front tube back tube

[Mark St.Hilaire, Sr]

> Picked up my A18 on Thursday and this is my first attempt at a post. > I saw two recent messages regarding the shipping position of the fork > tubes. While I was inspecting my bike at delivery, I noticed the > tubes were 2 + inches above the top clamp.

Welcome to KLRing! It sounds as though you've got the situation well in hand, being dealer-free is a very good thing. Especially considering the "mechanic" that you talked with... (Grin) Mark --------------------------------------- KLR650 Motorcycle Website: http://klr6500.tripod.com/

[Joshua Gorman]

Hey guys, I have been lurking around for about 2 wks now, and finally picked up my 2002 KLR 650A. It has been a little neglected, and I am in the process of bringing her back to standards of an OCD(obsessive, compulsive disorder) rider like myself. Upon disassembly, I found a small clear container shaped like an inline filter on one of the drain tubes coming out of the bottom of the airbox. I assume this is to let you see if moisture is present, but mine was full of oil. Is this normal? Secondly, I found two wires up front near the headlight, one brown with a yellow stripe, and one gray wire, that have bullet connectors with nothing connected to them. I have not noticed anything that does not work such as blinkers, headlight, tach and speedo light, etc. Anybody know what these might be? I know I have a long list of things to do...doohickey, airbox mod, jetting, etc. but is there anything that is pressing to have done RIGHT now. The bike has 5700 miles on it. It basically sat outside for a while and the plastic is faded and some of the bolts are rusted but it runs really well. Sorry for the long e-mail but I am just so excited to get out on the trails. Thanks in advance, Josh Dr. Joshua C. Gorman, D.D.S. 401 W. San Augustine Deer Park, TX 77536 (281)930-8744

[The Mule]

> I have been lurking around for about 2 wks now, and finally picked up my > 2002 KLR 650A.

.......congrats and enjoy.

> Upon disassembly, I found a small clear container shaped like an inline > filter on one of the drain tubes coming out of the bottom of the airbox.

I

> assume this is to let you see if moisture is present, but mine was full of > oil. Is this normal?

........Yes, it's normal. There's an engine oil blowback mechanism that dumps a small amount of oil in the bottom of the airbox under certain circumstances (wheelies, over-endos, etc.).......at least that's my understanding. Pop off the plug on the bottom of that tube and let it drain from time to time. If you notice a lot of oil ending up there and your oil in the sight glass goes way down often, then maybe you have a problem.

> Secondly, I found two wires up front near the headlight, one brown with a > yellow stripe, and one gray wire, that have bullet connectors with nothing > connected to them. I have not noticed anything that does not work such as > blinkers, headlight, tach and speedo light, etc. Anybody know what these > might be?

.....They're known as the "city lights" connection for other than USA destined KLR's. The "A" series that end up Stateside have them dangling unconnected and are convenient for connecting 12V goodies of your choice (grip heaters, GPS, etc.).

> I know I have a long list of things to do...doohickey, airbox mod,

jetting,

> etc. but is there anything that is pressing to have done RIGHT now. The > bike has 5700 miles on it. It basically sat outside for a while and the > plastic is faded and some of the bolts are rusted but it runs really well.

........stop worrying so much and ride the thing. Already present problems will reveal themselves, and the "necessary" mods and fixes can be dealt with in due time as you gain knowledge of KLR issues form the FAQ and following this list. If it's running good, then enjoy it and get to know it. Stock KLR's aren't that bad.

> Sorry for the long e-mail but I am just so excited to get out on the

trails. .........So get out there! Steve The Mule A17

[Eric L. Green]

On Sun, 9 May 2004, Joshua Gorman wrote:

> Upon disassembly, I found a small clear container shaped like an inline > filter on one of the drain tubes coming out of the bottom of the airbox. I > assume this is to let you see if moisture is present, but mine was full of > oil. Is this normal?

Yes. This is the crankcase ventilation doohickey. The clutch and other mechanicals does a fine job of turning oil into a fine mist (forget to put the oil fill back on after changing the oil before starting the engine to circulate oil into the new filter so you can check the level, and you'll get 1st hand experience of that , and a big coffee-can-sized cylinder has enough blow-by to blow some of that mist out the crankcase ventilation hole. There's a box in front of the carb where the crankcase ventilation tube comes out, what oil hasn't already hit a tube wall and drained back into the crankcase ends up spewing out of this hole and slamming into a baffle (if the KLR is like other bikes) which then directs the remaining oil to that mysterious tube that you found. Just pop the plug off the end, drain the oil out, and put the plug back on. Unless you're getting a lot of oil in there (which tends to indicate a lot of blow-by, i.e., worn rings) in a short amount of time, there's nothing to worry about.

