Wilsons Sandbox

I run a 13 tooth and love it. I would not even consider a 16. I like the squirt I get, even on the freeway. I bought the best chain Fred sells. A gold something. Works great! Lubing the swing arm sounds like way more than two hours work. Just my two cents. YMMV Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 9/21/2012 4:10 PM, snowcrash007 wrote: > > 1. I drive 90% on road or dirt roads. If I go to the 16 sprocket, how > much acceleration in 2 and 3 do I loose? > > 2. When buying a new chain, is there a benefit to getting an expensive > high end chain? > > 3. Shop quoted 140 CAN to lube the swing arm. Thats almost two hours > labor after the back wheel is already off. Is that normal? > > Thanks > > Crash > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

1. You will lose acceleration in all gears. I can't quantify it easily, but I did not like the overall effect of a 16t chainwheel. Zero improvement in fuel mileage, an almost unnoticeable calming effect at highway speed, inexchange for drgraded performance and throttle response throughout the range. Kawasaki pretty much got the gearing right, but if you are going to be off pavement a lot, lower gearing is the way to go. 2. Some benefit, probably. Best bet is to look for lower prices on the good chain, then keep it clean. 3. Two hours is not a lot of time for that job. However, 140 bucks is a lot of dough. Do it yourself.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "snowcrash007" wrote: > > 1. I drive 90% on road or dirt roads. If I go to the 16 sprocket, how much acceleration in 2 and 3 do I loose? > > 2. When buying a new chain, is there a benefit to getting an expensive high end chain? > > 3. Shop quoted 140 CAN to lube the swing arm. Thats almost two hours labor after the back wheel is already off. Is that normal? > > > Thanks > > > Crash >

I agree on the 16. A friend runs one and is always slipping the clutch and lugging the engine. I think lugging is worse for the engine than higher rpm's. I have run the 13 and like it but like to cruise around at 75 to 80 mph (indicated) so usually run stock. Another friend I saw at the drag races yesterday who is a retired road racer and teaches small engine repair at a local Jr. College told me he is hitting 110 to 115 mph (indicated) on both his KLR's. I don't know what gearing he runs. Criswell Sent from my iPad

On Sep 21, 2012, at 11:27 PM, RobertWichert wrote: > I run a 13 tooth and love it. I would not even consider a 16. I like > the squirt I get, even on the freeway. > > I bought the best chain Fred sells. A gold something. Works great! > > Lubing the swing arm sounds like way more than two hours work. > > Just my two cents. > > YMMV > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > =============================================== > > On 9/21/2012 4:10 PM, snowcrash007 wrote: > > > > 1. I drive 90% on road or dirt roads. If I go to the 16 sprocket, how > > much acceleration in 2 and 3 do I loose? > > > > 2. When buying a new chain, is there a benefit to getting an expensive > > high end chain? > > > > 3. Shop quoted 140 CAN to lube the swing arm. Thats almost two hours > > labor after the back wheel is already off. Is that normal? > > > > Thanks > > > > Crash > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

$0.02 on #3. It took me between 1.5-2 hours to remove the rear wheel, swingarm and suspension links, grease things and put everything back. I'd never done it before and used hand tools in my driveway. My 09' had a SW-Motech centerstand, which made the whole thing a ton easier. Cost? $0. I already owned a tub of waterproof grease. =) eddie

> [Original Message] > From: snowcrash007 > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 9/21/2012 7:10:12 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Few questions on up coming maint > > 1. I drive 90% on road or dirt roads. If I go to the 16 sprocket, how

much acceleration in 2 and 3 do I loose?

> > 2. When buying a new chain, is there a benefit to getting an expensive

high end chain?

> > 3. Shop quoted 140 CAN to lube the swing arm. Thats almost two hours

labor after the back wheel is already off. Is that normal?

