throttle lock on an '08

[Mike Grace]

>>The throttle lock I use cost $20 at Cycle Gear. Its made of plastic and it

has a tab on it that is supposed to fit between the push-pull cables of a street bike. I just drilled a hole throuh it and into the throttle housing (not too deep) and used a self tapping screw to hold it. Plan on replacing the grips though. Cycle Gear has Pro Grip gels for $10.

[bali_blu]

Hello All, I installed my first set of tires (on my own). The rear went on fine but on the front, the bead won't seat totally. There are two sections around 4-6 inches (one on each side of the tire) that won't seat. I deflated, soaped 'em up, massaged them throughly, talked really nice to them, and re-inflated half a dozen times to no avail. A21 8,xxx miles Kenda 270 Thoughts? Thanks, Roger

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 1:43 PM +0000 6/2/08, bali_blu wrote:

>Hello All, >I installed my first set of tires (on my own). The rear went on fine >but on the front, the bead won't seat totally. There are two sections >around 4-6 inches (one on each side of the tire) that won't seat. I >deflated, soaped 'em up, massaged them throughly, talked really nice >to them, and re-inflated half a dozen times to no avail.

The K270 usually goes on super easy, but don't be afraid to take it up to 80 psi to get it on. It helps to have an air compressor (tank) that can quickly deliver the air. Mark

[Bogdan Swider]

On 6/2/08 7:50 AM, "Tengai Mark Van Horn" wrote:

> > > > At 1:43 PM +0000 6/2/08, bali_blu wrote: >> >Hello All, >> >I installed my first set of tires (on my own). The rear went on fine >> >but on the front, the bead won't seat totally. There are two sections >> >around 4-6 inches (one on each side of the tire) that won't seat. I >> >deflated, soaped 'em up, massaged them throughly, talked really nice >> >to them, and re-inflated half a dozen times to no avail. > > The K270 usually goes on super easy, but don't be afraid to take it > up to 80 psi to get it on. It helps to have an air compressor (tank) > that can quickly deliver the air. > > Mark >

T Mark speaks the truth. Do wear eye protection, however. Also...lay the tire out in direct sunlight till it gets nice and hot. Also #2...It seems to help if you whack the recalcitrant tire with a rubber or wood mallet under the area that won t seat. Bogdan, whose K270 was a bit hard to seat the first time around [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "bali_blu" wrote:

> > Hello All, > I installed my first set of tires (on my own). The rear went on fine > but on the front, the bead won't seat totally. There are two sections > around 4-6 inches (one on each side of the tire) that won't seat. I > deflated, soaped 'em up, massaged them throughly, talked really nice > to them, and re-inflated half a dozen times to no avail. > > A21 > 8,xxx miles > Kenda 270 > > Thoughts?

The K270 seems to give more trouble seating the bead than any other tire I have mounted. Try a lot of talc as lube. I seem to have better luck with it, and the bead won't stick to the rim when you have to get it off next year. With the bead well dusted, try riding the bike. Sometimes it will pop into place after a few blocks, or miles. I have also gotten the bead to seat by using a tire lever to apply some subtle leverage between the rim and the little embossed indicator line on the tire, the one that tells you the bead is not seated because it disappears under the rim. Dunno if it really worked or if the bead was slowly slipping into place on its own.

[Bogdan Swider]

> > > The K270 seems to give more trouble seating the bead than any other tire I > have mounted.

These cheap tires seem to vary. Some say they go on easy; others report the opposite. Isn t it nice that Avon Gripsters are consistent; they re always a bear to mount. ( quite an image, that statement. ) Bogdan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:43:43 -0000 "bali_blu" writes:

> Hello All, > I installed my first set of tires (on my own). The rear went on > fine > but on the front, the bead won't seat totally. There are two > sections > around 4-6 inches (one on each side of the tire) that won't seat. I > deflated, soaped 'em up, massaged them throughly, talked really > nice > to them, and re-inflated half a dozen times to no avail. > > A21 > 8,xxx miles > Kenda 270 > > Thoughts? > > Thanks, > Roger

<><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><> Roger, I suggest you make sure the valve core is NOT installed when inflating tires for the first time. This seems to pass more air and if you need to deflate all you have to do is remove the air chuck. Once the bead is seated all around and verified you can easily install a core and reinflate to the desired pressure. When I get a stubborn bead I find it easiest to deflate the tire/tube. Then break the bead all the way around. Squish the bead 180 degrees from the part that won't seat and try inflating the tire/tube. The squished area that is willing to seat gets pushed into the center of the rim and there is less resistance on the stubborn area. Once the stubborn area is seated you won't be able to keep the squished part squished and it usually slides right into place. I use one hand to do the squishing and I make sure my fingers aren't gonna get squished when the bead pops into place. I also use real tire lube with good success along with making sure the rim is super clean before installing/reinstalling a tire. 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

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 9:14 AM -0600 6/2/08, Jeff Saline wrote:

>I suggest you make sure the valve core is NOT installed when inflating >tires for the first time. This seems to pass more air and if you need to >deflate all you have to do is remove the air chuck.

I also like to inflate/deflate once before I *really* inflate it in order to get the tube relaxed & evenly distributed inside the tire. Back when I was a KLR noob 12 years ago, I had a shop around the corner mount my tires for me. He wrestled with the tires for 2 hours and charged me the hourly rate for his inefficiency instead of a flat rate for mounting. When I went to change them a year later, I found a crease/fold in the rear tube! The owner of this shop is the same dip$hit who said (upon hearing of my soon departure on a ride to Florida), "I hope you're ready for a new top end when you get back. Three thousand miles on a single (single cylinder motorcycle)!? Forget it!" Over the next 8 years, I would routinely stop by the shop and show him the odometer reading and inform him that the bike has yet to see any major work. Class A Moron. Mark

[Bogdan Swider]

> > > I also use real tire lube with good success along with making sure the > rim is super clean before installing/reinstalling a tire. > > Best, > > Jeff Saline

Another fine bit of wisdom from a regular contributor. It s good to run your finger along the rim and search for burs and scars made by tire levers. These can easily be filed off. I believe if not removed they can make a tire hard to seat. A good lube does help. In the past I used WD-40 which worked well; I know many have reasons why that s not a good idea but they never manifested in my experience. Some time ago I bought a gallon of Napa tire lube which is not expensive and for an old guy like myself is a lifetime s supply. Bogdan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[oldrider25]

I recently changed out a front and rear on a KLR over the last 3 weeks. Both tires were Kenda 270s. The front was done at last light in the field w/o lube. The tire didn't seat initially. But, we found it was fully seated by morning. The tire was inflated to an estimated 40psi. and left overnight where the tire fairies finished the job. I've never had the rear seat easily. This time was no exception. Luckily, I was changing it in my garage where I have a compressor. I used silicone spray on the bead and the rim to get it to seat. I inflated the tire to 60psi and no joy. Deflated the tire, sprayed more silicone, then reinflated the tire to 60psi - still no joy. Deflated the tire again, sprayed the heck out of the rim and bead, and inflated to about 50psi when the bead seated. I can't imagine doing this in the field. I'll probably have to live with a lumpy ride until I can get to a compressor. Oh yeah, I don't run bead locks. I have no idea whether the silicone will remain slippery and will cause my tire/tube to slip at low psi. No worries for me since I don't go under 25psi even when offroad. Something to think about if you do. Off topic: I balanced my wheels using "Marc's Wheel Balancer" http://www.aerostich.com/product.php?productid=16806&cat=538&page=1 and it works great! My rear wheel requires 2oz of weight for whatever reason and I'm able to balance the wheel assy to the gnat's behind. I ordered my wheel weights from Dual Star. My front wheel required a 1/2 oz. My friend's '05 KLR required .25 oz on the rear and nothing on the front. YMMV. John A10

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "bali_blu" wrote: > > Hello All, > I installed my first set of tires (on my own). The rear went on fine > but on the front, the bead won't seat totally. There are two sections > around 4-6 inches (one on each side of the tire) that won't seat. I > deflated, soaped 'em up, massaged them throughly, talked really nice > to them, and re-inflated half a dozen times to no avail. > > A21 > 8,xxx miles > Kenda 270 > > Thoughts? > > Thanks, > Roger >