > > bike. First of all, it doesn't have any vibration to speak of. Not > > compared to a big Brit single whose grips get as big as baseball bats > > any time the revs get within 20 degrees of the red line. Second, it > > has the aerodynamics of a barn door. Even with a tail wind it's not > > going to pull red line on 16/43, and with stock gearing it will > > probably run faster in fourth. > > > > A taller gear on this bike just narrows its focus. It may feel a > > little calmer droning down the freeway at 75 or 80, but it will be > > worse at everything else. Like pottering along those nice 45-50 mph > > roads. Like running around town. Like cruising those 2-tracks and fire > > roads this bike seems made for. > > > > With the upright riding position, I don't really care to spend a lot > > of time over 65 anyway, so I see no point in setting it up to run > > there at the expense of everything else it does so well. > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com > > , "notanymoore" wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > I have the same problem. Always hunting between 4th and 5th with the > > 16 tooth sprocket on roads with 35-45 MPH speed limits. Just try to > > not lug the engine. The tradeoff in ride improvement at higher speeds > > is worth it IMO. > > > > > > Since most of my driving is higher speed, I've actually found the > > KLR is easier on oil with the extra tooth. KLR oil consumption seems > > to go up dramatically at prolonged speeds over 65 MPH with the 15 > > tooth. There seems to be a dropoff after a certain RPM level. > > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com > > , Craig Kahler wrote: > > > > > > > > I want to keep my 16T front sprocket for highway riding, but many > > of the roads I ride are to slow for 5th gear. > > > > Does alot of riding around in 4th gear cause extra wear on the > > transmission? > > > > Craig Kahler > > > > > > > > > > > >

[E Hines]

[RobertWichert]

I'm thinking 14/43.  That's different, right? Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ========================================================

On 5/12/2010 6:37 PM, Dooden wrote:   Well I had 14/45 on for a while, playing offroad/trails it was wonderful, highway (around my parts posted limit is 55) it was pretty buzzzzzzzzzzzzzy, alright for 50 miles or so to say the campground where I was headed, but not something I would want stay at if on highway alot. When I had to start commuting 55 miles one way it went back to stock 15/43. Have left it that way, kinda stinks in the woods, but almost never do the real nasty stuff since my wife is out front on her 4 wheeler. Always make her take point so the ride is at her speed and not mine. Only takes a few minutes to change front and/or rear sprocket if I got other plans. Dooden A15 Green Ape --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, RobertWichert robert@... wrote: > > Folks, > > I am seriously considering changing to a 14 tooth front sprocket. For > the following reasons: > > 1) I went riding on a sandy road two weeks ago, and I never got out > of first gear. Ever. > 2) There are times when I would like to go slower, with enough > throttle to make a difference. This even happens in parking lots. When > I learned to ride, we put HUGE sprockets on the back and just crawled > along. I did lots of gnarly stuff like that and didn't know the difference. > 3) From what I can tell, I will still be able to ride at 80 mph (my > highway speed preference) without getting above 5500 rpm. > 4) Does anybody have a "speed in gears" chart for the KLR 650? > 5) I know that Kawi was looking for compromise, but I think they may > have opted for less revs to keep people from freaking out. For me, the > extra 500 rpm is not scary. And I don't care if I hit 100 mph or not. > > Any advice from the gallery? Jud? > > > Robert P. Wichert P.Eng > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > > > > > > > > > ======================================================== > > > On 5/12/2010 3:47 PM, Jud wrote: > > > > > > Tall gearing is great on the right bike. The KLR is not the right > > bike. First of all, it doesn't have any vibration to speak of. Not > > compared to a big Brit single whose grips get as big as baseball bats > > any time the revs get within 20 degrees of the red line. Second, it > > has the aerodynamics of a barn door. Even with a tail wind it's not > > going to pull red line on 16/43, and with stock gearing it will > > probably run faster in fourth. > > > > A taller gear on this bike just narrows its focus. It may feel a > > little calmer droning down the freeway at 75 or 80, but it will be > > worse at everything else. Like pottering along those nice 45-50 mph > > roads. Like running around town. Like cruising those 2-tracks and fire > > roads this bike seems made for. > > > > With the upright riding position, I don't really care to spend a lot > > of time over 65 anyway, so I see no point in setting it up to run > > there at the expense of everything else it does so well. > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com > > DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "notanymoore" wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > I have the same problem. Always hunting between 4th and 5th with the > > 16 tooth sprocket on roads with 35-45 MPH speed limits. Just try to > > not lug the engine. The tradeoff in ride improvement at higher speeds > > is worth it IMO. > > > > > > Since most of my driving is higher speed, I've actually found the > > KLR is easier on oil with the extra tooth. KLR oil consumption seems > > to go up dramatically at prolonged speeds over 65 MPH with the 15 > > tooth. There seems to be a dropoff after a certain RPM level. > > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com > > DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Craig Kahler wrote: > > > > > > > > I want to keep my 16T front sprocket for highway riding, but many > > of the roads I ride are to slow for 5th gear. > > > > Does alot of riding around in 4th gear cause extra wear on the > > transmission? > > > > Craig Kahler > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Jeff Khoury]

