klr vs. transalp

[Kevin Powers]

I took the KLR to a BMW rally over the weekend. Those beemer folks know how to do it right. I took the long way home, and found a number of very nice minimum maintenance roads along the way. A great day to be exploring on the bike. I was rolling up on the last stop sign before my house when my front brake suddenly gave way. I was able to stop before rolling out into the cross traffic, but it certainly got my heart rate up. When I got home and took a look, I found that the lower bolt on the bracket that relocates the caliper for use with the oversize rotor had come loose, allowing the caliper to swing away from the disc. Yikes. The bolts had been installed using blue loctite and torqued to 18 foot pounds. I cleaned the bolts and reinstalled them, but I'll be keeping an eye on them now! Might be an application for red loctite? -- Kevin Powers White Bear Lake, MN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Charlie Y]

I was wondering too in general about loctite, and where you might need it. i.e. during a dohickey retrofit. and the brakes, also. rotor bolt? case bolts? etc?

----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Powers" To: "DSN" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 11:39 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Eye-opening brake problem >I took the KLR to a BMW rally over the weekend. Those beemer folks know how > to do it right. I took the long way home, and found a number of very nice > minimum maintenance roads along the way. A great day to be exploring on the > bike. I was rolling up on the last stop sign before my house when my front > brake suddenly gave way. I was able to stop before rolling out into the > cross traffic, but it certainly got my heart rate up. > > When I got home and took a look, I found that the lower bolt on the bracket > that relocates the caliper for use with the oversize rotor had come loose, > allowing the caliper to swing away from the disc. Yikes. The bolts had > been installed using blue loctite and torqued to 18 foot pounds. I cleaned > the bolts and reinstalled them, but I'll be keeping an eye on them now! > Might be an application for red loctite? > > -- > Kevin Powers > White Bear Lake, MN > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > 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 > > > >

[Howard Morris]

But I've heard DR's are soooooooooooooooooooo fast.... Howard Morris 1450 W Kaibab Ln. #126 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 928-814-1085

--- On Tue, 6/2/09, roncriswell@... wrote: From: roncriswell@... Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR vs. Transalp To: "E Hines" Cc: "Chris Norloff" , "KLR650 list" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009, 9:10 AM The KLR is hard to beat for an all around reasonably priced bike. There are better dirt bikes and street bikes but when you consider everything, it is hard to deny the KLR its glory. I just came back from the CMC classic and rode 13 hours yesterday from Chama NM. Why? I hate the TX panhandle. I banged the KLR around on rocks riding out to Chicken Corners and down John Browns Canyon to Gateway Col. Nothing too serious this time but wouldn't do Chicken Corners or White Rim on a GS. Oregon Zac is lying if he says he won the drag race with his DR Suzuki. Criswell On Jun 1, 2009, at 3:55 PM, E Hines wrote: > > > Look at the new BMW 800GS or 650GS. I think either would be better > than the transalp and are new for 2009. I hope to have an 800 and/ > or 1200gs soon, but it will not be replacing the KLR. The KLR for > the money and what it can do is the best bang for the buck. I have > done long highway days, dirt roads, water crossings, and single > track and it has not let me down. The KLR will out ride me. Look > it bigdogadventures website. He has done many trips on numerous > bikes, but I believe he has a soft spot for his KLR. I will try to > always keep one in my stable. > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > From: Chris Norloff > Cc: KLR650 list > Sent: Monday, June 1, 2009 3:45:53 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR vs. Transalp > > Is the Honda Transalp available in the US? New? Used but less than 10 > years old? > > I thought that was one of the great bikes that don't make it into > the US. > > I sure would like a 2-cylinder DualSport bike. I'm getting thumped > a lot > with that single cylinder. > > thx > Chris > > transalp eddie wrote: > > After clocking well over 100km total on two 89' XL600V Transalps, > here's my > > early comparison with the roughly 500km I've got total on the KLR > so far: > > Weight: The Hondas are heavier and felt it. I took them off road > a good bit > > at times and had to be careful. > > Height: I'm short. Even with a Corbin seat, a Transalp is a tall > beastie. > > The KLR is even taller. > > But, my philosophy is simple> It's the bike's job to hold me > > up, not the other way a round. I'm just there to provide balance. > > > > Brakes: With two discs vs. the Honda single disc/drum set up , > the nod goes > > to the KLR. The later Transalps have better brakes, however. > > Durability: I'd say it's a tie. These are tough machines. > Maintain 'em and > > they go a LONG way. > > Range: The KLR has a bigger fuel tank with comparable mpg to the > Honda. > > > > Maint. Chores: That's split area. The valves on the Honda are > screw & > > locknut adjustment. > > It was really easy once you got the tank & plastic bodywork off. > > It used to take me about 3 hours to change the oil, filter, > plugs, set the > > valves and synch the carbs. > > The KLR has but one cylinder, 1 spark plug (to the Hondas 4 - two > per cyl.) > > & 1 carb. But, it has shim valve adjustment. > > Engine: You gotta love that old 52 degree Honda V-twin. Tuned up and > > synchronized, it's a really smooth ride. > > The tranny shifted well and I never replaced a clutch. KLR? It a > > counterbalanced thumper. It has character. > > That is to say it shakes. But, not a bad kind of shake. LOL > > > > eddie > > > > > >>> [Original Message] > >>> From: Tumu Rock > >>> To: > >>> Date: 5/31/2009 1:10:31 PM > >>> Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: New member / KLR vs. Transalp > >>> > >>> --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, "transalp eddie" > > >>> > > wrote: > > > >>>> Hello all! > >>>> > >>>> I've been a KLR650 owner only since last Saturday and already I'm > >>>> > >> hooked! > >> > >>>> Previous bikes include two 1989 Honda Transalps > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> How's the KLR compare to the Transalp? The Transalp is the bike > that I > >>> > >> originally wanted but ended up with a KLR. They look mighty > similar in > >> terms of suspension and general layout. > >> > >>> Just curious > >>> > >>> da Vermonster > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> ------------ --------- --------- ------ > >>> > >>> 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/dsnklr650Yah oo! Groups > Links > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------ --------- --------- ------ > > > > 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/dsnklr650Yah oo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[transalp 1]

