2003 klr 650 ride questions

[darkwing327@shaw.ca]

Hello Group, I need some help with a couple of front suspension problems/questions. My bike is a 2002 A16 KLR 650 with 2500 miles to which I have installed the LR progressive front springs. I cut the spacers to 2" and installed the springs with the tighter wind to the top. I am 235 pounds and the springs work great, I don't bottom out anymore, however I have a noise in the forks which sounds to me like the inner tube and outer tube are hitting each other in a front to back motion. I hope that makes sense. Is there bushings inside the fork tubes, and if so, could they be worn out so quickly? I am not a very aggressive rider. Is there something we did wrong in putting the springs in or did I cut the spacer too short? The noise is more noticeable on the flats at 20 mph or so over small dips or washboard when the front suspension is not being worked very hard. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Darren [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Fred Hink]

Did you cut your spacers square? If the ends are not squared off and straight to the rest of the spacer, it could cause the spring to push sideways in the fork tubes and this may be what you are hearing. Also be sure of the positions of your washers in the forks. I doubt that the fork bushings could be worn out in 2500 miles. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/cmc.html

----- Original Message ----- From: To: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 3:16 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Front suspension help needed > Hello Group, > > I need some help with a couple of front suspension problems/questions. > > My bike is a 2002 A16 KLR 650 with 2500 miles to which I have installed the LR progressive front springs. I cut the spacers to 2" and installed the springs with the tighter wind to the top. I am 235 pounds and the springs work great, I don't bottom out anymore, however I have a noise in the forks which sounds to me like the inner tube and outer tube are hitting each other in a front to back motion. I hope that makes sense. > > Is there bushings inside the fork tubes, and if so, could they be worn out so quickly? I am not a very aggressive rider. > > Is there something we did wrong in putting the springs in or did I cut the spacer too short? > > The noise is more noticeable on the flats at 20 mph or so over small dips or washboard when the front suspension is not being worked very hard. > > Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Darren > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

[david gay]

Also, loose some weight. Later, Dave A12 Fred Hink wrote:Did you cut your spacers square? If the ends are not squared off and straight to the rest of the spacer, it could cause the spring to push sideways in the fork tubes and this may be what you are hearing. Also be sure of the positions of your washers in the forks. I doubt that the fork bushings could be worn out in 2500 miles. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/cmc.html

----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 3:16 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Front suspension help needed > Hello Group, > > I need some help with a couple of front suspension problems/questions. > > My bike is a 2002 A16 KLR 650 with 2500 miles to which I have installed the LR progressive front springs. I cut the spacers to 2" and installed the springs with the tighter wind to the top. I am 235 pounds and the springs work great, I don't bottom out anymore, however I have a noise in the forks which sounds to me like the inner tube and outer tube are hitting each other in a front to back motion. I hope that makes sense. > > Is there bushings inside the fork tubes, and if so, could they be worn out so quickly? I am not a very aggressive rider. > > Is there something we did wrong in putting the springs in or did I cut the spacer too short? > > The noise is more noticeable on the flats at 20 mph or so over small dips or washboard when the front suspension is not being worked very hard. > > Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Darren > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[dooden]

Try this first... Loosen handlebars and move them forward on dash (like area) loosen steering jam nut, tighten the slotted ring with a hammer and brass punch, retighten jam nut, reinstall handlebars, might try pushing them forward a bit or pulling them back to change the way they feel. Oh tighten handlebars too.. I was getting a clunking sound mostly on bumps that made the front end drop fast, like over speed bumps and curbs soon as the tire dropped it would clunk. Dooden

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, darkwing327@s... wrote: > Hello Group, > > I need some help with a couple of front suspension problems/questions. > > My bike is a 2002 A16 KLR 650 with 2500 miles to which I have installed the LR progressive front springs. I cut the spacers to 2" and installed the springs with the tighter wind to the top. I am 235 pounds and the springs work great, I don't bottom out anymore, however I have a noise in the forks which sounds to me like the inner tube and outer tube are hitting each other in a front to back motion. I hope that makes sense. > > Is there bushings inside the fork tubes, and if so, could they be worn out so quickly? I am not a very aggressive rider. > > Is there something we did wrong in putting the springs in or did I cut the spacer too short? > > The noise is more noticeable on the flats at 20 mph or so over small dips or washboard when the front suspension is not being worked very hard. > > Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Darren > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[darkwing327@shaw.ca]

Hi Fred, I used a cutoff wheel with a 90 degree vise setup, so I am sure the spacers are square. I did not do the re and re, so I am not sure what you mean about the washers, however I will dissasemble and check if you coul tell me what to look for. I don't think this noise has anything to do with the progressive springs because now that I think about it I started hearing this noise a bit last year when I still had the stock springs in, but I thought it was just something loose in the dash area. By the way Fred, I received the rear spring and doohickey I ordered from you. Haven't done the doohickey yet, but the rear spring makes it a whole nother bike. Thanks. Darren

----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred Hink" To: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com>; Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 5:11 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Front suspension help needed > Did you cut your spacers square? If the ends are not squared off and > straight to the rest of the spacer, it could cause the spring to push > sideways in the fork tubes and this may be what you are hearing. Also be > sure of the positions of your washers in the forks. > > I doubt that the fork bushings could be worn out in 2500 miles. > > Fred > http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/cmc.html > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 3:16 PM > Subject: [DSN_klr650] Front suspension help needed > > > > Hello Group, > > > > I need some help with a couple of front suspension problems/questions. > > > > My bike is a 2002 A16 KLR 650 with 2500 miles to which I have installed > the LR progressive front springs. I cut the spacers to 2" and installed the > springs with the tighter wind to the top. I am 235 pounds and the springs > work great, I don't bottom out anymore, however I have a noise in the forks > which sounds to me like the inner tube and outer tube are hitting each other > in a front to back motion. I hope that makes sense. > > > > Is there bushings inside the fork tubes, and if so, could they be worn out > so quickly? I am not a very aggressive rider. > > > > Is there something we did wrong in putting the springs in or did I cut the > spacer too short? > > > > The noise is more noticeable on the flats at 20 mph or so over small dips > or washboard when the front suspension is not being worked very hard. > > > > Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Darren > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > > >

[cosrings]

Just purchased a 2003 KLR 650. Is it capable of two up riding when the combined weight of the people is 350 lbs? How fast will it cruise comfortly on the highway? How often should I lube the chain? I nearly have 500 miles on this bike and really love it. If well taken care, of how many miles can I expect this bike to go before I need a new one? Thanks.