Ron, I agree. I ran a 16 for a few months and I went back to the 15. While it was more comfotable over 75, it sucked all of the delicious torque out of the bike. It made 1st way too tall and I actually ended up using more fuel because I was constantly having to apply more throttle to maintain speed up hills and against the wind.  -Jeff Khoury

On May 12, 2010, at 5:50 PM, "roncriswell@..." wrote:

  I'm with you Jud. I see no reason to go to a 16. I have heard it sucks against a strong wind. My KLR cruises just fine at 80 indicated and sometimes 85. I have done this all day long in summer heat. It never complains and mine doesn't shake much. Criswell On May 12, 2010, at 5:47 PM, Jud wrote:   Tall gearing is great on the right bike. The KLR is not the right bike. First of all, it doesn't have any vibration to speak of. Not compared to a big Brit single whose grips get as big as baseball bats any time the revs get within 20 degrees of the red line. Second, it has the aerodynamics of a barn door. Even with a tail wind it's not going to pull red line on 16/43, and with stock gearing it will probably run faster in fourth. A taller gear on this bike just narrows its focus. It may feel a little calmer droning down the freeway at 75 or 80, but it will be worse at everything else. Like pottering along those nice 45-50 mph roads. Like running around town. Like cruising those 2-tracks and fire roads this bike seems made for. With the upright riding position, I don't really care to spend a lot of time over 65 anyway, so I see no point in setting it up to run there at the expense of everything else it does so well. --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "notanymoore" wrote: > > > > I have the same problem. Always hunting between 4th and 5th with the 16 tooth sprocket on roads with 35-45 MPH speed limits. Just try to not lug the engine. The tradeoff in ride improvement at higher speeds is worth it IMO. > > Since most of my driving is higher speed, I've actually found the KLR is easier on oil with the extra tooth. KLR oil consumption seems to go up dramatically at prolonged speeds over 65 MPH with the 15 tooth. There seems to be a dropoff after a certain RPM level. > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Craig Kahler wrote: > > > > I want to keep my 16T front sprocket for highway riding, but many of the roads I ride are to slow for 5th gear. > > Does alot of riding around in 4th gear cause extra wear on the transmission? > > Craig Kahler > > >

[Kevin Powers]

If I'm going for an extended ride off road, or where conditions are gnarly and/or steep, I put on the 14-tooth front. It helps to have a prevailing-torque nut to make swapping sprockets easier. -- Kevin Powers White Bear Lake, MN

[notanymoore]

