klr chain life

[Toby Lampson]

leejanet@... wrote:

> Kwaka KLR650; Suzuki DR650; Honda NX650; Yamaha XTZ660 (not BMW650) > > Time for me to move up from my past 150/350/500 cc bikes. > It will be one of the above. Assuming most of you have the KLR650, > why? > > I'm interested in the factors which drew you to the KLR over other > similar bikes. Thanks > > Cheers

The KLR has a big tank, you can adventure tour on it. Its the smallest bike I feel 'safe' on, on the interstate. Its motor design, though dated, is like 15 years old....so there's parts around. Its lethargic on the trail, but I want to ride outta state, and then do dirt. The DR will tour with slightly less desireability but will eat trails to a far greater degree. Both....to me.... are more utilitarian in dirt, than the NX. I'm not aware of the XTZ's characteristics. How comfortably the bike fits me, in the type conditions I mostly 'desire' to ride in............is why I chose a KLR. A lighter trail machine is a nice counter-part to the KLR, when tooling in the backyard. Slide

[k650dsn@aol.com]

In a message dated Wed, 26 Jul 2000 6:40:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time, leejanet@... writes: >>

[Landy Salinas]

The KLR has been around for a good while and it seems to be fairly reliable from what I have read. It seems that if the bike was basically no good then it would'nt still be around since folks would probably give up on it. Parts availability should be good in most places. The big gas tank was a big plus for me... I like the idea of having that kind of mileage potential in distant and remote places. Liquid cooling is way cool. I feel it contributes to longevity of the motor and gives more consistent engine performance over a variety of conditions...(till the coolant empties out in the middle off nowhere.... hehehe...ooops!!!). ITS LESS THAN 5 GRAND(US)!!!!!!!!! Come on!!!! For a bike that can do most things(maybe not excell... but can do MOST stuff). Last, not least, perhaps most importantly.... just look at the cult-like following it has with all these cool folks here!!!!!!!!!! THAT in itself was a major factor for me..... hey, maybe someday we can all organize EVERYONE together and do a transcontinental ROAD/DIRT trip????? Mega cool... imagine thousands upon thousands of folks cruisin across some continent... hell we could even do it for a good cause to make it even more worthwhile!!!! sorry... i'll shut up now... its great to dream though:) .... oh but imagine it??? the people, the bikes, the sound, the places.... a regular tour-de-force!!!!! ok, ok... i'm really shutting up now:) OJ KLR 650 '01 New Orleans

>From: leejanet@... >To: DSN_klr650@egroups.com >Subject: [DSN_klr650] Which make 'big' dual purpose bike? >Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 10:39:27 -0000 > >Kwaka KLR650; Suzuki DR650; Honda NX650; Yamaha XTZ660 (not BMW650) > >Time for me to move up from my past 150/350/500 cc bikes. >It will be one of the above. Assuming most of you have the KLR650, >why? > >I'm interested in the factors which drew you to the KLR over other >similar bikes. Thanks > >Cheers >

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[racing43rd@aol.com]

Hey D.J. ever ridden a Transalp ? Shame you can't buy a new one over here. I am buying a KLR soon but I will NEVER part with the "Alp. Ed Windsor Oh 1990 Red TA

[dan shaw]

i definalty agree. the klr makes a decent adv tourer. its really very reliable and fairly comfy. ive had some time touring and off roading on the bmw f650 also and i must say the only thing its better at is that its a little better in the turns on the street and has a better wind screen. even though the mirrors on the f650 are much clearer, i didnt notice it to be any smoother with vibration... dan --- "D.J. Rogers" wrote:

> Hey, > > I'm on a budget, and I wanted a bike that could do > as many things as > possible and do them all reasonably well. The KLR > isn't the best > dirt bike in the group, but it can handle it's own > in most > situations. Some would argue that the F650 Beemer > is a better road > bike. I've never ridden one, so I don't know about > that (for about > $3000 more it should!), but I'm pretty sure the KLR > kicks it's ass in > the dirt. > > One thing most 650 DS bikes can't do as well as the > KLR is tour. > Before I bought my KLR, I wondered how well it would > handle long days > on the highway, esp. being a 650 thumper. I wanted > to be able to > take short tours of a few days or so without taxing > myself or the > bike. Friday I'm off on a 3 week trip that will see > me going around > 7000km or so, and I have no reservations of the > KLR's ability to > handle it. > >

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[OJ Salinas]

i agree too... just remember to pinch that gas tank with your knees when overtaking an 18-wheeler at 90:):):):):) oj

>From: dan shaw >To: "D.J. Rogers" , DSN_klr650@egroups.com >Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Re: Which make 'big' dual purpose bike? >Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2000 06:20:43 -0700 (PDT) > >i definalty agree. the klr makes a decent adv tourer. >its really very reliable and fairly comfy. ive had >some time touring and off roading on the bmw f650 also >and i must say the only thing its better at is that >its a little better in the turns on the street and has >a better wind screen. even though the mirrors on the >f650 are much clearer, i didnt notice it to be any >smoother with vibration... > >dan >--- "D.J. Rogers" wrote: > > Hey, > > > > I'm on a budget, and I wanted a bike that could do > > as many things as > > possible and do them all reasonably well. The KLR > > isn't the best > > dirt bike in the group, but it can handle it's own > > in most > > situations. Some would argue that the F650 Beemer > > is a better road > > bike. I've never ridden one, so I don't know about > > that (for about > > $3000 more it should!), but I'm pretty sure the KLR > > kicks it's ass in > > the dirt. > > > > One thing most 650 DS bikes can't do as well as the > > KLR is tour. > > Before I bought my KLR, I wondered how well it would > > handle long days > > on the highway, esp. being a 650 thumper. I wanted > > to be able to > > take short tours of a few days or so without taxing > > myself or the > > bike. Friday I'm off on a 3 week trip that will see > > me going around > > 7000km or so, and I have no reservations of the > > KLR's ability to > > handle it. > > > > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! >http://mail.yahoo.com/

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[zootpatutie]

Versatility, durability, functionality, aftermarket upgrade availability, value, stability as a riding platform, great list support, and the comments of a lot of listers with more experience than me about how much fun they were having over other bikes they've owned.  Made the bike seem like a reliable machine for diverse riding conditions.  No regrets here.

Todd

A9

[pvonraits@aol.com]

Here are some thoughts about chain lubrication and the reasons for some of the misconceptions out there. BEFORE the arrival of the O-ring type chains, frequent cleaning and chain lubrication was required and I frequently used kerosene or WD-40 to clean the chain before re-lubing it. Several generations of motorcyclists have grown up doing this. With the advent of O-ring chains, cleaning and lubrication procedures radically changed. Far less lubrication is required, since grease is sealed into the chain itself. The O-rings are there to retain the grease. Using WD-40 to clean an O-ring chain is probably not a good idea, because it is possible to spray WD-40 past the O rings and thereby possibly displace the internal grease or dilute it. A better idea is to use a brush made for the purpose (or an old stiff tooth brush) and scrub the dirt off the chain using a light weight oil to flow the dirt away. Personally, I just use chain saw bar oil, which is very similar to chain lube and a lot cheaper. The idea is to loosen the accumulated dirt and flush it away before it can damage the O rings. Your primary objective is to clean the chain, while not displacing the internal grease. Above all, don't do anything that will tend to flush the internal grease out of the chain. Use a little common sense, and realize that there are a lot of people out there that would love to sell you whatever that can put in a spray can and sell for $6.95 Hope this helps, Peter