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front fender mod
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:41 am
by Bryan Loehr
One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's not the greatest in windy conditions. There are times where I feel like the front wheel is being kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent posters have theorized that the front fender is part of the problem.
My question--does the stock front fender have to be as long as it is? Has anyone cut the fender back to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If so, what were the results? I know the risk of more water/mud in the face, but, let's talk about this.
Bryan
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
front fender mod
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:12 am
by kdxkawboy@aol.com
In a message dated 2004-06-24 11:19:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
bryanl@... writes:
>
> One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's not the greatest in windy
> conditions. There are times where I feel like the front wheel is being
> kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent posters have theorized that
> the front fender is part of the problem.
>
> My question--does the stock front fender have to be as long as it is? Has
> anyone cut the fender back to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If
> so, what were the results? I know the risk of more water/mud in the face,
> but, let's talk about this.
>
> Bryan
>
Bryan,
The theory stock front fender problem is just that, unproven theory and most
likely nothing more than urban myth. If a wind was blowing strong enough to
catch the minimal surface area on the front fender and turn the front wheel
against your will don't you think that wind would catch the rest of the bike and
push it off the road? In thirty+ years of riding high fendered dirt bikes I've
never experienced such problems.
Pat
G'ville, Nv
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
front fender mod
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:22 am
by Lujo Bauer
You could put on a low fender.
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~lbauer/klr/low-fender/. Unlike Pat, I
think that does make for slightly smoother sailing on the highway.
-Lujo
Bryan Loehr wrote:
> One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's not the greatest in windy conditions. There are times where I feel like the front wheel is being kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent posters have theorized that the front fender is part of the problem.
>
> My question--does the stock front fender have to be as long as it is? Has anyone cut the fender back to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If so, what were the results? I know the risk of more water/mud in the face, but, let's talk about this.
>
> Bryan
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
front fender mod
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:38 am
by matteeanne@yahoo.com
Dont know about the smoother sailing, but that is the
butt ugliest klr I have ever seen! Way to go! You put
on a matching coat and your stylin'!
--- Lujo Bauer wrote:
> You could put on a low fender.
>
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~lbauer/klr/low-fender/.
> Unlike Pat, I
> think that does make for slightly smoother sailing
> on the highway.
>
> -Lujo
>
> Bryan Loehr wrote:
>
> > One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's
> not the greatest in windy conditions. There are
> times where I feel like the front wheel is being
> kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent
> posters have theorized that the front fender is part
> of the problem.
> >
> > My question--does the stock front fender have to
> be as long as it is? Has anyone cut the fender back
> to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If
> so, what were the results? I know the risk of more
> water/mud in the face, but, let's talk about this.
> >
> > Bryan
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>
>
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>
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> Krok at:
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front fender mod
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:42 am
by James Leathers
I replaced mine with an Acerbis super motard style. It seems to work fine.
It offers enough protection unless you are a real mudder.
Try
www.denniskirk.com
It is only about $20-25 and you can save your OEM fender in case you
plan a ride you know is going to be mud-city.
Jim in IL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bryan Loehr"
To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2004 5:38 PM
Subject: [DSN_klr650] Front Fender Mod
> One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's not the greatest in
windy conditions. There are times where I feel like the front wheel is
being kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent posters have
theorized that the front fender is part of the problem.
>
> My question--does the stock front fender have to be as long as it is? Has
anyone cut the fender back to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If
so, what were the results? I know the risk of more water/mud in the face,
but, let's talk about this.
>
> Bryan
>
> [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
> Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to:
>
DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com .
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
front fender mod
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 1:44 pm
by Steve Hersant
--- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> Dont know about the smoother sailing, but that is the
> butt ugliest klr I have ever seen! Way to go! You put
> on a matching coat and your stylin'!
Not so...I like it ! The butt ugly KLR's are permanently covered
with dirt. This is apparently a badge of honour, but, in my opinion,
usually means lousy mechanical care.
Steve
front fender mod
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:11 pm
by Spike55
Everytime my bike fell over, it landed on the left side. The radiator
shroud would get push in a bit and that would flex the screen over the
radiator. When picking up the bike, the rear part of the fender would
sweep across and fold that screen over. The screen eventually started
breaking apart.
I decided to try to increase the clearance between the two by lowering
the fender (actually moves forward as well as down). I took the
plastic cutting board from the kitchen (shhhh - she does know it yet)
and fashioned a spacer that fits on the flat spot between the fender
and triple-tree. I used two thicknesses of the board and that gave me
7/8". I wanted to go with a solid spacer since I place a short 2x4
between the fender and the tire when I cinch down the front of the bike
to haul it.
I put two pictures out there. I have enough cutting board left to put
in one more 3/8+" layer but I'd have to again buy longer bolts if I
could find some. Stock bolts are only long enough for one spacer.
Don R100, A6F
front fender mod
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:10 am
by Jeff Saline
On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:11:23 -0000 "Spike55"
writes:
> Everytime my bike fell over, it landed on the left side. The
> radiator
> shroud would get push in a bit and that would flex the screen over
> the
> radiator. When picking up the bike, the rear part of the fender
> would
> sweep across and fold that screen over. The screen eventually
> started
> breaking apart.
>
> I decided to try to increase the clearance between the two by
> lowering
> the fender (actually moves forward as well as down). I took the
> plastic cutting board from the kitchen (shhhh - she does know it
> yet)
> and fashioned a spacer that fits on the flat spot between the fender
>
> and triple-tree. I used two thicknesses of the board and that gave
> me
> 7/8". I wanted to go with a solid spacer since I place a short 2x4
>
> between the fender and the tire when I cinch down the front of the
> bike
> to haul it.
>
> I put two pictures out there. I have enough cutting board left to
> put
> in one more 3/8+" layer but I'd have to again buy longer bolts if I
>
> could find some. Stock bolts are only long enough for one spacer.
>
> Don R100, A6F
<><><><><><><><>
<><><><><><><><>
Don,
Nice idea and application to fix the clearance issue.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Best,
Jeff Saline
ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal
Airheads Beemer Club
www.airheads.org
The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota
75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT
front fender mod
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:16 pm
by Bill Watson
Hey Don,
You might want to keep in mind that at some point, you'll have moved the fender down enough that during a large bump, the tire will actually contact the fender and try to stop rotating the front wheel (sounds fun...) or START rotating the front fender... I guess the only way to see how much room you have would be to remove both front fork springs and see if the forks bottom before the tire hits the fender. Sounds like an abrupt "oops" if it happens!
Bill Watson
Phoenix, AZ
www.xanga.com/watt_man
---------------------------------
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
front fender mod
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:19 pm
by Spike55
Bill:
I'm hoping that 7/8" to 1 1/4" isn't going to compromise the safety
margin but your test procedure would verify that there is / isn't a
potential problem. At this point, I think that I have achieved
enough of an increase in the gap between the rear portion of the
fender and the radiator screen. I'll let you know what I find out.
Don R100, A6F
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bill Watson wrote:
>
> Hey Don,
>
> You might want to keep in mind that at some point, you'll have
moved the fender down enough that during a large bump, the tire will
actually contact the fender and try to stop rotating the front wheel
(sounds fun...) or START rotating the front fender... I guess the
only way to see how much room you have would be to remove both front
fork springs and see if the forks bottom before the tire hits the
fender. Sounds like an abrupt "oops" if it happens!
>
> Bill Watson
> Phoenix, AZ
>
www.xanga.com/watt_man
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo!
Search.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>