nklr: newbie questions: klx tire pressure and suspensions settings?

[Rich W]

I agree, I love the adventure touring ability best about this bike, however I was riding the past weekend with my brother and friends. They were on 4-wheelers and going much faster than I offroad. I really thought I was in over my head, but wanted to ride with them anyway. I guess jumping the KLR over 4 feet is not a good thing either? (Just kidding!) Thanks for the advise. Rich (ordering some loctite for the remainder of the bolts)

----- Original Message ----- From: SWAMPY! To: ; 'KLR List' DSN_klr650@egroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 11:49 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Broken Frame Bolt > Those bolts will vibrate out (not dealers fault) and they will shear if the > KLR is ridden aggressive;y off road. They're not manufactured to take the > off road pounding. Go to the DSN webpage and read the article on the > Chattahoochee Forest DSR from two years ago, my stepson tried to keep up > with those of us on more dirt oriented machines, and the KLR broke. It's not > the bikes fault, it wasn't made to be ridden like a KTM or Honda XRL. It's > an Adventure Touring Bike, and a damn fine one at that! Won't find a better > all-around do everything bike, but ya gotta keep that in mind! > > Swampy > -----Original Message----- > From: Russell Scott > To: 'KLR List' DSN_klr650@egroups.com> > Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 11:25 PM > Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] Broken Frame Bolt > > > >I lost one. Didn't even notice it was missing for days. Mine did not > >break, it just vibrated out. The new one is in there real tight. I guess > >I would have to blame the dealer or Kawi for not making it tight enough. > > > >Russel'r > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: Rich W > >Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 8:05 PM > >To: DSN_klr650@egroups.com > >Subject: [DSN_klr650] Broken Frame Bolt > > > >Greetings fellow listers. > > > >I had a strange occurence this weekend after about 150 miles of road > >riding. One of the bolts to the rear section of the frame just under the > >seat was broken off. The section of frame that I am referring to is the > >part that basically supports the rider and has no suspension or motor > >attached to it. > > > >After riding I was sitting on the ground looking over the bike (with Beer > >in hand at this point) just sort of checking things over. Sort of bonding > >time with the bike. I looked on the top of the air filter box, just under > >the right side of the seat and there set a bolt. About 3/4 of it anyway. > > The rest is still in the frame. > > > >I'm just wondering if anyone has had one of these break on the KLR. This > >machine has only 8K miles on it and I have only put on 700 myself. I'm > >starting to wonder if this due to some extreme off roading last weekend and > >the bolt finished breaking this week or maybe the previous rider was hard > >on it. Either way, it was a little scary to see that something like this > >was broken so suddenly and so early in the bikes lifetime. > > > >Rich > > > >A12 "Beast" (Now parked until I can get an easy out tool and some new > >bolts from the Kawasaki dealer) > > > > > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >Enjoy the award-winning journalism of The New York Times with > >convenient home delivery. And for a limited time, get 50% off for the > >first 8 weeks by subscribing. Pay by credit card and receive an > >additional 4 weeks at this low introductory rate. > >http://click.egroups.com/1/3102/3/_/911801/_/956201135/ > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >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 > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Enjoy the award-winning journalism of The New York Times with > convenient home delivery. And for a limited time, get 50% off for the > first 8 weeks by subscribing. Pay by credit card and receive an > additional 4 weeks at this low introductory rate. > http://click.egroups.com/1/3102/3/_/911801/_/956201959/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > 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 > >

[Verle Nelson]

> ... it [KLR650] wasn't made to be ridden like a KTM or Honda XRL. It's > an Adventure Touring Bike, and a damn fine one at that! > Swampy

Just finished four days of hard riding in southeastern Utah chasing an old motocross rider on a KTM 640 LC4 and another old motocross rider on an XT600 Yamaha. Guess I better check my subframe bolts. We did ride hard -- at speeds approaching 90 on graded dirt and rock-bashing in the rough stuff. My Moose/MSR skid plate looks like modern sculpture now. I nearly ruined a new pair of expensive touring boots. Went out Monday and bought Alpinestars while I still have my toes. The KTM rider is going to mount different tires (probably AM24 Gripsters since mine didn't slow me down) and try it my way: 250 - 300 miles of pavement getting to the trail head; camping off the bike. We will soon see how the KTM works as a short-range adventure touring bike. For whatever it's worth, in four days of hard riding the KLR650 was the only machine that didn't need a minor adjustment or repair (except for picking up the license plate). Even so, I sure like the KTM. The Yamaha rider had to stop and adjust his steering head bearings on the Lockhart Basin trail but that's probably because his first maintenance priority is his vintage motocross Penton. What I don't understand is how they got too tight. I rode it 100 yards and gave it back, telling him he had serious problems with the steering head. The amazing thing is, he went fast before and after. He's no novice mechanic; too many machines to keep track of I guess. Verle Nelson Cedaredge, CO '97 R1100R '99 KLR650

[EdB@onyx.com]

Hey gang, Anyone have any recommendations for tire pressure? I have a (new to me) '96 KLX 650R. It has Chen Shin (sp?) DOT legal knobbies on it. My manual shows 14 psi (for dirt). For the KLX dual sport model, it shows a range of 21-28 psi. I put 24 psi in and drove to work, mostly 2 lane highway and some super slab. Its did pretty good. But I'd be interested in getting some feedback on what people are running in the dirt, and on the road. I'd also be interested hearing suspension settings, my suspension is stock. I haven't played with mine yet. Any input would be appreciated. BTW, I'm about 6'6", 210 lbs. My dirt riding will be mellow logging road and jeep trails for a while. Thanks! Ed Duvall, WA '96 KLX 650R '82 Katana 1000 ps: I cross posted to the KLX list as well.