punky & lew on the tat in oklahoma

[klr_gil@yahoo.com]

Had a great ride yesterday, left my house, headed for Mt. Rainier. Gawd!! it was a bueatiful day!! Put 240 miles on the bike, took every back road I could find....but still had to spend some time on 60mph hi-ways. So I have decided to try a 16 tooth countershaft sprocket. Does anyone have a suggestion?? I called the dealer, he really wasn't very much help, and the coupl'a web sites I tried don't have listings for KLR 650's....But I know those sprockets are out there!! (aren't they??...) Another question....Had the dealer do the 500 mile check-up... They did not check the valve clearance, did'nt feel it was necessary....... I'm kind'a wondering about this...???.... Comments?? please?? Thanks for any input!! Gilbert a15 des moines, wa

[monahanwb@yahoo.com]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., klr_gil@y... wrote:

> They did not check the valve clearance, did'nt feel it was > necessary....... > I'm kind'a wondering about this...???.... Comments?? please?? > Thanks for any input!! > Gilbert > a15 > des moines, wa

Gilbert, who really gives a shit how these people "feel" about your valves? I would say that instead of 600 miles for the first valve check, run it up to 1000 and then set them correctly. You'll be way ahead of those who entrust dealers to do this job, with regards to long valve life. Time to take the plunge, the dealer is only going to take your money and not perform the job he's afraid of....I'm sure he doesn't want to risk stripping any cam box bolts. General KLR list wisdom is do the valve check yourself. It's not that hard. Just no dropping things into the motor or stripping threads. And it's a nice feeling (speaking of how we "feel") to not give a shit about the dealer. I'm sure he's a nice fellow, but come on, how the hell is he going to "feel" your valves, anyway? Dr. Backroad Bill "I feel your pain"

[Tom Simpson]

At 12:13 AM 5/14/01 +0000, klr_gil@... wrote:

>Had a great ride yesterday, left my house, headed for Mt. Rainier. >Gawd!! it was a bueatiful day!! Put 240 miles on the bike, took every >back road I could find....but still had to spend some time on 60mph >hi-ways. So I have decided to try a 16 tooth countershaft sprocket. >Does anyone have a suggestion?? I called the dealer, he really wasn't >very much help,

Well, theres a surprise...

>and the coupl'a web sites I tried don't have listings >for KLR 650's....But I know those sprockets are out there!! > (aren't they??...)

Oh, yeah dude! The answer to most things KLR are to be found at: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com/ I happen to have a rather good dealer here (Columbia, SC), but most seem to absolutely suck ass, according to what people here say. You cant trust 'em. Be prepared to do your own work if a) you don't want to be raped on a regular and habitual basis and b) you actually want the work done correctly, if at all. As for parts, if Tucker-Rocky and Parts Unlimited do not have it in their catalog, it does not exist in the eyes of the average dealer. The more specialized items have to come from more specialized vendors, such as Fred at Arrowhead. And I just went to a bigger front sprocket as well (a 15-tooth) the other month. I should have done this years ago. Drops about 300 RPM at interstate speeds, giving a much more relaxed feel to the ride.

> Another question....Had the dealer do the 500 mile check-up... > They did not check the valve clearance, did'nt feel it was >necessary....... >I'm kind'a wondering about this...???.... Comments?? please??

Bullshit and animal crackers, as an old friend used to say. Some KLRs are tight at 500 miles and *need* that initial adjustment. Mine has needed three reshimmings in 48,000 miles and I don't ride it that hard. Valve maintenance is a real issue. What are they, clairvoyant? Evaluating motors by sensing their auras? See above comments on most dealers sucking. -Tom '96 KLR 650 and checked his own valves (for the ninth time) just this afternoon, actually.

>

[jesbo@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/13/01 5:14:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time, klr_gil@... writes: Go to www.sprocketspecialist.com or try Fred at www.arrowheadmotorsports.com for 16 tooth sprockets. I had the same experience when trying to talk to the dealer, they acted as though they hadn't a clue. Jess Booth Odenton, MD

> So I have decided to try a 16 tooth countershaft sprocket. > Does anyone have a suggestion?? I called the dealer, he really wasn't > very much help, and the coupl'a web sites I tried don't have listings > for KLR 650's....But I know those sprockets are out there!! > (aren't they??...)

[hooligan@rectec.net]

Hi gang: I'm posting from Marshall and Susan Moorhead's place near Ketchum, OK. We've had a hell of a ride and it ain't over yet. The Ozarks in Arkansas on back dirt roads were a blast and the Rockies are ahead. The twisty paved roads were fun too. MotorMark Wilson showed me how to ride that stuff, when we rode together during the Georgia Mountain Rally. He gave us our first backroad mountain riding experience as well. Mark, take what we did in Georgia and multiply it by 10k and it might be close to what we've experienced so far. You been dragging your right Givi 36 litre pannier lately? Critter is equpped with Tim's Happy Trail aluminum panniers and have an angle cut on the bottom, which keeps them from dragging. They are also not as wide as Givis. Tim's boxes are also tough. They, the Acerbis Rally Pro hand guards and the bash plate have often saved Critter from damage. The top heavy loaded Critter lays down and begs me to lift it about once a day on average. Always happens when barely moving with the front wheel turned, balancing the bike with both feet on the ground unable to use the back brake. Sometimes the ground on the left is sloping downward and further for my foot to reach before allowing too much lean. It seems to only take about 3 degrees and I can't hold it. When I touch the front brake, that's all she wrote. Critter goes down. No damage, just the work of getting it back up myself. The Continental TKC80 rear tire doesn't look like it is going to make it through Colorado and the Rockies to Moab, UT. Trying to arrange for a new rear tire before we reach Colorado. Critter has performed flawlessly, even a small wheelie with high revs and speed shifting into second. The shadows, especially interspersed with flashes of sunlight flickering on the face shield, heading west into the setting sun, on tree lined forest dirt roads play havoc with my ability to see hazards in the road. We've been very fortunate, so far, not having had to deal with mud or getoffs at speed. Plenty of rocks, dirt, sand and gravel. Sand and deep gravel are tough going. I have let some air out of the tires, but believe it is wearing the tires quicker, especially the rear, on pavement. I guesstimate we're doing about 90% offroad/unpaved. Phil warned me about the wearing highway miles I would be putting on the new knobbies before getting to the offroad TAT. Plus, there is more paved roads on the TAT than I figured. I thought the TAT would be 98% offroad. We already have over 2k miles since leaving Live Oak, FL. The Clinton Arkansas Police dispatcher saw to it we got out of the rain by getting us a free motel room. I can't say enough good things about Critter and the great preparation provided by Phil Roddenberry. It sure is paying off. John Lyon's fuse mod did what it was supposed to do, when the bright dim rocker switch was halfway in between its settings, causing both beams to be on at the same time and kicking off the circuit breaker, which reset when the ignition was turned off and back on. Thanks again to Phil and John. I'm using chain wax lube every day to fight the continual dusty conditions. Getting lost frequently is an every day thing. You must really concentrate on every waypoint on the rollchart. The mind tends to wander a bit after hours of riding day after day. Maybe a GPS would be a good thing. Sam Correro is working on completing all the coordinates for all the states. Few are set up for GPS (only 2 I think). I am glad to answer all the questions of the many people who are curious about our tour, Punky and Critter on the road. It takes up time, but it's part of what makes the tour enjoyable. Haven't had a bad experience yet, other than picking up the bike numerous times. We've got plenty of time to get to Moab June 1st. Looking forward to meeting the gang there. Gotta go. The dinner bell is ringing. Until next time. Punky & Lew