I almost snorted my coffee when I read the phrase "it doesn't have any vibration to speak of". Of course it does; judging from past rides it's about as tingly as my old Honda CB 350/360 twins. What gearing you like depends on the use you're putting your KLR to. I'm an "all day" backroads wanderer with occasional forays off into firetrails and 2-tracks. You have to feather the clutch with a 16 tooth sure. But the KLR 1st gear is overtall for any kind of serious offroading unless you go to a 13 tooth front sprocket. But then I would have to ask why. The KLR is just too big and heavy with too many breakables to be doing whoop-de-doos in Baja. And the roadbike plastic sure doesn't lend itself to that type of riding (the one feature pre-2008 bikes are superior IMHO). The type of riding some of the 13-14 tooth guys (sprocket, that is) describe here I would think of doing only on an air-cooled 250. Otherwise, I'd only have 14 teeth. I always thought of the KLR as a "go anywhere" bike, not a dirt bike. If I were riding in a 3rd world country, stock gearing or lower and knobbies might make sense. I live east of the Mississippi; most of the roads are paved or hard gravel. A 16 tooth sprocket and Bridgestone Trailwings do just fine. But fording streams, splashing thru mudpits or grinding thru sandtraps? I'll get a KLX250. And I don't like riding in the city.... if it made that much difference in city riding; I'd get a CVT scooter. The real problem is what I've always stated; as a compromise bike, KLR's 1st gear is too tall; 5th gear too low; and carburation limiting an otherwise very good engine. A real model upgrade would ba a 6-speed geabox and EFI; now THAT would be one dynamite go-anywhere package.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud" wrote: > > > Tall gearing is great on the right bike. The KLR is not the right bike. First of all, it doesn't have any vibration to speak of. Not compared to a big Brit single whose grips get as big as baseball bats any time the revs get within 20 degrees of the red line. Second, it has the aerodynamics of a barn door. Even with a tail wind it's not going to pull red line on 16/43, and with stock gearing it will probably run faster in fourth. > > A taller gear on this bike just narrows its focus. It may feel a little calmer droning down the freeway at 75 or 80, but it will be worse at everything else. Like pottering along those nice 45-50 mph roads. Like running around town. Like cruising those 2-tracks and fire roads this bike seems made for. > > With the upright riding position, I don't really care to spend a lot of time over 65 anyway, so I see no point in setting it up to run there at the expense of everything else it does so well. > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "notanymoore" wrote: > > > > > > > > I have the same problem. Always hunting between 4th and 5th with the 16 tooth sprocket on roads with 35-45 MPH speed limits. Just try to not lug the engine. The tradeoff in ride improvement at higher speeds is worth it IMO. > > > > Since most of my driving is higher speed, I've actually found the KLR is easier on oil with the extra tooth. KLR oil consumption seems to go up dramatically at prolonged speeds over 65 MPH with the 15 tooth. There seems to be a dropoff after a certain RPM level. > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Craig Kahler wrote: > > > > > > I want to keep my 16T front sprocket for highway riding, but many of the roads I ride are to slow for 5th gear. > > > Does alot of riding around in 4th gear cause extra wear on the transmission? > > > Craig Kahler > > > > > >

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

I think some KLR's vibrate more than others. Vibration on mine has never bothered me and doesn't seem much different than my Connie. I do run Pro Gel Grips so maybe that is part of it. I try and be careful as to what dirt situations I get it in. I failed miserably once with it in a big rock situation trying to follow a long legged rider who unlike me had no dirt riding experience. He was on a DR 605 which is more capable in knarley plus I think you can lower it fairly easily. Short legs are not good with this bike in knarley situations but it is surprising what the bike will do if you carefully choose what you are doing with it. Criswell

