i will winterize my bike properly..

[rockiedog2]

Experts, I knew it was handling a little loose but didn't realize how bad til I rode 4 days last weekend on my Valkyrie in the Ozarks and then when got back on the KLR realized it was all over the road. I mean loose...and weird too, like running sideways at times and in both directions alternately-like the front tire is following the grooves and the rear isn't-or something. I had just gotten used to it. I recently changed several things at the same time so don't really know which is most suspect but here they are: Put a 18" wheel on the front-professionally laced and trued. (Woody's) Added a HT fork brace for a low front fender mount and put a KTM fender on top of it. Lowered the fork tubes all the way in the clamps. Put a new Kenda 270 on the front. Have so far tried 32 and 36#. The rear is still a slick flat centered King...have a new Mefo ready to go on but don't want to quite yet for upcoming long trip reasons. Pulled the swing arm, greased and reassembled. Added a Progressive 560 spring over the rear shock. Took the lowering links out and put OEM ones back in. I just checked the front to rear wheel alignment and found the front wheel is offset to the right just shy of 3/8"(8 to 9mm) from the rear. The front will parallel the rear but is offset. I layed a level on the vertical edge of each tire and they both are the same. I measured both sides from the swing arm pivot bolt center to the rear axle center and they both are the same. The chain tension indexer marks also read the same. While riding it seems(may be wrong about this) that the bars are offset to the right slightly to go straight but so slight that can't be sure. The questions so far... Is 3/8" offset "normal" for the front tire? How did it get that way if not?...maybe in the wheel lacing? or some sort of unintended misalignment when raising the fork tubes or installing the fork brace/fender mount...I had a front wheel bolted in when doing that if I remember correctly but maybe not. (The brake caliper lines up perfectly with the disc so I don't believe it's in the remounting of the front wheel to the forks) Is 3/8" offset enough to cause the weird handling, assuming its not normal. How suspect is the Kenda tire? I have read about how squirmy it is but this my first one(anybody want to buy it?). There are no wrecks in the history of this bike other than when I stupidly crashed in the backyard last week so I dont really think the frame is bent unless Kawasaki welded it up that way. Anything else that you guys want to tell me. This weird type stuff has been following me around all my life. thanks Joe

[Stephen Grisanti]

>How did it get that way if not?...maybe in the wheel lacing?

I know from building bicycle wheels for years that a wheel can be round and run perfectly true, but still be out of "dish," meaning that the wheel's rim is not centered (between the hub locknuts on a bike wheel and the outer edges of the wheel bearings or spacers on a motorcycle wheel). Installing such an out-of-dish wheel and centering the top (or front, or whatever your reference point is) will cause the opposite side to be "out" by a certain amount. Worth checking with a dishing guage, if you can find or make one. Stephen

