Wilsons Sandbox

> > While I agree, that I should check my oil level every single day ( > as also the brakes, the tires, the lights, the weather...), I do not > believe that a 4 stroke bike that has only been ever used for > commuting should use up 2.5 liters of oil in little over 1800 miles.

I think it's an known fact that running these 08 bikes at speed will cause them to really suck oil due to the oil rings being a new type. That should raise an alarm in a persons head to check the oil on said machine way more often than usual. My usual is to check oil level on what ever bike I'm fixing to take out of the garage that morning. It's just not that hard with the sight glass right there looking at you. On that bike, I think I would check it every time I went to start it. Is Kawasaki going to do anything about it? Doubt it. Years ago when I worked at a Kaw Yama dealer, the kawa reps were the hardest to deal with unless you got the right one. I know I used to hang up if the wrong one answered the phone > No use wasting time trying to reason with him. Yama was not hardly a problem ever. Andy in Jennings, La.

Not sure if anyone has heard this yet, but my dealer told me Kawi is allowing 1 quart for 750 miles as acceptable My 08 is burning 1 every 800 Sean Brown Looking for the perfect gift for the wife/Mom/or "the person who has everything?" www.brownsbirdestates.com To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 4:38:14 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Need your opinion on the oil burn issue ? I agree with you a new engine should not burn oil. Furthermore if this is happening with several machines, it ought to be recalled. This reminds me of American cars back in the 70s and 80s and makers did nothing but ignore it. Just look at the doohickey. It is a very unreliable part and Kaw knows it. Yet it does nothing. My engine didn't sieze but I ran mine low on oil and it cost me $1,100 to have it overhauled. I had 14k incredible miles so no complaints here having to spend that. I was more upset at myself. Had I been more diligent, I wouldn't have had a problem, too. I don't want to sound like I'm adding insult but when you noticed it burning oil at 2,200 miles, immediately it should have gone right to the dealer. Burning that much oil is unacceptable. I'm not surprised Kaw is going to do nothing. Having been through a similar situation (but entirely my fault), I'd take the experience and immediately have the engine overhauled. If the dealer isn't willing to do it for a very reasonable price (and you're comfortable with it), I'd be on the phone with Schnitz (Cary) as some have recommended here. It's best for peace of mind to move on. Millions of miles await us, so the longer you delay getting your ride fixed the more they slip away. Truly, I'm sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, I don't know Kaw is famous for bending over backwards for us 'budget conscious' customers. The KLR is relatively less expensive for a reason. And still even with an $1,100 repair order it's a lot less than other bikes (manufacturers) that would likely do more for you. However, admittedly, checking the oil now has become a top priority. Getting schooled $1,100 taught me that running out of oil in the middle of a desert could have been life-threatening. I'll take the expensive but benign lesson in 5th gear. Good luck. - Brian [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:04:56 -0700 (PDT) matteeanne@... writes:

> Not sure if anyone has heard this yet, but my dealer told me Kawi is > allowing 1 quart for 750 miles as acceptable My 08 is burning 1 > every 800 > > Sean Brown

<><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><> Sean, Any idea of what speed they're talking. There is a bit more engine use in 1st and 2nd gear for 750 miles than in 4th and 5th. I wonder how they figure it out? Do they add oil and then safety wire the filler and drain so nobody can mess with it? I think I'd ask and then go on a 750 mile trip in 3rd gear at 6k rpm. I'm sure they'd be impressed when I returned. : ) 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 ____________________________________________________________ Click for a credit repair consultation, raise your FICO score. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3m2LaZqGDhr1QtsnRd3CuKC5HJvwF6MHebCQgRhjFnzuCr0w/

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

> should have left the rings alone and gone to fuel injection.

My other bike is fuel injected. You can't bump start it because the fuel pump has to be going. The fuel filter is inside the fuel tank and when it clogs up you have to take the fuel tank off and turn it upside down and take out the fuel pump to change the filter. If you run the tank dry, the fuel pump burns out. The fuel pump itself uses over 50 watts of power and requires a much larger/heavier alternator and battery than the KLR. This seems to be true of every fuel-injected bike out there. For a simple, durable bike intended to be used in harsh conditions, I'll take a good ole' gravity-fed carburetor, thank you very much! _E

AMEN !!!! Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "E.L. Green" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "nakedwaterskier" > wrote: > > should have left the rings alone and gone to fuel injection. > > My other bike is fuel injected. You can't bump start it because the > fuel pump has to be going. The fuel filter is inside the fuel tank and > when it clogs up you have to take the fuel tank off and turn it upside > down and take out the fuel pump to change the filter. If you run the > tank dry, the fuel pump burns out. The fuel pump itself uses over 50 > watts of power and requires a much larger/heavier alternator and > battery than the KLR. This seems to be true of every fuel-injected > bike out there. For a simple, durable bike intended to be used in > harsh conditions, I'll take a good ole' gravity-fed carburetor, thank > you very much! > > _E >

One quart in 750 miles? This is less than 500 riding miles when I factor in tire spin. I'm often in the 6-7k rpm range and never burn oil. You'd think Kawa would make this new model debut even better yet I can't believe what I'm hearing with these 08s. It's not the end of the world but burning oil in this day and age? Where is the love?? I rode hot and hard my 2004 some 5k miles throughout Baja and never added oil. I got an oil change in La Paz but never had to carry any or worry. Hell, I wouldn't blame a one of these owners for being upset enough to scrap the thing and throw a saddle on the local junkyard dog.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote: > > > On Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:04:56 -0700 (PDT) matteeanne@... writes: > > Not sure if anyone has heard this yet, but my dealer told me Kawi is > > allowing 1 quart for 750 miles as acceptable My 08 is burning 1 > > every 800 > > > > Sean Brown > <><><><><><><><><> > <><><><><><><><><> > > Sean, > > Any idea of what speed they're talking. There is a bit more engine use > in 1st and 2nd gear for 750 miles than in 4th and 5th. > > I wonder how they figure it out? Do they add oil and then safety wire > the filler and drain so nobody can mess with it? > > I think I'd ask and then go on a 750 mile trip in 3rd gear at 6k rpm. > I'm sure they'd be impressed when I returned. : ) > > 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 > ____________________________________________________________ > Click for a credit repair consultation, raise your FICO score. > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3m2LaZqGDhr1QtsnRd3C uKC5HJvwF6MHebCQgRhjFnzuCr0w/ >

The new fuel injection they are using in the dirt bikes doesn't need any of that stuff. Hopefully they will adapt it to the KLR soon. Kawasaki has unveiled its 2009 motocross range, and the big news is that the KX450F will join Suzuki's RM-Z450 in the electronic fuel-injection stakes next year. Both the 450F and 250F will benefit from significant upgrades to both the engine and chassis. R -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of E.L. Green Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 6:06 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Need your opinion on the oil burn issue ? --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "nakedwaterskier" wrote:

> should have left the rings alone and gone to fuel injection.

My other bike is fuel injected. You can't bump start it because the fuel pump has to be going. The fuel filter is inside the fuel tank and when it clogs up you have to take the fuel tank off and turn it upside down and take out the fuel pump to change the filter. If you run the tank dry, the fuel pump burns out. The fuel pump itself uses over 50 watts of power and requires a much larger/heavier alternator and battery than the KLR. This seems to be true of every fuel-injected bike out there. For a simple, durable bike intended to be used in harsh conditions, I'll take a good ole' gravity-fed carburetor, thank you very much! _E [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]