pitcock on/off when parked ?

[artie]

Christmas came early this year - just got my first KLR650 yesterday - a 2006 model with 4300 miles. I'd never even ridden one before, but I had read a lot of good stuff about these bikes, and knew that I liked the tall dualsport/gs/multsurface bikes. Twenty four hours later, I think I got an great deal. I have to say that the ride home was a little scary. This was my first ride of any length since I tore my right rotator cuff about three years ago. Back then my shoulder hurt so bad I couldn't ride comfortably, so I sold my '94 BMW R100GS after a year of watching it sit in the garage. Now that the shoulder has healed, I was really missing the riding, but didn't have the $$ to replace it. So when a like-new KLR showed up in the paper with a good price, I went for it. I was riding home through the countryside, east of Dallas. As you might expect, yesterday was a cool, windy, winter's day. I was encountering very gusty sidewinds on open stretches of road with no trees or buildings on the sides. Once I thought it was going to blow me into the opposing lane. I had read that the KLR suffered in the wind - like other tall bikes - and what others here do to address these kinds of situations. Does changing the front fender make much of a difference? About 90+% of my riding is on-road, so if I make any modifications to this KLR, it will be to make it more street-friendly than off-road friendly. I'm already searching the archives here for tips. I welcome any thoughts on the wind issues, street tires and the 2006 KLR models in particular. Thanks, Artie

[Mike Peplinski]

Hey, welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride. I ride almost exclusively on the road. The biggest changes I've made were to trim the front fender (get rid of the long snoot), and run road oriented tires. I have the D?unlop 607 front and really like it. I had a Kenda 270 before and while it was fine, the Dunlop is so much better. REad the FAQ and enjoy.

>From: artie >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] New to KLR650 and the group >Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:29:24 -0600 > >Christmas came early this year - just got my first KLR650 yesterday - a >2006 model with 4300 miles. I'd never even ridden one before, but I had >read a lot of good stuff about these bikes, and knew that I liked the >tall dualsport/gs/multsurface bikes. Twenty four hours later, I think I >got an great deal. > >I have to say that the ride home was a little scary. This was my first >ride of any length since I tore my right rotator cuff about three years >ago. Back then my shoulder hurt so bad I couldn't ride comfortably, so I >sold my '94 BMW R100GS after a year of watching it sit in the garage. >Now that the shoulder has healed, I was really missing the riding, but >didn't have the $$ to replace it. So when a like-new KLR showed up in >the paper with a good price, I went for it. > >I was riding home through the countryside, east of Dallas. As you might >expect, yesterday was a cool, windy, winter's day. I was encountering >very gusty sidewinds on open stretches of road with no trees or >buildings on the sides. Once I thought it was going to blow me into the >opposing lane. I had read that the KLR suffered in the wind - like >other tall bikes - and what others here do to address these kinds of >situations. Does changing the front fender make much of a difference? > >About 90+% of my riding is on-road, so if I make any modifications to >this KLR, it will be to make it more street-friendly than off-road >friendly. > >I'm already searching the archives here for tips. I welcome any thoughts >on the wind issues, street tires and the 2006 KLR models in particular. > >Thanks, > >Artie > > > > > >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 >Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 >Yahoo! Groups Links > > >

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[Ronald Criswell]

I have gotten used to blowing around on mine. Airing the tires to the mid 30's seem to help mine's stability. Criswell

On Dec 6, 2006, at 5:29 PM, artie wrote: > Christmas came early this year - just got my first KLR650 yesterday > - a > 2006 model with 4300 miles. I'd never even ridden one before, but I > had > read a lot of good stuff about these bikes, and knew that I liked the > tall dualsport/gs/multsurface bikes. Twenty four hours later, I > think I > got an great deal. > > I have to say that the ride home was a little scary. This was my first > ride of any length since I tore my right rotator cuff about three > years > ago. Back then my shoulder hurt so bad I couldn't ride comfortably, > so I > sold my '94 BMW R100GS after a year of watching it sit in the garage. > Now that the shoulder has healed, I was really missing the riding, but > didn't have the $$ to replace it. So when a like-new KLR showed up in > the paper with a good price, I went for it. > > I was riding home through the countryside, east of Dallas. As you > might > expect, yesterday was a cool, windy, winter's day. I was encountering > very gusty sidewinds on open stretches of road with no trees or > buildings on the sides. Once I thought it was going to blow me into > the > opposing lane. I had read that the KLR suffered in the wind - like > other tall bikes - and what others here do to address these kinds of > situations. Does changing the front fender make much of a difference? > > About 90+% of my riding is on-road, so if I make any modifications to > this KLR, it will be to make it more street-friendly than off-road > friendly. > > I'm already searching the archives here for tips. I welcome any > thoughts > on the wind issues, street tires and the 2006 KLR models in > particular. > > Thanks, > > Artie > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Andrus Chesley]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Ronald Criswell wrote:

> > I have gotten used to blowing around on mine. Airing the tires to the > mid 30's seem to help mine's stability. > > > Criswell

I hear that Ron. Sometimes I feel so used by the wind. .. It just flops me and the bike here and there like a cat playing with a ball. But we just grin and keep on keeping on. .. '43 Andy in Cajun Country '00 KLR 650 "06 DL1000 '03 Chevy truck.

