nklr - tech help - not starting when cold

[David C.]

Bill Mayer Senior invented the Day Long seat back in the '70s. It uses a steel spring suspension system to support your butt. In the '90s he sold the patents to Russell, and it became the Russell Day Long. Bill, Sr. was prohibited from using the design since he sold it to Russell, so he developed an alternate design using sculptured foam of various densities to try to duplicate his original design (with, IMO, less success). I had Bill make one of his "second generation" seats back in the late '90s or early '00s, for my old R100/7 BMW. It was about $100 cheaper than a Day Long. I did a ride-in to his shop and he custom built it to match my butt. The build quality was good, but after a few hours it was still less than perfect. Bill died a year or so later. His two sons Rick and Rocky have started competitive businesses using basically the same process, sculpted foam. I have seen both of their seats, and saw Rick in action at a BMW rally. Their are essentially a duplicate of the old man's "second generation" seat with cosmetic differences. Russell Day Long continued to make the original, superior design. They had production problems and long lead times, and I understand they eventually sold the company to the present owners, who seem to have straightened out the business side of things and continued to make the original design. I have had a Bill Mayer second generation seat, a Rich's Custom, which is also a high end custom made sculpted foam seat, and two "first generation" type Russell Day Long seats, one on a BMW, and one on a Concours. There is no comparison. The "first generation" Day Long design with the internal steel springing is superior in every respect...at least, for me. I weigh about 230 pounds and am 6'5". If you are smaller, and, especially, lighter, then a sculpted foam seat might work fine for you. If I keep my '04 KLR, I will probably get a Day Long for it. If I sell the KLR and get a Vee, I will probably get a Day Long for IT. Dave C

On 9/25/2008 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com wrote: > 1a. Re: after market seats other than corbin > Posted by: "Mike Hilton" fmhilton@... fmichaelhilton > Date: Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:54 am ((PDT)) > > Dave, not to start another fight between the brothers, but what was > the measurable difference between the Rick and Bill Mayer seats? On > a do over which would you chose and why? > Mike H. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Bell > To: Andrus Chesley > Cc: klr list > Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:16 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: after market seats other than corbin > > > OK you are right; it could be done that way. You must have more > than one bike to be able to do without your seat for several months. > I only had one bike at the time and I was assuming that someone > asking might not want to have no seat for several months.

[greg saunders]

I've had two Russell Day Long Touring Saddles so far; one on a BMWR100RT and one on a KLR650. The next one is going on my goldwing and a Russell is much more comfortable than a stock goldwing seat. In the past I've just sent in the seat once the riding season is over, and well before spring the new one has been returned. So far, I haven't regretted the cost. To: achesley@...; davebbell@...: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.comFrom: fmhilton@...: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:54:35 -0500Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: after market seats other than corbin Dave, not to start another fight between the brothers, but what was the measurable difference between the Rick and Bill Mayer seats? On a do over which would you chose and why?Mike H.----- Original Message ----- From: David Bell To: Andrus Chesley Cc: klr list Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:16 PMSubject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: after market seats other than corbinOK you are right; it could be done that way. You must have more than one bike to be able to do without your seat for several months. I only had one bike at the time and I was assuming that someone asking might not want to have no seat for several months. I am also assuming (which could be wrong) that you had to send in your stock seat pan. The mayers have some seat pans to exchange so that you can send your old seat in after you get your new seat. However, if they don't have a seat pan of your type you have to send yours in.If someone is interested in these seats, they are easy to find on the internet. Rick Mayer and Bill Mayer are both sons of the original Mayer (Rocky?). They have competing companies now and don't get along very well according to some. Both make good seats and will work with you individually to make sure you get the seat you want.dave----- Original Message ----From: Andrus Chesley To: David Bell Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:53:13 PMSubject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: after market seats other than corbinI've had 4 rick myers seats built and one daylong. I never made an appointment. Just filled in the order form, took pictures of me on the seats. Sent the whole mess in. a Few months later the sear arrived. Andy in Jennings---- David Bell wrote: =============You have to do a LOT more than send your seat and tell them what you want. I have had one Rick Mayer seat and one Bill Mayer seat. First, you have to make an appointment which will be weeks or months away. They will assign you a production date. You have to take pictures of yourself and your passenger on your bike. You have to answer several questions. Then, a week or two before your production day, you send your seat so that they can use the seat pan. You also send the $600 or so.Your butt will thank you later.db----- Original Message ----From: Andrus Chesley To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.comSent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:31:01 AMSubject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: after market seats other than corbin--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, "Jeff Haldin" wrote:>> I have the Russell on my ST1100 and love it. They do make one forthe KLR.Just about any of the custom seat builders will do them for the KLR,DR or any bike. Just send them your seat and tell them what you want.I've seen them on KLRs, DRs and XR's. Some look kinda funny but suredo ride good. Andy in Louisiana [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] _________________________________________________________________ See how Windows Mobile brings your life together at home, work, or on the go. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093182mrt/direct/01/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Chris Norloff]

