klr in dec motorcyclist

[justinpatrickbarr]

Hi, I desperately need some advice on a recent purchase of a 1987 KLR650, I feel i have purchased the less gutsy and lower output model. Really unhappy as its in such fantastic condition with only 2350 miles on the clock, immaculate condition. I am planning this bike to do a trans africa trip next year. I looked on the web and found that by the looks of fairing and looks i do have the reduced so called model outputting 27HP compared with the non reduced 48HP. seems like they gave europe the reduced version! I have two links here describing the engines and sizes and etc...and they look the same??Except for the power. Please please can someone please relieve me that this power shortage is due to a modification such as a restrictor or something else! Any help would be aprecaited as i have never worked on or know too much about these bikes. Reduced Version: My bike http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/kaw...ffect_1987.php Non reduced: http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/kaw...r_650_1987.php I await any good advice Thanks Just.

[Mike]

the truth - In the local tech days, we've seen lever/doo's broken with less than 1800 miles. We've seen springs broken at less than 800 miles. We've seen balancer systems with slack that would not adjust at less than 300 miles. I've had owners email me about engine damage caused by broken parts. IIRC, the record low number I know (with actual engine damage)is about 1400 miles. I opened up my 2008 with 327 miles on it. The spring was too limp to adjust it - the 2008 factory spring is 46mm long and change. The 2008 factory lever is loose on the eccentric idler shaft. Every 2008 owner that I know of that has upgraded the parts has reported a smoother and quieter engine. I'm reporting what I've personally seen. I'm not speculating. I'm aware there are differing opinions about this. I've personally worked on over 300 KLR650 engines at this point, so I might have a better sample than some other people out there. Disclosure: I'm the guy that makes aftermarket parts for this system. If you don't think they are needed in your bike - don't buy them. [rant on]One of the things I've seen increase during the past 20 years is the amount of b.s. that gets passed off as accurate technical information. It's rarer in the KLR650 community than some places, but it still happens.[\rant off] all the best, Mike Eagle Mfg & Eng since 1990

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Stephen Grisanti wrote: > > Yeah, I understood from my reading of the article that > it is the lack of tension that causes the chain to > whip and break the doohickey and not that breakage or > "unadjustability" of the doo that causes the slack in > the first place. Most obfuscatory and misleading, in > my opinion. > > Stephen > > --- mbetcher wrote: > > > That was just about the most useless response to a > > question I've ever > > read. Carrithers managed to avoid saying that there > > was anything > > fundmentally wrong with pre-08 doohickies (gotta > > keep the advertisers > > happy, right?) but goes on to say that if you keep > > it properly > > adjusted "along with a stout replacement doohickey > > from Eagle > > Manufacturing...there's nothing to worry about." > > What the hell is that > > supposed to mean -- that if you don't replace your > > pre-08 doo you DO > > have something to worry about? If that's the case, > > why didn't he just > > say so? Carrithers was so evasive on the subject > > that he ought to > > consider a career in politics, or at least as a > > speechwriter for one > > of the lying rats running for president. And I'm > > considering canceling > > my subscription to Motorcyclist since it is now > > pretty obvious that > > they print only factory-approved "facts." > > > > > > on any pre---- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, > > "mikeypep" > > wrote: > > > > > > Once again the KLR made the "mc garage" portion on > > the December issue > > > of Motorcyclist. A reader propererly addressed the > > doohickey issue, > > > reflecting the problem and attitudes previously > > reported in this forum. > > > Mr Tim Carrithers of Motorcyclist responds, not > > mentioning the > > > doohickey weakness itself, but instead describes > > the balance chain > > > system. Mr Carrithers professes that a poorly > > maintained system is the > > > culprit that will cause the failure but that the > > parts from Eagle Mfg > > > or Sagebrush Machine can put all worries to rest. > > The 08 gets a forged, > > > rather than cast 'hickey and should be trouble > > free, according to the > > > report. > > > There is really no definitive report on this > > subject. While Mother Kaw > > > faigns innocense statistics point elsewhere. > > Fortunately we have good > > > people out there who provide solutions. Kawasaki > > appears to have > > > addressed this issue. Hopefully between the > > aftermarket and the new > > > models we will see the end of this recurring > > complaint. > > > Ride often; ride safe. > > > > > > > > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Be a better pen pal. > Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/ >