fork tube position oil

[eddiebmauri]

As a follow-up to the recent excellent threads about crash guards, I have a question, "I was told that with an IMS tank, it is not necessary to have crash guards because the IMS tank would suffice". Do you agree with that? I like the looks and extra fuel capacity of the IMS Tank, what is the down side, if any? How much protection does the IMS provide to the engine, radiator, fan, etc.? Eddie (03' KLR 650 - "la poderosa)

[boulder_adv_rider]

Eddie - Although the plastic tank doesn't dent I don't recommend it be considered "protection." I don't thin the manufacturer claims this benefit either. It's held on by small fasteners that 'give' in a crash which is good and bad. Some people run just the plastic tank saying its ok, but with big falls/crashes the pd nerf bars add much higher level of protection. I think the best is modifying the top mounts of the pd nerf by welding on flanges (the top mounts are dainty in my opinion) and then installing one bolt through the frame squeezing it. This provides a really strong rib cage for the beast. I've dropped it so many times hard on granite and other hard surfaces and higher speed crashes in sand...it always gets back up for more. I highly recommend them for rock protection. Admittedly, I've never pushed over my KLR with just the plastic tank. Don't know what if anything would break. I've done this with the nerfs with no worries. Usually the handlebars take some punishment which is why it's critical to get some robust handguards to avoid bending/breaking levers. One other benefit of the plastic tank is it won't rust with condensation. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote:

> > As a follow-up to the recent excellent threads about crash guards, I > have a question, "I was told that with an IMS tank, it is not > necessary to have crash guards because the IMS tank would suffice". > Do you agree with that? I like the looks and extra fuel capacity of > the IMS Tank, what is the down side, if any? How much protection does > the IMS provide to the engine, radiator, fan, etc.? > > Eddie (03' KLR 650 - "la poderosa) >

[Bogdan Swider]

Those little fasteners stand up to falls surprisingly well. I ve gone down with no ill effect. Those go-downs weren't at great speeds but when I fell at those speeds with the stock system I damaged the shrouds. Years ago a frequent poster ( forgot his name ) wrote he went down at 30/40 mph. Said there was no damage to the tank. Bogdan

On 10/6/08 8:35 AM, "boulder_adv_rider" wrote: > > > > Eddie - Although the plastic tank doesn't dent I don't recommend it be > considered "protection." I don't thin the manufacturer claims this > benefit either. It's held on by small fasteners that 'give' in a crash > which is good and bad. Some people run just the plastic tank saying > its ok, but with big falls/crashes the pd nerf bars add much higher > level of protection. > > I think the best is modifying the top mounts of the pd nerf by welding > on flanges (the top mounts are dainty in my opinion) and then > installing one bolt through the frame squeezing it. This provides a > really strong rib cage for the beast. I've dropped it so many times > hard on granite and other hard surfaces and higher speed crashes in > sand...it always gets back up for more. I highly recommend them for > rock protection. > > Admittedly, I've never pushed over my KLR with just the plastic tank. > Don't know what if anything would break. I've done this with the nerfs > with no worries. Usually the handlebars take some punishment which is > why it's critical to get some robust handguards to avoid > bending/breaking levers. One other benefit of the plastic tank is it > won't rust with condensation. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , > "eddiebmauri" > wrote: >> > >> > As a follow-up to the recent excellent threads about crash guards, I >> > have a question, "I was told that with an IMS tank, it is not >> > necessary to have crash guards because the IMS tank would suffice". >> > Do you agree with that? I like the looks and extra fuel capacity of >> > the IMS Tank, what is the down side, if any? How much protection does >> > the IMS provide to the engine, radiator, fan, etc.? >> > >> > Eddie (03' KLR 650 - "la poderosa) >> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ed Dobson]

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

> > Robert, > Back in the '70s we used ATF in the forks of our enduro bikes

(TT500, Can Am 400

> Hercules 125, etc) , and since then I've used it in ALL my bikes -

'78 XS750, '79 SR500,

> '03 Bandit 1200S, and '04 KLR 650. DEFINITELY made the fork action

smoother in all

> cases, and I'll use it in my NEW Versys!!! > Cheers, > Ed > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Robert Waters wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > I bought the preload adjusters and before installing them I want

to change the oil. I

> have been told that synthetic ATF works great. A dealer, for one,

told me that. But I read

> from one who tells how to do the change that you can clean the tube

with ATF but be sure

> to rinse it with fork oil before filling it with fork oil. Can

someone help this confused shade

> tree mechanic?

There is an awful lot of controversy about the use of ATF vs. fork oil, you know, viscosity & index, mineral vs. synthetic, lack of seal conditioners, single vs. multigrade, anti-wear/foaming/corrosion/stiction additives , color, car vs. M/C oil, etc.; this could just explode into another oil thread..................................... ED

[Kurt Grife]

Bogdan, That report may have been from me. In January 2002 I had a bad crash in Mexico that gave me my only physical injury in 40+ years of riding. Had to have surgery on my right shoulder and months of rehab. The IMS tank, however was undamaged except for scratches. Those little mounting tabs don't look like much but they do work. That crash was on the right side of the bike, previously I had a pretty good spill on the left side and no radiator damage. I think the IMS tank offers protection equal to the radiator guards that are offered from various suppliers. Just my opinion based on my experience. Kurt

