Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Sat Oct 25, 2003 10:00 pm**

Greetings all, I'm fairly new to the KLR fold, and I've been lurking here for a few months, gleaning info from all of you guys. This group really is fantastic, and the various websites that people have created for the KLR are really invaluable. I have an A16 which I bought for $3800 used with 1200 mi on it. It now has 4000 mi on it. Background on me - riding for 20 years, sold my CBR600 F3 to get the KLR. I'm 5'4" with a 29" inseam. I shaved the seat but left the rest of the bike at the stock height. So far, I have: -Broken the rear brake bracket. Replaced with the Dual Star bracket and guard. -Added the Dual Star radiator guard. -Added Maier barkbusters and cups. -Added a front SS brake line, changed to Galfer Green pads, and added the Cyclebrakes 320mm rotor (in that order) So the front brakes thing was a problem for me, especially coming off of a sportbike. The stock brakes on the KLR were really not confidence inspiring, especially here in San Francisco. I would get brake fade going down many hills here. So the first thing I did was to replace the front brake line. This improved feel and initial bite, but the fade was still pronounced with any really aggresive braking. The Galfer Green pads also improved bite, but didn't really help fade. The new rotor didn't make a big difference in initial braking, but man! - much less fade, and when I really grab the brakes, instead of just howling, I can do stoppies. Plus, there is much less fade. I may be a little aggressive on the brakes since I'm a reformed (reforming?) sport bike rider, but I'm much, much happier with the brakes on my KLR now. Now I think I want to get new fork springs... -S

Posted: **Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:38 pm**

"Judson D. Jones" writes:

>Thanks to everyone who came out and provided an entertaining >day of wrenching and schmoozing, and to Gary Charpentier, who >not only did the organizational heavy lifting, but also brought the >beer. The German automobile hulks in the side yard sculpture >garden lent an atmosphere of post-industrial decay while >serving as leaning posts for the victim KLRs. >

Thanks to Jud for his "hostility" in providing the get-acquainted coffee hour at the "Daily Grind" followed by the "wrenching" experience in the aforementioned atmosphere of "post-industrial decay" within the shadows cast by his home and other items in the yard - all on the UN's register of world cultural heirlooms. Thanks to Gary for going first in the sequence of scheduled surgeries and to other friends providing encouragement and witticisms along the way. Last, but not least, thanks to "Jonzee" for the many big wet kisses. (The latter must remain the tightly kept secret of this Twin Cities doohickey event! Listers everywhere else, eat your heart out!)

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Wilsons Sandbox

twin cities doohickey session.

another take on the front brake

twin cities doohickey session.