nklr psycho scooter ride on youtube

[Jud Jones]

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

> > Some of you will recall my earlier post stating that my 08 KLR 650 > had a engine seizure on the freeway. I subsequently had my bike towed > to the dealer and was trying to get Kawasaki to honor the warranty > (which was still valid at that time) for what I believe is a > manufacturers defect. I believe that the bike simply used up way too > much oil. Kawasaki's claim is that I abused the bike by not checking > on the oil. For my part : > > 1. I got the bike serviced at 700 miles. > > 2. At 2200 miles, I noticed the engine oil was very low, so I > replaced the existing oil (about 500cc left in the bike at that time) > and put in 2.5 ltrs. > > 3. I took an appointment for the 4000 mile service and was hoping to > bring up the issue with the dealer. > > 4. Day before I was bring in my appointment, the bike quit. > > While I agree, that I should check my oil level every single day ( > as also the brakes, the tires, the lights, the weather...), I do not > believe that a 4 stroke bike that has only been ever used for > commuting should use up 2.5 liters of oil in little over 1800 miles. > > That I believe is a manufacturer's defect and is a major safety > concern. > > I truely believe Kawasaki needs to address the issue with oil > consumption on the bike. What do you guys think ? >

I think you need to fine tune your statement of facts a little more before you present it to kawasaki.

[michael stecyk]

dear list i was just about to buy 08 now i m spooked mike

On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 6:56 PM, AnanthR wrote: > Some of you will recall my earlier post stating that my 08 KLR 650 > had a engine seizure on the freeway. I subsequently had my bike towed > to the dealer and was trying to get Kawasaki to honor the warranty > (which was still valid at that time) for what I believe is a > manufacturers defect. I believe that the bike simply used up way too > much oil. Kawasaki's claim is that I abused the bike by not checking > on the oil. For my part : > > 1. I got the bike serviced at 700 miles. > > 2. At 2200 miles, I noticed the engine oil was very low, so I > replaced the existing oil (about 500cc left in the bike at that time) > and put in 2.5 ltrs. > > 3. I took an appointment for the 4000 mile service and was hoping to > bring up the issue with the dealer. > > 4. Day before I was bring in my appointment, the bike quit. > > While I agree, that I should check my oil level every single day ( > as also the brakes, the tires, the lights, the weather...), I do not > believe that a 4 stroke bike that has only been ever used for > commuting should use up 2.5 liters of oil in little over 1800 miles. > > That I believe is a manufacturer's defect and is a major safety > concern. > > I truely believe Kawasaki needs to address the issue with oil > consumption on the bike. What do you guys think ? > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Russell Scott" wrote:

> > The new fuel injection they are using in the dirt bikes doesn't need

any of

> that stuff. Hopefully they will adapt it to the KLR soon.

Those are race bikes. They get re-built after every race. And not only is the fuel pump in the gas tank, but the fuel filter is integral to the fuel pump, so you can't even change the fuel filter when it gets dirty, you gotta replace the whole fuel pump! I'm talking about the Suzuki RM-Z450, of course, but my point applies to every currently-extant fuel injected motorcycle from any vendor except that most non-Suzuki vendors at least have the sense to have a replaceable fuel filter. What is appropriate for a racing motorcycle where maximum horsepower and tractability are what you need to win is not particularly appropriate when you're in the middle of Baja and get a batch of bad gas. Instead of dumping the contents of the float bowl and maybe back-flushing your inline filter to get the gunk out of it (or even replacing it -- a coin-sized inline filter is real easy to carry as a spare and costs a couple bucks max), you end up with something you simply can't field-repair because there is a high likelihood that you burned out your fuel pump and fuel pumps cost $100+ and are fairly bulky so you darn well aren't carrying one as a spare. So I'm going to stick to good ole' gravity-feed carburetors on my dual-sport bikes, thank you very much. No fuel pump to burn out, easy to field repair as much as is necessary to get it back going again if you got a batch of bad gas, doesn't quit running if the voltage regulator dies and kills the battery, and just generally better suited for a motorcycle that's intended to go places where there ain't no MoTow. I love my big two-cylinder fuel injected bike, but I'm not going to venture far off pavement on the thing, and certainly wouldn't take it to Baja. That's where you want something simple, durable, bulletproof. Like a pre-'08 KLR, or (hopefully) an '09 KLR. -E

[smthng else]

On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 12:35 AM, michael stecyk wrote:

> dear list > i was just about to buy 08 now i m spooked mike

I'm not trying to downplay AnanthR's issue (which truly sucks), but... I have an '08 with about 4000 miles on it. I am nice to it in the garage, but I'm NOT nice to it once the key is in the ignition. I tear up our HOV lanes on the way into the office every morning and I know that my sexy blue K will hit 100 mph on the GPS if I *really* push it. I ate up both stock tires in about 3000 miles. It's not uncommon for me to go looking for more throttle and find that I'm already WFO. I'm not bragging, just giving you some idea of how hard I ride the K. I have *NEVER* had to top up the oil. I replaced it at 50 miles, 300 miles, 1000 miles and 3000 miles. I'll probably now go 3000 between changes. It gets a new filter every time and I put in a magnetic drain plug at 300 miles. I lube the chain regularly and I check oil and coolant about once a week. The oil turns black pretty quick, but it stays in there and does its job. I'm sure that some of the '08's have an issue with oil burning. There have been too many reports of consumption for it to be a fluke. But, don't assume they're all like that. Most are just fine. Even the ones that do eat oil don't have a problem running. If you get a burner, top it up until its bad enough for a dealer to take care of it. Others have reported that dealers/Kawa will "do the right thing" if it's clearly an issue. It sucks to get a flawed bike, but this particular issue isn't that bad if you're a diligent owner. It's not like this is the first bike redesign with issues (FJRs ticked, BMWs blew up rear drives, etc.). Kawi will fix it if you truly do get a burner. Just do your regular checks and carry a quart of oil if you're on a long trip (I do this even on my other bike with 40,000 miles on it). Just don't assume from a couple of reports on teh interwebs that all of them suck. That's definitely not the case. --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 "If I'd known it was harmless, I would have killed it myself."

[Mike Grace]

>>I'm sure that some of the '08's have an issue with oil burning. There

have been too many reports of consumption for it to be a fluke. But, don't assume they're all like that. Most are just fine. Even the ones that do eat oil don't have a problem running. If you get a burner, top it up until its bad enough for a dealer to take care of it. Others have reported that dealers/Kawa will "do the right thing" if it's clearly an issue.

[nakedwaterskier]

LA to SF for the SF Vintage Scoot Rally. It is not I! My hemis couldn't handle it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6sRAlQW0FY&feature=email Jeffrey