> Secondly, I found two wires up front near the headlight, one brown with a

Check out the KLR FAQ (see the sig on the messages in this list . It says these are for the European "city lights" and gives more info about them.

> plastic is faded and some of the bolts are rusted but it runs really well.

2002 wasn't a good year for KLR plastic. Every 2002 KLR that I've seen, no matter how well cared for, has had scaberous plastic. I'm thinking of taking my KLR to one of the many body shops in my neighborhood and seeing if they'll paint my plastic for a reasonable amount of money. Given how much Kawa charges for plastic that'll look just as bletcherous in two years time, it can't be much worse . _E

[Joshua Gorman]

Thanks Steve. I spent most of the day riding yesterday and absolutely love this bike! If any of you guys are around the Houston area, let me know so we can get together and ride! Dr. Joshua C. Gorman, D.D.S. 401 W. San Augustine Deer Park, TX 77536 (281)930-8744

>From: "The Mule" >To: "Joshua Gorman" , >DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> >Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Newbie >Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 21:13:57 -0400 > > > I have been lurking around for about 2 wks now, and finally picked up my > > 2002 KLR 650A. > >.......congrats and enjoy. > > > Upon disassembly, I found a small clear container shaped like an inline > > filter on one of the drain tubes coming out of the bottom of the airbox. >I > > assume this is to let you see if moisture is present, but mine was full >of > > oil. Is this normal? > >........Yes, it's normal. There's an engine oil blowback mechanism that >dumps a small amount of oil in the bottom of the airbox under certain >circumstances (wheelies, over-endos, etc.).......at least that's my >understanding. Pop off the plug on the bottom of that tube and let it drain >from time to time. If you notice a lot of oil ending up there and your oil >in the sight glass goes way down often, then maybe you have a problem. > > > Secondly, I found two wires up front near the headlight, one brown with >a > > yellow stripe, and one gray wire, that have bullet connectors with >nothing > > connected to them. I have not noticed anything that does not work such >as > > blinkers, headlight, tach and speedo light, etc. Anybody know what >these > > might be? > >.....They're known as the "city lights" connection for other than USA >destined KLR's. The "A" series that end up Stateside have them dangling >unconnected and are convenient for connecting 12V goodies of your choice >(grip heaters, GPS, etc.). > > > > I know I have a long list of things to do...doohickey, airbox mod, >jetting, > > etc. but is there anything that is pressing to have done RIGHT now. The > > bike has 5700 miles on it. It basically sat outside for a while and the > > plastic is faded and some of the bolts are rusted but it runs really >well. > >........stop worrying so much and ride the thing. Already present problems >will reveal themselves, and the "necessary" mods and fixes can be dealt >with >in due time as you gain knowledge of KLR issues form the FAQ and following >this list. If it's running good, then enjoy it and get to know it. Stock >KLR's aren't that bad. > > > > Sorry for the long e-mail but I am just so excited to get out on the >trails. > >.........So get out there! > >Steve >The Mule >A17 >

[Mike Torst]

Hey, If you ever Ride to Las Vegas, NV ; or get within 500 miles, with others, let me know - Mike Torst Las Vegas

