local riding first aid kit contents?

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote:

> > I believe one of the big problems with the KLR is that the CVK carburetor needs vacuum to operate the slide and at low speeds there isn t enough vacuum to make the carb work like it should.

SNIP Fred makes a great point; and is not often stated this way, though many discover his timeless truths when is is the least convenient. cough. Usually in the prone, dirt nap position. When I first talked to Fred nearly 10 years ago, he commented the KLR really 'likes' to be operated at 3000rpms and above = sweat spot...which is well within the vacuum requirements to operate the CVK carb. How do you do that? By keeping the bike at that suggested RPM sweet spot without going to fast for the conditions. Do this by deliberately choosing the right sprocket ratio's for the conditions you will ride in the most. Gear down: will slow the bike down, keep the rpm's up and throttle response will be where you need it. The lament of the KLR's gear ratio has been a thorn as long as I have been on the list, nearly 10 years now. I remember Devon, one of the original Guru's talking about doing sprocket changes for the current riding conditions; leaving NYC, riding ~2 hours, switching sprockets to tractor gears for the day, reversing the process and riding home. I thought that was a lot of unnecessary work. cough. Now I know better! Jeff Saline posted (2004) his gear ratio charts showing which sprockets to make your bike a tractor or a (cough) rocket. It is an unfortunate truth--we won't be getting both tractors/rocket ships with this technology... so pick your poison. The short story: Adding a 14/46 or 45, 47 will make the bike more tractor-like, but unfortunately, steals away the top end speed. These combinations also require a 108 link chain. Fred sells chains, and can put a solid rivet in it for you (if you ask.) He will even do it for a 106 link chain. wink. My families two trail-KLR's are set up with the 14/46, as well as Jeff S. When we ride together, we are matched for speed, rpm and gear; more important when the riding is more difficult. We love this ratio of 14/46; and with less than 20minutes effort (some say 10mins. shrug) you are back to OEM gearing/ratio equivalent of a 15/43 using 16T counter sprocket. At speeds below 50mph, there is little or no loss of fuel economy; Sustained sprints of 60+mph increases oil consumption (at least in my experience). YMMV. A similar result (tractor gears) can be achieved when you go from 15/43 to 13/43 without buying a new chain. NOTE: If you use the 13T, make sure the wide 'boss' of the sprocket is against engine case. Some bikes require a spacer to make a particular sprocket to even work without interference; the chain can strike the engine C/S bearing boss and eat the aluminum casing. cough. spit. Why would I know that? Many riders, apparently much more talented than I, will swear that all that is needed is to 'slip' the clutch and ride single track, even geared at 16/43. shrug. I think they have blue smoke blowing up their skirt. smile. IMO-- What ever you can do to make the machine easier to handle will make it much more fun to ride. An ancillary benefit is that you will be a safer rider as well. The dearth of one-owner, low mileage KLR's for sale is testimony the operator's inability to balance their own expectations against the machines (well known) limitations. The KLR is `well documented' as not being an ideal dirt bike and it is not an ideal street bike; but with some small mods (farkle) it can be a much better machine than the factory OEM pig. And that makes it an ideal bike, especially for someone that can only afford one bike that can do more than one thing, more than adequate. We could call the KLR a `dual sport' motorcycle. Swiss Army knives of motorcycles . Wonder if those names would ever catch on? smile. revmaaatin PS NOTE: 46 JT sprockets are not 'easily' available in the US--ours were imported through Austraila; however, you can get virtually the same ratio's using a 45 or 47 rear sprocket. Or for $20, experiment with 13/43T without the cost of a new chain. I've done both, and verify, it works well for our machine. PPS. the bike shows huge off-road, improvements at 18psi tires with those tractor gears installed. HD or UHD tubes are also helpful for fighting pinch flats if you ride at lower pressures; Fred (our site host) sells those as well.

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Desert Datsuns wrote:

> > But see, there-in lies the problem. Guys like me want lower revs on the > highway.

SNIP Hey, Hey, Hey. Be careful what you ask for. I have been a lower rev on the highway and I DEFINITLY don't recommend it. Back to your normal evening programme, thank you. revmaaatin. yeah, the Black Hills are in a blizzard.

[Mike Frey]

The KLR, especially older models, can benefit from those blue pills, with their not so rigid frame. Enhance and firm up the suspension - a cure for the sag that older ones often suffer from. From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of revmaaatin Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2013 12:16 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Local Riding First Aid Kit Contents? No knowledge what the KLR does/will do to 'blue pills'. We could ask some of the harley riders. shrug. revmaaatin.

[Desert Datsuns]

I changed the sprockets on my last KLR (1998) to lower the revs on the highway, and it was just fine. I never put the stock ones back on afterwards. Ryan revmaaatin wrote:

> > >--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Desert Datsuns wrote: >> >> But see, there-in lies the problem. Guys like me want lower revs on the >> highway. > >SNIP > >Hey, Hey, Hey. >Be careful what you ask for. >I have been a lower rev on the highway and I DEFINITLY don't recommend it. >Back to your normal evening programme, thank you. > >revmaaatin. yeah, the Black Hills are in a blizzard. > >

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[Mike Frey]

Like many others, I often wish for a lower first gear, but wouldn't give up 5th for that. I'm forever shifting up, trying to find 6th. Two of my off road falls were 1st gear. Going too slow, the engine stalled and I was unceremoniously dumped from the bike. No injuries to me (or the KLR). From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Desert Datsuns Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2013 9:49 PM To: DSN KLR650 Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Wide Ratio gearsets I changed the sprockets on my last KLR (1998) to lower the revs on the highway, and it was just fine. I never put the stock ones back on afterwards. Ryan revmaaatin mjearl4@...> wrote:

> > >--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Desert Datsuns wrote: >> >> But see, there-in lies the problem. Guys like me want lower revs on the >> highway. > >SNIP > >Hey, Hey, Hey. >Be careful what you ask for. >I have been a lower rev on the highway and I DEFINITLY don't recommend it. >Back to your normal evening programme, thank you. > >revmaaatin. yeah, the Black Hills are in a blizzard. > >

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