[Bogdan Swider]

> > > > I have gotten used to blowing around on mine. Airing the tires to the > mid 30's seem to help mine's stability. > > Criswell

Also when it gets real bad - it helps to stick your knee out in the direction of the wind. And yes, a smaller/lower front fender is an improvement; the stock fender is a sail. Bogdan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Mike Peplinski]

In addition to the fender I've heard some guys add stability by switching hand guards. They are pretty big and I'm sure they were not designed in a wind tunnel. The KLR is pretty sensitive to wind by nature. What with the high, upright stance, top-heavy, large tank, 21 inch wheels, the only thing missing is a sail. I like it best when I come out from behind a semi and get sucked over 2 lanes by the blast. No one said it would be boring.

>From: Ronald Criswell >To: artie >CC: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] New to KLR650 and the group >Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2006 09:52:44 -0600 > >I have gotten used to blowing around on mine. Airing the tires to the >mid 30's seem to help mine's stability. > > >Criswell >On Dec 6, 2006, at 5:29 PM, artie wrote: > > > Christmas came early this year - just got my first KLR650 yesterday > > - a > > 2006 model with 4300 miles. I'd never even ridden one before, but I > > had > > read a lot of good stuff about these bikes, and knew that I liked the > > tall dualsport/gs/multsurface bikes. Twenty four hours later, I > > think I > > got an great deal. > > > > I have to say that the ride home was a little scary. This was my first > > ride of any length since I tore my right rotator cuff about three > > years > > ago. Back then my shoulder hurt so bad I couldn't ride comfortably, > > so I > > sold my '94 BMW R100GS after a year of watching it sit in the garage. > > Now that the shoulder has healed, I was really missing the riding, but > > didn't have the $$ to replace it. So when a like-new KLR showed up in > > the paper with a good price, I went for it. > > > > I was riding home through the countryside, east of Dallas. As you > > might > > expect, yesterday was a cool, windy, winter's day. I was encountering > > very gusty sidewinds on open stretches of road with no trees or > > buildings on the sides. Once I thought it was going to blow me into > > the > > opposing lane. I had read that the KLR suffered in the wind - like > > other tall bikes - and what others here do to address these kinds of > > situations. Does changing the front fender make much of a difference? > > > > About 90+% of my riding is on-road, so if I make any modifications to > > this KLR, it will be to make it more street-friendly than off-road > > friendly. > > > > I'm already searching the archives here for tips. I welcome any > > thoughts > > on the wind issues, street tires and the 2006 KLR models in > > particular. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Artie > > > > > > > > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > >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 >Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 >Yahoo! Groups Links > > >

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[Ronald Criswell]

Yep but all bikes get blown around. My 600 lb. Concourse with all that plastic gets blown around a lot also. A friend on a ST 100 got blown completely off the road and into a parked Backhow out in the Big Bend Country. The wide handlebars kinda add to a KLR's wandering in wind I think. Criswell

On Dec 7, 2006, at 10:09 AM, Bogdan Swider wrote: > >> >> >> >> I have gotten used to blowing around on mine. Airing the tires to the >> mid 30's seem to help mine's stability. >> >> Criswell > > Also when it gets real bad - it helps to stick your knee out in > the direction of the wind. And yes, a smaller/lower front fender is > an improvement; the stock fender is a sail. > > Bogdan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Randall Marbach]

The most stable bike I ever owned for resistance to wind was an old ElectraGlide. Long and low, nothing seemed to bother it. The worst bike I owned in the wind was a 82 R100RT with big fairing and windshield and soft factory front springs. That thing was down right scary... This weekend on the ride home from the Arghhhh Polar Ride north of Ojai, I was kinda disappointed in how the KLR was handling with a full camping load. It seemed to be bobbing more than I recall and I was having trouble pulling a headwind in the Fillmore area. When I started getting pelted with gravel sized rocks, I started getting suspicious. It wasn't until I got home and saw the news, that I realized I was riding in gale (70 mph) force, near record winds for the area... suddenly, instead of being disappointed, I was kindof impressed with what that silly little KLR could do.... HTH Randy from Burbank ----- Original Message ---- From: Ronald Criswell To: Bogdan Swider Cc: artie ; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2006 12:22:23 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] New to KLR650 and the group Yep but all bikes get blown around. My 600 lb. Concourse with all that plastic gets blown around a lot also. A friend on a ST 100 got blown completely off the road and into a parked Backhow out in the Big Bend Country. The wide handlebars kinda add to a KLR's wandering in wind I think. Criswell

