e-mails

[grufrude]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "E.L. Green" wrote:

> > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "idaho_mtgoat" wrote: > > Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the budget.

If heated grips truly exceed the budget, you might try the over-the- controls muffs that are readily available for the snowmobile crowd - get a pair that allows for use of mirrors. They generally are available for under $30.

[grufrude]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "c cooper" wrote:

> > They gave me a really hard time when I used two fingers on the brake

at the

> motorcycle safety class. I still find myself doing it, but they say

not to.

> > Chuck >

And "they" (the 'only one way works' MSF nazis) are full of excrement . . .

[Michael Nelson]

On Fri, Nov 02, 2007 at 08:30:57PM -0000, grufrude wrote:

> And "they" (the 'only one way works' MSF nazis) are full of > excrement . . .

I think so too. I have ridden with two fingers on the front brake for so long that now when I try not to it feels totally foreign and unsafe to me. I don't cover the clutch, but sure do cover the front brake. Michael -- "It's not what I don't understand about religion that bothers me, it's what I do understand." -- Mark Twain San Francisco, CA

[Eric J Foster]

I ended up splurging and buying the heated grips. They make a slight difference, but not a whole lot. I think the lack of any way to block the wind overcomes the capability of keeping them hot. Consider hand guards? With guards, you could make flaps the same as us enduro guys use in heavy mud or rain. Anyway, I'm running a pair of Joe Rocket riding gloves (this is on a Ninja650) covered with a simple pair of brown "jersey gloves", the knit, ugly, brown things. I can't wear thick gloves, especially mittens. The insecure grip makes me clamp down even harder and get pumpup on the street. How about the bar mittens available for sledders? They velcro over the handlebars and go up to your elbows, like a loose sock. Hell, a guy could make a set pretty easily in a pinch. The helmet I bought came with a removable partition that looks remotely like the old Scott roost protectors that snapped to the goggles. It prevents breath from going beyond the bridge of your nose. I couple this with a bandanna worn like a bank robber to take the bite off the front of neck and chin. It also seals the top of the jacket off and stops draft. Wear a back pack! One with a waist strap seals bottom of jack and also eliminates draft up the back. Get a second pair of jeans, a size too big, and wear them over your regular jeans. Huge difference, without looking like a circus clown going down the road. All this has let me commute down to 28 this year. About 21 miles at 0530 to 0700 in the morn, and 2200ish at night. E -- Guns kill people like silverware made Rosie O'Donnell fat. http://map.findu.com/ke1lb-14 Good Stuff, Trucks Bring It!!

[Zachariah Mully]

Eric J Foster wrote:

> I ended up splurging and buying the heated grips. They make a slight > difference, but not a whole lot. I think the lack of any way to block > the wind overcomes the capability of keeping them hot. Consider hand > guards? With guards, you could make flaps the same as us enduro guys use > in heavy mud or rain. >

Even better, and free, is to take a couple of the padded Fedex envelopes from work and use them to make hippo hands for your bike. A couple of cuts and some duct tape and you're done. This is pretty much SOP for all the motorcycle/moped couriers in the city during the winter months. Sure, it's ugly as sin, but it's free, and it works great. Zi

[C COOPER]

Eric, What's the power source did you use for the heated grips? If it's the "city lights" circuit (comes out of the loom with front turn signal wiring), or for that matter anything coming off the stock wiring circuit, you won't get optimal performance. In order to get ready for a ride last spring I did a quick install, running power off the "city light" circuit. I wasn't very satisfied with results. I took a little extra time and ran relay switched power directly off the "hot" side of the starter selonoid and from the engine case/battery cable ground. Big improvement. You're probably on the right track with better guards too... Chuck

On 11/3/07, Eric J Foster wrote: > > I ended up splurging and buying the heated grips. They make a slight > difference, but not a whole lot. I think the lack of any way to block > the wind overcomes the capability of keeping them hot. Consider hand > guards? With guards, you could make flaps the same as us enduro guys use > in heavy mud or rain. > > Anyway, I'm running a pair of Joe Rocket riding gloves (this is on a > Ninja650) covered with a simple pair of brown "jersey gloves", the knit, > ugly, brown things. I can't wear thick gloves, especially mittens. The > insecure grip makes me clamp down even harder and get pumpup on the > street. > > How about the bar mittens available for sledders? They velcro over the > handlebars and go up to your elbows, like a loose sock. Hell, a guy > could make a set pretty easily in a pinch. > > The helmet I bought came with a removable partition that looks remotely > like the old Scott roost protectors that snapped to the goggles. It > prevents breath from going beyond the bridge of your nose. I couple this > with a bandanna worn like a bank robber to take the bite off the front > of neck and chin. It also seals the top of the jacket off and stops draft. > > Wear a back pack! One with a waist strap seals bottom of jack and also > eliminates draft up the back. > > Get a second pair of jeans, a size too big, and wear them over your > regular jeans. Huge difference, without looking like a circus clown > going down the road. > > All this has let me commute down to 28 this year. About 21 miles at 0530 > to 0700 in the morn, and 2200ish at night. > > E > > -- > > Guns kill people like silverware made Rosie O'Donnell fat. > > http://map.findu.com/ke1lb-14 Good Stuff, Trucks Bring It!! > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[C COOPER]

