recharging aaa batteries (non-klr)

[Gary Bettes]

> Elden told me that from his experience there is a vast disparity in the > amount of vibration in stock klrs. He commented on how smooth my 97 is > compared to his motor that he had Falicon balance. I don't know where

the

> variance is, Elden suspects sloppy manufacturing tolerances that stack up > a > little here and a little there. > Morgan

I have noticed that any change in jetting, air cleaner or exhaust causes the vibration level to change and to change ot occur at different rpms. Stock, my mirrors were unusable. With the jetting and trapp my mirrors are now stable at anything over 4000 rpm. Also noticed that even though the am24 gripsters did not seem to need balanced that when I did have them balanced that my mirrors cleared up at any speed over 50 mph. Gary B.

[Louklr@aol.com]

I was taking one of my infrequent rides on my 82 BMW R100 yesterday. As I am riding along at about 60mph in 4th gear, about 4000 rpms, I decided that the BMW vibrates about as much (or little?) as my 97 KLR does at highway speeds. At about 4200 rpms in 5th gear I have a very light buzz on the handlebars with the KLR. When I got home I read a review of BMW F650 GS in Motorcycle Consumer News. The author stated that he felt the F650 was the smoothest big single he has ever ridden. So.. My question is, is the F650 really noticably smoother than the KLR? By the way - I read the mailnote about the older gentleman on his way to Alaska who said he prefers touring on his KLR, as opposed to his BMW. I have to agree with that - I find the KLR more comfortable, plus you can take it anyplace you want to go. Lou in Minnesota.

[Tumu Rock]

On Fri, 4 Aug 2000 23:24:34 EDT, TNBMWRIDER@... wrote: I was disappointed in the level of vibration. Oh well, if all of you can live with it, so can I. >>>>>>>>> It's funny how differently people react to different bikes. While in Cancun my wife and I rented a CBR600 to go down the coast to the ruins at Tulum. That bike REALLY vibrated in the handlebars. My hands were numb, my ass was numb from the seat, and my balls were numb from the gas tank. Boy oh boy, did I miss my KLR down there. It was a fun ride anyway though. The place I rented it from also had a DR650 but he wasn't renting it at the time. If anyone's heading that way and is looking for a place to rent a bike check out Macedonia Tours. dat brooklyn bum _______________________________________________________ Say Bye to Slow Internet! http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html

[Jim Hyman]

Gel-type handgrips will help reduce handlebar vibration a bit. Aluminum handlebars may also help ($50-$85). Have any listers noticed a change when switching from the stock steel bars to Renthal, Answer, or Moose bars? Maybe Fred can chip in with his advice. All newbies should get to know Fred, he's a straight shooter with a lot of KLR knowledge and just a bit of m/c experience (G!). He can set up your KLR with almost any accessory your heart desires. I find the KLR's vibes comforting, but then I'm coming off 14 years of riding a BMW R90/6. The low frequency vibes are much easier to deal with than the high frequency vibes of the crotch-rockets. The main sore point is the vibration transmitted through the gas tank. As long as my knees don't rest against the tank - no problem. At one point, I retorqued all the engine mounting bolts and the overall vibration was reduced quite a bit. This may help even on a brand new bike. Enjoy your new mounts! Professor A9 Federal Way, WA. [USA] -------------------------

> rcoker2882@y... writes:

[snip]

> I was disappointed in the level of vibration. Oh well, > if all of you can live with it, so can I.

--- TNBMWRIDER@a... wrote:

> Congrats Ron on your A15 - > > I have only had my A11 for two months and truly enjoy it, > but share in your disappointment in the level of vibration. > I have thought about doing some of the tricks I have been > reading from listers, but would like to open the discussion > about what others have done to reduce the vibration in the > handlebars. My right hand particularly gets real numb after > humming down the road. > What can be done to reduce this? > > David W. Moulder (a.k.a. BB) > TNBMWRIDER@a...

