bent bars and crooked speedo!

[Richard Bessey]

All, Just a quick question, are the front and rear brake pads on the KLR the same? The one I have has the same pads front and back, not sure if that is on purpose or not. Regardless, they seem to work fine. -- Regards, Richard Bessey System Administrator Vivio Technologies Phone: 509-956-3050 Ext. 1005

[Bogdan Swider]

I remembered them looking different but I thought I d check in my parts book which is several years old. Sure enough......They look different and have different part numbers 43082-1096 rear and 43082-1078 front. I m surprised the same pads fit on your ride-maybe the pins are the same distance apart ? Do more resent models have the same caliper front and rear ? Bogdan

On 9/12/08 9:18 AM, "Richard Bessey" wrote: > > > > All, > Just a quick question, are the front and rear brake pads on the KLR the > same? > > The one I have has the same pads front and back, not sure if that is on > purpose or not. Regardless, they seem to work fine. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Spike55]

The calipers, pads, and the way you replace the pads are different, front to back. I caution everyone against getting the Parts Unlimited pads, at least the fronts. Go with something with metal like a DP or EBC. I noticed my stopping distances stretch out on these PUs. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Richard Bessey wrote: > > All, > Just a quick question, are the front and rear brake pads on the KLR the > same? > > The one I have has the same pads front and back, not sure if that is on > purpose or not. Regardless, they seem to work fine. > > -- > Regards, > > Richard Bessey > System Administrator > Vivio Technologies > Phone: 509-956-3050 Ext. 1005 >

[mikeypep]

I'd like to make two points. One, the pads are different. The rears drop in, more or less, and the fronts have a tough-to-fit pin arrangement. They are different, and I assume there is a reason. If MotherKawa wanted them to work the same she would have made them the same; which takes me to point two. I don't mess with things that I use to keep me safe. I don't paint my helmet, restyle my brake lights, and I don't mess with my brakes. If it doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Spike55" wrote: > > The calipers, pads, and the way you replace the pads are different, > front to back. I caution everyone against getting the Parts > Unlimited pads, at least the fronts. Go with something with metal > like a DP or EBC. I noticed my stopping distances stretch out on > these PUs. > > Don R100, A6F > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Richard Bessey wrote: > > > > All, > > Just a quick question, are the front and rear brake pads on the KLR > the > > same? > > > > The one I have has the same pads front and back, not sure if that > is on > > purpose or not. Regardless, they seem to work fine. > > > > -- > > Regards, > > > > Richard Bessey > > System Administrator > > Vivio Technologies > > Phone: 509-956-3050 Ext. 1005 > > >

[CA Stu]

Just buy Galfer Green fronts, Glafer Black rears. Trust me. Fromt he FAQ: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html#brakes Galfer green front, part FD091G1532;..... rear black FD0751052. Thanks CA Stu A13

[Jeff Saline]

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:58:40 -0000 "CA Stu" writes:

> Just buy Galfer Green fronts, Glafer Black rears. > > Trust me. > > Fromt he FAQ: > http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html#brakes > > Galfer green front, part FD091G1532;..... rear black FD0751052. > > > Thanks > CA Stu A13

<><><><><><><> <><><><><><><> CA Stu, About two months ago I helped a local guy with a pad change front and rear. He used greens for the front although I suppose they could be EBCs instead of Galfers. I don't remember what they were for sure. He came over a few days later for a tire change and when we raised the front wheel it wouldn't spin freely. The cause was the pads were hanging up. I did a little observing and we determined the pin was contacting the hole in the pad as the hole was out of position about 1/32". A few file strokes with a small rat tail file had him back in business. I seem to recall hearing on this list within the last few years of someone else having a similar issue. I think someone recently mentioned on another list that a company was putting out imitation brake pads of the EBCs including painting them the same color and printing the same numbers on them. So buyer be ware of what you are buying. One more data point... my 2003 KLR650 with over 27,000 smiles on it is still on the original stock pads. I've inspected them a few times this year and I'm now guessing I have another 10,000 miles to go with them. I'll be putting stock pads on my bike when the time comes for that operation. As another data point... my Jeep Cherokee 4x4 (automatic transmission) has over 105,000 smiles on the last brake job I did on it. I've got new rotors in the shop and the lifetime NAPA pads will be replaced for free when I decide it's time to do the brakes in the next month or so. I guess I'm easy on brakes. 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 here to find the satellite television package that meets your needs. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3mzvz43NBr6FuCBbSkSeOj4wRBudjxHoygPVZ4oUx6ewJebq/

[CA Stu]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote:

> > On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:58:40 -0000 "CA Stu" > writes: > > Just buy Galfer Green fronts, Glafer Black rears. > > > > Trust me. > > > > Fromt he FAQ: > > http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html#brakes > > > > Galfer green front, part FD091G1532;..... rear black FD0751052. > > > > > > Thanks > > CA Stu A13 <><><><><><><> > <><><><><><><> > > CA Stu, > > About two months ago I helped a local guy with a pad change front and > rear. He used greens for the front although I suppose they could be