On Dec 7, 2006, at 10:09 AM, Bogdan Swider wrote: > >> >> >> >> I have gotten used to blowing around on mine. Airing the tires to the >> mid 30's seem to help mine's stability. >> >> Criswell > > Also when it gets real bad - it helps to stick your knee out in > the direction of the wind. And yes, a smaller/lower front fender is > an improvement; the stock fender is a sail. > > Bogdan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 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 Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 Yahoo! Groups Links ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Randall Marbach wrote:

> This weekend on the ride home from the Arghhhh Polar > Ride north of Ojai, I was kinda disappointed in how the KLR was > handling with a full camping load. It seemed to be bobbing more than I > recall and I was having trouble pulling a headwind in the Fillmore > area. When I started getting pelted with gravel sized rocks, I started > getting suspicious. > > It wasn't until I got home and saw the news, > that I realized I was riding in gale (70 mph) force, near record winds > for the area... suddenly, instead of being disappointed, I was kindof > impressed with what that silly little KLR could do....

Indeed. I am quite puzzled with all the talk about how "unstable" the KLR is in a high wind. If your KLR is unstable, it's not set up right. My KLR bobs left and right when the wind hits it from the left or right, but tracks straight as an arrow while bobbing. Some people, I think, just need to learn how to trust their bike, they try to fight their bike and that, not the wind, is what moves them around on the highway. Let a properly-set-up KLR bob without fighting it, and it'll track straight as an error without moving one inch left or right. A KLR with properly-set sag and head bearings and with good tires is an extremely stable and comfortable long distance tourer, to the point where I sold my Concours because, frankly, my KLR simply is more comfortable and just as stable now that I have it set up right. _E

> ----- Original Message ---- > From: Ronald Criswell >> Yep but all bikes get blown around. My 600 lb. Concourse with all > that plastic gets blown around a lot also. A friend on a ST 100 got > > On Dec 7, 2006, at 10:09 AM, Bogdan Swider wrote: > >> I have gotten used to blowing around on mine. Airing the tires to the > >> mid 30's seem to help mine's stability. > > > Also when it gets real bad - it helps to stick your knee out in > > the direction of the wind. And yes, a smaller/lower front fender is > > an improvement; the stock fender is a sail. >

[Don S]

I completely agree with you Eric. I'm at a loss as well when I hear complaints about instability in the wind as well as complaints about vibrations. Maybe I'm not looking for those issues. On the other hand, if they were as noticeable as many listers claim, I think I'd recognize them. I can ride my KLR all day. Other than a bit of numb butt after a couple of hours, it's a fine and fun ride. Don "E.L. Green" wrote:

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Randall Marbach wrote: > This weekend on the ride home from the Arghhhh Polar > Ride north of Ojai, I was kinda disappointed in how the KLR was > handling with a full camping load. It seemed to be bobbing more than I > recall and I was having trouble pulling a headwind in the Fillmore > area. When I started getting pelted with gravel sized rocks, I started > getting suspicious. > > It wasn't until I got home and saw the news, > that I realized I was riding in gale (70 mph) force, near record winds > for the area... suddenly, instead of being disappointed, I was kindof > impressed with what that silly little KLR could do.... Indeed. I am quite puzzled with all the talk about how "unstable" the KLR is in a high wind. If your KLR is unstable, it's not set up right. My KLR bobs left and right when the wind hits it from the left or right, but tracks straight as an arrow while bobbing. Some people, I think, just need to learn how to trust their bike, they try to fight their bike and that, not the wind, is what moves them around on the highway. Let a properly-set-up KLR bob without fighting it, and it'll track straight as an error without moving one inch left or right. A KLR with properly-set sag and head bearings and with good tires is an extremely stable and comfortable long distance tourer, to the point where I sold my Concours because, frankly, my KLR simply is more comfortable and just as stable now that I have it set up right. _E > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Ronald Criswell >> Yep but all bikes get blown around. My 600 lb. Concourse with all > that plastic gets blown around a lot also. A friend on a ST 100 got > > On Dec 7, 2006, at 10:09 AM, Bogdan Swider wrote: > >> I have gotten used to blowing around on mine. Airing the tires to the > >> mid 30's seem to help mine's stability. > > > Also when it gets real bad - it helps to stick your knee out in > > the direction of the wind. And yes, a smaller/lower front fender is > > an improvement; the stock fender is a sail. > --------------------------------- Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]