[Dan Oaks]

Attachments :I recently purchased two new dual sports motorcycles to use in promoting our MC parts and video business. One is a KLR650, the other is a Suzuki DR650. While I prefer the ride of the KLR, it vibrates something terrible. The DR is smooth as a multi-cylinder road bike. Examples: 1) There is no time while the engine is running (from idle to 60mph) that you can see anything in the rear view mirrors. 2) A GPS on an expensive shock mount shakes so bad at road speeds that it shuts down because the batteries rattle apart and lose connection. 3) On road rides it vibrates so bad that you have to either clench your teeth or open your mouth to stop your teeth from chattering to the point of annoyance. Can't open your mouth in Florida during Love-Bug season! The Suzuki , although much less comfortable otherwise, demonstrates none of these characteristics. Other comparisons are listed on : http://www.dirtly.com Is this normal for a KLR? Do I need to swap the KLR engine for the Suzuki engine? Do you guys remove your teeth before going on a long ride? Am I being a wimp? BIERDO

[rkaub@binghamton.edu]

At 08:34 AM 10/3/00 -0700, you wrote:

>I recently purchased two new dual sports motorcycles to use in promoting >our MC parts and video business. One is a KLR650, the other is a Suzuki >DR650. While I prefer the ride of the KLR, it vibrates something >terrible. The DR is smooth as a multi-cylinder road bike. >>>> > >Bierdo:

My '98 doesn't vibrate that badly. The mirrors are useless (they always were) but that's about it. When I recently changed the front tire to a Bridgestone TW21, I noticed some increased "rumble" from the front end but nothing unreasonable. Thanks. Bob Kaub

[Backroad Bill]

I bought my 98 after a test ride; I was amazed at how smooth a single could be. I sold my XL600 for the down payment at the time. It was a paint shaker. After almost 20,000 miles it's still pretty smooth, and hasn't misfired or anything in the course of several long road trips. Sounds to me like possibly they vary quite a bit at assembly.

[Toby Lampson]

Dan, Reports of the vibration tendencies of the KLR vary from none...to significant. The mirrors on mine remain clear through a surprising performance range. Its my understanding that the DR vibration story is pretty similar- some report plenty, others think its fine. I think depending on the particular machines you run accross.....roles may reverse from your findings. Toby Dan Oaks wrote:

> I recently purchased two new dual sports motorcycles to use in promoting > our MC parts and video business. One is a KLR650, the other is a Suzuki > DR650. While I prefer the ride of the KLR, it vibrates something > terrible. The DR is smooth as a multi-cylinder road bike. > > Examples: > 1) There is no time while the engine is running (from idle to 60mph) > that you can see anything in the rear view mirrors. > > 2) A GPS on an expensive shock mount shakes so bad at road speeds that > it shuts down because the batteries rattle apart and lose connection. > > 3) On road rides it vibrates so bad that you have to either clench your > teeth or open your mouth to stop your teeth from chattering to the point > of annoyance. Can't open your mouth in Florida during Love-Bug season! > > The Suzuki , although much less comfortable otherwise, demonstrates none > of these characteristics. > > Other comparisons are listed on : > > http://www.dirtly.com > > Is this normal for a KLR? Do I need to swap the KLR engine for the > Suzuki engine? Do you guys remove your teeth before going on a long > ride? Am I being a wimp? > > BIERDO > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... > Let's keep this list SPAM free! > > Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Dan Oaks > > Dan Oaks > > 2970 Robins Nest Ct. Fax: 407-957-7887 > Saint Cloud Home: 407-892-6543 > FL Work: 407-957-5517, 800-522-6357 > 34772-8182 Netscape Conference Address > USA Specific DLS Server > Additional Information: > Last Name Oaks > First Name Dan > Version 2.1

[Mark]

At 8:34 AM -0700 10/3/2000, Dan Oaks wrote:

> Am I being a wimp?

Yup. Mark B2 A2

[Kurt Simpson (Editor Dual Sport News)]

> > I recently purchased two new dual sports motorcycles to use in promoting > > our MC parts and video business. One is a KLR650, the other is a Suzuki > > DR650. While I prefer the ride of the KLR, it vibrates something > > terrible. The DR is smooth as a multi-cylinder road bike. > > > > The Suzuki , although much less comfortable otherwise, demonstrates none > > of these characteristics. > >

The DR is very definitely smoother and its comfort can be enhanced greatly with a "modified" Corbin. However, the KLR is not nearly as bad as you describe...so you either are indeed a wimp (g); or, the bike is not right... Kurt