Wilsons Sandbox

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Randall Marbach wrote: > > This may be a silly question, but what tool did you use to measure > and what tolerances do you try to obtain... i.e nearest 1/4, 1/8 1/16th etc.? > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Wayne Blackburn > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com; Spike55 > Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 5:03:21 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Are there any tires that LAST on these bikes??? - MEFO Update > > My two cents, > I've been setting back listen to the Q&A about tires, and speed wobbles at speeds over > 80 mph. I had the the same issues. Here's what I tried. New shocks and springs. > Fork brace , adjusted ride height, new tires, Took every thing apart and put it back together > None of it cured the head shakes. Rear tires were shot at 3000 miles. > The other thing was something I have not seen on the list is,the bike always pulled hard > to the left.Anytime I hit a bump the bike was all over the road. > > Here's a test you can try, Get your bike up to speed ,than let off the gas .. > Then take your hands off the handle bars.( IN A SAFE AREA OF COURSE) > If the bike pulls at all either way. > Guess what, theres a problem. > Heres what I found that cured the problem with the head shakes ,tire wear and tracking > issues. > It's all in the rear tire adjustment > Do not go by the adjustment marks on the swinger arm.( THERE ALMOST ALWAYS > WRONG) > Measure from the center of rear axle to center of the pivot > point. > With that being said, I've had mine to 108 mph (GPS), straight as an arrow. > It tracks over bumps much better, and the tires on it now have 3000 miles > with 2/3 of the tread left. > THATS MY 2 CENTS > > > > --- On Tue, 5/27/08, Spike55 wrote: > > From: Spike55 > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Are there any tires that LAST on these bikes??? - MEFO Update > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 4:23 PM > > > > > > > I posted some self-explanatory pictures of used vs. new MEFOs. > > Don R100, A6F > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, "Spike55" wrote: > > > > Hope the shoulder is better. > > > > The OEMs lasted about 3K and the MEFOs will need changed out prior > to > > the state's annual safety inspection in July. But the MEFOs > > (F@29psi, R@32psi) will be ready to go at 7K (the front blocks are > > carved with a high ridge down the middle & the rear has "street- > tire" > > thread depth down the middle). They still seem OK but the rear-end > > tends walk out on a heavy lean since the contact patch changes > > abruptly when coming off the flat center area (going up on tippy- > toes > > in the lean). In the dirt they still seem OK if it is soft since > the > > less worn side lugs can dig in. They do seem to be very stout > tires > > and I already have another set ready to put on. Since I'm also > > running their heavy tubes, I rarely give a thought about whether > > these are up for the challenge (fun-road / fun-dirt / heavy-hauling > > touring rain or shine). > > > > Being an old Boy Scout leader, I err on the side of being prepared, > > so I have my Ortleib Dry Bags on all of the time with rain gear > some > > tools, air pump, etc (case of beer lashed down when visiting > certain > > friends). With me and all of that junk, it probably adds 270-290 > > lbs. Maybe if I had the larger side-cases (more weight), I would > > more tire wear. I also tend to pound the throttle but I did get > 58.8 > > MPG on a 180 mile road trip yesterday (full saddle-bags too). > > > > Don R100, A6F > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, "Jim" wrote: > > > > > > I'm in search of a rear tire...again. Original tires lasted > around > > 2k > > > miles or so. Next set were Avon AM44/45. Those lasted about 6k > miles > > > until the rear was gone and the front was getting choppy. Since > > almost > > > all of my riding is on the street, and what little dirt I do is on > > > graded roads (only place bikes are allowed up here), so for set > #3 I > > > chose Bridgestone Battlaxes because they are kind of known for > > taking > > > abuse on the street. Unfortunately my choice of a pure street tire > > > didn't get me longer wear. In fact, this set barely lasted 3k > miles. > > > Front is like new, rear is smooth. > > > > > > The only thing I can think of is that there is too much weight on > > the > > > rear of the bike for a tire this narrow, combined with high speed > > > highway cruising and lots of cornering are doing these tires in. > > > > > > Can the bike handle a larger rear tire? Initial thoughts are NO > > since > > > the stock size seems to barely fit in the swingarm. Next question- > > > what would a good, durable option be for a set of tires, something > > > that will last well, be decent in the rain, and handle some > > cornering? > > > I really need to change something here, and if I can't average > more > > > than 4k miles out of a set of tires, I need to find a bike that > will > > > take larger/more durable tires. > > > > > > Jim > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > 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 >