The best high amp stator I found is sold by Electro-Sport. My entirely non-valid statistical sample showed a failure rate higher than I am willing to live with. Especially on a bike I have gone places I would not want to try to walk out of. I chose to leave the stock stator in, and replace tail, instrument cluster incandescent bulbs with LED's. With my GPS, relayed heat grips on high, relayed halogen headlight on high, two-way radio plugged in, AutoCom intercom plugged in and MP3 player charging, my handy-dandy aftermarket charge indicator indicates positive charge even when idling. If I turn the turn signals on, the charge indicator flashes to red in synch with the turn signal. Other than that, the charging system will handle everything I'm wired for. Now that I think about it though, I don't think the fan was on while checking charging at idle. It's possible that the fan would put me over charging capacity at idle. I know it wasn't a problem riding up the Continental Divide this fall though... Regards, Chuck

On 11/3/07, john henely wrote: > > The best way is to put in a higher amp stator, then run a separate circuit > directly off the battery. > Easy and quick permanent fix, while you're at it, run big wires up to the > handlebars, and mount > a waterproof lighter plug in, that way, you can switch items you need > easily. > JRH > > > > > ------------------------------ > To: TheHaymaker@... > CC: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > From: klr685@... > Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2007 08:27:05 -0700 > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re:Riding with Mittens > > Eric, > > What's the power source did you use for the heated grips? > > If it's the "city lights" circuit (comes out of the loom with front turn > signal wiring), or for that matter anything coming off the stock wiring > circuit, you won't get optimal performance. In order to get ready for a > ride > last spring I did a quick install, running power off the "city light" > circuit. I wasn't very satisfied with results. I took a little extra time > and ran relay switched power directly off the "hot" side of the starter > selonoid and from the engine case/battery cable ground. Big improvement. > > You're probably on the right track with better guards too... > > Chuck > > On 11/3/07, Eric J Foster wrote: > > > > I ended up splurging and buying the heated grips. They make a slight > > difference, but not a whole lot. I think the lack of any way to block > > the wind overcomes the capability of keeping them hot. Consider hand > > guards? With guards, you could make flaps the same as us enduro guys use > > in heavy mud or rain. > > > > Anyway, I'm running a pair of Joe Rocket riding gloves (this is on a > > Ninja650) covered with a simple pair of brown "jersey gloves", the knit, > > ugly, brown things. I can't wear thick gloves, especially mittens. The > > insecure grip makes me clamp down even harder and get pumpup on the > > street. > > > > How about the bar mittens available for sledders? They velcro over the > > handlebars and go up to your elbows, like a loose sock. Hell, a guy > > could make a set pretty easily in a pinch. > > > > The helmet I bought came with a removable partition that looks remotely > > like the old Scott roost protectors that snapped to the goggles. It > > prevents breath from going beyond the bridge of your nose. I couple this > > with a bandanna worn like a bank robber to take the bite off the front > > of neck and chin. It also seals the top of the jacket off and stops > draft. > > > > Wear a back pack! One with a waist strap seals bottom of jack and also > > eliminates draft up the back. > > > > Get a second pair of jeans, a size too big, and wear them over your > > regular jeans. Huge difference, without looking like a circus clown > > going down the road. > > > > All this has let me commute down to 28 this year. About 21 miles at 0530 > > to 0700 in the morn, and 2200ish at night. > > > > E > > > > -- > > > > Guns kill people like silverware made Rosie O'Donnell fat. > > > > http://map.findu.com/ke1lb-14 Good Stuff, Trucks Bring It!! > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Sat, 3 Nov 2007 16:39:04 -0700 "c cooper" writes:

> The best high amp stator I found is sold by Electro-Sport. My > entirely > non-valid statistical sample showed a failure rate higher than I am > willing > to live with. Especially on a bike I have gone places I would not > want to > try to walk out of. I chose to leave the stock stator in, and > replace tail, > instrument cluster incandescent bulbs with LED's. > > With my GPS, relayed heat grips on high, relayed halogen headlight > on high, > two-way radio plugged in, AutoCom intercom plugged in and MP3 > player > charging, my handy-dandy aftermarket charge indicator indicates > positive > charge even when idling. If I turn the turn signals on, the charge > indicator > flashes to red in synch with the turn signal. Other than that, the > charging > system will handle everything I'm wired for. > > Now that I think about it though, I don't think the fan was on > while > checking charging at idle. It's possible that the fan would put me > over > charging capacity at idle. I know it wasn't a problem riding up the > Continental Divide this fall though... > > Regards, > > Chuck

