misaligned forks

[joenowlin]

I am interested in replacing my original sprocket with a 16 tooth sprocket . Can anyone tell me about the change in rpm , Gas milage etc.? I would like to find out where to find a sprocket . The kawasaki dealer I talked to didn't give me much hel[p .Thanks Joe 2003 klr 650

[David Critchley]

Your gas mileage will go to about 16/15 of what you had and your engine revs will drop to about 15/16 ths of original numbers. I I have put on about 30,000 km with the 16 tooth, and I've had no problems. Some people claim that the power loss from the top end makes you work the engine even more, but I have not noticed this at all. I don't claim to be racing Hayabusas' either. DC joenowlin wrote:

>I am interested in replacing my original sprocket with a 16 tooth >sprocket . Can anyone tell me about the change in rpm , Gas mileage >etc.? I would like to find out where to find a sprocket . The >kawasaki dealer I talked to didn't give me much help .Thanks >Joe 2003 klr 650 > > > >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 . > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >

[Eric L. Green]

On Tue, 4 May 2004, David Critchley wrote:

> Your gas mileage will go to about 16/15 of what you had and your > engine revs will drop to about 15/16 ths of original numbers. I I have

Note that it takes the same amount of energy to shove your bike at 70+mph no matter what rpm the engine is going, and this is the main predicator of gas mileage at high speeds. Running the engine at a lower rpm may increase the efficiency of the engine slightly, but the main energy usage at those speeds is simply shoving your tall bike thru the air. I've never heard of anybody who got the 5mpg gain in gas mileage that you're claiming from the sprocket change. Well, not folks who are going fast enough to need it, anyhow .

> put on about 30,000 km with the 16 tooth, and I've had no problems. Some > people claim that the power loss from the top end makes you work the > engine even more, but I have not noticed this at all. I don't claim to > be racing Hayabusas' either.

The question is not one of "working the engine more", the question is one of simple physics. While an engine running at a lower rpm is slightly more efficient than one running at a higher rpm, it takes the same amount of energy to push your bike thru the air no matter what speed the engine is running. The difference in engine efficiency between 4600rpm and 5000rpm is probably not that significant, though the reduce in engine vibration (and increased comfort) may make the sprocket change worthwhile for you. -E

[Guest]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "joenowlin" wrote:

> I am interested in replacing my original sprocket with a 16 tooth > sprocket . Can anyone tell me about the change in rpm , Gas milage > etc.? I would like to find out where to find a sprocket . The > kawasaki dealer I talked to didn't give me much hel[p .Thanks > Joe 2003 klr 650

I've had my 16t sprocket on for about 2 months. I love it. I have no idea how it has affected my gas mileage. My KLR is basically street driven. Revs are cut about 450 RPM at 100kmh. You have to work the lower gears a bit more but 4th and 5th are AWESOME!! Up to 90 kmh and sometimes even 100 kmh I am in 4th gear. 5th is almost an overdrive gear for me now. Pay a few bucks more and get a good sprocket. I think mine is made by PBI. Cheap ones could be out of balance and affect vibration. Also be ready to fight that sprocket nut for first time removal. It's best to have a helper holding the rear brake. You'll probably need a breaker bar. The washer can be used again, no problem. Jake makes a nut that you just tighten and you don't have to worry about torque. However, if you intend on leaving the sprocket on permanently, just flatten the existing washer and use a NEW part of it to bend over the nut to lock it in place. Good luck!!! Martin in Canada A16/2002

[aboyandhisdawg]

IOW, TANSTAAFL! for the acronym-impaired: In other words, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch! fixer KLR A1 #1187 Lost Wages, NV --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> Running the engine at a lower rpm may increase > the efficiency of the engine slightly, but the main energy usage at those > speeds is simply shoving your tall bike thru the air. I've never heard of > anybody who got the 5mpg gain in gas mileage that you're claiming from

the

> sprocket change. Well, not folks who are going fast enough to need it, > anyhow . > > The question is not one of "working the engine more", the question is one > of simple physics. While an engine running at a lower rpm is slightly more > efficient than one running at a higher rpm, it takes the same amount of > energy to push your bike thru the air no matter what speed the engine is > running. The difference in engine efficiency between 4600rpm and

5000rpm

> is probably not that significant, though the reduce in engine vibration > (and increased comfort) may make the sprocket change worthwhile for you. > > -E

[klr6501995]

I've ridden enough from Jax Fl to Anderson S.C to know that I get different gas milage from three different sprockets 14,15,16. --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> On Tue, 4 May 2004, David Critchley wrote: > > Your gas mileage will go to about 16/15 of what you had and

your

> > engine revs will drop to about 15/16 ths of original numbers. I

I have

> > Note that it takes the same amount of energy to shove your bike at

70+mph

> no matter what rpm the engine is going, and this is the main

predicator of

> gas mileage at high speeds. Running the engine at a lower rpm may

increase

> the efficiency of the engine slightly, but the main energy usage at

those

> speeds is simply shoving your tall bike thru the air. I've never

heard of

> anybody who got the 5mpg gain in gas mileage that you're claiming

from the

> sprocket change. Well, not folks who are going fast enough to need

it,

> anyhow . > > > put on about 30,000 km with the 16 tooth, and I've had no

problems. Some

> > people claim that the power loss from the top end makes you work

the

> > engine even more, but I have not noticed this at all. I don't

claim to

> > be racing Hayabusas' either. > > The question is not one of "working the engine more", the question

is one

> of simple physics. While an engine running at a lower rpm is

slightly more

> efficient than one running at a higher rpm, it takes the same

amount of

> energy to push your bike thru the air no matter what speed the

engine is

> running. The difference in engine efficiency between 4600rpm and

5000rpm

> is probably not that significant, though the reduce in engine

vibration

> (and increased comfort) may make the sprocket change worthwhile for

you.

> > -E

[J. Christopher Krok]

>> One of the KLR650 FAQ sites lists the 16 tooth (front) sprocket as a >> no-no due to stress on the engine and drivetrain.

Obviously an inferior FAQ, since the "real" FAQ makes no such complaint, as miles and miles of experience from numerous riders have attested. Kinda like the WD-40 chain lube argument. Krokko

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "J. Christopher Krok" wrote:

> > > >> One of the KLR650 FAQ sites lists the 16 tooth (front) sprocket as a > >> no-no due to stress on the engine and drivetrain. > > Obviously an inferior FAQ, since the "real" FAQ makes no such complaint, > as miles and miles of experience from numerous riders have attested. > Kinda like the WD-40 chain lube argument. >

Hey, then lets just call a spade a spade. I bet the original poster was referring to MSM, the source of all kinds of apocryphal lore about the KLR.

[Bill Watson]

>>>Hey, then lets just call a spade a spade. I bet the original poster was referring to MSM, the source of all kinds of apocryphal lore about the KLR.

Bingo! Agreed. Bill --------------------------------- Get your email and more, right on the new Yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Don S]

I have an '06 with the same misaligned instrument cluster. I fixed mine by not looking at it. Now it's just fine. Don Spike55 wrote: My instrument cluster seems out of center too. Also the left hand grip seems further away than the right. Just the opposite of what I need since my right arm is longer from a broken collar bone in 1991. Don R100, A6F --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Bordasch" wrote:

> > A few months ago I bought a new KLR650 (first bike I've owned since > 1965). I now have about 2000 miles on it. After about 500 miles I > noticed that the front forks seemed to be out of alignment a little. > When traveling straight down he road, you can see a misalignment of > the instruments with the windshield, but only by a degree or so. But > this is enough to be annoying (like a slightly misaligned picture on

a

> wall). The dealer tried to straighten it by forcing the handlebars > with the front wheel fixed agains a wall. Didn't work. I think it > was this way when I bought it, but not sure. Doesn't seem to cause > any problems, but just annoying. Do I have any reason for concern? > Is there an easy way to straighten them? Thanks. >

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