alaska trip and farewell

[JIM JAMES]

oh, i probably have put 30 or 40 lbs on it without seeing or feeling any flexing. I have a 24x12x12 zip up bag that i carry my tent ground pad, sleeping bag, etc. in. i wouldn't want to take it in any severe off road stuff loaded, though. does just fine on the highway. i'm working on a smaller aluminum version. the handles that came on the bike add a lot of weight and get in the way of the throw over saddlebags i have, so i'll probably eliminate them. james Jim -

> I like those homebuilt racks. I am new to the KLR, but I

read that no more than 22lbs......

[Arne Larsen]

> > I like those homebuilt racks. I am new to the KLR, but I > read that no more than 22lbs...... --- In DSN_klr650@egroups.com, JIM JAMES wrote: > oh, i probably have put 30 or 40 lbs on it without seeing or feeling any flexing. I have a 24x12x12 zip up bag that i carry my tent ground pad, sleeping bag, etc. in. i wouldn't want to take it in any severe off road stuff loaded, though. does just fine on the highway. i'm working on a smaller aluminum version. the handles that came on the bike add a lot of weight and get in the way of the throw over saddlebags i have, so i'll probably eliminate them. james > > Jim - I like 'em too Jim. Nice job. One thing I would warn caution about - and 'please' don't take this the wrong way as I can see that the creative juices were flowing when you built the racks... but the bar that wraps around the back end is dangerously close to the rear wheel travel upon swing-arm compression. I can see that you have raised your licence plate. I raised mine "exactly" the same way - and STILL hit the tire after bottoming out. If you bottom out the back end - you may run the risk of hitting the rack. Just some food for thought. Cheers, Arne

[Jim Jackson]

Hey Jim, Looks great. I like the large rear rack and the screen is a great touch. But where are the rear signal lights? Have fun on your trip to WV. Wish I could go but I'm working 7 days for a while on a project up here. Any time you care to take a spin in the mountains after June let me know. Jim Jackson II A13 - Greenville South Carolina

> C:\klr650\DCP00185.JPG >well, here's my digital camera test. homebuilt racks and

centerstand.... ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

[JIM JAMES]

i made the centerstand out of a piece of 4130 tube i had at my shop(i'm a welder/moldmaker). it took me about two days of cussin' and head scratchin' and engineering to get it to it's present configuration. it was a bitch. i designed it to raise either the front or rear wheel by removing a stop screw, but that part didn't work out as planned. i still need to refine it a little. after i built it i stopped by the bike salvage yard and looked at hundreds of different stands. i didn't see any that looked like it would work with a minimum of changes. what i have has worked well so far, or at least well enough where i haven't taken it off to monkey with it. it's easier to copy a sucessful design. i didn't have one to go by, though. later, james.

>Jim, did you fabricate the centerstand or adapt one from another bike? Was

it difficult? Joe Alberth

[JIM JAMES]

when i took to photo the signal light tabs hadn't been welded on. everything is finished now with the turn signals mounted about 2" aft of their original location. testing continues........james. p.s. we usually ride the parkway and camp at the blue ridge motorcycle campground in cruso at least every other week. holler when you get time off

>Hey Jim, >Looks great. I like the large rear rack and the screen is a great >touch. But where are the rear signal lights?

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[D.J. Rogers]

John, If you find yourself on Vancouver Island, give me a call. I live in Courtenay, which is arguably 1/2 way between Port Hardy and Victoria. It'd be interesting to hear about your trip. Contact me off list if you want my #. Have a safe trip. Cheers, D. GBG eh14

--- In DSN_klr650@egroups.com, John Laybolt wrote: > Hi All - This is my last post and testament. > > I thank everyone for all the advice and knowledge > gained from this list. Your a great bunch. I > wouldn't have attempted my first service myself > without the advice of the list. I've also gathered > lots of little bits to keep for the future. > > As time is getting short for my departure for Alaska, > I am going to be unsubscribing from the list, I don't > have time to keep up with it any more, as helpful as > it is. Way too many things to do. > > June 9th is my last day of work, shortly after this I > will be heading west. I'll be travelling from Toronto > Ontario west across Canada as far as Alberta, then > turning right and heading north towards Yellowknife. > From here, I'll go west into the yukon and north to > Inuvik, back down and then west into Alaska. I will > probably take the ferry system down the coast to BC, > prince rupert or so. I will then travel south through > BC into the US. Crossing back to the eastern seaboard > through the US somehow. I will make the BlueRidge > parkway part of this return trip, and the Cabot Trail > in Cape Breton ending in Halifax Nova Scotia(home) > sometime in late november or early december and > hopefully before the snow flies. This will hopefully > be a permanent relocation home after 7+ years of > wandering. There's no place like home... All the > above plans are subject to change on a whim as I see > fit or as a mood takes me. The only firm plan is > heading west on or slightly after June 9th. I still > have not ruled out the possibility of extending this > trip to south america but at the moment it's looking > doubtful, I don't think the budget will allow it and I > think there is plenty to see in north anerica. I > don't like to make too many plans in advance, allow > for flexibility. > > I would be interested in meeting anyone from the list > who is heading north as well, or anyone on the way who > likes having strangers drop in for tea. If anyone > wants to get together, do part of the trip together or > if you have any info to share please e-mail me off > list. I know my plans aren't very specific, sorry. > I'll list my addresses below. I check e-mail > infrequently on the road and will do so daily until > June 9th. I look forward to hearing from you. > > Well, that's about it. I hope the KLR is up to the > job. Only one way to find out I guess. From what you > all say it should be. I'm sure it will be an > interesting trip, an adventure. Who knows what each > new day holds? > > > jeddorian@y... > jeddorian@h... > > Thanks again, and safe riding all. > > > John - the Bluenoser on the Big Green Bike heading for > the Great White North. > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. > http://im.yahoo.com/