still parting klr 650 year 2000, philadelphia.

[dave.rogoski]

I just installed 3 inch lowering links in the rear so my wife could learn to ride on the '07 KLR 650 but I am having trouble raising the front fork tubes in the triple clamps in order to equalize the front. I have loosened both top and both bottom pinch bolts and then have been bouncing the front end up and down but the fork tubes will only protrude out the top of the upper triple clamp by a fraction of an inch. I think I am doing this correctly but want to confirm this if someone else has successfully done this before. Also - the kickstand is totally useless now but I don't want the bike this low for more than the initial learning period (maybe somewhere in between -3" and stock in the future). Should I hacksaw off some of the kickstand - and then weld it back later or does anyone have some practical experience here? Thanks for any advice you may have to offer.

[smthng else]

I can only give you advice as it pertains to my '08, but I think the front ends are similar enough that I know what the issue is... When I dropped my front (only about 1/2" or so), I did the same thing... loosened it all up, but got almost no upward movement on the fork tubes. They'd drop down easy enough, but just didn't want to go up. Turns out that the fork gaitors (the rubber boots) were in the way. I had to undo the top clamps, move them down 3/4" and reclamp them. Then the tubes would slide up with no problem. There's a bit of an ongoing debate about how much to move the tubes up... some say same as the rear. I say that's impossible on an '08 (there be handlebars in the way on mine) and unlikely on earlier models. Try half the distance of the rear drop (1 1/2" for you) and see how it feels. If it feels like it's "falling" into corners, reduce the drop and try again. It's a bit of trial and error, but it's worth it in the long run. Check the specs on the fork tube pinch bolts... I seem to recall that they are at some ridiculously low torque value... don't exceed it. You can "notch" the fork tubes if you do. Kickstand... If you weld or know someone who does, hack it near the bottom and weld a foot on. When you want to go back to stock height, hack the foot off and weld the original bottom piece back on, but make sure you sleeve or slug it (and internal slug should be sufficient if you're a decent welder). Several folks have complained about welds cracking or breaking when they've attempted it, but most of them didn't sleeve or slug it. Personally, I'd just buy a lowered kickstand and swap them back and forth as needed. YMMV. --Jonathan "smthng" Kalmes Springfield, VA 2005 Yamaha FJR1300ABS - "Blue Bayou" 2006 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon - "Teflon" 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 - It's here, but it hasn't earned a name yet. http://smthng.info "Look, the truth is, I've been trying to save the world, one person at a time, but, I'm meant for smthng bigger. Smthng important. I know it now."

On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 12:11 AM, dave.rogoski wrote: > I just installed 3 inch lowering links in the rear so my wife could > learn to ride on the '07 KLR 650 but I am having trouble raising the > front fork tubes in the triple clamps in order to equalize the front. > I have loosened both top and both bottom pinch bolts and then have > been bouncing the front end up and down but the fork tubes will only > protrude out the top of the upper triple clamp by a fraction of an > inch. > > I think I am doing this correctly but want to confirm this if someone > else has successfully done this before. > > Also - the kickstand is totally useless now but I don't want the bike > this low for more than the initial learning period (maybe somewhere in > between -3" and stock in the future). Should I hacksaw off some of > the kickstand - and then weld it back later or does anyone have some > practical experience here? > > Thanks for any advice you may have to offer. > > > ------------------------------------ > > 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/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[Ed Chait]

----- Original Message ----- From: "dave.rogoski" To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 9:11 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Hey....How Do I Lower These Front Fork Tubes??? I just installed 3 inch lowering links in the rear so my wife could learn to ride on the '07 KLR 650 but I am having trouble raising the front fork tubes in the triple clamps in order to equalize the front. I have loosened both top and both bottom pinch bolts and then have been bouncing the front end up and down but the fork tubes will only protrude out the top of the upper triple clamp by a fraction of an inch. I think I am doing this correctly but want to confirm this if someone else has successfully done this before. Also - the kickstand is totally useless now but I don't want the bike this low for more than the initial learning period (maybe somewhere in between -3" and stock in the future). Should I hacksaw off some of the kickstand - and then weld it back later or does anyone have some practical experience here? Thanks for any advice you may have to offer. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Don't forget to loosen the band clamps holding the fork boots (gaiters). ed A17

