rear shocks

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. We have a durable bike. Criswell

[Shane]

As a Mechanic by trade I am constantly AMAZED at the people who take off long distance on machines of all sorts, with NO mechanical abilities. I have met/worked for people on KLR's, BMW's, Honda...who can do little more than change oil. Some learn on the road how to repair a flat! Personally I own 8 bikes, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, KLR, Honda, KTM. As a mechanic I will not go far from the barn with anything but the KLR. I typically go cross country each year, on the KLR of course. The people I have met- all very interesting- on KLR seem to have the least trouble of them all. BMW seems to be the least reliable. As has been posted here before, the KLR really "needs" nothing to go for it. Mark H., now in S.A. on his KLR Has done very little in the way of mods to his machine. I had the privelege of meeting Mark, and servicing his machine here in FL. on his return from Africa. He left here in near freezing weather and headed North! What it seems is that there are those who "Play" with bikes, and those who "Use"them. Mods seem to be an excuse to stay and play. I saw the same dynamic in sailing during my 8 years of living aboard and traveling. So just ride the damn thing guys! The manufacturer has done most of what needs to be done already. Just read Mark's posts!

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@..." wrote: > > We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. We have a durable bike. > > Criswell >

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

 I don't like to buy used bikes because of what you say. I have long bought Japanese because of bang for buck and..... they seem to keep running regardless of idiots riding them. I was out riding in a dirt bike park / ranch here in Texas near Weatherford (no longer there). They had a cattle tank on the property that I stopped for for a moment to rest. A guy came roaring up on an ancient Yamaha DT 1 and ran it right into the tank full bore all the way to seat level in the water. His buddies were laughing and I remarked that it looked like the end for that bike. No they said "He does it all the time." They pulled it out, pulled the plug and turned it over pumping as much water out as possible and righted the bike and re-installing the plug. After a few cranks spitting water out of the pipe, the thing fired and he road off. I was already sold on Japanese but that did it for me. Their is probably an old rusty DT 1 out there still running. CriswellOn Jul 25, 2010, at 12:51 PM, Shane wrote:

  As a Mechanic by trade I am constantly AMAZED at the people who take off long distance on machines of all sorts, with NO mechanical abilities. I have met/worked for people on KLR's, BMW's, Honda...who can do little more than change oil. Some learn on the road how to repair a flat! Personally I own 8 bikes, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, KLR, Honda, KTM. As a mechanic I will not go far from the barn with anything but the KLR. I typically go cross country each year, on the KLR of course. The people I have met- all very interesting- on KLR seem to have the least trouble of them all. BMW seems to be the least reliable. As has been posted here before, the KLR really "needs" nothing to go for it. Mark H., now in S.A. on his KLR Has done very little in the way of mods to his machine. I had the privelege of meeting Mark, and servicing his machine here in FL. on his return from Africa. He left here in near freezing weather and headed North! What it seems is that there are those who "Play" with bikes, and those who "Use"them. Mods seem to be an excuse to stay and play. I saw the same dynamic in sailing during my 8 years of living aboard and traveling. So just ride the damn thing guys! The manufacturer has done most of what needs to be done already. Just read Mark's posts! --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@..." wrote: > > We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. We have a durable bike. > > Criswell >

[eddiebmauri]

Although she did not ride a KLR, I recommend that ya'll considering reading "Lois on the Loose", by Lois Pryce, a Brit who rode her 250cc from Alaska to the southern tip of So. America. Ms. Pryce also wrote about her trip from Europe to So. Africa, "Red Tape and White Knuckles" . Great rides and a great writer about MC travel. I have a collection of books about MC travel, and plan to read "The Road gets Better From Here", thanks for the heads up. "Jupiter's Travels", by Ted Simon is a classic, "Blue Highways" sucked. If any of you read MC travel books and want to swap info on titles, please contact me in private - I don't want to tie up the group with that. I have a collection of MC travel titles, and we can compare notes. I am interested in any MC travel titles that you might know of, and can provide same. Also, I read MC travel web sites and blogs. HU is one of the most complex, and one of the best. If you wanna swap info, touch base with me. Eddie (03' KLR 650 - "la poderosa")