<><><><><><><> <><><><><><><> Chuck, Below is part of a post I wrote on 31 Oct, 2005. I think you're correct that the fan would put you over the edge. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ******* ******* Beginning of Old Post Since this seems to be of interest to quite a few folks, I just got back from my shop where I did a few electrical tests on MY bike. Here's what I did. I used a Craftsman digital multimeter number 82139, which has a 10 amp range and goes on sale pretty regularly at Sears for about $19. I pulled the side covers and seat so I could get to the top of the battery and the white wire coming off the positive post. I hooked the meter up for the 10 amp range and connected it in SERIES at the bullet connector for the white wire. Please remember I've done a few electrical changes to my bike so you may get a different reading on yours. But these readings should be close. - With the headlight off, key on, I got a reading of 1.51 amps. I think this only taillight & instrument lights. - With the headlight on, key on, I got a reading of 5.43 amps. Low beam drawing 3.92 amps. - With the headlight on high beam, key on I got a reading of 6.10 amps. High beam drawing 4.59 amps. - With the headlight off, key on, fan on, I got a reading of 3.83 amps. Fan drawing 2.32 amps. - With the headlight off, key on, horn blowing, I got a reading of 3.08 amps. Horn drawing 1.57 amps. - With the headlight off, key on, Dual Star LED Brake light on, I got a reading of 1.93 amps. LED brake light drawing 0.42 amps. - My heated grips are on a different circuit and I got readings of 1.55 amps and 2.75 amps. - My Gr8 Design heated vest pulled 2.21 amps. - I didn't test my heated gloves. My battery was reading about 12.05 volts. Yes I know I'm on the verge of battery failure. Thank you very much. : ) The factory manual says the alternator puts out 14 amps @ 8,000 rpm at 14 volts. Remember the conversion is amps x volts = watts. So 14 amps x 14 volts = 196 watts at 8,000 rpm @ 14 volts The KLR engine I understand uses a magneto type system so that doesn't put a drain on the battery or charging system. So when my bike is running down the road here's what I suppose I'm using electrically: Normal instrument lights, tail light (remember I have a dual star LED rear light, I suppose the stock uses maybe 0.8 amp [8-12 watts] more) and headlight (mine is stock at 55 watts). That adds up as follows: - Normal instrument lights & tail light = 1.51 amps @ 12.05 volts - Headlight on low beam = 3.92 amps @ 12.05 volts TOTAL = 5.43 amps @ 12.05 volts Converted to watts that is 5.43 amps x 12.05 volts = 65.43 watts - If you are running a stock high beam headlight, that uses 5 more watts and increases use to 70.43 watts. - Apply the brakes and you are using an additional 0.42 amps or 0.42 amps x 12.05 volts = 5.05 watts. - Blow the horn and it takes an additional 1.57 amps or 1.57 amps x 12.05 volts = 19.63 watts. So, I suppose a KLR running down the road without extra lights, heated grips or other accessories, but running high beam, applying the brakes and blowing the horn is using about 95 watts. This should probably leave (I'm guessing here) about 100 watts for other stuff if you're having a real good day and your charging system is working well. But, since the brake light and horn are not used all the time you are probably really only using about 70-75 watts*. For most folks that probably leaves a solid 100 watts to play with. But your battery better be in good shape and you must be keeping the rpms up and running long enough to charge the battery after cranking. Someone on this list I think recently stated it takes about 1 minute of charging for each second of cranking. If you are using all your charging capability to make extra electrical stuff work, your battery won't be getting charged. *If you have a stock tail/brake light you should probably add 8-12 watts to the total. End of Old Post ******** ********

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, D Critchley wrote:

> > Jennifer was current when I first started with this group. I

thought

> that it was great that the group was so informative, but not so

pedantic

> as to be a bunch of motorcycle geeks. That is a good point to

remember

> when the occasional writer starts in on the theme of "No NKLR stuff > should be allowed", "Technical disscussions only", etc: We all

need a

> bit of fun now and then. > Cordially > DC >

That's right DC, fun and mudslinging! And the mudslinging I like best on this list, is being told that their 11 Y/O son (mine) roosted them on his 'pre-KLR' XR-100. Mudslinging and roosted with mud is OK...I have learned to give him a little more space when he leads and climbs a rock-strewn trail. Hopefully I can get another beating tomorrow. smile. I did install a 'trail' or dualsport mirror on the little bike for my son. It increased his lookout ability and enjoyment of the ride considerably. revmaaatin.