Wilsons Sandbox

On Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:25:10 -0700 "TRedd @ Gmail" writes:

> Guys: > > Favor - I am putting together a road kit for my 2009 650 > 1. tire irons/tools - suggested brands of tools for changing tube? > > 2. tube brand ? > > 3. Use slime in tubes or none? > > 4. Other thoughts? > > Thanks > > > Tom

<><><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><><> Tom, I changed the subject line to better reflect what you've asked. I think Motion Pro makes some 15 inch levers. I don't think brand really matters just that you have the levers when you need them. I like a couple of long levers and two short levers too. Just makes it easier for me. A valve core remover is pretty handy. I have metal valve caps that have the tool as part of the cap but that is a real last resort for me. I carry a tool in my tire kit. Patches, glue, a stitcher, tire talc, tire lube are all handy. Probably handiest is an air compressor. Top of the list is a digital tire pressure gauge. As a side note... last week I took two evening classes by AC Delco. At the end of the second class I was hanging around to discuss a point with the instructor. The area manager gave me a new tire gauge. I got it back to the shop and was going to test it for accuracy. It didn't work. I don't mean it wasn't accurate I mean even 36 psi wouldn't get the calibrated rod to slide out of the gauge. I threw it out immediately and thought how lucky I was to have digital guages that are accurate and reliable. Spare tubes are handy but I've not needed one on my KLR yet. I use heavy or ultra heavy duty tubes. I think I've used Fly and Moose brands. I understand the good ones are getting hard if not impossible to find now. I suggest no slime or additive in the tubes. If you use an additive and it doesn't work it'll probably be very tough if not impossible to install a patch. Slime also makes one heck of a mess if you ever have to change a torn tube. Carry enough tools with you so you can remove a front and rear wheel. I don't think the earlier KLRs had tools for the axle nuts if I recall correctly. If you don't have a center stand maybe take some time to figure out how you're gonna get a wheel in the air so you can remove a wheel. Last thought... I believe 90% of tire issues happen in the final 10% of tire life. So I don't run my tires until I can see the air in the tubes. And it seems to work well for me. 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 perfect picture with our powerful photo search features. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw1aBnFM3up7et1zqz3O4dbIbVfsgPk4B6cnTWrEJTwFfjW6I/

da V: I had no adjustment left with my 44T:16T / 106 link chain combo, so that is why I didn't go any further (up to 45T). Your 108 allows you to play in a different sandbox than me but I'm pretty comfortable (lazy) with what I have. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Tumu Rock" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Spike55" wrote: > > > > Could you 'flesh out' an important part of your set-up, which > > pertains to the chain. Nearly from the beginning, I've used a > > 44T/15T with the stock chain but I think that I would run out of > > chain length with a 45T rear. Tell us about the chain / amount of > > adjustment. > > > > Don R100, A6F > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Tumu Rock" wrote: > > I went with a 45 tooth rear and got have each of the 14, 15 , and > 16 tooth front sprockets. > > > Don, > > I'm using a 108 link chain but looks like it would work with a 106 > links. It might be more difficult to connect with the master link > with only 106 but I'm thinking about doing it. Right now, with the > 16/45 on, I'm on the 3rd adjustment hash mark from the front. > Haven't had a chance to try the 14/45 yet, but it's gonna be close to > the end of adjustability I suspect. I'll let you know when I make > the switch to the 14 tooth front. > > da Vermonster >

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

>Snipage-- > Top of the list is a digital tire > pressure gauge. As a side note... last week I took two evening

classes

> by AC Delco. At the end of the second class I was hanging around to > discuss a point with the instructor. The area manager gave me a

new tire

> gauge. I got it back to the shop and was going to test it for

accuracy.

> It didn't work. I don't mean it wasn't accurate I mean even 36 psi > wouldn't get the calibrated rod to slide out of the gauge. I threw

it

> out immediately and thought how lucky I was to have digital guages

that

> are accurate and reliable. >

more snippage

> > Jeff Saline

During my Great Divide Ride we stopped one morning to check tire pressures. I thought it odd that "John's" bike tire had such a different width of footprint than mine in the soft soils (same tire pressures and same tire width, albeit, his was a D606 and mine a K270, the footprint should have been 'close')--as well as an odd wear pattern on his 606's. We exchanged tire gages. They were 10 psi different at 32psi (desired). His gauge read 42psi on my bike, mine read 22 on his tire. Somebodies gauge is lying to us. I first thought it might be mine--as John's gauge was 'new'. We checked the station operator's gauge as well. It read 32psi. on my bike, as did my own gauge. My gauge had been checked against Jeff Saline's digital gauge before leaving, so I was confident it was correct. John was confident, his was correct because it was 'new'. At the next NAPA store, I bought a new 'slide type' and a digital gauge. Both read exactly the same as my gauge. When confronted about his inaccurate gauge, John said, "What do you expect for (sic) 99cents?" sigh. John had been running 10 psi over 'desired' for some 4K miles at this point. It should have been more obvious to us, as he had commented that the dealer that did his tire exchange in Kalispell, MT had put the tire pressure 10 psi lower than he had asked. (Now we know why.) We found a trash can for the lying gauge. Just another pivot point in proper preparation. His overinflated tires did us no favors in the mud, but perhaps helped significantly against a pinch flat while we were banging on the rocks. That's what I keep telling myself.... revmaaatin.