--- On Wed, 4/23/08, rockiedog2 wrote: > From: rockiedog2 > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] All over the road > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 10:12 AM > Experts, > > I knew it was handling a little loose but didn't > realize how bad til > I rode 4 days last weekend on my Valkyrie in the Ozarks and > then when > got back on the KLR realized it was all over the road. I > mean > loose...and weird too, like running sideways at times and > in both > directions alternately-like the front tire is following the > grooves > and the rear isn't-or something. I had just gotten used > to it. I > recently changed several things at the same time so > don't really know > which is most suspect but here they are: > Put a 18" wheel on the front-professionally laced > and trued. > (Woody's) > Added a HT fork brace for a low front fender mount and > put a KTM > fender on top of it. > Lowered the fork tubes all the way in the clamps. > Put a new Kenda 270 on the front. Have so far tried 32 > and 36#. The > rear is still a slick flat centered King...have a new Mefo > ready to > go on but don't want to quite yet for upcoming long > trip reasons. > Pulled the swing arm, greased and reassembled. > Added a Progressive 560 spring over the rear shock. > Took the lowering links out and put OEM ones back in. > > I just checked the front to rear wheel alignment and found > the front > wheel is offset to the right just shy of 3/8"(8 to > 9mm) from the > rear. The front will parallel the rear but is offset. I > layed a level > on the vertical edge of each tire and they both are the > same. I > measured both sides from the swing arm pivot bolt center to > the rear > axle center and they both are the same. The chain tension > indexer > marks also read the same. > While riding it seems(may be wrong about this) that the > bars are > offset to the right slightly to go straight but so slight > that can't > be sure. > The questions so far... Is 3/8" offset > "normal" for the front tire? > How did it get that way if not?...maybe in the wheel > lacing? or some > sort of unintended misalignment when raising the fork tubes > or > installing the fork brace/fender mount...I had a front > wheel bolted > in when doing that if I remember correctly but maybe not. > (The brake > caliper lines up perfectly with the disc so I don't > believe it's in > the remounting of the front wheel to the forks) Is > 3/8" offset enough > to cause the weird handling, assuming its not normal. How > suspect is > the Kenda tire? I have read about how squirmy it is but > this my first > one(anybody want to buy it?). There are no wrecks in the > history of > this bike other than when I stupidly crashed in the > backyard last > week so I dont really think the frame is bent unless > Kawasaki welded > it up that way. Anything else that you guys want to tell > me. > This weird type stuff has been following me around all my > life. > > thanks Joe > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: > www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups > Links > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Arden Kysely]

Motorcycles are single-track vehicles--run 'em straight and they make only one track. Sounds like yours is making two, which is probably the start of your problems. Changing the rear spring, re-installing the standard suspension links, and lowering the fork tubes may also have changed the weight balance of the bike to a large front-end bias. Making a lot of changes at once makes it tough to isolate the problem or even determine if it has multiple causes. The right way to go about it is to back off all but one change and go from there, but that will be a lot of work. If you don't go that route, here's what I'd suggest. 1) check the wheel dish as Steve suggested. Whatever you do, get rid of that front wheel offset. 2) run the fork tubes back up at least half way. 3) get rid of that bald rear tire and put on something that has a normal instead of flat profile. HTH, __Arden --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "rockiedog2" wrote:

> > Experts, > > I knew it was handling a little loose but didn't realize how bad

til

> I rode 4 days last weekend on my Valkyrie in the Ozarks and then

when

> got back on the KLR realized it was all over the road. I mean > loose...and weird too, like running sideways at times and in both > directions alternately-like the front tire is following the grooves > and the rear isn't-or something. I had just gotten used to it. I > recently changed several things at the same time so don't really

know

> which is most suspect but here they are: > Put a 18" wheel on the front-professionally laced and trued. > (Woody's) > Added a HT fork brace for a low front fender mount and put a KTM > fender on top of it. > Lowered the fork tubes all the way in the clamps. > Put a new Kenda 270 on the front. Have so far tried 32 and 36#.

The

> rear is still a slick flat centered King...have a new Mefo ready to > go on but don't want to quite yet for upcoming long trip reasons. > Pulled the swing arm, greased and reassembled. > Added a Progressive 560 spring over the rear shock. > Took the lowering links out and put OEM ones back in. > > I just checked the front to rear wheel alignment and found the

front

> wheel is offset to the right just shy of 3/8"(8 to 9mm) from the > rear. The front will parallel the rear but is offset. I layed a

level

> on the vertical edge of each tire and they both are the same. I > measured both sides from the swing arm pivot bolt center to the

rear

> axle center and they both are the same. The chain tension indexer > marks also read the same. > While riding it seems(may be wrong about this) that the bars are > offset to the right slightly to go straight but so slight that

can't

> be sure. > The questions so far... Is 3/8" offset "normal" for the front tire? > How did it get that way if not?...maybe in the wheel lacing? or

some

> sort of unintended misalignment when raising the fork tubes or > installing the fork brace/fender mount...I had a front wheel bolted > in when doing that if I remember correctly but maybe not. (The

brake

> caliper lines up perfectly with the disc so I don't believe it's in > the remounting of the front wheel to the forks) Is 3/8" offset

enough

> to cause the weird handling, assuming its not normal. How suspect

is

> the Kenda tire? I have read about how squirmy it is but this my

first

> one(anybody want to buy it?). There are no wrecks in the history of > this bike other than when I stupidly crashed in the backyard last > week so I dont really think the frame is bent unless Kawasaki

welded

> it up that way. Anything else that you guys want to tell me. > This weird type stuff has been following me around all my life. > > thanks Joe >

