klr south america lap modifications needed?

[iambwfox@yahoo.com]

This isn't intended as a criticism, merely my observation on two different motorcycles. I, like at least a few others I recognize on this list, have owned both. The two bikes in question are the later models DR650 and KLR650. All the talk about the balancer chain tensioner remind me of the DR's gear driven balancer, and the oft overlooked SACS "Suzuki Advanced Cooling System", is actually very effective. It in essence uses two oil pumps, one is a conventional hi- pressure, lo-volume like most engines. The other is a hi volume, lo pressure that circulates a massive quantity of oil thru the motor to cool it. Hence the oversized oil cooler. It is much more than a simple oil cooler on a regular engine. The DR comes from the factory with an optional lowering position for the rear shock which decreases the seat height by 1". The engine vibration on the DR in my opinion is less. The DR gets 50+ mpg, but must use a IMS tank to begin to approach the KLR's range. I find the KLR seat better. The DR has better suspension and brakes stock. The front caliper is a two piston unit, with a larger disc. The KLR comes with a tach, the DR does not. The KLR is around $500 cheaper. You have all heard this stuff before. I just put my two cents in for some of the new listers. Thanks! Bert Fox N Idaho

[Dan Oaks]

I absolutely agree with you on this comparison, since I also own both. However, I think we should clarify one point. The DR650 does not come wiht anything that lowers the seat height. For about $175 you can buy factory made lowering links and a shortened kick stand that will lower the seat height by 1-1/2". I have had that done, and I think it is a worthwhile option. Just a few minutes ago, I ordered the lowering links for my KLR to do the same thing. I'll hack off and re-weld the kickstand myself. -- bierdo iambwfox@... wrote:

> This isn't intended as a criticism, merely my observation on two > different motorcycles. I, like at least a few others I recognize on > this list, have owned both. The two bikes in question are the later > models DR650 and KLR650. All the talk about the balancer chain > tensioner remind me of the DR's gear driven balancer, and the oft > overlooked SACS "Suzuki Advanced Cooling System", is actually very > effective. It in essence uses two oil pumps, one is a conventional hi- > pressure, lo-volume like most engines. The other is a hi volume, lo > pressure that circulates a massive quantity of oil thru the motor to > cool it. Hence the oversized oil cooler. It is much more than a > simple oil cooler on a regular engine. The DR comes from the factory > with an optional lowering position for the rear shock which decreases > the seat height by 1". The engine vibration on the DR in my opinion > is less. The DR gets 50+ mpg, but must use a IMS tank to begin to > approach the KLR's range. I find the KLR seat better. The DR has > better suspension and brakes stock. The front caliper is a two piston > unit, with a larger disc. The KLR comes with a tach, the DR does not. > The KLR is around $500 cheaper. You have all heard this stuff before. > I just put my two cents in for some of the new listers. Thanks! > > Bert Fox > N Idaho > > 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 > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Bert Fox]

True, and better put. I think I meant to infer that the factory offered the fix vs the aftermarket. I am vertically challenged in the other way. Most bikes are too cramped for my long legs, so I never exercise the lowering option, but instead relocate the footpegs to give me more room from seat to pegs. I initially bought the KLR because the fit was a little better. After wanting the better off road performance with the civility of the KLR vs the XLR(had one of those too), I endeed up on a DR and modified it to fit my leg length...Bert Fox --- Dan Oaks wrote:

> I absolutely agree with you on this comparison, > since I also own both. > However, I think we should clarify one point. The > DR650 does not come wiht > anything that lowers the seat height. For about $175 > you can buy factory > made lowering links and a shortened kick stand that > will lower the seat > height by 1-1/2". I have had that done, and I think > it is a worthwhile > option. > > Just a few minutes ago, I ordered the lowering links > for my KLR to do the > same thing. I'll hack off and re-weld the kickstand > myself. > -- > bierdo > > iambwfox@... wrote: > > > This isn't intended as a criticism, merely my > observation on two > > different motorcycles. I, like at least a few > others I recognize on > > this list, have owned both. The two bikes in > question are the later > > models DR650 and KLR650. All the talk about the > balancer chain > > tensioner remind me of the DR's gear driven > balancer, and the oft > > overlooked SACS "Suzuki Advanced Cooling System", > is actually very > > effective. It in essence uses two oil pumps, one > is a conventional hi- > > pressure, lo-volume like most engines. The other > is a hi volume, lo > > pressure that circulates a massive quantity of oil > thru the motor to > > cool it. Hence the oversized oil cooler. It is > much more than a > > simple oil cooler on a regular engine. The DR > comes from the factory > > with an optional lowering position for the rear > shock which decreases > > the seat height by 1". The engine vibration on the > DR in my opinion > > is less. The DR gets 50+ mpg, but must use a IMS > tank to begin to > > approach the KLR's range. I find the KLR seat > better. The DR has > > better suspension and brakes stock. The front > caliper is a two piston > > unit, with a larger disc. The KLR comes with a > tach, the DR does not. > > The KLR is around $500 cheaper. You have all heard > this stuff before. > > I just put my two cents in for some of the new > listers. Thanks! > > > > Bert Fox > > N Idaho > > > > 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 > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >

__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

[Kurt Simpson (Dual Sport News)]

I absolutely agree with you on this comparison, since I also own both. However, I think we should clarify one point. The DR650 does not come wiht anything that lowers the seat height. For about $175 you can buy factory made lowering links and a shortened kick stand that will lower the seat height by 1-1/2". I have had that done, and I think it is a worthwhile option. Just a few minutes ago, I ordered the lowering links for my KLR to do the same thing. I'll hack off and re-weld the kickstand myself. -- bierdo __________ Dan I believe you and Bert have this wrong, The lowering of the DR is not accomplished via lowering links..in fact that is what the "real" advantage of the DR lowering system is...it is accomplished by limiting the travel on the shock by taking the shock apart and reversing the lower end...no purchase necessary. On the front the fork requires disassembly. The DR has a much better system of lowering than the KLR unless you buy the shortened Progressive military shock from Dual Star... Kurt

[Dan Oaks]

Thanks Kurt. I'll have to take another look at it! -- bierdo "Kurt Simpson (Dual Sport News)" wrote:

> I absolutely agree with you on this comparison, since I also own both. > However, I think we should clarify one point. The DR650 does not come wiht > anything that lowers the seat height. For about $175 you can buy factory > made lowering links and a shortened kick stand that will lower the seat > height by 1-1/2". I have had that done, and I think it is a worthwhile > option. > > Just a few minutes ago, I ordered the lowering links for my KLR to do the > same thing. I'll hack off and re-weld the kickstand myself. > -- > bierdo > __________ > > Dan I believe you and Bert have this wrong, > > The lowering of the DR is not accomplished via lowering links..in fact that is what > the "real" advantage of the DR lowering system is...it is accomplished by limiting > the travel on the shock by taking the shock apart and reversing the lower end...no > purchase necessary. On the front the fork requires disassembly. The DR has a much > better system of lowering than the KLR unless you buy the shortened Progressive > military shock from Dual Star... > > Kurt > > 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 > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Zachariah Mully]

Practice... LOTS of it, with plenty of crashes so you learn that every body piece on the bike is better held on with zip ties ------------------ Zack SE DC KLR650A5 "Buster" ZG1000A1 -----Original Message----- From: tomrsewell@... [mailto:tomrsewell@...] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 10:26 AM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] KLR south america lap modifications needed? hey- i'm planning a year long lap around CA/SA in 2002/3 on my KLR. i've already had happy-trails in boise make me a beefy rack and boxes, c stand, dual rad guards/h pegs. what other stuff could a toy head guy do to customize her? K&N washable air filter? hotgrips? hi shield? is a oil or water temp gauge available? how bout a gear indicator? LOUD horn? lite flashers (modulators)? are big side crash guards available from somewhere? 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 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/