On May 13, 2010, at 12:17 PM, notanymoore wrote:   I almost snorted my coffee when I read the phrase "it doesn't have any vibration to speak of". Of course it does; judging from past rides it's about as tingly as my old Honda CB 350/360 twins. What gearing you like depends on the use you're putting your KLR to. I'm an "all day" backroads wanderer with occasional forays off into firetrails and 2-tracks. You have to feather the clutch with a 16 tooth sure. But the KLR 1st gear is overtall for any kind of serious offroading unless you go to a 13 tooth front sprocket. But then I would have to ask why. The KLR is just too big and heavy with too many breakables to be doing whoop-de-doos in Baja. And the roadbike plastic sure doesn't lend itself to that type of riding (the one feature pre-2008 bikes are superior IMHO). The type of riding some of the 13-14 tooth guys (sprocket, that is) describe here I would think of doing only on an air-cooled 250. Otherwise, I'd only have 14 teeth. I always thought of the KLR as a "go anywhere" bike, not a dirt bike. If I were riding in a 3rd world country, stock gearing or lower and knobbies might make sense. I live east of the Mississippi; most of the roads are paved or hard gravel. A 16 tooth sprocket and Bridgestone Trailwings do just fine. But fording streams, splashing thru mudpits or grinding thru sandtraps? I'll get a KLX250. And I don't like riding in the city.... if it made that much difference in city riding; I'd get a CVT scooter. The real problem is what I've always stated; as a compromise bike, KLR's 1st gear is too tall; 5th gear too low; and carburation limiting an otherwise very good engine. A real model upgrade would ba a 6-speed geabox and EFI; now THAT would be one dynamite go-anywhere package. --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "Jud" wrote: > > > Tall gearing is great on the right bike. The KLR is not the right bike. First of all, it doesn't have any vibration to speak of. Not compared to a big Brit single whose grips get as big as baseball bats any time the revs get within 20 degrees of the red line. Second, it has the aerodynamics of a barn door. Even with a tail wind it's not going to pull red line on 16/43, and with stock gearing it will probably run faster in fourth. > > A taller gear on this bike just narrows its focus. It may feel a little calmer droning down the freeway at 75 or 80, but it will be worse at everything else. Like pottering along those nice 45-50 mph roads. Like running around town. Like cruising those 2-tracks and fire roads this bike seems made for. > > With the upright riding position, I don't really care to spend a lot of time over 65 anyway, so I see no point in setting it up to run there at the expense of everything else it does so well. > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "notanymoore" wrote: > > > > > > > > I have the same problem. Always hunting between 4th and 5th with the 16 tooth sprocket on roads with 35-45 MPH speed limits. Just try to not lug the engine. The tradeoff in ride improvement at higher speeds is worth it IMO. > > > > Since most of my driving is higher speed, I've actually found the KLR is easier on oil with the extra tooth. KLR oil consumption seems to go up dramatically at prolonged speeds over 65 MPH with the 15 tooth. There seems to be a dropoff after a certain RPM level. > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Craig Kahler wrote: > > > > > > I want to keep my 16T front sprocket for highway riding, but many of the roads I ride are to slow for 5th gear. > > > Does alot of riding around in 4th gear cause extra wear on the transmission? > > > Craig Kahler > > > > > >

[Richard Decker]

What about increasing the rear size only for offroad and decreasing it for the onroad....? -Rich

