front forks just different oil or do i need progressive springs

[Dennis R. Eastman]

Hi all. I had a "Butt Puckering" experience on the ride home from work last week. I don't normally ride interstate so my speeds are generally below 65 mph. They opened up a new section of interstate betweeen work and my house so I decided to try it out. I got up between 70 and 72 and was cruising along just fine until I got hit by a side gust of wind. That started my front end ociliating side to side to the point where I was preparing to be sliding down the pavement. Slowing didn't seem to help and might have made it worse and I knew I had to do something quick or I was going to lose it. I seemed to remember someone talking about removing one hand from the handlebars with a similar problem. I let go for a second with one hand and presto, the bike straightend out. I got back up to speed and could feel could feel it starting again when hit by another gust of wind and used the same trick with the same results. I also found that by tucking my elbows in close to my body that it prevented it from happening. What's going on here. Is there a way to fix this problem? Is this something that a fork brace would fix. I know that there are some of you that right a lot faster than I do so what gives. Thanks for your help. ~Dennis~ A15, Concord, NC

[Judson D. Jones]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Dennis R. Eastman" wrote:

> Hi all. I had a "Butt Puckering" experience on the ride home

from work

> last week. I don't normally ride interstate so my speeds are

generally

> below 65 mph. They opened up a new section of interstate

betweeen work

> and my house so I decided to try it out. I got up between 70 and

72

> and was cruising along just fine until I got hit by a side gust of > wind. That started my front end ociliating side to side to the

point

> where I was preparing to be sliding down the pavement.

Slowing didn't

> seem to help and might have made it worse and I knew I had

to do

> something quick or I was going to lose it. I seemed to

remember

> someone talking about removing one hand from the

handlebars with a

> similar problem. I let go for a second with one hand and

presto, the

> bike straightend out. I got back up to speed and could feel

could feel

> it starting again when hit by another gust of wind and used the

same

> trick with the same results. I also found that by tucking my

elbows in

> close to my body that it prevented it from happening. > > What's going on here. Is there a way to fix this problem? Is this > something that a fork brace would fix. I know that there are

some of

> you that right a lot faster than I do so what gives. > > Thanks for your help. > > ~Dennis~ > A15, Concord, NC

Some people beat this problem by torquing the fork pinch bolts and axle nut, setting up the steering stem right, , or raising tire pressures. For me, the SRC fork brace took care of it. Or, avoid earplugs and run a 14t front sprocket to keep your cruising speeds out of the troublesome range.

[Dennis R. Eastman]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Judson D. Jones" wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Dennis R. Eastman" > wrote: > > Hi all. I had a "Butt Puckering" experience on the ride home > from work > > last week. I don't normally ride interstate so my speeds are > generally > > below 65 mph. They opened up a new section of interstate > betweeen work > > and my house so I decided to try it out. I got up between 70 and > 72 > > and was cruising along just fine until I got hit by a side gust of > > wind. That started my front end ociliating side to side to the > point > > where I was preparing to be sliding down the pavement. > Slowing didn't > > seem to help and might have made it worse and I knew I had > to do > > something quick or I was going to lose it. I seemed to > remember > > someone talking about removing one hand from the > handlebars with a > > similar problem. I let go for a second with one hand and > presto, the > > bike straightend out. I got back up to speed and could feel > could feel > > it starting again when hit by another gust of wind and used the > same > > trick with the same results. I also found that by tucking my > elbows in > > close to my body that it prevented it from happening. > > > > What's going on here. Is there a way to fix this problem? Is this > > something that a fork brace would fix. I know that there are > some of > > you that right a lot faster than I do so what gives. > > > > Thanks for your help. > > > > ~Dennis~ > > A15, Concord, NC > > Some people beat this problem by torquing the fork pinch bolts > and axle nut, setting up the steering stem right, , or raising tire > pressures. For me, the SRC fork brace took care of it. > > Or, avoid earplugs and run a 14t front sprocket to keep your > cruising speeds out of the troublesome range.

Already running the 14t front sprocket.. But thanks. ~Dennis~

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 2003-09-11 5:23:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time, deastman@... writes:

> > What's going on here. Is there a way to fix this problem? Is this > something that a fork brace would fix. I know that there are some of > you that right a lot faster than I do so what gives. > > Thanks for your help. > > ~Dennis~ > A15, Concord, NC > >

Dennis, Part of it may just be getting use to how a strong side wind can catch a KLR. I've owned many bikes and the first time I got caught in a nasty cross wind has been an exciting experience with each one. If you want to try something really exciting cross the Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River some afternoon. Its got a steel grate road bad, sits a good 100 yards above the river and come afternoon there is a steady 30-40 mph up canyon wind. Adding PS springs, Race Tech valves and fork brace will help. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[austin2jm]

I'm a little confused on the options to improve the front forks. First, my riding style is relatively tame -80%pavement and when on dirt I try to keep both wheels on the ground. I want to stop the front end "dive" when braking and don't know if I have to go to the extent of new progressive springs or if I can improve things with new fork oil. Really open to suggestions and hope to be able to not have to change out the springs ....but, if that is what it takes. Thanks in advance for any suggstions. John in Eagle Point OR USA klr650john@...