Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:21 am**

Today is the tenth anniversary of the loss of many lives at the hands of international terrorism. Among them was a fellow riding friend from Mass. named Christoffer Carstanjen. A penpal on the PC800 web list, Chris and I met just once in person at a Pacific Coast rally held at Deal's Gap, NC in August of 2001. Always a terrible typist using just two or three fingers, I seldom capitalized my ICQ instant messages to the group members. Upon our introduction, Chris jokingly commented, "You're eddie! With a little 'e"! After September 11, I stopped capitalizing my first name as a small way of remembering my friend that died in the second plane crash at the WTC. Others on this list may have known someone that died that day, too. Even if you didn't personally, we as the human race lost a lot that day. If you can, take a ride today and remember those that are no longer with us. eddie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:57 am**

All, I need to reduce the dive-in on my front forks without replacing the stock springs. What is this about replacing the spacer? Big Cee said to use 3/4 inch PVC, I never messed with suspensions before and being kind of "thick skulled" (you know..French immigrant ... ending up in the Tn hills... drinking "shine" like water ...) I would like for y'all to gimme step by step direction on how to do that,please. What kind of PVC to use,how long, where it goes, what to un-screw on the forks.... etc..etc.. Thanks [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Sun Sep 11, 2011 9:17 am**

Luc, It's fairly easy, actually. Once you support the front of the bike to get the weight off the front wheel, loosen the upper pinch bolt on one fork and then unscrew the fork cap. I used a suitable socket and ratchet keeping in mind that the caps are aluminum and soft. A six point socket is preferred. Once the cap is nearly free, get ready for it to "jump" slightly when it comes free. The stock spacers in my 09' were incredibly long and made me really glad I bought a set of aftermarket springs to replace the originals. Once you see what little stock spring you are dealing with, you may wish to do the same. That said, you can simply replace your spacers with longer, smoothly cut pieces of PVC pipe similar in diameter to the stock spacers. On my 09', those were about 33mm/1.25 in., in dia. and 295mm/11.75 in. long. Installation is the reverse of removal but be really careful not to cross-thread the cap going back in. I wiped the threads clean on both fork and cap and put a dab of fork on them and the cap o-ring before installation. Done? Tighten the pinch bolt and do the same to the other fork. I wouldn't expect a large gain in suspension stiffness, though. The OEM springs are pretty weak. But, for only a couple of dollars' plastic pipe, it's worth a shot. Bonne chance et amusez-vous! (I hope I got that right) eddie

> [Original Message] > From: Luc Legrain > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 9/11/2011 9:57:45 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] (klr650) : Spacer > > All, > I need to reduce the dive-in on my front forks without replacing the

stock springs. What is this about replacing the spacer? Big Cee said to use 3/4 inch PVC, I never messed with suspensions before and being kind of "thick skulled" (you know..French immigrant ... ending up in the Tn hills... drinking "shine" like water ...) I would like for y'all to gimme step by step direction on how to do that,please. What kind of PVC to use,how long, where it goes, what to un-screw on the forks.... etc..etc..

> Thanks > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com > Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map

> Group Apps:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links

> > >

Posted: **Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:21 am**

Thanks Eddie, yes you got it perfect . Is 295m/m be the max lenght I should use ? Will I still have some cushioning ? From: eddie To: Luc Legrain Cc: KLR650 list DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 9:17 AM Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] (klr650) : Spacer Luc, It's fairly easy, actually. Once you support the front of the bike to get the weight off the front wheel, loosen the upper pinch bolt on one fork and then unscrew the fork cap. I used a suitable socket and ratchet keeping in mind that the caps are aluminum and soft. A six point socket is preferred. Once the cap is nearly free, get ready for it to "jump" slightly when it comes free. The stock spacers in my 09' were incredibly long and made me really glad I bought a set of aftermarket springs to replace the originals. Once you see what little stock spring you are dealing with, you may wish to do the same. That said, you can simply replace your spacers with longer, smoothly cut pieces of PVC pipe similar in diameter to the stock spacers. On my 09', those were about 33mm/1.25 in., in dia. and 295mm/11.75 in. long. Installation is the reverse of removal but be really careful not to cross-thread the cap going back in. I wiped the threads clean on both fork and cap and put a dab of fork on them and the cap o-ring before installation. Done? Tighten the pinch bolt and do the same to the other fork. I wouldn't expect a large gain in suspension stiffness, though. The OEM springs are pretty weak. But, for only a couple of dollars' plastic pipe, it's worth a shot. Bonne chance et amusez-vous! (I hope I got that right) eddie

> [Original Message] > From: Luc Legrain > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 9/11/2011 9:57:45 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] (klr650) : Spacer > > All, > I need to reduce the dive-in on my front forks without replacing the

stock springs. What is this about replacing the spacer? Big Cee said to use 3/4 inch PVC, I never messed with suspensions before and being kind of "thick skulled" (you know..French immigrant ... ending up in the Tn hills... drinking "shine" like water ...) I would like for y'all to gimme step by step direction on how to do that,please. What kind of PVC to use,how long, where it goes, what to un-screw on the forks.... etc..etc..

> Thanks > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com > Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map

> Group Apps:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links

> > >

------------------------------------ List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map Group Apps: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wilsons Sandbox

remembering

remembering

(klr650) : spacer

(klr650) : spacer

(klr650) : spacer