[rockiedog2]

Well we seem to have made some small progress on this handling situation today....found the front forks twisted to the right like a drill bit. Loosened the top clamps and the fork brace and held the wheel with my knees and jerked on the handle bars til things looked better then tightened it all back up and went for a test drive and things seem better now-at least the gauges sit sorta square with the fairing anyway instead of all cocked like before. That was a clue. And the handle bars are lined up better too. The front wheel is still parallel with the rear wheel but now offset the other way. I'm still thinking about that. Called Woody's wheels and they gave me the measurements to verify the front wheel is laced to the center of the hub. It is. Perfectly. That must be the only thing that's perfect on this whole rig. Called Fred and ordered a new 120/80/18 Mefo rear to go on the front. He didn't like that idea much but is sending me one anyway. Money talks. This 4.10/18 Kenda is still for sale. Not much interest yet. Put a level on the thing all over; wheels, forks, rack, fuel cap, swing arms etc and surprisingly everything is within a quarter bubble. Who said KHI is sloppy. Anyway it does drive better and when I get the matching new tires on it I think it will be tolerable. It's sure named right(Jackass) especially after it threw me last week. I haven't gotten over that yet. I am beginning to look at this thing like Jacobus in Costa Rica does his. Thanks for all the suggestions. Any others welcomed. Joe and Jackass --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "rockiedog2" wrote:

> > Experts, > > I knew it was handling a little loose but didn't realize how bad

til

> I rode 4 days last weekend on my Valkyrie in the Ozarks and then

when

> got back on the KLR realized it was all over the road. I mean > loose...and weird too, like running sideways at times and in both > directions alternately-like the front tire is following the grooves > and the rear isn't-or something. I had just gotten used to it. I > recently changed several things at the same time so don't really

know

> which is most suspect but here they are: > Put a 18" wheel on the front-professionally laced and trued. > (Woody's) > Added a HT fork brace for a low front fender mount and put a KTM > fender on top of it. > Lowered the fork tubes all the way in the clamps. > Put a new Kenda 270 on the front. Have so far tried 32 and 36#.

The

> rear is still a slick flat centered King...have a new Mefo ready to > go on but don't want to quite yet for upcoming long trip reasons. > Pulled the swing arm, greased and reassembled. > Added a Progressive 560 spring over the rear shock. > Took the lowering links out and put OEM ones back in. > > I just checked the front to rear wheel alignment and found the

front

> wheel is offset to the right just shy of 3/8"(8 to 9mm) from the > rear. The front will parallel the rear but is offset. I layed a

level

> on the vertical edge of each tire and they both are the same. I > measured both sides from the swing arm pivot bolt center to the

rear

> axle center and they both are the same. The chain tension indexer > marks also read the same. > While riding it seems(may be wrong about this) that the bars are > offset to the right slightly to go straight but so slight that

can't

> be sure. > The questions so far... Is 3/8" offset "normal" for the front tire? > How did it get that way if not?...maybe in the wheel lacing? or

some

> sort of unintended misalignment when raising the fork tubes or > installing the fork brace/fender mount...I had a front wheel bolted > in when doing that if I remember correctly but maybe not. (The

brake

> caliper lines up perfectly with the disc so I don't believe it's in > the remounting of the front wheel to the forks) Is 3/8" offset

enough

> to cause the weird handling, assuming its not normal. How suspect

is

> the Kenda tire? I have read about how squirmy it is but this my

first

> one(anybody want to buy it?). There are no wrecks in the history of > this bike other than when I stupidly crashed in the backyard last > week so I dont really think the frame is bent unless Kawasaki

welded

> it up that way. Anything else that you guys want to tell me. > This weird type stuff has been following me around all my life. > > thanks Joe >