Kevin, First off, let me say we're glad you got your bike stopped in time! Wow! That had to have added a few grey hairs. I used to have a Suzuki DL1000 and loose caliper bolts were a bit of a worry. It was scary how little a bolt could be turned from fully tightened to get it to completely come loose and undo itself. I got bored one afternoon and safety wired mine. The KLR hasn't got 400 miles on it yet and I've already walked around it with an armload of wrenches tightening stuff. Pretty soon, I'll probably stock up on small drill bits & bandaids and get busy wiring bolts. -eddie

> >I took the KLR to a BMW rally over the weekend. Those beemer folks know

how

> > to do it right. I took the long way home, and found a number of very

nice

> > minimum maintenance roads along the way. A great day to be exploring

on the

> > bike. I was rolling up on the last stop sign before my house when my

front

> > brake suddenly gave way. I was able to stop before rolling out into the > > cross traffic, but it certainly got my heart rate up. > > > > When I got home and took a look, I found that the lower bolt on the

bracket

> > that relocates the caliper for use with the oversize rotor had come

loose,

> > allowing the caliper to swing away from the disc. Yikes. The bolts had > > been installed using blue loctite and torqued to 18 foot pounds. I

cleaned

> > the bolts and reinstalled them, but I'll be keeping an eye on them now! > > Might be an application for red loctite? > > > > -- > > Kevin Powers > > White Bear Lake, MN > >

[J Fortner]

Blue and red loctite is much easier.

On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 12:12 AM, transalp 1 wrote: > > > > Kevin, > > First off, let me say we're glad you got your bike stopped in time! Wow! > That had to have added a few grey hairs. > > I used to have a Suzuki DL1000 and loose caliper bolts were a bit of a > worry. > It was scary how little a bolt could be turned from fully tightened to get > it to completely > come loose and undo itself. I got bored one afternoon and safety wired mine. > The KLR hasn't got 400 miles on it yet and I've already walked around it > with an armload of wrenches > tightening stuff. Pretty soon, I'll probably stock up on small drill bits & > bandaids and get busy wiring bolts. > > -eddie > >> >I took the KLR to a BMW rally over the weekend. Those beemer folks know > how >> > to do it right. I took the long way home, and found a number of very > nice >> > minimum maintenance roads along the way. A great day to be exploring > on the >> > bike. I was rolling up on the last stop sign before my house when my > front >> > brake suddenly gave way. I was able to stop before rolling out into the >> > cross traffic, but it certainly got my heart rate up. >> > >> > When I got home and took a look, I found that the lower bolt on the > bracket >> > that relocates the caliper for use with the oversize rotor had come > loose, >> > allowing the caliper to swing away from the disc. Yikes. The bolts had >> > been installed using blue loctite and torqued to 18 foot pounds. I > cleaned >> > the bolts and reinstalled them, but I'll be keeping an eye on them now! >> > Might be an application for red loctite? >> > >> > -- >> > Kevin Powers >> > White Bear Lake, MN >> > > >

