flying klr and riding at night in mexico

[mjmc335]

I am in La Paz, Baja, and my chain started making weird noises. One shop says the chain is bad, adjusted too tight, and tried to sell me a used one that looks worse than the one on the bike now. The chain on the bike looks good, the sprockets look OK, they have about 15000 miles on them. I have about 1500 miles to go (about 900 to the border at Tecate) on my 3500 mile trip so after adjusting the chain tighter then looser again the noise appears to be gone. There is a barely noticeable lurch but accelerates strong and does not skip (yet). I am hoping maybe somebody knows of a dealer or shop in La Paz that might have a new 520 chain in stock. I should be able to get internet today (friday) and tomorrow, after that it will be hit and miss as I trek north. There is an awful lot of open space between towns out here and insurance is a good thing, especially when travelling solo. The KLR is running strong after 2K miles, everything from freeways to rocky, sandy, rutted roads. It never ceases to amaze what that bike is capable of. Thanks in advance, Mike

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, John Biccum wrote:

> > A black cow on a black night on a black road is not the worst hazard one > can encounter. > > http://johnbiccum.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Baja-2007/2549433_oDHwZ#134903073_4Kz9v > >

John, There is significant oneupmanship displayed here at DSN (all in good fun) but, yours, Yours--is over the top. It looks like it might even be 'dirty pool' if it were to rain. cough. revmaaatin. now, back to looking at the rest of those be-ewe-t-full pics.

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "mjmc335" wrote:

> > I am in La Paz, Baja, and my chain started making weird noises. One shop says the chain is bad, adjusted too tight, and tried to sell me a used one that looks worse than the one on the bike now. The chain on the bike looks good, the sprockets look OK, they have about 15000 miles on them. > > I have about 1500 miles to go (about 900 to the border at Tecate) on my 3500 mile trip so after adjusting the chain tighter then looser again the noise appears to be gone. There is a barely noticeable lurch but accelerates strong and does not skip (yet). > > I am hoping maybe somebody knows of a dealer or shop in La Paz that might have a new 520 chain in stock. I should be able to get internet today (friday) and tomorrow, after that it will be hit and miss as I trek north. There is an awful lot of open space between towns out here and insurance is a good thing, especially when travelling solo. > > The KLR is running strong after 2K miles, everything from freeways to rocky, sandy, rutted roads. It never ceases to amaze what that bike is capable of. > > Thanks in advance, > Mike >

Mike This is the voice of recent experience: If your chain is talking to you, you need to listen. smile. Look carefully and see if there is silver metalic dust around the sprocket. If there is, you are NOT likely/going to make those final 1500 miles without difficulty. If your must persist on your quest North. Be very gentle on your accelerations and decels to preserve the sprockets as the chain will likely to go to eating the rear sprocket very soon--at least that has been my experience. I went from 'making metalic dust' and thinking that things were looking good to eating the rear sproket in less than 500 miles. Did I mention the truck ride home? Many of our problems occur when we resist the invitation to 'repair' a problem. shrug. Ask me how I know.... revmaaatin.