> -----Original Message----- > From: Joshua Gorman [mailto:drjoshgorman@...] > Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2004 6:26 PM > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Newbie > > > Thanks Steve. I spent most of the day riding yesterday and absolutely > love > this bike! > > If any of you guys are around the Houston area, let me know so we can get > together and ride! > > > > > Dr. Joshua C. Gorman, D.D.S. > 401 W. San Augustine > Deer Park, TX 77536 > (281)930-8744 > > > > > > >From: "The Mule" > >To: "Joshua Gorman" , > >DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> > >Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Newbie > >Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 21:13:57 -0400 > > > > > I have been lurking around for about 2 wks now, and finally picked up > my > > > 2002 KLR 650A. > > > >.......congrats and enjoy. > > > > > Upon disassembly, I found a small clear container shaped like an > inline > > > filter on one of the drain tubes coming out of the bottom of the > airbox. > >I > > > assume this is to let you see if moisture is present, but mine was > full > >of > > > oil. Is this normal? > > > >........Yes, it's normal. There's an engine oil blowback mechanism that > >dumps a small amount of oil in the bottom of the airbox under certain > >circumstances (wheelies, over-endos, etc.).......at least that's my > >understanding. Pop off the plug on the bottom of that tube and let it > drain > >from time to time. If you notice a lot of oil ending up there and your > oil > >in the sight glass goes way down often, then maybe you have a problem. > > > > > Secondly, I found two wires up front near the headlight, one brown > with > >a > > > yellow stripe, and one gray wire, that have bullet connectors with > >nothing > > > connected to them. I have not noticed anything that does not work > such > >as > > > blinkers, headlight, tach and speedo light, etc. Anybody know what > >these > > > might be? > > > >.....They're known as the "city lights" connection for other than USA > >destined KLR's. The "A" series that end up Stateside have them dangling > >unconnected and are convenient for connecting 12V goodies of your choice > >(grip heaters, GPS, etc.). > > > > > > > I know I have a long list of things to do...doohickey, airbox mod, > >jetting, > > > etc. but is there anything that is pressing to have done RIGHT now. > The > > > bike has 5700 miles on it. It basically sat outside for a while and > the > > > plastic is faded and some of the bolts are rusted but it runs really > >well. > > > >........stop worrying so much and ride the thing. Already present > problems > >will reveal themselves, and the "necessary" mods and fixes can be dealt > >with > >in due time as you gain knowledge of KLR issues form the FAQ and > following > >this list. If it's running good, then enjoy it and get to know it. Stock > >KLR's aren't that bad. > > > > > > > Sorry for the long e-mail but I am just so excited to get out on the > >trails. > > > >.........So get out there! > > > >Steve > >The Mule > >A17 > > > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[Stuart Law]

Just bought my KLR650 May 9th in Lynnwood WA and dropped it off for shipping last week. I work & live in Dutch Harbor AK and will be expecting my KLR this weekend. I'm stuck out on this island with about a total of 50 miles of road & trails for riding. When I do leave Dutch Harbor for good (been here for 17 yrs), I'll be taking a ride to Homer via the AK Ferry. From there I'll take the Alcan highway down to my folks place in Eastern WA. Stuart Law Dutch Harbor AK

[peter117r]

I have been taking a serious look at dirt capable dual sports (not Adventure Bikes) and have decided that the KLR-650 is probably the way to go. Most of my dirt riding has been on a trusty XR-250R with a Baja kit, but now I need something that has the capacity to carry a greater load over a distance of more than 100 miles. My primary use with be exploring Baja, and I need advice on saddle bags, panniers, seats, popular mods, best tires etc. I expect my use (on a milage basis) will be 25% dirt, 25% graded dirt/gravel and 50% asphalt. On a time basis, I expect to be OFF asphalt 75% of the time. The bike will be based in La Paz BCS. What do people see as weak spots on the bike, and what mods do people make who are wiling to spend a few bucks. To me, it is fully understandable that Kawasaki may not offer the "ultimate" duel sport right out of the box, because they are trying to market the bike at a reasonable price point. I have made many wothwhile mods to my XR over the years and am nowstarting this process with the KLR. Thanks, Peter

[Keith Saltzer]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "peter117r" wrote:

> I have been taking a serious look at dirt capable dual sports (not

Adventure Bikes) and

> have decided that the KLR-650 is probably the way to go. Most of

my dirt riding has

> been on a trusty XR-250R with a Baja kit, but now I need something

that has the

> capacity to carry a greater load over a distance of more than 100

miles.

> > My primary use with be exploring Baja, and I need advice on saddle

bags, panniers,

> seats, popular mods, best tires etc. I expect my use (on a milage

basis) will be 25%

> dirt, 25% graded dirt/gravel and 50% asphalt. On a time basis, I

expect to be

> OFF asphalt 75% of the time. The bike will be based in La Paz BCS. > > What do people see as weak spots on the bike, and what mods do

people make

> who are wiling to spend a few bucks. To me, it is fully

understandable that Kawasaki

> may not offer the "ultimate" duel sport right out of the box,

because they are trying to

> market the bike at a reasonable price point. > > I have made many wothwhile mods to my XR over the years and am

nowstarting this

> process with the KLR. > > Thanks, > Peter

You can start out your KLR education by clicking on the FAQ link on the home page of this list, and reading all the website links there and the hours and hours of info in them. You will learn alot and will have a much better idea of what you want to do. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

[jackalchoppers]

My name is Chris, I own a 2005 KLR 650. I'm getting it ready for a summer ride to new mexico and up thru colorado, then back to kentucky. If someone in this area is interested in the trip I need a partner. Also glad I found this group. Thanks, Chris