[transalp 1]

I agree, it is easier. I have at least three tubes of blue Loctite around here somewhere. But, bloodied fingertips and bits of stainless steel wire about creates a small amount of adventure without having to leave the garage. We didn't see Ewan and Charlie doing any of that! LOL eddie

> [Original Message] > From: J Fortner > Blue and red loctite is much easier. > > On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 12:12 AM, transalp 1

wrote:

> > > > > > > > Kevin, > > > > First off, let me say we're glad you got your bike stopped in time! Wow! > > That had to have added a few grey hairs. > > > > I used to have a Suzuki DL1000 and loose caliper bolts were a bit of a > > worry. > > It was scary how little a bolt could be turned from fully tightened to

get

> > it to completely > > come loose and undo itself. I got bored one afternoon and safety wired

mine.

> > The KLR hasn't got 400 miles on it yet and I've already walked around it > > with an armload of wrenches > > tightening stuff. Pretty soon, I'll probably stock up on small drill

bits &

> > bandaids and get busy wiring bolts. > > > > -eddie > > > >> >I took the KLR to a BMW rally over the weekend. Those beemer folks

know

> > how > >> > to do it right. I took the long way home, and found a number of very > > nice > >> > minimum maintenance roads along the way. A great day to be exploring > > on the > >> > bike. I was rolling up on the last stop sign before my house when my > > front > >> > brake suddenly gave way. I was able to stop before rolling out into

the

> >> > cross traffic, but it certainly got my heart rate up. > >> > > >> > When I got home and took a look, I found that the lower bolt on the > > bracket > >> > that relocates the caliper for use with the oversize rotor had come > > loose, > >> > allowing the caliper to swing away from the disc. Yikes. The bolts

had

> >> > been installed using blue loctite and torqued to 18 foot pounds. I > > cleaned > >> > the bolts and reinstalled them, but I'll be keeping an eye on them

now!

> >> > Might be an application for red loctite? > >> > > >> > -- > >> > Kevin Powers > >> > White Bear Lake, MN > >> > > > > >

[J Fortner]

Charlie and Ewan have a spares truck don't they?

On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 12:31 AM, transalp 1 wrote: > > I agree, it is easier. I have at least three tubes of blue Loctite around > here somewhere. > But, bloodied fingertips and bits of stainless steel wire about creates a > small amount of adventure > without having to leave the garage. We didn't see Ewan and Charlie doing > any of that! LOL > > eddie > > >> [Original Message] >> From: J Fortner > >> Blue and red loctite is much easier. >> >> On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 12:12 AM, transalp 1 > wrote: >> > >> > >> > >> > Kevin, >> > >> > First off, let me say we're glad you got your bike stopped in time! Wow! >> > That had to have added a few grey hairs. >> > >> > I used to have a Suzuki DL1000 and loose caliper bolts were a bit of a >> > worry. >> > It was scary how little a bolt could be turned from fully tightened to > get >> > it to completely >> > come loose and undo itself. I got bored one afternoon and safety wired > mine. >> > The KLR hasn't got 400 miles on it yet and I've already walked around it >> > with an armload of wrenches >> > tightening stuff. Pretty soon, I'll probably stock up on small drill > bits & >> > bandaids and get busy wiring bolts. >> > >> > -eddie >> > >> >> >I took the KLR to a BMW rally over the weekend. Those beemer folks > know >> > how >> >> > to do it right. I took the long way home, and found a number of very >> > nice >> >> > minimum maintenance roads along the way. A great day to be exploring >> > on the >> >> > bike. I was rolling up on the last stop sign before my house when my >> > front >> >> > brake suddenly gave way. I was able to stop before rolling out into > the >> >> > cross traffic, but it certainly got my heart rate up. >> >> > >> >> > When I got home and took a look, I found that the lower bolt on the >> > bracket >> >> > that relocates the caliper for use with the oversize rotor had come >> > loose, >> >> > allowing the caliper to swing away from the disc. Yikes. The bolts > had >> >> > been installed using blue loctite and torqued to 18 foot pounds. I >> > cleaned >> >> > the bolts and reinstalled them, but I'll be keeping an eye on them > now! >> >> > Might be an application for red loctite? >> >> > >> >> > -- >> >> > Kevin Powers >> >> > White Bear Lake, MN >> >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > 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 > > > >