doohickey/frame fasteners etc.

[Stuart Mumford]

I replaced the latch on the chinbar of my Quantum/e this morning, and I noticed a patch sewn into the liner. It reads "... should be replaced after no more than 8 years of service." So I guess 5 years is reasonable for safe replacement, 8 years is the max, according to Arai. Since my helmet has spent it's off hours inside, I'll give it 3 more years before I can it. However, after thinking about it, one of my helmets is going to hit the trash can this weekend. I have crashed hard in it twice (both times in the desert, offroad at a decent clip) and I don't want the 3rd time to be "lucky". I reckon I'm going to cut the straps off it before I can it, so someone doesn't think they got a free helmet.... Thanks CA Stu -----Original Message----- From: KDXKawboy@... [mailto:KDXKawboy@...] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 8:27 PM To: kelley_kinser@...; s2mumford@...; DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Helmet longevity question In a message dated 2004-12-08 3:30:33 PM Pacific Standard Time, kelley_kinser@... writes: I know that for our work helmets it is 3-5 years. That is more than the average helmet gets used though since we use them all day, year round. Kelley......... Being mounted officer I'm sure your department is following the Snell foundation's recommendation. They are constantly testing donated helmets, and their certification program requires the manufacturer to provide aged samples, and they claim their findings show a helmet's integrity falls off after five years, causing the helmet to fail the Snell test. They state all the little dings in the polystyrene liner reduces its effectiveness in a crash. They also state all the little dings and flexing that the shell takes over time starts to break down the bonding between layers as well as between the fibers of some layers. For myself, I trust the Snell standards and recommendations. I've always replaced my helmet every fourth or fifth year based on their recommendation and have built the cost into my maintenance budget. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Fig]

I dunno, wouldn't an old helmet be better than none at all? Maybe a cheapskate n00b would ride lidless in your state, but for your "charitable donation". Not all states require them, though... -Fig Stuart Mumford wrote:

> However, after thinking about it, one of my helmets is going to hit the > trash can this weekend. I have crashed hard in it twice (both times in > the > desert, offroad at a decent clip) and I don't want the 3rd time to be > "lucky". I reckon I'm going to cut the straps off it before I can it, so > someone doesn't think they got a free helmet.... > > > Thanks > CA Stu > >

[Stuart Mumford]

False sense of security, man. Also, here in CA the Security Nazis make us wear helmets. Today, I would wear one anyway. Back when I was young and indestructible, helmets weren't mandatory, and I put plenty of miles on 2 wheels without one (lots of them after smoking lots of cigarettes), but I have become a big pussy over the years, I guess The helmet that I'm going to trash ate a swingarm on a friends bike at 30+ mph, and was on my noggin when I ate it in the sand GP racing 2 years ago. It has more than done its duty. Also, helmets conform to the unique shape of a rider's head, and after them fitting my pointy head, anyone that puts it on wouldn't have a correct fitting helmet in the first place. SO I reckon, even though my used up beat up POS may be better than nothing, a cheap, new, Snell approved, correctly fitting helmet can be had for less than $100, so just buy one ya cheapskate lidless n00b! Cheers CA Stu

> -----Original Message----- > > I dunno, wouldn't an old helmet be better than none at all? Maybe a > cheapskate n00b would ride lidless in your state, but for your > "charitable donation". Not all states require them, though... > > -Fig > > > Stuart Mumford wrote: > > >However, after thinking about it, one of my helmets is going to hit the > >trash can this weekend. I have crashed hard in it twice (both > times in the > >desert, offroad at a decent clip) and I don't want the 3rd time to be > >"lucky". I reckon I'm going to cut the straps off it before I can it, so > >someone doesn't think they got a free helmet.... > > > > > >Thanks > >CA Stu > > > > >

[el_macho650]

> Stuart Mumford wrote: > > > However, after thinking about it, one of my helmets is going to hit the > > trash can this weekend. I have crashed hard in it twice (both times in > > the > > desert, offroad at a decent clip) and I don't want the 3rd time to be > > "lucky". I reckon I'm going to cut the straps off it before I can it, so > > someone doesn't think they got a free helmet.... > >

5 years, or one major accident. I tossed a brand new Arai Signet GT after my recent accident. I had retired the previous signet GT (5 years old and many dings) by cutting the straps and removing the interior padding and faceplate hardware. A brand new, high-quality helmet is an amazing thing. A helmet is the LAST thing you want to cut corners on. And as far as not "donating" the helmet to those who can afford a motorcycle but somehow not afford a helmet, god forbid somebody dumpster-dived a helmet, then gave it to someone as a gift or used it as their "passenger" helmet. You need to know that you can count on your safety equipment. Body armor makes a difference too. It appears my habit of dressing for winter riding so heavily that I end up with a sort of half-assed cervical collar also helped. BTW in my recent accident, the ER staff were baffled by my lack of internal injuries, and complete lack of head trauma. The combined tibia, fibula, ankle fracture was something they hadn't seen before though. Devon

[Fig]

I actually have one. Bought it new and it still looks that way because it sees very little use. I'm still in that (mentally) young and indestructible phase! lol I didn't know you were in California. That does change the equation. In Indiana, they're not required and some people don't buy a lid because they are tapped out from overextending themselves on buying a bike. I know a few guys who don't even keep insurance on their ride. My only point was it's probably better for someone to wear a lid they find in the trash than no lid at all. (If they're prone toward wearing lids, that is.) I guess it seemed like my reply post was begging for the helmet? I am happy to clarify that I wasn't- Although my head is pretty pointy also.. -Fig Stuart Mumford wrote:

>False sense of security, man. Also, here in CA the Security Nazis make us >wear helmets. >Today, I would wear one anyway. >Back when I was young and indestructible, helmets weren't mandatory, and I >put plenty of miles on 2 wheels without one (lots of them after smoking lots >of cigarettes), but I have become a big pussy over the years, I guess > >The helmet that I'm going to trash ate a swingarm on a friends bike at 30+ >mph, and was on my noggin when I ate it in the sand GP racing 2 years ago. >It has more than done its duty. > >Also, helmets conform to the unique shape of a rider's head, and after them >fitting my pointy head, anyone that puts it on wouldn't have a correct >fitting helmet in the first place. >SO I reckon, even though my used up beat up POS may be better than nothing, >a cheap, new, Snell approved, correctly fitting helmet can be had for less >than $100, so just buy one ya cheapskate lidless n00b! > >Cheers >CA Stu > > > > >>-----Original Message----- >> >>I dunno, wouldn't an old helmet be better than none at all? Maybe a >>cheapskate n00b would ride lidless in your state, but for your >>"charitable donation". Not all states require them, though... >> >>-Fig >> >> >>Stuart Mumford wrote: >> >> >> >>>However, after thinking about it, one of my helmets is going to hit the >>>trash can this weekend. I have crashed hard in it twice (both >>> >>> >>times in the >> >> >>>desert, offroad at a decent clip) and I don't want the 3rd time to be >>>"lucky". I reckon I'm going to cut the straps off it before I can it, so >>>someone doesn't think they got a free helmet.... >>> >>> >>>Thanks >>>CA Stu >>> >>> >>> >>> > > > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > >

[Rodney Copeland]

Yup Mike, there's an underlying point to be made here too! If you were to put the 2 bikes through the same grueling life that many of us do our KLRs,,,,,,,,, I wonder what the costs incurred would accumulate to over say, 50,000 miles on both bikes. Between the cost of maintenance and repairs from the abuse we would put both bikes through, hell we may be able to buy a third KLR! Rod,,,,,ain't partial! --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Peplinski" wrote:

> My point being; for the initial purchase price, the longevity, the > fun-to-ride, the overall toughness-you can't beat the KLR. Sure the

F650 may

> (MAY) outlast the KLR, you can just about buy 2 KLR's for the cost

of one

> F650. Plus, the F650 is much more complicated than the KLR in the

fuel

> department. Carbs are pretty trouble free. Yes, the FI is pretty

durable too

> but only a technician can fix it. I've read that the F650 has

engine issuse

> too and a simple doohickey does not fix it. The frame thing is so

easy to

> fix it is ridiculous. > > >From: "Eric L. Green" > >To: Mike Peplinski > >CC: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > >Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Doohickey/frame fasteners etc. > >Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 09:06:48 -0800 (PST) > > > > > >On Thu, 9 Dec 2004, Mike Peplinski wrote: > > > Complain, complain, complain. All I hear is these complaints

aout(the

> >letter > > > etween a and c is out on my keyoard) the poor quality of parts

on the

> >KLR. > > > Will someone please tell me what other dual sport is out there,

one that

> >is > > > ridden as hard as most KLR's, that does not have a design

weakness

> > > somewhere? > > > >I could tell you, but then you'd have to move to Austria. > > > > > There is not a motorcycle made that can take the kind of > > > punishment the KLR takes and not suffer some sort of failure. > > > >The problem is that the same sorts of failures also happen on

KLR's that

> >are driven only on the street and never get any punishment at all. > > > > > Sure a couple > > > of higher grade olts and chain alancer would help. The upgrades

are

> >cheap > > > and easy for the most part. Upgrades are made for just aout any

cycle.

> >The > > > >True enough, but the upgrades available for other cycles typically

are for

> >comfort or range issues, rather than basic functionality like,

say, having

> >the subframe stay connected to the rest of the frame . > > > > > KLR fixes are cheap in all cases and let us work on our toys.

Get over

> >it. > > > >Huh? You're saying the ostrich solution is the right one? > > > > > Go get a Suzuki > > > >Have considered it, but the Suzuki's range and comfort issues are

pretty

> >severe, and there's not much farkle for it. The Suzuki has had an > >"inherent failure" too, there was a gear of some sort that could

explode

> >on a couple of years of the DR650 if the machine backfired during

the

> >starting process, but Suzuki fixed it. Well, that and the base

gasket

> >leak. Big whoop, my KLR dribbles a little oil there too. > > > > > or that German one, or maye the Italian one and see if you > > > don't have some sort of inherant failure. > > > >The only inherent failure on the German one is its price, which is > >outrageous, the cost of crunchy plastic if you drop it, and the

cost of

> >service on the thing. I am already owned by two cats. I don't

want to be

> >owned by my motorcycle too. > > > > > Lets see something interesting on the lit, > > > >Hey, some of us are entertained by griping and grumbling about how

the

> >purpose of subframe bolts is supposed to be to hold the bike

together,

> >rather than to serve as a substitute for oatmeal. So nyah! > > > >-E > > > > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com > >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > >