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klr reliability
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2002 9:14 pm
by TexasThumpin@aol.com
I've been doing a lot of thinking about this, and it puzzles me. Many people
experience problems with the balancer, with the fuses, with the wiring, with
the carburetor, etc. I began to wonder, no insult intended, that perhaps you
guys suffering these anomalies may be pushing your bikes too hard, expecting
more than they were designed to give.
Many years ago, I got lucky and won a raffle at a Laguna Seca Grand Prix
race. I was invited, with my guest, to the VIP tower. There I met a rep from
Kawasaki, plus others. Well, anyway, we started chatting about the KLR
because I had ridden mine up the coast to the races. During our conversation
it just kind of became clear to me, that Kawasaki designed the KLR 650 to be
a general all purpose bike. Not a lot of power, not a lot of goodies, not a
lot of tooling expenditures. I have read on this list that many members like
to ride their KLR WFO. Or steaking down the interstate between 80 and a 100
mph. Could it just possibly be that your riding style is not built into the
KLR in the first place? I don't want to anger anyone, but I am beginning to
suspect that long miles at high speed are very bad for this bike. That one
big piston slamming up and down so damn fast, just to get up to say 80 mph.
It was just something I was thinking about today and thought I'd share it
with you.
I need some help. My computer crapped out on me and I had to reload this damn
AOL. I lost the info about the shock. Someone sent me some info about someone
named Bell in El Cajon, California? Was that you Jake? Well, whoever it was,
please send it again. I need a shock that is as easily adjustable as the
stock shock is, but I need much better performance. Any help is greatly
appreciated.
Ride Safe, Ride Hard.
Jim
Texas Thumpin
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
klr reliability
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2002 10:20 pm
by Jim Franklin
On Wed, Jan 09, 2002 at 10:14:51PM -0500, TexasThumpin@... wrote:
>mph. Could it just possibly be that your riding style is not built into the
>KLR in the first place? I don't want to anger anyone, but I am beginning to
>suspect that long miles at high speed are very bad for this bike. That one
>big piston slamming up and down so damn fast, just to get up to say 80 mph.
>It was just something I was thinking about today and thought I'd share it
>with you.
80mph?? That's commuting where I live. I have almost 40K of hard miles
on mine and all I have to show for it is an oil leak. Somewhere %-(
Oh, and shot suspension.
Stock the bike is so strangled it can, and has, run all day WFO. And still
gotten 45mpg.
jim
klr reliability
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2002 11:53 pm
by Guest
>Well, anyway, we started chatting about the KLR
>because I had ridden mine up the coast to the races. During our
conversation
>it just kind of became clear to me, that Kawasaki designed the KLR 650 to
be
>a general all purpose bike.
>Could it just possibly be that your riding style is not built into the
>KLR in the first place?
I think the missing keword is inexpensive... The reasons you can buy the KLR
for less than 60% of the cost of an F650-Dakar or KTM adventure are: 1. Less
expensive parts, like a shock that isn't great, cheap
pegs,handlebars,springs, etc, etc. etc, and 2. No redesign or product
improvements, other than bold new graphics every few years and a very long
model run. Think about how a 15 year old sport bike would hold up with the
competition? Some of this shows up when used hard, but many of the problems
also seem easily overcome with comparatively inexpensive aftermarket parts.
klr reliability
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 8:19 pm
by garpoonga
I've been researching the world of Dual Sport bikes for a while now
and settled on the KLR because it seems to be to be the best out
there that a normal working person can easily afford. I've read
nothing but good things about how reliable the bike is. This
doohickey thing has now gotten me rather worried. I can't dump 6000
for a bike and be worried about the engine going on me every time I
head out.
Is this an easy field repair if you have a new part with you ? The
chain guides in my toyota was rather simple once all the "stuff" was
out of the way.
Is there a normal time that you would change the parts according to
the maintence schedule that would prevent breakage. ie the way
timing belts have to be changed at x number of KM.
did I make the right choice with this bike ??????
klr reliability
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 12:52 am
by wingrj@aol.com
In a message dated 7/14/02 18:20:08, garpoonga@... writes:
>This doohickey thing has now gotten me rather worried. I can't dump 6000
>for a bike and be worried about the engine going on me every time I
>head out.
One of the readers of this lists tracked the ocurances; 12 out of 2000 = 0.6%
I bought a 1990KLR650 and retired it at 65,000 miles.
I found the dohicky to be maxed out at 65,000 miles and the chain in need of
replacement.
I curently have a 1995KLR650 at 45,000 and counting. Haven't looked at the
dohicky yet.
But at this milage, if the dohicky was going to be a problem, it would
presented itself by now.
I really don't think you have to worry about it.
The only consistant problem on these KLRs is that something differen goes
wrong on each KLR.
Viewed best
in the text font
'Courier'
___
/___\
(!* *!)
__\^-^/__
/ ___ \
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(__\=/ \=/__)
O=|_[ ]_|=O
Wish I could go through life
like I go through traffic
klr reliability
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 8:49 am
by mnron2002
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "garpoonga" wrote:
> I've been researching the world of Dual Sport bikes for a while now
> and settled on the KLR because it seems to be to be the best out
> there that a normal working person can easily afford. I've read
> nothing but good things about how reliable the bike is. This
> doohickey thing has now gotten me rather worried. I can't dump 6000
> for a bike and be worried about the engine going on me every time I
> head out.
>
> Is this an easy field repair if you have a new part with you ? The
> chain guides in my toyota was rather simple once all the "stuff"
was
> out of the way.
>
> Is there a normal time that you would change the parts according to
> the maintence schedule that would prevent breakage. ie the way
> timing belts have to be changed at x number of KM.
>
>
> did I make the right choice with this bike ??????
YES, you made the right choice. I'm on my second KLR, sold the first
one, and regretted it until I got another. I will be changing
my "doohickey" as a preventative measure when it arrives. This does
not affect all of the bikes, but is easy to remedy, especially if
done before something breaks...
Just my $.01 worth...
MNRon
klr reliability
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2002 11:09 am
by Tom Baumen
I seriously doubt that any manufacturer can build a single cylinder
motorcycle that will last 100,000 miles. It's just the nature of the
beast. One piston shakes things up. I really don't think even the BMW
F650 could do it. Anyway have you seriously considered how far 100,000
miles is and how long it would take you to ride that far on one bike
under normal use? Longer than you want to own it I guess.
The KLR is ,without much doubt, the bike that will go the farthest for
the least cost,providing you take care of it and correct the inherent
problems that are frequently address on this list such as the
DOOHICKEY replacement which takes all of about an hours to do if you
have the tools and confidence.
So I guess I am saying buy the KLR. If you could see mine you'd be
surprised how many miles are on it and I would take it anywhere right
now if need be.
Tom B
klr reliability
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2002 11:35 am
by Tony Cornett
At the present rate I should have 100,000 miles on my 2002 A-16 in about 3
years . I bought it new 4/10/02 and I am approaching 17,000 miles with a
doohickey and spring change. I wore out the stock tires a less than 1000
miles. I ride strictly on the road. I do not see a problem with 100,000 if
oil is changed at 1,500 miles and a new filter every change. It is a large
bore single but it has a counter balancer system that smoothes over a lot of
vibrations. I find it on most of my trips it is as smooth as most multi
cylinders. I ride at least 800 miles on the week-end. Good luck TC
courtesy of Chris Krok at:
www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html
nklr shark shooting..
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2002 11:20 pm
by Harry Thames
Regular bullets fired underwater stop in just a few feet. Guns such as the
GyroJet have a range of over one hundred yards underwater. Most of the
divers I know use bang sticks which are contact weapons. I've seen two Glock
20's that divers carry underwater but have never seen one used. The Russians
have a lazer aimed small caliber repeater that was designed to be used
underwater (just seen pictures of it). Spearguns rule the sea.
Harry
SC