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 10:32 AM, roncriswell@... wrote: I think some KLR's vibrate more than others. Vibration on mine has never bothered me and doesn't seem much different than my Connie. I do run Pro Gel Grips so maybe that is part of it. I try and be careful as to what dirt situations I get it in. I failed miserably once with it in a big rock situation trying to follow a long legged rider who unlike me had no dirt riding experience. He was on a DR 605 which is more capable in knarley plus I think you can lower it fairly easily. Short legs are not good with this bike in knarley situations but it is surprising what the bike will do if you carefully choose what you are doing with it. Criswell On May 13, 2010, at 12:17 PM, notanymoore wrote: I almost snorted my coffee when I read the phrase "it doesn't have any vibration to speak of". Of course it does; judging from past rides it's about as tingly as my old Honda CB 350/360 twins. What gearing you like depends on the use you're putting your KLR to. I'm an "all day" backroads wanderer with occasional forays off into firetrails and 2-tracks. You have to feather the clutch with a 16 tooth sure. But the KLR 1st gear is overtall for any kind of serious offroading unless you go to a 13 tooth front sprocket. But then I would have to ask why. The KLR is just too big and heavy with too many breakables to be doing whoop-de-doos in Baja. And the roadbike plastic sure doesn't lend itself to that type of riding (the one feature pre-2008 bikes are superior IMHO). The type of riding some of the 13-14 tooth guys (sprocket, that is) describe here I would think of doing only on an air-cooled 250. Otherwise, I'd only have 14 teeth. I always thought of the KLR as a "go anywhere" bike, not a dirt bike. If I were riding in a 3rd world country, stock gearing or lower and knobbies might make sense. I live east of the Mississippi; most of the roads are paved or hard gravel. A 16 tooth sprocket and Bridgestone Trailwings do just fine. But fording streams, splashing thru mudpits or grinding thru sandtraps? I'll get a KLX250. And I don't like riding in the city.... if it made that much difference in city riding; I'd get a CVT scooter. The real problem is what I've always stated; as a compromise bike, KLR's 1st gear is too tall; 5th gear too low; and carburation limiting an otherwise very good engine. A real model upgrade would ba a 6-speed geabox and EFI; now THAT would be one dynamite go-anywhere package. --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "Jud" wrote: > > > Tall gearing is great on the right bike. The KLR is not the right bike. First of all, it doesn't have any vibration to speak of. Not compared to a big Brit single whose grips get as big as baseball bats any time the revs get within 20 degrees of the red line. Second, it has the aerodynamics of a barn door. Even with a tail wind it's not going to pull red line on 16/43, and with stock gearing it will probably run faster in fourth. > > A taller gear on this bike just narrows its focus. It may feel a little calmer droning down the freeway at 75 or 80, but it will be worse at everything else. Like pottering along those nice 45-50 mph roads. Like running around town. Like cruising those 2-tracks and fire roads this bike seems made for. > > With the upright riding position, I don't really care to spend a lot of time over 65 anyway, so I see no point in setting it up to run there at the expense of everything else it does so well. > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "notanymoore" wrote: > > > > > > > > I have the same problem. Always hunting between 4th and 5th with the 16 tooth sprocket on roads with 35-45 MPH speed limits. Just try to not lug the engine. The tradeoff in ride improvement at higher speeds is worth it IMO. > > > > Since most of my driving is higher speed, I've actually found the KLR is easier on oil with the extra tooth. KLR oil consumption seems to go up dramatically at prolonged speeds over 65 MPH with the 15 tooth. There seems to be a dropoff after a certain RPM level. > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Craig Kahler wrote: > > > > > > I want to keep my 16T front sprocket for highway riding, but many of the roads I ride are to slow for 5th gear. > > > Does alot of riding around in 4th gear cause extra wear on the transmission? > > > Craig Kahler > > > > > >

-- - Rich Decker Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

[Jeff Khoury]