[Jacobus De Bruyn]

Now what did I do that you remember me? I leave one single track in the mud, while your bike will confuse the detectives from the FBI, because they will think two bikes passed. If I were living in the USA, I would have installed a new fuel tank, and a new mono shock spring, and stuff, but I have to make do with local available things, or else I d be spending way too much. After all, it s only a motorcycle, not a goddess from planet Venus. When I finally trash the bike, in another five, six years, it will consist of 60% steel and metal, and 40% epoxy gloops of different makes and brands. The dealer here in Costa Rica I anxiously stay away from, as they charge triple prices. At the moment, I have three rear view mirrors. I got hold of a mirror-lever thingie from a DT cross bike, I cut it into two halves with the hack saw, fitted it on my handle bar with two bolts, voil , a new mirror base. But the other three dollar mirror was already epoxied in place, so I left it. The stock mirrors make the cars behind you seem further away, these new mirror give the right impression, very close! But the stock mirrors gave a wider view. Another great invention of mine was to modify the brake lever, so that there is a bolt going thru it, with a nut on the outside. Nobody gave me credit for it. The waterpump seems to have healed itself, no more fluid loss, but when I eventually get the seals from Moab, I will eventually embark on that adventure. But I don t ride much, abt. 100 miles a week, the perfect place is that close, ten miles. The author of "How Not To", Jacostarica. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Mike Frey]

I parked my classic 1976 Suzuki GT-750 18 months ago, running the carbs out of gas, added Sta-Bill to the tank, and finally pulled it out last week. I thought it would sit for only 6 months or less, but you know how that goes... (Better than the 18 YEARS that I left it sit before that!) 1) Sniffed the gas tank. Smelled a bit stale. 2) Turned the fuel tap to prime, and watched as the center carb ran out the vent tube. Stuck float - figures that it would be the one in the middle. 3) Funneled in a 50/50 mix of Seafoam and gasoline into the carbs and let it sit overnight (learned this trick here on the KLR list) Drained gas tank and put stale gas in the KLR - it will run on just about anything combustible. 4) Battery was dead (was new when I put it away) Note to self: You have a battery tender, use it! Pulled battery from KLR and moved it to Suzuki. Same size battery. 5) Next day, started Suzuki. After some blubbering, it ran fine. Took advantage to this time to put new AGM battery in KLR, it (battery now in Suzuki) was getting weak. Jim Douglas wrote:

> > > It's just like the lawn mower, I will winterize it this > year................. > Next year comes and it's a total bit#h to get it going again....... > >

[rockiedog2]

Hello Jake, Do you KNOW you only leave one track? I mean, have you checked it to see if the front tire is exactly in line with the rear? I wonder if there are many KLRs out there that track perfectly and if anybody much has carefully checked theirs to see if the front runs in the same plane as the rear...or is minor variation common? As primitive as the rest of it is, I wonder if the front ends are that precise...especially with those long spindly forks... What about it guys...has anybody checked theirs and what did you find? Joe I leave one single track in the mud, while your bike will confuse the detectives from the FBI, because they will think two bikes passed. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jacobus De Bruyn wrote:

> > Now what did I do that you remember me? I leave one > single track in the mud, while your bike will confuse > the detectives from the FBI, because they will think > two bikes passed. > If I were living in the USA, I would have installed a > new fuel tank, and a new mono shock spring, and stuff, > but I have to make do with local available things, or > else I d be spending way too much. After all, it s > only a motorcycle, not a goddess from planet Venus. > When I finally trash the bike, in another five, six > years, it will consist of 60% steel and metal, and 40% > epoxy gloops of different makes and brands. The > dealer here in Costa Rica I anxiously stay away from, > as they charge triple prices. > At the moment, I have three rear view mirrors. I got > hold of a mirror-lever thingie from a DT cross bike, I > cut it into two halves with the hack saw, fitted it on > my handle bar with two bolts, voil , a new mirror > base. But the other three dollar mirror was already > epoxied in place, so I left it. The stock mirrors > make the cars behind you seem further away, these new > mirror give the right impression, very close! But the > stock mirrors gave a wider view. > > Another great invention of mine was to modify the > brake lever, so that there is a bolt going thru it, > with a nut on the outside. Nobody gave me credit for > it. The waterpump seems to have healed itself, no > more fluid loss, but when I eventually get the seals > from Moab, I will eventually embark on that adventure. > But I don t ride much, abt. 100 miles a week, the > perfect place is that close, ten miles. > The author of "How Not To", Jacostarica. > > >

______________________________________________________________________ ______________

> Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

[Harry Seifert]

My '99 w/18" front end and my stock '06 leave but one snail trail when passing over/through a surface that shows tracks. There is absolutely no offset for the front wheel. there is none on the '06 and none on the 18" that I laced. Because the '99 is used for canyon scraping, I have also added an Eagle fork brace and a KTM supermoto fender below the fork brace. The '99 is getting a 703 kit here in the near future as well as an under frame muffler and exhaust. If I had an extra $2K to spend, I'd order a Schnitz 737 stroker kit with the super head and valve job. It's the tits. BTW, there have been rumblings, not from this list, about cryogenically treated liners for the overbore of the 703 kit. Anyone on this list have the metallurgical creds to voice an opinion on this? We have had some of our pump impeller and volutes cryo'ed at the factory and they seem to last longer than the stockers when pumping filter back flush water that is heavily laden with fine silt and granitic sand. Buddy bseifert71@...

> [Original Message] > From: rockiedog2 > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 4/24/2008 4:56:52 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: All over the road > > Hello Jake, > Do you KNOW you only leave one track? I mean, have you checked it to > see if the front tire is exactly in line with the rear? I wonder if > there are many KLRs out there that track perfectly and if anybody > much has carefully checked theirs to see if the front runs in the > same plane as the rear...or is minor variation common? As primitive > as the rest of it is, I wonder if the front ends are that > precise...especially with those long spindly forks... > What about it guys...has anybody checked theirs and what did you > find? > > Joe > > > > I leave one > single track in the mud, while your bike will confuse > the detectives from the FBI, because they will think > two bikes passed. > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jacobus De Bruyn > wrote: > > > > Now what did I do that you remember me? I leave one > > single track in the mud, while your bike will confuse > > the detectives from the FBI, because they will think > > two bikes passed. > > If I were living in the USA, I would have installed a > > new fuel tank, and a new mono shock spring, and stuff, > > but I have to make do with local available things, or > > else I d be spending way too much. After all, it s > > only a motorcycle, not a goddess from planet Venus. > > When I finally trash the bike, in another five, six > > years, it will consist of 60% steel and metal, and 40% > > epoxy gloops of different makes and brands. The > > dealer here in Costa Rica I anxiously stay away from, > > as they charge triple prices. > > At the moment, I have three rear view mirrors. I got > > hold of a mirror-lever thingie from a DT cross bike, I > > cut it into two halves with the hack saw, fitted it on > > my handle bar with two bolts, voil , a new mirror > > base. But the other three dollar mirror was already > > epoxied in place, so I left it. The stock mirrors > > make the cars behind you seem further away, these new > > mirror give the right impression, very close! But the > > stock mirrors gave a wider view. > > > > Another great invention of mine was to modify the > > brake lever, so that there is a bolt going thru it, > > with a nut on the outside. Nobody gave me credit for > > it. The waterpump seems to have healed itself, no > > more fluid loss, but when I eventually get the seals > > from Moab, I will eventually embark on that adventure. > > But I don t ride much, abt. 100 miles a week, the > > perfect place is that close, ten miles. > > The author of "How Not To", Jacostarica. > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > >