encounter with the tire distributor

[jbdrury@aol.com]

I bought a 1988 KLR650 that has been sitting in a garage not started in 2 years. I have: replaced battery, bought new air filter, oil filter, changed oil, taken carburetor apart and sprayed carb cleaner through and through it.I have cleaned the fuel tap, replaced gas, replaced fuel hoses. I can't get the bike to idle. I have ridden it for a total of 6 miles now. It won't idle. I hace tried carb with main jet screwed in all the way and with pilot jet screwed in all the way and with pilot jet backed off one full turn. I have played with the idle adjust screw. The bike starts and is ok when I am revving it but dies when it settles down to try to idle. I am amlost ready to declare defeat and give up and take it to the dealer for service. Anybody with any suggestions? Also, spark plug replaced. I don't know anything about checking the engine timing.

[Steve Anderson]

While at my local mc parts accessory shop today; these guys have been treating me very well, although they aren't so good at finding some of the KLR specific parts, I ran into the tire distributor. This topic really is a religion. I was asking the distributor and the owner of the shop their thoughts on tires for the KLR. I have gone through an awful lot of tires, and certainly have my own thoughts, but I'm always open to listening to other "seasoned" parties. The shop owner suggests running the cheapest knobby, burn 'em up throw 'em out. He doesn't care about riding 100's of miles on the street however. The tire distributor suggests only running premium tires with very stiff sidewalls on something as heavy as the KLR. What you actually try to ride such a heavy bike in the sand? In steep loose terrain? Are you crazy? This really is a religion.... Steve (not trying to take any of it too seriously) Anderson