#ygrps-yiv-383811610 p {margin:0;}Richard, If you're going to swap them around a lot, why go through all the effort of changing the rear sprocket (Removing the wheel, brake, all the bolts holding it on, etc) when you can remove a small cover and change the front? If you switch to the prevailing torque nut, it's even easier.  Takes 10 minutes, tops... including adjusting the chain. -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Decker" To: roncriswell@... Cc: "notanymoore" , "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:04:22 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Riding in 4th   What about increasing the rear size only for offroad and decreasing it for the onroad....? -Rich On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 10:32 AM, roncriswell@... wrote:   I think some KLR's vibrate more than others. Vibration on mine has never bothered me and doesn't seem much different than my Connie. I do run Pro Gel Grips so maybe that is part of it. I try and be careful as to what dirt situations I get it in. I failed miserably once with it in a big rock situation trying to follow a long legged rider who unlike me had no dirt riding experience. He was on a DR 605 which is more capable in knarley plus I think you can lower it fairly easily. Short legs are not good with this bike in knarley situations but it is surprising what the bike will do if you carefully choose what you are doing with it. Criswell On May 13, 2010, at 12:17 PM, notanymoore wrote: [quote]   I almost snorted my coffee when I read the phrase "it doesn't have any vibration to speak of". Of course it does; judging from past rides it's about as tingly as my old Honda CB 350/360 twins. What gearing you like depends on the use you're putting your KLR to. I'm an "all day" backroads wanderer with occasional forays off into firetrails and 2-tracks. You have to feather the clutch with a 16 tooth sure. But the KLR 1st gear is overtall for any kind of serious offroading unless you go to a 13 tooth front sprocket. But then I would have to ask why. The KLR is just too big and heavy with too many breakables to be doing whoop-de-doos in Baja. And the roadbike plastic sure doesn't lend itself to that type of riding (the one feature pre-2008 bikes are superior IMHO). The type of riding some of the 13-14 tooth guys (sprocket, that is) describe here I would think of doing only on an air-cooled 250. Otherwise, I'd only have 14 teeth. I always thought of the KLR as a "go anywhere" bike, not a dirt bike. If I were riding in a 3rd world country, stock gearing or lower and knobbies might make sense. I live east of the Mississippi; most of the roads are paved or hard gravel. A 16 tooth sprocket and Bridgestone Trailwings do just fine. But fording streams, splashing thru mudpits or grinding thru sandtraps? I'll get a KLX250. And I don't like riding in the city.... if it made that much difference in city riding; I'd get a CVT scooter. The real problem is what I've always stated; as a compromise bike, KLR's 1st gear is too tall; 5th gear too low; and carburation limiting an otherwise very good engine. A real model upgrade would ba a 6-speed geabox and EFI; now THAT would be one dynamite go-anywhere package. --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "Jud" wrote: > > > Tall gearing is great on the right bike. The KLR is not the right bike. First of all, it doesn't have any vibration to speak of. Not compared to a big Brit single whose grips get as big as baseball bats any time the revs get within 20 degrees of the red line. Second, it has the aerodynamics of a barn door. Even with a tail wind it's not going to pull red line on 16/43, and with stock gearing it will probably run faster in fourth. > > A taller gear on this bike just narrows its focus. It may feel a little calmer droning down the freeway at 75 or 80, but it will be worse at everything else. Like pottering along those nice 45-50 mph roads. Like running around town. Like cruising those 2-tracks and fire roads this bike seems made for. > > With the upright riding position, I don't really care to spend a lot of time over 65 anyway, so I see no point in setting it up to run there at the expense of everything else it does so well. > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "notanymoore" wrote: > > > > > > > > I have the same problem. Always hunting between 4th and 5th with the 16 tooth sprocket on roads with 35-45 MPH speed limits. Just try to not lug the engine. The tradeoff in ride improvement at higher speeds is worth it IMO. > > > > Since most of my driving is higher speed, I've actually found the KLR is easier on oil with the extra tooth. KLR oil consumption seems to go up dramatically at prolonged speeds over 65 MPH with the 15 tooth. There seems to be a dropoff after a certain RPM level. > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Craig Kahler wrote: > > > > > > I want to keep my 16T front sprocket for highway riding, but many of the roads I ride are to slow for 5th gear. > > > Does alot of riding around in 4th gear cause extra wear on the transmission? > > > Craig Kahler > > > > > >

[/quote] -- - Rich Decker Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

[Richard Decker]

Point well taken

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 1:51 PM, Jeff Khoury wrote: Richard, If you're going to swap them around a lot, why go through all the effort of changing the rear sprocket (Removing the wheel, brake, all the bolts holding it on, etc) when you can remove a small cover and change the front? If you switch to the prevailing torque nut, it's even easier. Takes 10 minutes, tops... including adjusting the chain. -Jeff Khoury ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Decker" To: roncriswell@... Cc: "notanymoore" , "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:04:22 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Riding in 4th What about increasing the rear size only for offroad and decreasing it for the onroad....? -Rich On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 10:32 AM, roncriswell@... wrote: I think some KLR's vibrate more than others. Vibration on mine has never bothered me and doesn't seem much different than my Connie. I do run Pro Gel Grips so maybe that is part of it. I try and be careful as to what dirt situations I get it in. I failed miserably once with it in a big rock situation trying to follow a long legged rider who unlike me had no dirt riding experience. He was on a DR 605 which is more capable in knarley plus I think you can lower it fairly easily. Short legs are not good with this bike in knarley situations but it is surprising what the bike will do if you carefully choose what you are doing with it. Criswell On May 13, 2010, at 12:17 PM, notanymoore wrote: [quote] I almost snorted my coffee when I read the phrase "it doesn't have any vibration to speak of". Of course it does; judging from past rides it's about as tingly as my old Honda CB 350/360 twins. What gearing you like depends on the use you're putting your KLR to. I'm an "all day" backroads wanderer with occasional forays off into firetrails and 2-tracks. You have to feather the clutch with a 16 tooth sure. But the KLR 1st gear is overtall for any kind of serious offroading unless you go to a 13 tooth front sprocket. But then I would have to ask why. The KLR is just too big and heavy with too many breakables to be doing whoop-de-doos in Baja. And the roadbike plastic sure doesn't lend itself to that type of riding (the one feature pre-2008 bikes are superior IMHO). The type of riding some of the 13-14 tooth guys (sprocket, that is) describe here I would think of doing only on an air-cooled 250. Otherwise, I'd only have 14 teeth. I always thought of the KLR as a "go anywhere" bike, not a dirt bike. If I were riding in a 3rd world country, stock gearing or lower and knobbies might make sense. I live east of the Mississippi; most of the roads are paved or hard gravel. A 16 tooth sprocket and Bridgestone Trailwings do just fine. But fording streams, splashing thru mudpits or grinding thru sandtraps? I'll get a KLX250. And I don't like riding in the city.... if it made that much difference in city riding; I'd get a CVT scooter. The real problem is what I've always stated; as a compromise bike, KLR's 1st gear is too tall; 5th gear too low; and carburation limiting an otherwise very good engine. A real model upgrade would ba a 6-speed geabox and EFI; now THAT would be one dynamite go-anywhere package. --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "Jud" wrote: > > > Tall gearing is great on the right bike. The KLR is not the right bike. First of all, it doesn't have any vibration to speak of. Not compared to a big Brit single whose grips get as big as baseball bats any time the revs get within 20 degrees of the red line. Second, it has the aerodynamics of a barn door. Even with a tail wind it's not going to pull red line on 16/43, and with stock gearing it will probably run faster in fourth. > > A taller gear on this bike just narrows its focus. It may feel a little calmer droning down the freeway at 75 or 80, but it will be worse at everything else. Like pottering along those nice 45-50 mph roads. Like running around town. Like cruising those 2-tracks and fire roads this bike seems made for. > > With the upright riding position, I don't really care to spend a lot of time over 65 anyway, so I see no point in setting it up to run there at the expense of everything else it does so well. > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "notanymoore" wrote: > > > > > > > > I have the same problem. Always hunting between 4th and 5th with the 16 tooth sprocket on roads with 35-45 MPH speed limits. Just try to not lug the engine. The tradeoff in ride improvement at higher speeds is worth it IMO. > > > > Since most of my driving is higher speed, I've actually found the KLR is easier on oil with the extra tooth. KLR oil consumption seems to go up dramatically at prolonged speeds over 65 MPH with the 15 tooth. There seems to be a dropoff after a certain RPM level. > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Craig Kahler wrote: > > > > > > I want to keep my 16T front sprocket for highway riding, but many of the roads I ride are to slow for 5th gear. > > > Does alot of riding around in 4th gear cause extra wear on the transmission? > > > Craig Kahler > > > > > >

[/quote] -- - Rich Decker Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. -- - Rich Decker Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.