was "first & second gear" now "oil inspection on a budget"

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "thewildmanrides650" wrote:

> > Glad to see some are wondering about stability of a 07 vstrom with a > givi windsheild and 52liter givi hard box on back.poor to hazardous is > the answer.

Did you have the Madstad bracket? The Givi windshield is known to cause severe buffeting on the V-Strom due to its poor design, and it would not be surprising at all that without a Madstad you would have a problem there. My '08 weestrom is stable as a rock in crosswinds, more stable than my '02 KLR 650.

> this would fix the bike.not willing to do that to my 07 as the seat > and handle bars were uncumfortable too compared to a klr.

The handlebars need risers to get them to a comfortable position, I put Rox risers on mine and all is well. You can also use generic ATV bars since it uses standard dirt bike clamps rather than clip-ons. There are a variety of comfortable seats for the DL650, I am currently using a Suzuki gel seat, which is about an inch taller and much wider and firmer than the stock seat for a fairly reasonable price (under $200). All in all, I find the DL650 to be a very comfortable commuter and light touring bike. The extra horsepower and the ABS brakes are why I chose the DL650 rather than the '08 KLR, it is also a roomier and smoother bike than the KLR which is important because I will be doing some long distance touring and while I've done that on my KLR before, I could never do more than 500 miles a day on the KLR before I was finished. A properly set up Wee will do an iron butt with no problem. My KLR is still in my garage because it is bullet-proof and will go anywhere, and I would not take a Weestrom off pavement (the KLR is heavy enough, the Wee is 100 pounds heavier and *much* more fragile). I'll probably end up rebuilding the KLR and stripping it down to be a better offroad bike, though I recognize that it'll never be as good off pavement as a "real" dual-sport bike. Given the age and number of miles on my KLR it makes no sense to try to sell it anyhow, I'm just retargetting it to a specific purpose.

[Mike Hilton]

Scott, I wanted to give you an update on the Top Gun Spring I installed on my 08 KLR650 last week. I was concerned that the ride would be to harsh, not the case at all. In fact I have the pre-load as low as it will go and have sufficient height for a correct sag. The ride is as smooth as before with more competent feeling while running curves. I have not ridden the bike with fully loaded the side bags, but I do feel more than confident with the heavier spring. I would recommend MMP/ Top Gun Spring. As you know I purchased the 8.0kg heavier spring. http://www.topgunmotorcycles.com/Product_Pages/klrprod2.html Mike H.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott St. Hillier" To: "Mike Hilton" Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 11:04 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Sounds like the 08 is JUNK > Thanks, I appreciate your reply. > > Scott > > On Fri, 1 Aug 2008 10:10:36 -0500, "Mike Hilton" > said: >> Scott, I purchased my rear spring from Top Gun, Multisurfacing Experts: >> http://www.topgunmotorcycles.com/Product_Pages/klrprod2.html . Send him >> an >> email if you are not sure on which spring to order. I ended up ordering >> the >> heavier of the three. I'm 230 and have Pelican bags top and side. Don't >> carry a lots but I do like the bike not to squat as much as it did with >> the >> original spring. I had the local Honda dealer install the spring, $18.00 >> I >> believe. Check back in a couple of days and I'll tell you how I like >> it... >> Will take it out this weekend. >> Mike H. >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Scott St. Hillier" >> To: "Mike Hilton" >> Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 6:38 PM >> Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Sounds like the 08 is JUNK >> >> >> >I love my 08 and I am interested in the rear spring you replaced. What >> > did you get and where did you get it? Any advice... I have the >> > happy-trail.com panniers and a Givi copy (JC Whitney) top trunk and >> > sometimes I load down and go two up. Could use a stiffer spring. >> > >> > TIA, >> > >> > Scott >> > >> > On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:05:04 -0500, "Mike Hilton" >> > said: >> >> Mean Green, I'll Amen your story. I've had my 08 for 2 months and >> >> nearly >> >> 3,000 miles with no problems. The only thing I decided to change was >> >> the >> >> spring on the rear shock. When I added Pelican cases, side and top, >> >> it >> >> seemed to squat more than I wanted. I had owned 3 KLRs in the past >> >> 10 >> >> years, and would not trade this one of any of the others. >> >> Mike H. >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> From: thewildmanrides650 >> >> To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >> >> Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 1:26 PM >> >> Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Sounds like the 08 is JUNK >> >> >> >> >> >> the 08 klr is the nimblest best handling and most reliable machine i >> >> have ever owned. traded in my brand spankin new vstrom 650 and rode >> >> away smiling. I did this after following my buddie on a 2500 mile >> >> ride >> >> to mount washington. i was blown off the road twice on that vstrom >> >> and >> >> it was'nt my ridin ability either.I have 6000 miles on mine and I >> >> let >> >> my brother ride it on a 100 mile ride the next week he bought >> >> one.you >> >> can say what you want about the 08 klr but nowbody is ever getting >> >> mine by the way my buddie was riding a 08 klr. i also broke it in at >> >> 80 mph any body that ownes one knows it is impossible not to do 80 >> >> on >> >> this bike.people look at it and say nice dirt bike and i laugh.Mean >> >> Green or bust. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> >> > -- >> > >> > >> >> > -- > >

[skypilot@cycles4sale.com]

Brent, To check for issues in your engine that may be causing issues try this when you drain the oil. 1) Get a cardboard box and cut a corner out of it, 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2". 2) Put a garbage bag in it. 3) Find an old magnet or two and put it/them in the corner of the bag by the hole in the box. I take apart any old hard drives and grab the magnets out of them since they are strong and cheap. 4) Drain your oil into the box/bag. I leave a string on the magnets and swirl them around on the botom of the box like a tea bag usually to help pick up any stray metal bits. 5) Cut the top off a 1 liter soda bottle and put a coffee or paint filter in it. 6) Cut a hole in the bag to drain oil out of the bag/box past the magnets, through the paint filter and into some other container for disposal. 7) Swoosh the magnets around in some petrol or kerosene to take away the greese leaving just metal bits, hopefully leaving nothing. Pour the kero through the paint filter to get a better look at what is, hopefully isnt, in there. The magnets will catch ferrous bits and the paint filter will catch the non ferous stuff. This way you will know better what is coming apart, not just that something is coming apart. If you use a mag drain plug you know one thing and if you filter only you see everything together but it is hard to distinguish between aluminum and steel. Posted by: "Brent Tegler" btegler@... b_tegler Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:17 pm (PDT) Revmaaatin, As I am at the 2500 mi mark and about to do an oil change I should have an answer for you in a day or two... will certainly look at the filter closely, thanks for all the suggestions. Cheers, Brent.