[dooden]

8 Bolts per side I think, make sure the bike is supported on a lift or something, cause when you loosen them it will slide down. Without even using lowering links I lowered my front about 3/4" or so, just to give that little tiny bit of footing I was looking for when offroad without loosing too much clearance. Maybe there is some paint or something, I took my wheel off when I did it so I could do one at a time, set tubes reinstalled wheel watch out of speedo parts in hub (Read that as PAY ATTENTION OR BREAK IT) This way you can give it a little twist if needed. Get them set, snug only enough to hold in place, then spinning the wheel in a forward motion as fast as I could with my hand I grabbed a wholehandful of front brake, seems to make everything line up using centrifical force, then torqued all to spec. Roughly what I did, hit the FAQ should be a detailed breakdown on how. Dooden A15 Green Ape --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "dave.rogoski" wrote:

> > I just installed 3 inch lowering links in the rear so my wife could > learn to ride on the '07 KLR 650 but I am having trouble raising

the

> front fork tubes in the triple clamps in order to equalize the

front.

> I have loosened both top and both bottom pinch bolts and then have > been bouncing the front end up and down but the fork tubes will

only

> protrude out the top of the upper triple clamp by a fraction of an > inch. > > I think I am doing this correctly but want to confirm this if

someone

> else has successfully done this before. > > Also - the kickstand is totally useless now but I don't want the

bike

> this low for more than the initial learning period (maybe somewhere

in

> between -3" and stock in the future). Should I hacksaw off some of > the kickstand - and then weld it back later or does anyone have

some

> practical experience here? > > Thanks for any advice you may have to offer. >

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "dave.rogoski" wrote:

> > I just installed 3 inch lowering links in the rear so my wife could > learn to ride on the '07 KLR 650 but I am having trouble raising the > front fork tubes in the triple clamps in order to equalize the front. > I have loosened both top and both bottom pinch bolts and then have > been bouncing the front end up and down but the fork tubes will only > protrude out the top of the upper triple clamp by a fraction of an > inch. > > I think I am doing this correctly but want to confirm this if someone > else has successfully done this before. > > Also - the kickstand is totally useless now but I don't want the bike > this low for more than the initial learning period (maybe somewhere in > between -3" and stock in the future). Should I hacksaw off some of > the kickstand - and then weld it back later or does anyone have some > practical experience here? > > Thanks for any advice you may have to offer. >

Did you loosen the fork gaiters? Loosen the clamps and slide the fops of the gaiters down. You may then have to twist the fork tubes to get them to slide up in the triple clamps. It is easiest if you remove the front wheel, but you can leave it in place and twist both tubes at once.

[fasteddiecopeman]

Dave, FWIW: when I lowered mine, I cut 1 1/2" out of the sidestand, and then when I went back to stock height got the piece re-welded in. Ed

[Jim Douglas]

Ed Chait wrote:

> > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "dave.rogoski" > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 9:11 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Hey....How Do I Lower These Front Fork Tubes??? > > I just installed 3 inch lowering links in the rear so my wife could > learn to ride on the '07 KLR 650 but I am having trouble raising the > front fork tubes in the triple clamps in order to equalize the front. > I have loosened both top and both bottom pinch bolts and then have > been bouncing the front end up and down but the fork tubes will only > protrude out the top of the upper triple clamp by a fraction of an > inch. > > I think I am doing this correctly but want to confirm this if someone > else has successfully done this before. > > Also - the kickstand is totally useless now but I don't want the bike > this low for more than the initial learning period (maybe somewhere in > between -3" and stock in the future). Should I hacksaw off some of > the kickstand - and then weld it back later or does anyone have some > practical experience here? > > Thanks for any advice you may have to offer. > > oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo > > Don't forget to loosen the band clamps holding the fork boots (gaiters). > > ed > A17 > >

The redneck way, hacksaw and the wife holding it with a rag..................................

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 6:45 AM -0700 6/6/08, sergio de oliveira wrote:

>Parting klr 650 year 2000,17878 miles (good shape), must make space >in my garage. >I will prefere sell whole bike for $1700 obo.

Do you still have the bike? Is it complete? I know someone who might want it whole if it's in good shape like you say. Mark