Wilsons Sandbox

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., imperial-4776@w... wrote:

> Hello Everyone > > I would like to try and lose approx 20 to 30 lbs off my KLR. When I

drop

> my bike, I have a hard time struggling to right her, especally if

she is

> downed on any kind of an incline. > > I would be willing to swap out different parts, so long as the cost

to

> weight loss ratio was worth while. > > I thank you all in advance for any input on this matter. > > Dave > Salem OR > KLR 650 > Green Spit Fire

A plastic tank will save about 7 pounds. Remove the mini fairing, fram and headlight bucket and replace with a simple, plastic headlight shell and you will loose about 10 lbs. Gino

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., imperial-4776@w... wrote:

> Hello Everyone > > I would like to try and lose approx 20 to 30 lbs off my KLR. > > I would be willing to swap out different parts, so long as the cost

to weight loss ratio was worth while.

>

Start with the obvious...handlebars and exhaust. That stock muffler has to be about 20lbs on it's own (possible exaggeration but it IS damn heavy). Then just lose unnecessary stuff like passenger pegs, luggage rack. I seem to recall someone posting the weight difference between the 7 gal IMS tank and the stock as only a couple pounds but the 5.5 gal IMS tank might save you a little weight. Oh, yeah and of course the easiest way is to make sure your tank isn't full when going off-road (unless you need the range of course). dat brooklyn bum be forewarned, some people will tell you're being foolish trying shave weight off a bike that's over 300 lbs...

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., k650dsn@a... wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@y..., imperial-4776@w... wrote: > > Hello Everyone > > > > I would like to try and lose approx 20 to 30 lbs off my KLR. When

I

> drop > > my bike, I have a hard time struggling to right her, especally if > she is > > downed on any kind of an incline.

Don't forget to try the "behind the back" lifting technique. That helps alot. Gino

Not that I should talk (being 6'4" and 235+) but you might want to look at another area of the bike... namely the rider. Yeah yeah yeah, I know the KLR is a pig and I know how exhausting it is to be continually picking up the pig (ref: sugar sand riding), but any bike is going to be hard to pick up if you're not sufficiently strong enough! I am sure that others who do a lot of off-road riding can point out some excersizes that will help you handle that deabiliting weariness that one gets after a long hard offroad ride. I probably start with aerobic conditioning, then move to strength training (I never understood why most people valued strength over aerobic capacity... If you're too tired to lift the damn thing, it won't matter how damn strong you are!)... Also practice lifting the bike by squating with your back to the bike and driving it up with your quads. The KLR is not a light-weight and never will be... Pick up a DRZ400 if it bothers you too much. My 2 piasters worth. Z

> -----Original Message----- > From: imperial-4776@... [mailto:imperial-4776@...] > Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 12:54 PM > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_klr650] Diet time for my KLR > > > Hello Everyone > > I would like to try and lose approx 20 to 30 lbs off my KLR. > When I drop > my bike, I have a hard time struggling to right her, > especally if she is > downed on any kind of an incline. > > I would be willing to swap out different parts, so long as the cost to > weight loss ratio was worth while. > > I thank you all in advance for any input on this matter. > > Dave > Salem OR > KLR 650 > Green Spit Fire

Hah! foolish is GETTING a dirtbike that weighs over 300 lbs! Anyway, if your serious, I mean real serious about losing weight. Aftermarket exhaust, lose the passenger pegs, kickstand switch assembly, rear inner fender liner/ liscence plate holder(I did this and will get pictures of how it is mounted soon), luggage rack can go, turn signals can be replaced with shorties, pull the clear plastic shield from the fairing or lose the whole thing all together, there's a little baffle looking thing on the airbox intake(hey it all adds up!) cut the top of the airbox and rejet(bigger hole in the jet = less weight). I think the side scoops can go too, but I like those for crah protection. If your are mechanical, you can lighten exsisting parts that aren't structural with a drill. I wouldn't recommend removing the exhaust pipe shield, that was my first vibration related failure so I took it off. Boy! Did my leg get warm. -- In DSN_klr650@y..., guymanbro@e... wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@y..., imperial-4776@w... wrote: > > Hello Everyone > > > > I would like to try and lose approx 20 to 30 lbs off my KLR. > > > > I would be willing to swap out different parts, so long as the

cost

> to weight loss ratio was worth while. > > > > Start with the obvious...handlebars and exhaust. That stock muffler > has to be about 20lbs on it's own (possible exaggeration but it IS > damn heavy). Then just lose unnecessary stuff like passenger pegs, > luggage rack. I seem to recall someone posting the weight

difference

> between the 7 gal IMS tank and the stock as only a couple pounds

but

> the 5.5 gal IMS tank might save you a little weight. Oh, yeah and

of

> course the easiest way is to make sure your tank isn't full when > going off-road (unless you need the range of course). > > dat brooklyn bum > > be forewarned, some people will tell you're being foolish trying > shave weight off a bike that's over 300 lbs...

Buy a KLX650 or a XR650, or a DRZ400. No sense trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. I've seen guys out on the trails with their fake silk purses. They get lots of strange looks, nobody wants to hang out with them. Ed Duvall, WA KLX650R No silk purses, no purses, no damn girly things on my bike what-so- ever!

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., imperial-4776@w... wrote: > Hello Everyone > > I would like to try and lose approx 20 to 30 lbs off my KLR. When I drop > my bike, I have a hard time struggling to right her, especally if she is > downed on any kind of an incline. > > I would be willing to swap out different parts, so long as the cost to > weight loss ratio was worth while. > > I thank you all in advance for any input on this matter. > > Dave > Salem OR > KLR 650 > Green Spit Fire

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Zachariah Mully" wrote:

> > Not that I should talk (being 6'4" and 235+) but you might

want to look

> at another area of the bike... namely the rider. Yeah yeah yeah, I

know

> the KLR is a pig and I know how exhausting it is to be continually > picking up the pig (ref: sugar sand riding), but any bike is going

to be

> hard to pick up if you're not sufficiently strong enough!

I was going to say this, but feared I might insult somebody an you all know how sensitive I am to that (LOL). Being a 160lb thin guy who runs all the time and does do much upper bosy exercise, I can tell you I can lift the KLR all day long using the behind the back technique. It pays to be in shape though, as a rider, you are more alert and don't tire as easily. Gino

> ... I have a hard time struggling to right her, especally if > she is downed on any kind of an incline...

A little advice from a 6'2 - 150lb - 35 year old - seen better days guy: Just practice picking up your bike in different ways. Just like riding, skill makes all the difference. I can whip my KLR up without much problem at all (even loaded with gear) and I don't walk around kicking sand on the scrawny people. (though, I've been picking up bikes from when I was 6 - doesn't say much for my riding ability does it You're right though, low-siding on an incline can be tough. Last time I did that (a few weeks back) I was waaayy out, riding trails a 650 has no right being on. (first gear - wiggle the handlebars through the trees kind of trail.) Tried to cross an off-camber log but was going too slow, when the skidplate hit it just tossed me off the side and we both fell over. (hey, I was tired...) Try picking up a bike low-sided in the brush that's also rocking on top of a log. In situations like that, I recommend turning the key off, removing your helmet, relax for a bit (you won't loose too much gas dribbling from the vent -- unless you've bypassed the vacuum petcock thing, then turn off the gas quick) and then try - nice and slow - various techniques to pick it up. I generally prefer to grab the handlebar grips and lift from there (you get the most leverage that way) but I'm not good at that when the bike is on it's right side. There, I use the right-side grip and the rear carrier, or sometimes, both hands on the same grip... Lift half way then brace it up on your thigh, reposition and catch your breath, then do the rest... Oh, try to make sure the bike is in gear. It's no fun picking a bike up and then having it roll away while you balance, catch your breath, and fumble for the brakes all at once. Another option is to drag the bike around so it's parallel with the slope, then pick it up. You just have to find what works for you, and the situation you're in. Anyway, enough rambling. Just practice, it gets easier. Dave... '90 since '90, Victoria, B.C. Canada

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., imperial-4776@w... wrote: > Hello Everyone > > I would like to try and lose approx 20 to 30 lbs off my KLR. When I drop > my bike, I have a hard time struggling to right her, especally if she is > downed on any kind of an incline. > > I would be willing to swap out different parts, so long as the cost to > weight loss ratio was worth while. > > I thank you all in advance for any input on this matter. > > Dave > Salem OR > KLR 650 > Green Spit Fire