digest number 5804

[Steve Hersant]

I agree with Eric that the taller windshield seems to make side gusts easier to handle. The bike scared the devil out of me when I first bought it and hit some good gusts. As for riding over a windy bridge...I still think it's safer to slow to your comfort level than ride to keep up with traffic. The deflection at slow speed is a lot less than at speed and gives you more chance to react. It obviously makes sense to be dressed in bright clothing and visible. I don't understand the popularity of black. You may get tailgated, but at least you are going the speed you can handle. I recently hit a construction zone with 4 klms. of freshly grooved pavement. My younger and fearless companion (the swine)went ahead with no problem while I puttered along with a hundred cars behind me ! I hate to slow traffic, but hope people understand. If they don't ..too bad..at least I'm not riding beyond my comfort zone. Steve

[brucwms@aol.com]

Coming back to Ohio from Montana, we rode Route 2, all the way to the UP of Michigan. The wind was so bad, that we had visible tire wear on one side from leaning into the wind. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Steve Hersant]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, brucwms@a... wrote:

> Coming back to Ohio from Montana, we rode Route 2, all the way to

the UP of

> Michigan. The wind was so bad, that we had visible tire wear on

one side from

> leaning into the wind.

Wow..that sounds like a downer as you'd have to return the same way to balance wear on the tires ! I hope you had a steady wind and not gusts ? I'm no fan of the KLR in wind...it seems to sail. Steve

[tomgpdx]

A technique that I've used for years on everything from sport bikes to big touring bikes is to hang my knee out into the air stream on the up wind side of the bike. It looks kinda like the road racers getting set to tip into a turn. It seems to cock the bike slightly and makes it far more stable in cross winds. Then just grab the throttle and go like stink. Tom Fresno, CA aka Yakville

[identek]

Who gives a shit. After owning my A6 now for 12 years, it seems as though I was born with it attached to my ass. I thwow it around; it throws me around; hell, lanes are about 9' foot wide, aren't they? -----Original Message----- From: Steve Hersant [mailto:shersant2003@...] Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 9:35 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: Wind riding

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, brucwms@a... wrote: > Coming back to Ohio from Montana, we rode Route 2, all the way to the UP of > Michigan. The wind was so bad, that we had visible tire wear on one side from > leaning into the wind. Wow..that sounds like a downer as you'd have to return the same way to balance wear on the tires ! I hope you had a steady wind and not gusts ? I'm no fan of the KLR in wind...it seems to sail. Steve List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links

[Ramey]

Wait a minute!!!! What about technique? Style? Issues of attitude? Comraderie, sharing and caring? Much less safety, considerations and verbage. I'm glad you have communed so successfully with your A6. -----Original Message----- From: identek [mailto:identek@...] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:57 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] Re: Wind riding Who gives a shit. After owning my A6 now for 12 years, it seems as though I was born with it attached to my ass. I thwow it around; it throws me around; hell, lanes are about 9' foot wide, aren't they? -----Original Message----- From: Steve Hersant [mailto:shersant2003@...] Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 9:35 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: Wind riding

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, brucwms@a... wrote: > Coming back to Ohio from Montana, we rode Route 2, all the way to the UP of > Michigan. The wind was so bad, that we had visible tire wear on one side from > leaning into the wind. Wow..that sounds like a downer as you'd have to return the same way to balance wear on the tires ! I hope you had a steady wind and not gusts ? I'm no fan of the KLR in wind...it seems to sail. Steve List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links

[Stanford Johnsey]

He is right. Riding in strong cross winds is not a big deal unless you make it a bike deal. I live in South Texas and the wind is blowin' a gale most of the time. If you just relax and let the bike flop around you will be just fine. (See Keith Code's, Twist of the Wrist II) You don't need to worry about leanin' over too far 'til the pegs start scraping.You can minimize the KLR sensitivity to wind somewhat by removing the hand guards, trimming back the front fender, moving the fork tubes down until the top of the cap is flush with the top of the top tripple clamp and setting the rear preload as soft as your load will allow. Big truck and bridges and such that stop the wind suddenly are what is interesting. After a while it is like second nature, a lot like driving an old VW Beetle. Ramey wrote: Wait a minute!!!! What about technique? Style? Issues of attitude? Comraderie, sharing and caring? Much less safety, considerations and verbage. I'm glad you have communed so successfully with your A6. -----Original Message----- From: identek [mailto:identek@...] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:57 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] Re: Wind riding Who gives a shit. After owning my A6 now for 12 years, it seems as though I was born with it attached to my ass. I thwow it around; it throws me around; hell, lanes are about 9' foot wide, aren't they? -----Original Message----- From: Steve Hersant [mailto:shersant2003@...] Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 9:35 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: Wind riding

