yet another klr video.

[RM]

On Wed, 24 Apr 2002, Conall O'Brien wrote:

>could explain why it works. Instead of having your knee in tight in >front of you and up against the gas tank, swivel your thigh so your knee >is pointing sideways towards the crosswind. Somebody else try it and >tell me if it works.

I've tried the knee-out thing several times and it didn't do a damn thing except make me look like I'm trying to cool Da Boyz off a little bit. Beats me.

[ridecaptan]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., RM wrote:

> > On Wed, 24 Apr 2002, Conall O'Brien wrote: > > >could explain why it works. Instead of having your knee in tight

in

> >front of you and up against the gas tank, swivel your thigh so

your knee

> >is pointing sideways towards the crosswind. Somebody else try it

and

> >tell me if it works. > > I've tried the knee-out thing several times and it didn't do a

damn thing

> except make me look like I'm trying to cool Da Boyz off a little

bit. Ha Ha, that gave me a chuckle. Ed A15

> Beats me.

[be_downn]

I used the bike to commute to work yesterday and the crosswinds were howling like banshees. I could not hold my position. Several times it felt like the wind lifted the bike and moved it 2 feet to the side. This so unnerved me that I had to run for cover onto the shoulder and ride the shoulder at 20 mph. The curious thing was that other, larger bikes passed me at hwy speed with seemingly little notice of the wind. When I got back home it occured to me that maybe the problem was with the tires. I still have the original Dunlops which probably don't grip very well in crosswinds to begin with; and I think I compounded the problem by inflating them to 28psi front and 34psi rear (Hey, I thought I was smarter than the guy who wrote the owners' manual.) I'm going to reduce the air pressure by 10 psi in each tire and see if that helps. Then I'm switching to strictly street tires (any recommendations?). Then I'm going to install 1.5" lowering links. If all that doesn't solve the problem I'm getting rid of my KLR and buying a Guzzi. I've still got young'ns at home who need a father. D.M.

[Gord Mounce]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but to everyone who is trying to cure this KLR problem by cutting their front fender, fitting lowering links, removing the hand guards, fitting street tires, ditching their Givi luggage, telling their passenger to lose weight, fitting stiffer springs etc etc - well, it seems to me that the only people who are fighting this problem are the people with a little less riding experience. The bike is light. It gets pushed around a little in high winds. It's not a design fault - it's just a relatively light bike with a big side profile. Tire pressure or street vs dual purpose tires don't have anything to do with it. Don't you find the bike almost `automatically' leans into the wind anyway? Like I said earlier - sorry if I sound like a jerk with this, because I certainly don't want to sound high-and-mighty or imply that I'm a better rider or anything stupid like that. But we all ride the same bike, yet only some folks are bothered by this `problem.' I don't want to sound superior - I just don't want to see anyone tearing into their bike and wasting their money just cuz it's windy out. And yes, I do live in a very windy part of the world.... gord

[Tony Cornett]

Our bikes also sit up higher giving a broader profile and more area to affect. I was out in the wind yesterday and put 190 miles on my bike. Was it as comfortable as no wind? No but each time I ride in the wind I learn a little more about my bike. You may have to very your speeds or if it gets too bad I do not ride. Safety always first. I would hate to see another KLR owner sell his bike but if you ride strictly on the road and do not feel comfortable that would be an option. If the winds are high enough the will also push that Guzzi around. Good Luck TC

----- Original Message ----- From: "Gord Mounce" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 1:00 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Re: crosswinds > Please don't take this the wrong way, but to everyone who is trying to cure > this KLR problem by cutting their front fender, fitting lowering links, > removing the hand guards, fitting street tires, ditching their Givi luggage, > telling their passenger to lose weight, fitting stiffer springs etc etc - > well, it seems to me that the only people who are fighting this problem are > the people with a little less riding experience. The bike is light. It gets > pushed around a little in high winds. It's not a design fault - it's just a > relatively light bike with a big side profile. Tire pressure or street vs > dual purpose tires don't have anything to do with it. Don't you find the > bike almost `automatically' leans into the wind anyway? > > Like I said earlier - sorry if I sound like a jerk with this, because I > certainly don't want to sound high-and-mighty or imply that I'm a better > rider or anything stupid like that. But we all ride the same bike, yet only > some folks are bothered by this `problem.' I don't want to sound superior - > I just don't want to see anyone tearing into their bike and wasting their > money just cuz it's windy out. > > And yes, I do live in a very windy part of the world.... > gord > > > > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

[judjonzz]

I don't think those tire pressures would contribute to any instability in crosswinds, nor do I think your problem is insufficient grip. Higher tire pressures would tend to stabilize the bike by stiffening the sidewalls And your tires will not begin to reach their limit of adhesion as a result of crosswinds. I suspect the problem is a result of a combination of factors: tall soft suspension, a broad profile to the wind, whippy forks, and a riding position that tends to unload the front wheel. Some improvement has been reported from fork braces and stiffer fork springs. I suspect that lower, narrower bars might also help. --- In DSN_klr650@y..., "be_downn" wrote:

> I used the bike to commute to work yesterday and the

crosswinds were

> howling like banshees. I could not hold my position. Several

times it

> felt like the wind lifted the bike and moved it 2 feet to the side. > This so unnerved me that I had to run for cover onto the

shoulder and

> ride the shoulder at 20 mph. The curious thing was that other,

larger

> bikes passed me at hwy speed with seemingly little notice of

the wind.

> When I got back home it occured to me that maybe the

problem was with

> the tires. I still have the original Dunlops which probably don't

grip

> very well in crosswinds to begin with; and I think I compounded

the

> problem by inflating them to 28psi front and 34psi rear (Hey, I > thought I was smarter than the guy who wrote the owners'

manual.) I'm

> going to reduce the air pressure by 10 psi in each tire and see

if

> that helps. Then I'm switching to strictly street tires (any > recommendations?). Then I'm going to install 1.5" lowering

links. If

> all that doesn't solve the problem I'm getting rid of my KLR and > buying a Guzzi. I've still got young'ns at home who need a

father.

> D.M.

[RM]

On Mon, 3 Jun 2002, be_downn wrote:

>problem by inflating them to 28psi front and 34psi rear (Hey, I thought >I was smarter than the guy who wrote the owners' manual.) I'm going to >reduce the air pressure by 10 psi in each tire and see if that helps. >Then I'm switching to strictly street tires (any recommendations?). Then >I'm going to install 1.5" lowering links. If all that doesn't solve the >problem I'm getting rid of my KLR and buying a Guzzi. I've still got >young'ns at home who need a father.

Some in that list, add "increase front preload" and let us know if you ever do it and how it works.

[mnron2002]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., RM wrote:

> > On Mon, 3 Jun 2002, be_downn wrote: > > >problem by inflating them to 28psi front and 34psi rear (Hey, I

thought

> >I was smarter than the guy who wrote the owners' manual.) I'm

going to

> >reduce the air pressure by 10 psi in each tire and see if that

helps.

> >Then I'm switching to strictly street tires (any

recommendations?). Then

> >I'm going to install 1.5" lowering links. If all that doesn't

solve the

> >problem I'm getting rid of my KLR and buying a Guzzi. I've still

got

> >young'ns at home who need a father. > > Some in that list, add "increase front preload" and let us know if

you

> ever do it and how it works.

I'm kind of "outside the box" with this suggestion, but I did it with my '93, and with my '02. I have about 1/2" of the fork tube sticking out above the top triple clamp. I may even go to 3/4". I did this to get a better feel from the front end on faster sweepers and corners. Now, I mostly ride on the road, and I in no way want to suggest that you do this. BUT, for me it makes my bike handle the way I want it to. Cross winds are a b**ch, but I think the bike handles them better with the front end lowered this way. Be careful, though as too much can be BAD!! It does make for a "faster" front end. Just my $.02 worth... MNRon

[RobertWichert]

F**king crosswinds. When, exactly, does the wind just pick the bike up like a kite and just blow it into the ditch? Lane splitting in a crosswind - Not Recommended.

    Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068          

[Harry Seifert]

When, exactly????  Whenever you're riding your KLR.  On my streetified '99, i removed the knuckle warmers and shrunk the front wheel to 18".  It's now very stable in the crosswinds created by the Santa Ana's that blow through here every fall and winter.  A hell of a lot more stable than my son's Cessna 172. Lane splitting can be a real adventure in crosswinds with any bike. Robert, what kind of engineer are you?  Civil, electrical, sanitary..........I'm looking for a really good Civil Engineer or civil engineering co.

On Jul 17, 2010, at 6:07 AM, RobertWichert wrote: F**king crosswinds. When, exactly, does the wind just pick the bike up like a kite and just blow it into the ditch? Lane splitting in a crosswind - Not Recommended. Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068