[bulk] [dsn_klr650] electrical/battery failure

[ellefauve]

Hi all, If I have someone mechanically inclined but not real knowledgeable about motorcycles, would I be better off installing the lowering links at home? The only thing Im waiting on is the kickstand, I have the links already, so while Im waiting I thought Id pose this question. I want to learn to do at least routine maintenance on my motorcycle, and if I get this done at home I wil at least be a part of it. Comments from anybody who maybe tried this without knowing what they were getting into as well as from the veteran tinkerers are greatly appreciated. Thank you. Jess

[Jeff Saline]

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:18:40 -0000 "ellefauve" writes:

> Hi all, > If I have someone mechanically inclined but not real > knowledgeable about motorcycles, would I be better off installing > the > lowering links at home? The only thing Im waiting on is the > kickstand, I have the links already, so while Im waiting I thought > Id > pose this question. I want to learn to do at least routine > maintenance on my motorcycle, and if I get this done at home I wil > at > least be a part of it. Comments from anybody who maybe tried this > without knowing what they were getting into as well as from the > veteran tinkerers are greatly appreciated. Thank you. > Jess

<><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> Jess, Changing the links isn't really routine maintenance but if you have the correct tools it's probably only a 15 minute or so job. I'd say just about anybody that wanted to change the links could handle it. I haven't messed with the links for about a year but here's what I remember about it. Make sure you loosen the nuts on the links (dog bones) while supporting the bike. It'll take a good amount of force as I think the torque is about 72 foot pounds but I'm not sure. Some one may need to hold a wrench for you on the other side of the bike. Pay attention to which way the bolts go so you don't have an interference issue later. Once the nuts are loose put the bike on a support of some kind. I'd probably use something like a centerstand, milk crate or 5 gallon pail turned upside down with a board across the top. Remove the nuts and then kind of lift the rear wheel just a bit and slide off one link from the nut side. Then remove the other link and bolts. The wheel will then drop. Remove the other bolt and replace the links. You'll have to lift the rear wheel to get the last bolt in. Install the nuts. Put the bike on the ground and tighten the nuts to spec. Then wish you had the shortened sidestand so you're bike wasn't so upright. : ) Have fun and be careful. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[Bob Schulte]

Jeff, I just "won" a one inch lift-kit on EBay for the KLR. Yes, I am actually raising it an inch...more for expected shock / spring action then from need to ride higher. I have been told that it is an inexpensive way to enhance the rear suspension. I will let the group know when I am done. Even though at 6'4" and 300lbs. I have never bottomed out, I occasionally have detected a sickening rear wheel wobble which I think is spring related, so it will be interesting to see if this helps. Capt. Bob Durham, CT USA 2006 KLR http://seniorbiker.blogspot.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh2xmHLfg88 http;//www.essexsteamtrain.com http://yugop.com/ver3/stuff/03/fla.html

----- Original Message ----- From: Jeff Saline To: ellefauve@... Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 9:13 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] lowering link installment On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:18:40 -0000 "ellefauve" writes: > Hi all, > If I have someone mechanically inclined but not real > knowledgeable about motorcycles, would I be better off installing > the > lowering links at home? The only thing Im waiting on is the > kickstand, I have the links already, so while Im waiting I thought > Id > pose this question. I want to learn to do at least routine > maintenance on my motorcycle, and if I get this done at home I wil > at > least be a part of it. Comments from anybody who maybe tried this > without knowing what they were getting into as well as from the > veteran tinkerers are greatly appreciated. Thank you. > Jess <><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> Jess, Changing the links isn't really routine maintenance but if you have the correct tools it's probably only a 15 minute or so job. I'd say just about anybody that wanted to change the links could handle it. I haven't messed with the links for about a year but here's what I remember about it. Make sure you loosen the nuts on the links (dog bones) while supporting the bike. It'll take a good amount of force as I think the torque is about 72 foot pounds but I'm not sure. Some one may need to hold a wrench for you on the other side of the bike. Pay attention to which way the bolts go so you don't have an interference issue later. Once the nuts are loose put the bike on a support of some kind. I'd probably use something like a centerstand, milk crate or 5 gallon pail turned upside down with a board across the top. Remove the nuts and then kind of lift the rear wheel just a bit and slide off one link from the nut side. Then remove the other link and bolts. The wheel will then drop. Remove the other bolt and replace the links. You'll have to lift the rear wheel to get the last bolt in. Install the nuts. Put the bike on the ground and tighten the nuts to spec. Then wish you had the shortened sidestand so you're bike wasn't so upright. : ) Have fun and be careful. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:58:30 -0400 "Bob Schulte" writes:

> Jeff, > > I just "won" a one inch lift-kit on EBay for the KLR. > > Yes, I am actually raising it an inch...more for expected shock / > spring action then from need to ride higher. I have been told that > it is an inexpensive way to enhance the rear suspension. I will let > the group know when I am done. Even though at 6'4" and 300lbs. I > have never bottomed out, I occasionally have detected a sickening > rear wheel wobble which I think is spring related, so it will be > interesting to see if this helps. > > Capt. Bob > Durham, CT USA > 2006 KLR > http://seniorbiker.blogspot.com/ > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh2xmHLfg88

<><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><> Capt. Bob, Would you measure the distance between the holes of the raising links? Easiest way I think is just to measure from the left side of one hole to the left side of the other hole. I'm guess the distance will be about 5/8"-3/4" less than the stock links. I'm wondering how you're gonna lower the forks in the triple tree to keep the same steering geometry. : ) Thanks and good luck with the installation and riding. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[Philip Campbell]

Further to Jim's and Captain Bob's posts: Jim I ride most days, maybe 20 km. Some of it's on very rough and rocky back roads-- speedo cable already vibrated off. No problems starting. I have had the bike about a month. Hard to say what they were doing-- the shop is very rudimentary and the one guy there had almost no English. I think he tested it and concluded it was toast. Even after 30 minutes of pretty hard riding following the bump starts the battery didn't cause the faintest glow in the headlight. It really is new-- though a 2006 model. (Totally incidentally, did the group know the KLR is being discontinued in Europe?) I assume the battery was new and installed just before shipment. At least I hope so. Bob: I understand your point. I'll see if I can scare up a voltmeter. I am a bit under-equipped here. Which also means the bike is absolutely stock. I am awaiting a trip back to North America to get accessories. The bump starts were a bit, uh, sudden, you might say. I'll remember the tip about about higher gears-- though how likely I am to remember that if I can't remember to shut off my bike is a good question. Thanks to you both Phil ________________________________ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim Priest Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 1:52 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [BULK] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Electrical/Battery failure Importance: Low On 4/27/07, Philip Campbell > wrote:

> Like a bonehead I left my key on all day today and the battery was as > The bike is new-- 500 km.

You haven't had any other problems with starting, etc? How often do you ride it? How far? Did he try to charge the old battery? Jim [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]