I bought the Russell Day-Long seat. Amazingly comfortable, the best seat I've ever had on a motorcycle (in 22 years). Expensive, but does the job well. Only issue I have with it is it gets warm in the hot weather, so I put a beaded cover on top of it for ventilation. I also bought the Russell waterproof cover for $40. That wasn't worth it. It's just a big 'shower cap' thing, not fitted to the seat, and won't stay on if trailering. Still it's okay to cover the seat overnight. Better would be for Russell to make the seatcover itself waterproof. best, Chris -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Bell Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 7:53 PM To: gbennett69; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] after market seats other than corbin I just got a Sergeant. It is not dished, it is very flat. I don't like dished seats like some Corbins I have had. I haven't taken any long rides on the Sergeant but so far on short (40 mile) rides it is much, much better than the stock seat. $350, 6 week wait. db ----- Original Message ---- From: gbennett69 To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 12:05:38 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] after market seats other than corbin Anyone know of makers of seats for the klr other than corbin I saw a pic online of an 08 with a very dished seat and cant find it online Thanks Garrett Bayonne,nj [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links

[Chris Norloff]

My 1996 XT225 is a bear to start cold, too, and is fine when warmed up. I start it with the choke knob pulled out all the way (the choke is closed as far as it goes) since the bike runs real lean. I'll try your method, too. Be sure the throttle is closed; again, to be sure the engine gets as rich a mixture as possible. I turned the idle-air screw out to 2.5 or 2.75 turns but that didn't make much difference. The biggest difference for me, is to adjust the throttle stop so the throttle closes as far as it can. I then have to re-adjust this when the bike warms up so it'll idle. But that works for me. best, Chris -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jon Neet Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 12:14 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: NKLR - Tech help - not starting when cold I have a 2007 XT225 also with about 1200 miles on it. These bikes are really picky about cold starting. Heres a couple of things to try: 1.When you are riding home reach down and shut off the petcock and run the gas dry in the float bowl.On mine, thats about 6-8 blocks before I get home.That empties the bowl.Then, when you go to start it up before your next ride, just open the petcock and wait just a bit for the float bowl to fill again. 2.Don't close the choke all the way. When you pull on the choke knob, you can feel "detents" at intervals as you pull it.This is unlike the KLR650, which just has a smooth pull with no detents. I pull on the choke knob like this-pull it all the way out, then push it back in one "detent". Try it there.Thats the position where mine is happiest to start. 3.Remove the little copper cap over the idle air screw. You will have to either drill a little hole in it and then use a slide hammer to get the cap off, or drill the hole, screw in a sheet metal screw and pry the cap off. Then you can adjust the idle air screw.Most run the screw in till it bottoms, and then run it out three turns and try it.I have not done this third step on mine, as my XT is getting fantastic gas mileage, and mine starts pretty well as is. Many of these bikes take forever to warm up and become rideable.Usually this idle air screw adjustment fixes all that and gets the bike starting way better cold. Go to this forum and you'll get lots of info: http://www.xt225.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm Jon