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Shane" wrote: > > As a Mechanic by trade I am constantly AMAZED at the people who take off long distance on machines of all sorts, with NO mechanical abilities. I have met/worked for people on KLR's, BMW's, Honda...who can do little more than change oil. Some learn on the road how to repair a flat! Personally I own 8 bikes, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, KLR, Honda, KTM. As a mechanic I will not go far from the barn with anything but the KLR. I typically go cross country each year, on the KLR of course. The people I have met- all very interesting- on KLR seem to have the least trouble of them all. BMW seems to be the least reliable. As has been posted here before, the KLR really "needs" nothing to go for it. Mark H., now in S.A. on his KLR Has done very little in the way of mods to his machine. I had the privelege of meeting Mark, and servicing his machine here in FL. on his return from Africa. He left here in near freezing weather and headed North! What it seems is that there are those who "Play" with bikes, and those who "Use"them. Mods seem to be an excuse to stay and play. I saw the same dynamic in sailing during my 8 years of living aboard and traveling. > So just ride the damn thing guys! The manufacturer has done most of what needs to be done already. Just read Mark's posts! > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@" wrote: > > > > We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. We have a durable bike. > > > > Criswell > > >

[Jeff Khoury]

#ygrps-yiv-1685669997 p {margin:0;}Not everyone fits into these categories! I've modded my bike quite a bit, to make it "mine".  I do all the maintenance and repair.  And my '09's pushin' 20K miles already. I wrench and then I ride. -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "Shane" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 10:51:24 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: the best motorcycle ever...   As a Mechanic by trade I am constantly AMAZED at the people who take off long distance on machines of all sorts, with NO mechanical abilities. I have met/worked for people on KLR's, BMW's, Honda...who can do little more than change oil. Some learn on the road how to repair a flat! Personally I own 8 bikes, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, KLR, Honda, KTM. As a mechanic I will not go far from the barn with anything but the KLR. I typically go cross country each year, on the KLR of course. The people I have met- all very interesting- on KLR seem to have the least trouble of them all. BMW seems to be the least reliable. As has been posted here before, the KLR really "needs" nothing to go for it. Mark H., now in S.A. on his KLR Has done very little in the way of mods to his machine. I had the privelege of meeting Mark, and servicing his machine here in FL. on his return from Africa. He left here in near freezing weather and headed North! What it seems is that there are those who "Play" with bikes, and those who "Use"them. Mods seem to be an excuse to stay and play. I saw the same dynamic in sailing during my 8 years of living aboard and traveling. So just ride the damn thing guys! The manufacturer has done most of what needs to be done already. Just read Mark's posts! --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@..." wrote: > > We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. We have a durable bike. > > Criswell >

[skypilot110]

HU is not just a standard. It is the one and only hubb for communicatons. The owners have worked hard to make it useful for the travelors, not the cassual readers. As such it provides an intersting, and very realistic, perspective on motor cycle travel. The videos are worth seeing also and I recomend buying them from Susan and Grant.. As far as books go there are certain standards that must be read before embarking on the many recent works. "One man Caravan" and "Jupiters Travels" are works of imense importance as they are ride reports with perspectives of what riding was like in the early days.In other words they speak to how tough it was before it got this easy, not that it is easy. There are other important works that are not MC related, like "There is no toilet paper on the road less traveled" or anything Bill Bryson wrote, that are worth reading so you have the right perspective when things that go wrong. As far as modern works there are a zillion. "Mi Moto Fidel" was lame rubish since the guy was boring although "No touch Monkeys" was brilliant even if not MC relevent. Against the wind was a good ride report of something brilliant although he wasnt a brilliant autor, he got better later, and 10 years on 2 wheels had the coolest photos ever in the history of, well, ever. You need to decide what you like to read then read them all to see which ones you can throw away after the first chapter. Give them all to your local library after wards.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote: > > Although she did not ride a KLR, I recommend that ya'll considering reading "Lois on the Loose", by Lois Pryce, a Brit who rode her 250cc from Alaska to the southern tip of So. America. Ms. Pryce also wrote about her trip from Europe to So. Africa, "Red Tape and White Knuckles" . Great rides and a great writer about MC travel. >

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Shane" wrote:

> > As a Mechanic by trade I am constantly AMAZED at the people who take off long distance on machines of all sorts, with NO mechanical abilities. I have met/worked for people on KLR's, BMW's, Honda...who can do little more than change oil. Some learn on the road how to repair a flat! Personally I own 8 bikes, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, KLR, Honda, KTM. As a mechanic I will not go far from the barn with anything but the KLR. I typically go cross country each year, on the KLR of course. The people I have met- all very interesting- on KLR seem to have the least trouble of them all. BMW seems to be the least reliable. As has been posted here before, the KLR really "needs" nothing to go for it. Mark H., now in S.A. on his KLR Has done very little in the way of mods to his machine. I had the privelege of meeting Mark, and servicing his machine here in FL. on his return from Africa. He left here in near freezing weather and headed North! What it seems is that there are those who "Play" with bikes, and those who "Use"them. Mods seem to be an excuse to stay and play. I saw the same dynamic in sailing during my 8 years of living aboard and traveling. > So just ride the damn thing guys! The manufacturer has done most of what needs to be done already. Just read Mark's posts! >

~~~Shane, FWIW I agree with a lot of what you said here. I don't have the tenure with the KLR yet but it seems like it can go the mile and we all know they have, and then some but the ST 1100 (Honda) i rode for a bit has to be one of the all time most relible bikes on this planet. I bought my 93' 3rd hand in 2001 w/21 K miles ( a real garage queen=:-) Following two years I put 60 K miles on it my self and then another 10 over a year or so and sold it, with 90 K miles on the odometer. the only part that ever failed on that bike was the clock illumination lamp at 48 K miles, and I bought a new one from a chain auto parts store for a couple a bucks. Mind you, I had to replace the wheel bearings as they are a wear item, and the rubber pucks in the rear hub as a matter of course (@ 50 K miles). I rode it out west 4 X's, Mexico, British Columbia, the north east (Maine), all over, and the f'n battery was OEM. I never replaced it. I had no fear riding that bike anywhere, and did, but at 700 lbs, she's too heavy for local riding and I wanted to take a break from LD riding A good friend (in Sun City Center) has a 91' ST he's put just about all the miles on and currently has 239 K miles showing. He's contemplating replacing the water pump as they've been known to go around the quarter million mile mark. The heads have never been off his motor Jake Reddick Fla. "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits" http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/

> --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@" wrote: > > > > We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. We have a durable bike. > > > > Criswell > > >

[Jim Douglas]

But what could Kawasaki do the make it better in your opinion.............. 1. A larger power plant, 800cc with 70-80HP? What else?

On 7/28/2010 1:37 AM, sh8knj8kster wrote:   --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "Shane" twrecks2@... wrote: > > As a Mechanic by trade I am constantly AMAZED at the people who take off long distance on machines of all sorts, with NO mechanical abilities. I have met/worked for people on KLR's, BMW's, Honda...who can do little more than change oil. Some learn on the road how to repair a flat! Personally I own 8 bikes, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, KLR, Honda, KTM. As a mechanic I will not go far from the barn with anything but the KLR. I typically go cross country each year, on the KLR of course. The people I have met- all very interesting- on KLR seem to have the least trouble of them all. BMW seems to be the least reliable. As has been posted here before, the KLR really "needs" nothing to go for it. Mark H., now in S.A. on his KLR Has done very little in the way of mods to his machine. I had the privelege of meeting Mark, and servicing his machine here in FL. on his return from Africa. He left here in near freezing weather and headed North! What it seems is that there are those who "Play" with bikes, and those who "Use"them. Mods seem to be an excuse to stay and play. I saw the same dynamic in sailing during my 8 years of living aboard and traveling. > So just ride the damn thing guys! The manufacturer has done most of what needs to be done already. Just read Mark's posts! > ~~~Shane, FWIW I agree with a lot of what you said here. I don't have the tenure with the KLR yet but it seems like it can go the mile and we all know they have, and then some but the ST 1100 (Honda) i rode for a bit has to be one of the all time most relible bikes on this planet. I bought my 93' 3rd hand in 2001 w/21 K miles ( a real garage queen=:-) Following two years I put 60 K miles on it my self and then another 10 over a year or so and sold it, with 90 K miles on the odometer. the only part that ever failed on that bike was the clock illumination lamp at 48 K miles, and I bought a new one from a chain auto parts store for a couple a bucks. Mind you, I had to replace the wheel bearings as they are a wear item, and the rubber pucks in the rear hub as a matter of course (@ 50 K miles). I rode it out west 4 X's, Mexico, British Columbia, the north east (Maine), all over, and the f'n battery was OEM. I never replaced it. I had no fear riding that bike anywhere, and did, but at 700 lbs, she's too heavy for local riding and I wanted to take a break from LD riding A good friend (in Sun City Center) has a 91' ST he's put just about all the miles on and currently has 239 K miles showing. He's contemplating replacing the water pump as they've been known to go around the quarter million mile mark. The heads have never been off his motor Jake Reddick Fla. "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits" http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/ > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@" wrote: > > > > We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. We have a durable bike. > > > > Criswell > > >

[Lourd Baltimore]

Have doo' done at the factory.A stator with more output.Personally, I would love a shorter 1st gear and add a sixth.I would also like a unicorn. Josh. [b]From:[/b] Jim Douglas [b]To:[/b] DSN _KLR650 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> [b]Sent:[/b] Wed, July 28, 2010 11:29:53 AM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: the best motorcycle ever...   But what could Kawasaki do the make it better in your opinion..... ......... 1. A larger power plant, 800cc with 70-80HP? What else? On 7/28/2010 1:37 AM, sh8knj8kster wrote:

 

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@..." wrote:

> > I don't like to buy used bikes because of what you say. I have long bought Japanese because of bang for buck and..... they seem to keep running regardless of idiots riding them. I was out riding in a dirt bike park / ranch here in Texas near Weatherford (no longer there). They had a cattle tank on the property that I stopped for for a moment to rest. A guy came roaring up on an ancient Yamaha DT 1 and ran it right into the tank full bore all the way to seat level in the water. His buddies were laughing and I remarked that it looked like the end for that bike. No they said "He does it all the time." They pulled it out, pulled the plug and turned it over pumping as much water out as possible and righted the bike and re-installing the plug. After a few cranks spitting water out of the pipe, the thing fired and he road off. I was already sold on Japanese but that did it for me. Their is probably an old rusty DT 1 out there still running. > > Criswell

~~~A 72' DT1 was my first bike, I bought it 3rd hand in 1975 Jake Reddick Fla. Always get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn't work out, you haven't wasted a whole day. -- Mickey Rooney http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/

> On Jul 25, 2010, at 12:51 PM, Shane wrote: > > > As a Mechanic by trade I am constantly AMAZED at the people who take off long distance on machines of all sorts, with NO mechanical abilities. I have met/worked for people on KLR's, BMW's, Honda...who can do little more than change oil. Some learn on the road how to repair a flat! Personally I own 8 bikes, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, KLR, Honda, KTM. As a mechanic I will not go far from the barn with anything but the KLR. I typically go cross country each year, on the KLR of course. The people I have met- all very interesting- on KLR seem to have the least trouble of them all. BMW seems to be the least reliable. As has been posted here before, the KLR really "needs" nothing to go for it. Mark H., now in S.A. on his KLR Has done very little in the way of mods to his machine. I had the privelege of meeting Mark, and servicing his machine here in FL. on his return from Africa. He left here in near freezing weather and headed North! What it seems is that there are those who "Play" with bikes, and those who "Use"them. Mods seem to be an excuse to stay and play. I saw the same dynamic in sailing during my 8 years of living aboard and traveling. > > So just ride the damn thing guys! The manufacturer has done most of what needs to be done already. Just read Mark's posts! > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@" wrote: > > > > > > We may own it. The KLR has a few shortcomings but considering, price and capabilities, we may be riding the best all around bike. I am reading a book right now about an Australian (Adrian Scott ) who rode his KLR across Asia from Siberia to Istanbul. The book is called "The Road gets Better From Here." What is unreal about his story is his very limited riding experience and pretty much being non mechanical person, I don't think he had a clue about the doohickey or even knowing to adjust it. He fried the clutch early in horrible bogs in Siberia and fixed it himself mail ordering the parts but probably didn't torque the fasteners very well as it exploded in China. A real mechanic welded and fixed in a day his damage without factory parts. We have a durable bike. > > > > > > Criswell > > > > > > > >