the birkshire triple

[gust0261]

Should I follow the recommendations from the manual that came with my 07 klr 650 or put the shock settings at a higher number? I ask because I have hit my license plate with the wheel 4 or 5 times now. the last time it was torn off. I want to be safe on the road but have it work like a dirt bike off road as I do ride off road most of the time. I don't want to make it more dangerous on the road though. I don't mind crashing in the dirt but I don't really want to while on the road.

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "gust0261" wrote:

> > Should I follow the recommendations from the manual that came with my > 07 klr 650 or put the shock settings at a higher number? I ask > because I have hit my license plate with the wheel 4 or 5 times now. > the last time it was torn off. I want to be safe on the road but have > it work like a dirt bike off road as I do ride off road most of the > time. I don't want to make it more dangerous on the road though. I > don't mind crashing in the dirt but I don't really want to while on > the road. >

Adjust your preload so that the rear sags about 3" from fully extended with you and your luggage seated on the bike. Relocate your license plate to the rear fender, just below the taillight; use a Dremel to remove the inner fender. You could just bend your plate out to clear the wheel, or mount it in the lower holes, but sooner or later your tire will likely eat the inner fender and force you to relocate the plate anyway.

[Jeff Saline]

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 03:18:56 -0000 "gust0261" writes:

> Should I follow the recommendations from the manual that came with > my > 07 klr 650 or put the shock settings at a higher number? I ask > because I have hit my license plate with the wheel 4 or 5 times now. > > the last time it was torn off. I want to be safe on the road but > have > it work like a dirt bike off road as I do ride off road most of the > time. I don't want to make it more dangerous on the road though. > I > don't mind crashing in the dirt but I don't really want to while on > the road.

<><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> Michael, It's probably not the shock settings that are the problem. I'd guess it's the license plate being in the stock location. Many folks relocate the plate higher so it touches the bottom of the rear light. In South Dakota we get four holes in our plates so I just use the lower holes to mount the plate. Once that's done you won't be hitting the plate with the rear wheel. I've found the suggested settings in the owners manual are a good starting point. But then experimenting a bit will help you figure out what you like for your riding conditions and style. 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

[Doug Pippin]

The real problem is that the KLR comes with a inadequate rear shock spring. You still need to move the license plate to a higher location but to make the KLR handle properly your looking at a new rear shock or at the very least a shock spring. There are a few rear shocks on the market. I've installed a Cogent Dynamics shock and have been very happy with it. If you call Rick at Cogent he can customize the shock for your riding style and weight. With a proper shock on the bike it will handle well both on and off road. Check out the Cogent shock at: http://tinyurl.com/2bg95f>http://tinyurl.com/2bg95f Doug Pippin ---------- At 07:18 AM 11/22/2007, you wrote:

>rear shock setting > Posted by: "gust0261" gustavson.michael@... gust0261 > Date: Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:18 pm ((PST)) > >Should I follow the recommendations from the manual that came with >my 07 klr 650 or put the shock settings at a higher number? I ask >because I have hit my license plate with the wheel 4 or 5 times now. >the last time it was torn off. I want to be safe on the road but >have it work like a dirt bike off road as I do ride off road most of >the time. I don't want to make it more dangerous on the road >though. I don't mind crashing in the dirt but I don't really want >to while on the road.

---------- Doug Pippin 828-684-8488 d_pippin_89@... ---------- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote:

> > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "gust0261"

wrote:

> > > > Should I follow the recommendations from the manual that came

with my

> > 07 klr 650 or put the shock settings at a higher number? I ask > > because I have hit my license plate with the wheel 4 or 5 times

now.

> > the last time it was torn off. I want to be safe on the road but

have

> > it work like a dirt bike off road as I do ride off road most of

the

> > time. I don't want to make it more dangerous on the road

though. I

> > don't mind crashing in the dirt but I don't really want to while

on

> > the road. > > > > Adjust your preload so that the rear sags about 3" from fully

extended with you and your

> luggage seated on the bike. Relocate your license plate to the rear

fender, just below the

> taillight; use a Dremel to remove the inner fender. You could just

bend your plate out to clear

> the wheel, or mount it in the lower holes, but sooner or later your

tire will likely eat the inner

> fender and force you to relocate the plate anyway. >

Additionally, you will find this also helpful http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html revmaaatin.

[Michael Nelson]

On Thu, Nov 22, 2007 at 07:44:30AM -0500, Doug Pippin wrote:

> I've installed a Cogent Dynamics shock and have been very happy with it. > If you call Rick at Cogent he can customize the shock for your riding > style and weight. With a proper shock on the bike it will handle well > both on and off road. > > Check out the Cogent shock at: > http://tinyurl.com/2bg95f>http://tinyurl.com/2bg95f

I couldn't agree more. Thanks to Doug for initially letting me know about the Cogent Dynamics stuff and Rick Tannenbaum. I now have the CD shock in the rear, and CD springs + Racetech Cartridge Emulators in the front, and it has absolutely transformed the bike. I'm finally a happy camper, suspension-wise! Michael -- "It's not what I don't understand about religion that bothers me, it's what I do understand." -- Mark Twain San Francisco, CA

[Craig]

The easiest way I found to relocate the license plate is to just move it from being bolted to the top bolts to bolting to the bottom bolts. I'ts a tight fit and trimming may be neccesary, but you can retain the light and stay legal. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Skypilot]

My club, the Birkshire Trail Riders, is having our fall ride Sept 16th and it offers something for all KLRs. The Trail Ride would be well suited to a KLR250 or someone with a WELL tuned for off road 650 only. The Adventure ride is perfect for ANY 650 and the route is beutiful. The Dual Sport offers a little more off road centric riding than the Adventure ride and has some hero sections if you want more. Anybody on this interested and who needs a local hand arranging things or finding accomodations please feel free to contact me directly at skypilot@.... http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=809360

[bryanonfire]

Hi, I would look this up in the old posts if I could, but I have very limited internet access. Just bought an early E model in the Czech Republic and it looks to be in good shape. I will be riding with rider plus gear weighing in at about 250 - 260 pounds but sometimes may have a passenger on the back bringing the weight up to 400. It will be almost entirely road miles, just an occasional pothole or speed bump to worry about. What rear shock pre-load setting do I want, and how do I set it? I know where the fitting is but remember reading something about only turning one way. The Clymer manual says very little. It is on 1.5 right now. Same question about the rebound dampening. Thanks Bryan