EBCs

> instead of Galfers. I don't remember what they were for sure. He came > over a few days later for a tire change and when we raised the front > wheel it wouldn't spin freely. The cause was the pads were hanging up. > I did a little observing and we determined the pin was contacting the > hole in the pad as the hole was out of position about 1/32". A few file > strokes with a small rat tail file had him back in business. > > I seem to recall hearing on this list within the last few years of > someone else having a similar issue. > > I think someone recently mentioned on another list that a company was > putting out imitation brake pads of the EBCs including painting them the > same color and printing the same numbers on them. So buyer be ware of > what you are buying. > > One more data point... my 2003 KLR650 with over 27,000 smiles on it is > still on the original stock pads. I've inspected them a few times this > year and I'm now guessing I have another 10,000 miles to go with them. > I'll be putting stock pads on my bike when the time comes for that > operation. > > As another data point... my Jeep Cherokee 4x4 (automatic transmission) > has over 105,000 smiles on the last brake job I did on it. I've got new > rotors in the shop and the lifetime NAPA pads will be replaced for free > when I decide it's time to do the brakes in the next month or so. > > I guess I'm easy on brakes. > > Best, > > Jeff Saline

Hi Mr. Saline, I buy Galfers from reputable vendors or direct from Galfer at the Long Beach Motorcycle show every December. I've never had, nor have I ever heard of, any quality control issues with them myself. The Kawasaki factory pads are absolutely fine for replacement, of course. I used EBC's once, ran out of brakes on a long trip away from home. I hated them (squealing, not gripping as well as the Galfers or OEM pads do) and swapped out to Galfers as soon as I got home. I am pretty hard on brake pads. I don't have my maintenance records in front of me here at work, but I'd guess I get an average of 9000mi out of a set of front pads. I do know I wore out one set quite a bit quicker than that, and was almost down to metal on metal when I got home, but that was on a multi-day Baja ride with a guy on a HP2. Kinda hard to keep up. I never use those "lifetime" pads on any of my 4 wheeled vehicles, they are too hard a compound to grip well, and tend to be rough on rotors when used aggressively. I'm no race driver, but I do like things that burn gas, make cool noises, and go fast. Ergo, I like good brakes. Thanks CA Stu

[CA Stu]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote:

> > > About two months ago I helped a local guy with a pad change front and > rear. He used greens for the front although I suppose they could be

EBCs

> instead of Galfers. I don't remember what they were for sure. He came > over a few days later for a tire change and when we raised the front > wheel it wouldn't spin freely. The cause was the pads were hanging up. > I did a little observing and we determined the pin was contacting the > hole in the pad as the hole was out of position about 1/32". A few file > strokes with a small rat tail file had him back in business. >

PS Knowing the aerospace tolerances of our KLRs, I'd be more inclined to think the Kawasaki pin and caliper assembly was jacked up than think the Galfer pads were. Also, if you buy cheap crap brakes off eBay, you get exactly what you pay for. Thanks CA Stu A13

[Jeff Saline]

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:57:28 -0000 "CA Stu" writes: SNIP

> Also, if you buy cheap crap brakes off eBay, you get exactly what > you > pay for. > > Thanks > CA Stu A13

<><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><> Stu, Well said! : ) I think the pads we had issues with were bought from a vendor commonly used by list members. I'll bet they weren't Galfers but just don't know/remember for sure. 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 here for the perfect coverage and makeup solutions. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3mN26zyoFgcZgd90PbWcMH4aZAnGaEofCrDZY2umVmoHQl4Q/

[GMac999]

-----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Saline Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 3:03 PM To: s2mumford@... Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Front/back Brake Pads On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:57:28 -0000 "CA Stu" writes: SNIP

> Also, if you buy cheap crap brakes off eBay, you get exactly what you > pay for. > > Thanks > CA Stu A13

<><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><> Stu, Well said! : ) I think the pads we had issues with were bought from a vendor commonly used by list members. I'll bet they weren't Galfers but just don't know/remember for sure. 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 I bought a set of front Galfer Greens from a vender on the list. The problem was with the manufacturing of the backing plate, not the vender. It was stamped and had a ridge around the inside of the pin holes. I couldn't even get one pin in there was so much material flashing around the inside of the hole. I just used my dremel and smoothed it to the rest of the hole diameter. I never contacted the vender, since it was what I ordered and obviously a manufacturing defect. GregM ____________________________________________________________ Click here for the perfect coverage and makeup solutions. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3mN26zyoFgcZgd90PbWcMH4aZA nGaEofCrDZY2umVmoHQl4Q/ ------------------------------------ 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