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, brucwms@a... wrote: > Coming back to Ohio from Montana, we rode Route 2, all the way to the UP of > Michigan. The wind was so bad, that we had visible tire wear on one side from > leaning into the wind. Wow..that sounds like a downer as you'd have to return the same way to balance wear on the tires ! I hope you had a steady wind and not gusts ? I'm no fan of the KLR in wind...it seems to sail. Steve List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Meet the all-new My Yahoo! Try it today! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[identek]

Yes, right, thank you! Here is what to do to get less "sensitive" about the KLR. It is a hell of a wheelie machine, so continually (or at ever chance) hang mile-long wheelies. You handle getting that bitch in the air and get used to seein' nothin' but that big ass tank and lane stripes going by, a little wind won't bother you after gaining that kind of confidence. Only problem is that the top-end oil drain line starts depositing your expen$ive oil on to your polished rear rim (we ALL DO keep our KLR's shiny, right?) and makes a mess of things, in general. And, a ticket sucks too, but it's been years since I received one. Tim (in Texas too) -----Original Message----- From: Stanford Johnsey [mailto:swjohnsey666@...] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 11:25 PM To: Ramey; DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] Re: Wind riding He is right. Riding in strong cross winds is not a big deal unless you make it a bike deal. I live in South Texas and the wind is blowin' a gale most of the time. If you just relax and let the bike flop around you will be just fine. (See Keith Code's, Twist of the Wrist II) You don't need to worry about leanin' over too far 'til the pegs start scraping.You can minimize the KLR sensitivity to wind somewhat by removing the hand guards, trimming back the front fender, moving the fork tubes down until the top of the cap is flush with the top of the top tripple clamp and setting the rear preload as soft as your load will allow. Big truck and bridges and such that stop the wind suddenly are what is interesting. After a while it is like second nature, a lot like driving an old VW Beetle. Ramey wrote: Wait a minute!!!! What about technique? Style? Issues of attitude? Comraderie, sharing and caring? Much less safety, considerations and verbage. I'm glad you have communed so successfully with your A6. -----Original Message----- From: identek [mailto:identek@...] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:57 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] Re: Wind riding Who gives a shit. After owning my A6 now for 12 years, it seems as though I was born with it attached to my ass. I thwow it around; it throws me around; hell, lanes are about 9' foot wide, aren't they? -----Original Message----- From: Steve Hersant [mailto:shersant2003@...] Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 9:35 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: Wind riding

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, brucwms@a... wrote: > Coming back to Ohio from Montana, we rode Route 2, all the way to the UP of > Michigan. The wind was so bad, that we had visible tire wear on one side from > leaning into the wind. Wow..that sounds like a downer as you'd have to return the same way to balance wear on the tires ! I hope you had a steady wind and not gusts ? I'm no fan of the KLR in wind...it seems to sail. Steve List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Meet the all-new My Yahoo! Try it today! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links

[telliott@aol.com]

I live near Nashville. I like to join in if we can get one somewhere close enough. Terry 93 KLR 95 KLX (X2) 86 BMW R80G/S PD In a message dated 12/09/2004 11:11:23 AM Central Standard Time, DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com writes:

> Message: 20 > Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 16:39:06 -0000 > From: "Joseph Jones" > Subject: Re: Doohickey party? > > > > I would like to join in on this party!!! It would be nice to see it > done before I try to tackle the job myself, although I won't do it > for 6 more months (after waranty is up). > It sounds like we need a "Jullian Wrench Fest" somewhere in the > South East. (KY TN GA NC SC area) > Joe A18 Se Ky > > > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Robert Wayne > wrote: > > I'm getting my new doohickey in a day or two. Is there anyone in > the Chattanooga, TN area that would want to join me in the near > future. Got the tools and garage but a little short on brains! > > >

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]