bear, wd-40

[jkhoei]

Hi All, Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my stock (I think) bars ... So, I tried to hack it by getting creative but it looked too darn narley and I just couldn't deal ... Please help with advice. Oh, and while on the subject, are the handguards supposed to cover the levers? or will they come up above them? Will that still protect them from breaking (again?) or are they just for show, or some hypothetical tree barks? Last but not least, I had to hacksaw off the little balls from my levers, now they feel totally wierd. Especially since I don't have the gaurds on. Can I slap a new set of levers on with the balls intact, fit the MSR's, have them be protected, and look decent doing it all? Whaddayasay? Thanks in advance, Joe (A-14 mmgoo)

[Eric L. Green]

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, jkhoei wrote:

> Hi All, > Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit > them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my > stock (I think) bars ...

That is correct. That end shaft thingy, as you put it, is intended for use inside aluminum bars, whereas you have steel bars. There is a hack that can be done, however: 1. Go to auto parts store. Get about 4 inches of fuel line that's about the same diameter as the inside of your bars. 2. Go to hardware store with the bolt from the end thingy. Get a nut that'll fit it, and a washer that's just barely smaller than the inside of your bars. 3. Put bolt through handgrip end. Put enough fuel line over bolt so that a bit of the thread shows at the end. Add washer and nut. Tighten the nut slightly until there's a little bit of pressure. 4. Insert into end of handlebar. Crank down on the bolt. The nut will pull the washer towards the bolt head, which in turn will compress the fuel line, which in turn will swell and jam in the bar-end. This is how MSR/Moose/etc. handle steel bars, they actually include the fuel line pieces and nuts and washers all pre-selected. Alternately, there is one vendor that has the correct pieces to fit steel bars rather than rely on this hack. Anybody?

> Oh, and while on the subject, are the handguards supposed to cover the > levers? or will they come up above them? Will that still protect them > from breaking (again?) or are they just for show, or some hypothetical > tree barks?

The problem with the stock KLR bars is that their bend is not compatible with most handguards out there. The handguard ends up being low at the steering head end and high at the bar tip, crossing the controls (which are horizontal) at some point inbetween. I suppose it is possible to creatively twist a handguard so that it is the correct height to protect the controls at all points, but those things are *tough*, and hard to twist.

> Last but not least, I had to hacksaw off the little balls from my > levers, now they feel totally wierd. Especially since I don't have the > gaurds on. Can I slap a new set of levers on with the balls intact, > fit the MSR's, have them be protected, and look decent doing it all? > Whaddayasay?

Maybe. If you slide the right brake inwards, it might *just* give enough clearance to have the ball end on your brake lever. I agree that the levers feel weird without the balls, but you get used to it. One of the things I have thought about doing, if I can find my #$%@ Dremmel tool, is to simply re-shape the ball rather than cut it off entirely. Most of the ball contributes absolutely nothing to the functionality of the lever. -E

[Eric L. Green]

On Mon, 18 Jul 2005, Eric L. Green wrote:

> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, jkhoei wrote: >> Hi All, >> Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit >> them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my >> stock (I think) bars ... > > That is correct. That end shaft thingy, as you put it, is intended for use > inside aluminum bars, whereas you have steel bars. > > There is a hack that can be done, however:

...

> Alternately, there is one vendor that has the correct pieces to fit steel > bars rather than rely on this hack. Anybody?

Hmm, http://rockymountainatv.com/Product_Details.atv?pid=00102862 might work. This looks like a sorta elegant version of the hack I mention, where you don't have to go cutting hoses and stuff. But it won't work any better than the hack, it's just a more elegant version of it. _E

[jkhoei]

Awesome! I know exactly what you mean about the rubber hose thing. I think I had some Bar-end mirrors that used that setup. I still have those mirrors somewhere. I may save myself a trip to the hardware store if I can find them. About bending the guards, I guess that will be the only way to make it happen. Except that I don't have a vice in the garage. I guess I'll have to run down to my dad's bodyshop and use theirs. Thanks. And ... somehow I missed the whole bear thing. Glad you weren't on the bike when it happened. Or were you? Joe --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, jkhoei wrote: > > Hi All, > > Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit > > them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my > > stock (I think) bars ... > > That is correct. That end shaft thingy, as you put it, is intended

for use

> inside aluminum bars, whereas you have steel bars. > > There is a hack that can be done, however: > > 1. Go to auto parts store. Get about 4 inches of fuel line that's about > the same diameter as the inside of your bars. > > 2. Go to hardware store with the bolt from the end thingy. Get a nut > that'll fit it, and a washer that's just barely smaller than the

inside of

> your bars. > > 3. Put bolt through handgrip end. Put enough fuel line over bolt so

that a

> bit of the thread shows at the end. Add washer and nut. Tighten the nut > slightly until there's a little bit of pressure. > > 4. Insert into end of handlebar. Crank down on the bolt. The nut

will pull

> the washer towards the bolt head, which in turn will compress the fuel > line, which in turn will swell and jam in the bar-end. > > This is how MSR/Moose/etc. handle steel bars, they actually include the > fuel line pieces and nuts and washers all pre-selected. > > Alternately, there is one vendor that has the correct pieces to fit

steel

> bars rather than rely on this hack. Anybody? > > > Oh, and while on the subject, are the handguards supposed to cover the > > levers? or will they come up above them? Will that still protect them > > from breaking (again?) or are they just for show, or some hypothetical > > tree barks? > > The problem with the stock KLR bars is that their bend is not

compatible

> with most handguards out there. The handguard ends up being low at the > steering head end and high at the bar tip, crossing the controls (which > are horizontal) at some point inbetween. I suppose it is possible to > creatively twist a handguard so that it is the correct height to

protect

> the controls at all points, but those things are *tough*, and hard to > twist. > > > Last but not least, I had to hacksaw off the little balls from my > > levers, now they feel totally wierd. Especially since I don't have the > > gaurds on. Can I slap a new set of levers on with the balls intact, > > fit the MSR's, have them be protected, and look decent doing it all? > > Whaddayasay? > > Maybe. If you slide the right brake inwards, it might *just* give

enough

> clearance to have the ball end on your brake lever. I agree that the > levers feel weird without the balls, but you get used to it. One of the > things I have thought about doing, if I can find my #$%@ Dremmel

tool, is

> to simply re-shape the ball rather than cut it off entirely. Most of

the

> ball contributes absolutely nothing to the functionality of the lever. > > -E

[Eric L. Green]

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, jkhoei wrote:

> happen. Except that I don't have a vice in the garage. I guess I'll > have to run down to my dad's bodyshop and use theirs. Thanks.

I have a vise in my garage. Those #$%@ things are *tough*! As far as dropping the bike and breaking levers, apparently the little bit of bending I did to my handguards was good enough. The bear shoved my bike over onto its right side, but my brake lever is fine. (Of course, with all those paniers on the bike, it may not be a fair test, but then, what better test can you have than a bear stomping on your bike?!).

> > And ... somehow I missed the whole bear thing. Glad you weren't on the > bike when it happened. Or were you?

No, I was miles away, happily re-reading Neil Stephenson's _Snow Crash_ while sitting on a log by a fire ring by a rushing stream. The only disturbance I had was the trout fisherman whose wet dog kept trotting through camp, a chocolate Laborador Retriever in chocolate Lab heaven splashing in the stream and scaring the fish away from his master's hook. If the bear had come to bother me, he would have been out of luck, because all of my food and everything else odiferous (toothpaste, insect repellant, etc.) was in a bear canister on the other side of the log. In reality bears have learned that if there's a bear canister in camp, to not even bother, go elsewhere. I just wish there was some way to tell the bear that about Givi cases, especially now that he's gotten a reward for ripping one open . That's one area where I can never leave my KLR again, sigh... _E

> --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" > wrote: >> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, jkhoei wrote: >>> Hi All, >>> Got a set of used MSR Aluminium handguards (thanks Gary). Tried to fit >>> them to my A-14 and the end shaft thingy is way too narrow for my >>> stock (I think) bars ... >> >> That is correct. That end shaft thingy, as you put it, is intended > for use >> inside aluminum bars, whereas you have steel bars. >> >> There is a hack that can be done, however: >> >> 1. Go to auto parts store. Get about 4 inches of fuel line that's about >> the same diameter as the inside of your bars. >> >> 2. Go to hardware store with the bolt from the end thingy. Get a nut >> that'll fit it, and a washer that's just barely smaller than the > inside of >> your bars. >> >> 3. Put bolt through handgrip end. Put enough fuel line over bolt so > that a >> bit of the thread shows at the end. Add washer and nut. Tighten the nut >> slightly until there's a little bit of pressure. >> >> 4. Insert into end of handlebar. Crank down on the bolt. The nut > will pull >> the washer towards the bolt head, which in turn will compress the fuel >> line, which in turn will swell and jam in the bar-end. >> >> This is how MSR/Moose/etc. handle steel bars, they actually include the >> fuel line pieces and nuts and washers all pre-selected. >> >> Alternately, there is one vendor that has the correct pieces to fit > steel >> bars rather than rely on this hack. Anybody? >> >>> Oh, and while on the subject, are the handguards supposed to cover the >>> levers? or will they come up above them? Will that still protect them >>> from breaking (again?) or are they just for show, or some hypothetical >>> tree barks? >> >> The problem with the stock KLR bars is that their bend is not > compatible >> with most handguards out there. The handguard ends up being low at the >> steering head end and high at the bar tip, crossing the controls (which >> are horizontal) at some point inbetween. I suppose it is possible to >> creatively twist a handguard so that it is the correct height to > protect >> the controls at all points, but those things are *tough*, and hard to >> twist. >> >>> Last but not least, I had to hacksaw off the little balls from my >>> levers, now they feel totally wierd. Especially since I don't have the >>> gaurds on. Can I slap a new set of levers on with the balls intact, >>> fit the MSR's, have them be protected, and look decent doing it all? >>> Whaddayasay? >> >> Maybe. If you slide the right brake inwards, it might *just* give > enough >> clearance to have the ball end on your brake lever. I agree that the >> levers feel weird without the balls, but you get used to it. One of the >> things I have thought about doing, if I can find my #$%@ Dremmel > tool, is >> to simply re-shape the ball rather than cut it off entirely. Most of > the >> ball contributes absolutely nothing to the functionality of the lever. >> >> -E > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

[Paul Jordan]

Hey Hey Yogi I think I see a picnic basket, WOW , great pics wife loves the cat. rafter wrote: Eric L. Green wrote:

>For those curious about the damage, I found a photo service called >'flickr' that seems decent, and uploaded a slideshow there. Try > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/29775813%40N00/sets/612132/ >and see what a bear does to Givi bags when it's lusting for WD-40 . > >-E > >

Eric, great photos, too bad about the poor cat, though.... Randy Jackson Spicewood, TX Newbie w/a recently purchased '02 KLR650. and now a '86 KLR600... Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]