running a klr with no oil never ends good

[Jim Bolton]

I am looking for a stock shock that is in good shape..anyone? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Harry Seifert]

This is the same crapola we went through withe the balancer lever adjuster, doohickey for the cognescenti. The aftermarket came through like a champ on that one. Kawasaki did not change the lever until the '08 model in spite of a part number change several years ago. And I'm not too impressed with the new sintered metal 'hickey. I have a problem with sintered metal as that the grain of the metal created through the pressure and heating process is not as true and tight as the grain in a billet ingot of steel. True, it is a one piece part, as is the aftermarket part, but it is a sloppy fit on the shaft and the spring is a tensioning joke. I've had two defective 'hickeys, one at 1100 mi. on my '99 and one on my 3 mi '06. Both replaced with billet Eagle parts. I will be adding torsion springs when I get around to it..........like after my high school coaching responsibilities are over in November. Keep riding Buddy

> [Original Message] > From: AnanthR > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 9/19/2008 6:57:01 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Running a KLR with no oil never ends good > > Well I was denied any coverage by Kawasaki. So atleast I have earned > the right to be pissed. I did get the motorcycle serviced at the > dealer on time, I did every break in procedure specified. Midway > between the 600 mile and the 4000 mile service, I noticed that the > bike was low on oil, and replaced the oil and the oil filter myself. > Took an appointment for 4000 mile service and had the bike break down > one day before that appointment. If Kawi is acknowledging the > problem, let them send out a communication to that effect. They have > shown to be proactive with recalling the muffler bolts, let the do > the same with 08 KLRs and have the dealers check the bikes. In that > sense I agree with what Jim has to say. We do need a concerted effort > to get Kawasaki to hear. I love the KLR 650 and enjoyed every moment > I spent riding around on the bike. I do not wish to kill off the > bike. But I would certainly like Kawi to stand behind their engines > and stand behind their customers. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Greg Jorgensen" > wrote: > > > > Jim Douglas wrote: > > > > "... maybe get a letter started with others that have have the same > > issue, that is losing oil, way too much oil, get it signed by > everyone > > one. I can build a quick website that will solicit information from > > users of, I assumre, 2008 KLR that have the problems, get name, > > address, city, state, zip miles, VIN number etc and each one > entered I > > will forward to the highest executive we can find at Kawasaki! There > > is power in numbers and if we have more the better and they will > > realize that this issue is going to KILL their 2008 sales!" > > > > No need for a web site or letter: Kawasaki has already acknowledged > > the oil consumption problem in some 2008 KLRs, or at least their > > dealers are acknowledging it. Two local dealers I've talked to about > > this both said that if I document my oil consumption and mileage > > Kawasaki will replace the rings or do whatever work is required to > > make it stop losing oil. I know of at least two local '08 owners who > > documented their oil/mileage and got Kawasaki to fix the problem. My > > own bike burned a lot of oil at first but then settled down after > > about 5,000 miles. > > > > Like almost every glitch reported anecdotally the lack of hundreds > of > > long threads about bikes that DON'T burn too much oil makes it seem > > like every '08 is an oil burner. > > > > Oh, the '08 season is pretty much over, and I understand Kawi did > > pretty well with the new KLRs. Even supposing a few hundred pissed > off > > owners will influence Kawasaki (not likely), what would be served by > > killing their sales or putting dealers out of business? Get a leash > on > > that ego. > > > > There's a lot of great information on this list but I get tired now > > and then of the constant berating of Kawasaki engineers and dealers > > and mechanics and the pissing contest that ensues whenever someone > > with a life outside their garage asks a technical question. > > > > Greg Jorgensen > > Portland, Oregon USA > > '08 KLR (red) > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > 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 > > >