> > > Thanks > > > Crash >

I get to almost ninety-five indicated with a 13 tooth sprocket at about redline. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 9/22/2012 3:18 AM, Ron Criswell wrote: > I agree on the 16. A friend runs one and is always slipping the clutch > and lugging the engine. I think lugging is worse for the engine than > higher rpm's. I have run the 13 and like it but like to cruise around > at 75 to 80 mph (indicated) so usually run stock. Another friend I saw > at the drag races yesterday who is a retired road racer and teaches > small engine repair at a local Jr. College told me he is hitting 110 > to 115 mph (indicated) on both his KLR's. I don't know what gearing he > runs. > > Criswell > > Sent from my iPad > > On Sep 21, 2012, at 11:27 PM, RobertWichert > wrote: > >> I run a 13 tooth and love it. I would not even consider a 16. I like >> the squirt I get, even on the freeway. >> >> I bought the best chain Fred sells. A gold something. Works great! >> >> Lubing the swing arm sounds like way more than two hours work. >> >> Just my two cents. >> >> YMMV >> >> Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C >> +1 916 966 9060 >> FAX +1 916 966 9068 >> >> =============================================== >> >> On 9/21/2012 4:10 PM, snowcrash007 wrote: >> > >> > 1. I drive 90% on road or dirt roads. If I go to the 16 sprocket, how >> > much acceleration in 2 and 3 do I loose? >> > >> > 2. When buying a new chain, is there a benefit to getting an expensive >> > high end chain? >> > >> > 3. Shop quoted 140 CAN to lube the swing arm. Thats almost two hours >> > labor after the back wheel is already off. Is that normal? >> > >> > Thanks >> > >> > Crash >> > >> > >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "snowcrash007" wrote:

> > 1. I drive 90% on road or dirt roads. If I go to the 16 sprocket, how much acceleration in 2 and 3 do I loose?

Not enough to get excited about. KLR isn't a go fast bike no how. I've run 16 for a short time and took it off for a trip to Arkansas way back in '00 and never put it back on. I like a 14 in the really tight stuff but don;t do enough of that anymore so have the 14 as the foot on my redone sidestand now. ;=-) I like the 15 stocker. Does all I need to do. I think years back, someone had do a deal on the engine chains , tenshioner and cam chains, and they really started getting to flopping about at above 6000 rpm. Not sure now how the did it. But, it convinced me to stay under 6000 rpm. A KLR speedo is 7 to 8 mph fast at a GPS indicated 60 mph.

> > 2. When buying a new chain, is there a benefit to getting an expensive high end chain?

Shop around, I use a DID X ring and love them. Good lasting time.

> > 3. Shop quoted 140 CAN to lube the swing arm. Thats almost two hours labor after the back wheel is already off. Is that normal?

A bit high. I'm like the fellow that did his own in under 2 hours from wheel on. I took a break and stll got it done in near 2 hours. But, on a lift. Getting too dang old to be squatting and working.

> > > Thanks

Your quite welcome

> > > Crash >

Andy in Jennings '00 KLR '07 Bandit 1250S

Jeff S. and I recently did two tire changes, valve check and a swing arm lube; I believe it was right at 3.5+ hours using a lift, a harbor freight tire machine. Note: we cleaned everything thoroughly in the process as well. I had a shop mount a tire for me in Cody, WY (I pulled the wheel) and it took less time for them to change the tire than it did for me to walk from the service desk, to the bathroom, void 'water' and return.... I would imagine, Two additional hours to lube the swing arm is flat rate.... I once did a sprocket/chain replacement, minor swing arm lube in less than hour; required removing the wheel. The question remains, what is most precious? Two hours of time or $140CAN? The KiLeRista alternative: Fess up to where you live and see if there is another KLR rider who will show and tell for you and do it yourself...or not. smile. IRT to the 16T sprocket, it is a matter of deep personal choice. For OEM, I prefer using a 14T. shrug. It will cost ~$25US to find out if you like it. Many here report they like it. Does not work for my application; one poster uses a 17T and gets a long just fine. shrug. If you don't like it with the OEM 43T rear, save it for later when you buy a 45T rear which will give you a wider range of off road capability when you use a 13/14T cs. If/When using the larger rear and larger front, you will need a 108-link chain. IRT to the high end chain, you only need that if your KLR HP output is over 90hp. grin. ymmv. What is JUNK is the std roller chain when used on a KLR environment. Mine (experiment) lasted only --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "snowcrash007" wrote: > > 1. I drive 90% on road or dirt roads. If I go to the 16 sprocket, how much acceleration in 2 and 3 do I loose? > > 2. When buying a new chain, is there a benefit to getting an expensive high end chain? > > 3. Shop quoted 140 CAN to lube the swing arm. Thats almost two hours labor after the back wheel is already off. Is that normal? > > > Thanks > > > Crash >