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bogdan Swider wrote: > > Those little fasteners stand up to falls surprisingly well. I ve gone down > with no ill effect. Those go-downs weren't at great speeds but when I fell > at those speeds with the stock system I damaged the shrouds. Years ago a > frequent poster ( forgot his name ) wrote he went down at 30/40 mph. Said > there was no damage to the tank. > > Bogdan > > > On 10/6/08 8:35 AM, "boulder_adv_rider" wrote: > > > > > > > > > Eddie - Although the plastic tank doesn't dent I don't recommend it be > > considered "protection." I don't thin the manufacturer claims this > > benefit either. It's held on by small fasteners that 'give' in a crash > > which is good and bad. Some people run just the plastic tank saying > > its ok, but with big falls/crashes the pd nerf bars add much higher > > level of protection. > > > > I think the best is modifying the top mounts of the pd nerf by welding > > on flanges (the top mounts are dainty in my opinion) and then > > installing one bolt through the frame squeezing it. This provides a > > really strong rib cage for the beast. I've dropped it so many times > > hard on granite and other hard surfaces and higher speed crashes in > > sand...it always gets back up for more. I highly recommend them for > > rock protection. > > > > Admittedly, I've never pushed over my KLR with just the plastic tank. > > Don't know what if anything would break. I've done this with the nerfs > > with no worries. Usually the handlebars take some punishment which is > > why it's critical to get some robust handguards to avoid > > bending/breaking levers. One other benefit of the plastic tank is it > > won't rust with condensation. > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , > > "eddiebmauri" > > wrote: > >> > > >> > As a follow-up to the recent excellent threads about crash guards, I > >> > have a question, "I was told that with an IMS tank, it is not > >> > necessary to have crash guards because the IMS tank would suffice". > >> > Do you agree with that? I like the looks and extra fuel capacity of > >> > the IMS Tank, what is the down side, if any? How much protection does > >> > the IMS provide to the engine, radiator, fan, etc.? > >> > > >> > Eddie (03' KLR 650 - "la poderosa) > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Bogdan Swider]

I didn t know you went down in Mexico, Kurt. I m glad it wasn t worse. The post I remember was from a guy in Texas that frequently mentioned that he had a disease. Maybe his name was Jim. My most serious go down was also in Mexico. I went over after hitting some moss hidden under that always running vado near Catavina. Don t know the exact speed but I was going fast. Bogdan

On 10/7/08 9:33 AM, "Kurt Grife" wrote: > > > > Bogdan, > That report may have been from me. In January 2002 I had a bad crash > in Mexico that gave me my only physical injury in 40+ years of > riding. Had to have surgery on my right shoulder and months of > rehab. The IMS tank, however was undamaged except for scratches. > Those little mounting tabs don't look like much but they do work. > That crash was on the right side of the bike, previously I had a > pretty good spill on the left side and no radiator damage. I think > the IMS tank offers protection equal to the radiator guards that are > offered from various suppliers. Just my opinion based on my > experience. > Kurt > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , > Bogdan Swider wrote: >> > >> > Those little fasteners stand up to falls surprisingly well. I ve > gone down >> > with no ill effect. Those go-downs weren't at great speeds but when > I fell >> > at those speeds with the stock system I damaged the shrouds. Years > ago a >> > frequent poster ( forgot his name ) wrote he went down at 30/40 > mph. Said >> > there was no damage to the tank. >> > >> > Bogdan >> > >> > >> > On 10/6/08 8:35 AM, "boulder_adv_rider" > wrote: >> > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > Eddie - Although the plastic tank doesn't dent I don't recommend > it be >>> > > considered "protection." I don't thin the manufacturer claims > this >>> > > benefit either. It's held on by small fasteners that 'give' in a > crash >>> > > which is good and bad. Some people run just the plastic tank > saying >>> > > its ok, but with big falls/crashes the pd nerf bars add much > higher >>> > > level of protection. >>> > > >>> > > I think the best is modifying the top mounts of the pd nerf by > welding >>> > > on flanges (the top mounts are dainty in my opinion) and then >>> > > installing one bolt through the frame squeezing it. This > provides a >>> > > really strong rib cage for the beast. I've dropped it so many > times >>> > > hard on granite and other hard surfaces and higher speed crashes > in >>> > > sand...it always gets back up for more. I highly recommend them > for >>> > > rock protection. >>> > > >>> > > Admittedly, I've never pushed over my KLR with just the plastic > tank. >>> > > Don't know what if anything would break. I've done this with the > nerfs >>> > > with no worries. Usually the handlebars take some punishment > which is >>> > > why it's critical to get some robust handguards to avoid >>> > > bending/breaking levers. One other benefit of the plastic tank > is it >>> > > won't rust with condensation. >>> > > >>> > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >>> 40yahoogroups.com> , >>> > > "eddiebmauri" >>> > > wrote: >>>>> > >> > >>>>> > >> > As a follow-up to the recent excellent threads about crash > guards, I >>>>> > >> > have a question, "I was told that with an IMS tank, it is not >>>>> > >> > necessary to have crash guards because the IMS tank would > suffice". >>>>> > >> > Do you agree with that? I like the looks and extra fuel > capacity of >>>>> > >> > the IMS Tank, what is the down side, if any? How much > protection does >>>>> > >> > the IMS provide to the engine, radiator, fan, etc.? >>>>> > >> > >>>>> > >> > Eddie (03' KLR 650 - "la poderosa) >>>>> > >> > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]