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cable luber gadgets

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:16 pm
by hershonm
Jeff Khoury suggested that I lube my throttle cables in an attempt to cure my unstable idle. Setting aside my disgust at Kawasaki for supplying cheap (to make; expensive to buy) cables that must be lubed, I got out my cable luber and can of Cable Life. What a waste of time. When a cable was simply a length of housing with a ferrule on each end and a cable running inside, a luber would pressurize your housing and force lube through it. You'd attach the luber at one end and hear the lube gurgling out the other end. Very satisfying. Today, cables come with hardware on the ends, hardware that is part of the housing and won't come off. You can't get the luber to seal on the hardware so you can't force lube through the housing. For years, bike makers have spec'd nylon lined cable, lifetime cable, so primitive procedures like cable lubing are seldom necessary. The uselessness of my luber irritates me, but Kawasaki makes me crazy. I ask myself: Which would you rather have that costs a dollar at the factory? Nylon lined cables, grease on the bearings and axles, an effective doohickey spring or a maintenance free battery? And how many times will you, Mr. KLR product design dude, decide to save a dollar at the risk of making an enemy? Some KLR buyers have owned motorcycles before....

cable luber gadgets

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:14 am
by Rick McCauley
Back in 2000 I bought a Military version Royal Enfield brand new for $4,500 out the door. I really liked that bike. It was oozing with character. However, it was a piece of crap. A quality nightmare. The frame was crooked, the fender rubbed the fork, the bike pinged so loud, once it was warmed up, you would have sworn there were marbles in the cylinder. It didn't matter what grade of gas you put in it either. The battery failed in 2 months. The list goes on. I traded it off, and took a $$ beating. I bought a left over 2003 KLR in January of 2005. I paid $4,099 + tax license etc. About $4,700 out the door if I remember right I installed the doohickey upgrade, proggressive fork springs, and a Top Gun 8Kg rear spring. All costs added up, I have just over $5,000 in what I consider a great bike. Until you own a REAL piece of crap, I would take it easy on Kawasaki. If you want perfection, there are plenty of $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000 bike out there. Not being nasty, just trying to help you see thing in perspective. :- ) Rick A17
--- On Sun, 8/23/09, hershonm wrote: From: hershonm Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Cable luber gadgets To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009, 6:16 PM Jeff Khoury suggested that I lube my throttle cables in an attempt to cure my unstable idle. Setting aside my disgust at Kawasaki for supplying cheap (to make; expensive to buy) cables that must be lubed, I got out my cable luber and can of Cable Life. What a waste of time. When a cable was simply a length of housing with a ferrule on each end and a cable running inside, a luber would pressurize your housing and force lube through it. You'd attach the luber at one end and hear the lube gurgling out the other end. Very satisfying. Today, cables come with hardware on the ends, hardware that is part of the housing and won't come off. You can't get the luber to seal on the hardware so you can't force lube through the housing. For years, bike makers have spec'd nylon lined cable, lifetime cable, so primitive procedures like cable lubing are seldom necessary. The uselessness of my luber irritates me, but Kawasaki makes me crazy. I ask myself: Which would you rather have that costs a dollar at the factory? Nylon lined cables, grease on the bearings and axles, an effective doohickey spring or a maintenance free battery? And how many times will you, Mr. KLR product design dude, decide to save a dollar at the risk of making an enemy? Some KLR buyers have owned motorcycles before.... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

cable luber gadgets

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:41 am
by hershonm
It's my feeling, Rick, that when you buy an RE, you are aware that you're getting a "REAL piece of crap." The RE importers sell rebuild parts on their web site and items to carry on trips for roadside repairs. Kawasaki would like you to believe that you're buying a finished product, a bike a beginner can love. The shame of it is that the KLR could have been a turn-key motorcycle. None of the things you fixed on your '03 would have cost Kawasaki $20 to do right in the first place, even a better cylinder liner. They don't bother, but we defend them anyway. Strange, huh? I see in the news this morning that Kawasaki and Honda will transfer more production to Thailand... Maynard
--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCauley wrote: > > Back in 2000 I bought a Military version Royal Enfield brand new for $4,500 out the door. I really liked that bike. It was oozing with character. However, it was a piece of crap. > A quality nightmare. The frame was crooked, the fender rubbed the fork, the bike pinged so loud, once it was warmed up, you would have sworn there were marbles in the cylinder. It didn't matter what grade of gas you put in it either. The battery failed in 2 months. The list goes on. I traded it off, and took a $$ beating. > > I bought a left over 2003 KLR in January of 2005. > I paid $4,099 + tax license etc. About $4,700 out the door if I remember right > I installed the doohickey upgrade, proggressive fork springs, and a Top Gun 8Kg rear spring. All costs added up, I have just over $5,000 in what I consider a great bike. > Until you own a REAL piece of crap, I would take it easy on Kawasaki. If you want perfection, there are plenty of $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000 bike out there. > > Not being nasty, just trying to help you see thing in perspective. :- ) > > > Rick > A17 > > --- On Sun, 8/23/09, hershonm wrote: > > > From: hershonm > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Cable luber gadgets > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009, 6:16 PM > > > > > > > Jeff Khoury suggested that I lube my throttle cables in an attempt to cure my unstable idle. Setting aside my disgust at Kawasaki for supplying cheap (to make; expensive to buy) cables that must be lubed, I got out my cable luber and can of Cable Life. > > What a waste of time. > > When a cable was simply a length of housing with a ferrule on each end and a cable running inside, a luber would pressurize your housing and force lube through it. You'd attach the luber at one end and hear the lube gurgling out the other end. Very satisfying. > > Today, cables come with hardware on the ends, hardware that is part of the housing and won't come off. You can't get the luber to seal on the hardware so you can't force lube through the housing. > > For years, bike makers have spec'd nylon lined cable, lifetime cable, so primitive procedures like cable lubing are seldom necessary. The uselessness of my luber irritates me, but Kawasaki makes me crazy. > > I ask myself: Which would you rather have that costs a dollar at the factory? Nylon lined cables, grease on the bearings and axles, an effective doohickey spring or a maintenance free battery? > > And how many times will you, Mr. KLR product design dude, decide to save a dollar at the risk of making an enemy? Some KLR buyers have owned motorcycles before.... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

what does a klr650 motor weigh?

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:33 pm
by Bill Watson
I see you have no replies so far - and I have not weighed one... but as some possible help, I'd suggest a value of more than 100 pounds. I'm pretty sure my air-cooled, kick-start 600 Honda single engine was 94 pounds. Hope this helps. Bill Watson Phoenix, AZ www.xanga.com/watt_man
--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, "steventbarnett" wrote: > > Anyone know the weight of a motor, top and bottom end. I may need to get one from the US to Panama and need to know for planning. > > Thanks, > Steve [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]