rear shocks

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "skypilot110" wrote: Against the wind was a good ride report of something brilliant although he wasnt a brilliant autor, he got better later ~~~I read Ron Ayers first two books. I liked how he was miffed because the Brit Guzzi rider won the 11 day rally one year. You knew Ron didn't care for any of it when he referred to him as riding a 'non-discript bike'. All the Brit had for navigation was a Rand McNally Roads Atlas, carried in his tank bag. Guess it mattered to me having owned and ridden four different Moto Guzzis Jake Reddick Fla. Be Who You Are and Say What You Feel Because Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/ > > HU is not just a standard. It is the one and only hubb for communicatons. The owners have worked hard to make it useful for the travelors, not the cassual readers. As such it provides an intersting, and very realistic, perspective on motor cycle travel. The videos are worth seeing also and I recomend buying them from Susan and Grant.. > > As far as books go there are certain standards that must be read before embarking on the many recent works. "One man Caravan" and "Jupiters Travels" are works of imense importance as they are ride reports with perspectives of what riding was like in the early days.In other words they speak to how tough it was before it got this easy, not that it is easy. There are other important works that are not MC related, like "There is no toilet paper on the road less traveled" or anything Bill Bryson wrote, that are worth reading so you have the right perspective when things that go wrong. > > As far as modern works there are a zillion. "Mi Moto Fidel" was lame rubish since the guy was boring although "No touch Monkeys" was brilliant even if not MC relevent. Against the wind was a good ride report of something brilliant although he wasnt a brilliant autor, he got better later, and 10 years on 2 wheels had the coolest photos ever in the history of, well, ever. You need to decide what you like to read then read them all to see which ones you can throw away after the first chapter. Give them all to your local library after wards. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote: > > > > Although she did not ride a KLR, I recommend that ya'll considering reading "Lois on the Loose", by Lois Pryce, a Brit who rode her 250cc from Alaska to the southern tip of So. America. Ms. Pryce also wrote about her trip from Europe to So. Africa, "Red Tape and White Knuckles" . Great rides and a great writer about MC travel. > > >

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jim Douglas wrote:

> > But what could Kawasaki do the make it better in your > opinion.............. > > 1. A larger power plant, 800cc with 70-80HP? > > What else? > >

~~~Hey Jim, I'm not sure if you're directing this question at me but I'll give my opinion none the less=:-) I have a new found respect for the simplicity of the single cylinder KLR. 3 weeks ago I drove up to Baltimore in my van and purchased an 05.5 KTM ADV 950. Anyone familiar with my lusting after one of these bikes should not be surprised that I followed through and picked one up. It has a few issues but I got into it (bought it) with my eyes wide open. With 14 K miles on the clock it's never had much more than oil changes so it's due for virtually every service. I'm in my busy season with work so the plan is to take it down as and service it as time allows. I've put a little better than a few hundred miles on it and like the pundits say, it does suck gas big time...but she sure has a hard throttle hit and that hit I have been missing since I sold my last big twin 10 years ago (Y2K V11 Sport Moto Guzzi) Getting back to what makes the KLR venerable, it's got to be the simple low power output single cylinder motor. It'll run 80 if you want to, and make it up and down the trails as well. All for a reasonable price. I don't know about the KLR being the best motorcycle ever but it is truly a fine machine. I'd trust riding mine anywhere. Not that I'll have the ability to travel to destinations far away anytime soon I'm not sure I would want KHI to change the KLR much if at all. Anything the factory would do to improve it would increase the cost and that's part of the charm of this bike...a simple rugged machine with decent components and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Others may have better and different ideas Jake Reddick Fla. "First you forget names, then you forget faces. Next you forget to pull your zipper up and finally, you forget to pull it down." George Burns http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/

> > > On 7/28/2010 1:37 AM, sh8knj8kster wrote: > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > , "Shane" wrote: > > > > > > As a Mechanic by trade I am constantly AMAZED at the people who take > > off long distance on machines of all sorts, with NO mechanical > > abilities. I have met/worked for people on KLR's, BMW's, Honda...who > > can do little more than change oil. Some learn on the road how to > > repair a flat! Personally I own 8 bikes, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, KLR, > > Honda, KTM. As a mechanic I will not go far from the barn with > > anything but the KLR. I typically go cross country each year, on the > > KLR of course. The people I have met- all very interesting- on KLR > > seem to have the least trouble of them all. BMW seems to be the least > > reliable. As has been posted here before, the KLR really "needs" > > nothing to go for it. Mark H., now in S.A. on his KLR Has done very > > little in the way of mods to his machine. I had the privelege of > > meeting Mark, and servicing his machine here in FL. on his return from > > Africa. He left here in near freezing weather and headed North! What > > it seems is that there are those who "Play" with bikes, and those who > > "Use"them. Mods seem to be an excuse to stay and play. I saw the same > > dynamic in sailing during my 8 years of living aboard and traveling. > > > So just ride the damn thing guys! The manufacturer has done most of > > what needs to be done already. Just read Mark's posts! > > > > > > > ~~~Shane, FWIW I agree with a lot of what you said here. I don't have > > the tenure with the KLR yet but it seems like it can go the mile and > > we all know they have, and then some but the ST 1100 (Honda) i rode > > for a bit has to be one of the all time most relible bikes on this > > planet. I bought my 93' 3rd hand in 2001 w/21 K miles ( a real garage > > queen=:-) Following two years I put 60 K miles on it my self and then > > another 10 over a year or so and sold it, with 90 K miles on the > > odometer. the only part that ever failed on that bike was the clock > > illumination lamp at 48 K miles, and I bought a new one from a chain > > auto parts store for a couple a bucks. Mind you, I had to replace the > > wheel bearings as they are a wear item, and the rubber pucks in the > > rear hub as a matter of course (@ 50 K miles). I rode it out west 4 > > X's, Mexico, British Columbia, the north east (Maine), all over, and > > the f'n battery was OEM. I never replaced it. I had no fear riding > > that bike anywhere, and did, but at 700 lbs, she's too heavy for local > > riding and I wanted to take a break from LD riding > > > > A good friend (in Sun City Center) has a 91' ST he's put just about > > all the miles on and currently has 239 K miles showing. He's > > contemplating replacing the water pump as they've been known to go > > around the quarter million mile mark. The heads have never been off > > his motor > > > > Jake > > Reddick Fla. > > "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's > > limits" > > > > http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/ > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > , "roncriswell@" > > wrote: > > > > > > > > We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, > > price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I > > am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who > > rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called > > "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is > > his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non > > mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or > > even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs > > in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably > > didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real > > mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. > > We have a durable bike. > > > > > > > > Criswell > > > > > > > > > > > >

[ydnar]

Does anyone out there know if it is possible to use a progressive rear shock from a KLR650 on a KLR600? I would like to try this if possible. Thanks, Randy