nklr product review - firstgear mojave summer gloves

[prospectt@hotmail.com]

Hi, I've experienced recently some problems with the fork alignment on my KLR. The bike hasn't been involved in any hard falls or serious suspension abuse recently, and the basically the problem appeared suddenly, I'd say. I rode the bike to work and it steered fine. It's on my way back that I've noticed that something was wrong. I'd doubt somebody dropped or ran into my bike as there's not a single new scratch on it and it's not exposed to cars from where it's parked, plus I can see the bike from where I work. The symptoms: I have to keep the handlebars turned just a little on the right in order for the bike to go straight. I've checked the air pressure in my front tire, so that is not the problem. The left fork tube seems to be about hardly a millimeter lower than the right one (I haven't noticed if it was in this position while the bike was steering fine). Would that be enough to cause this misalignment? If not, anyone has any ideas of what my problem could be? Any comments would be much appreciated. I'm praying right now that it's nothing serious, as my friend and I are planning to ride our KLR's from Montreal, Canada to Moab, and then do the whole West Coast in about 2 months... Paul T. Montreal, Canada A4

[monahanwb@yahoo.com]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., prospectt@h... wrote:

> Hi, > > I've experienced recently some problems with the fork alignment on

my

> KLR. > The symptoms: I have to keep the handlebars turned just a

little on

> the right in order for the bike to go straight.

Sounds like it's time to straighten everything out and re-torque pinch bolts, handlebar clamps, and the axle nut, which unless you have a fork brace, is the only thing holding the front wheel straight and is actually quite inadequate on its own. Or you could do what I have had to do sometimes and that's first dump it in the dirt on the left, then dump it again on the right, to even out the damage. I'd recommend doing the front end alignment and re- torque, it's easy and nothing out of the ordinary.

[Jim Ousley]

Make sure that your rear wheel has not shifted to one side. Maybe something was not tighted enough the last time the chain was adjusted. Jim rider@... Lexington, Ky A15

----- Original Message ----- From: To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 12:36 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Forks... > Hi, > > I've experienced recently some problems with the fork alignment on my > KLR. The bike hasn't been involved in any hard falls or serious > suspension abuse recently, and the basically the problem appeared > suddenly, I'd say. I rode the bike to work and it steered fine. It's > on my way back that I've noticed that something was wrong. I'd doubt > somebody dropped or ran into my bike as there's not a single new > scratch on it and it's not exposed to cars from where it's parked, > plus I can see the bike from where I work. > > The symptoms: I have to keep the handlebars turned just a little on > the right in order for the bike to go straight. I've checked the air > pressure in my front tire, so that is not the problem. > > The left fork tube seems to be about hardly a millimeter lower than > the right one (I haven't noticed if it was in this position while the > bike was steering fine). Would that be enough to cause this > misalignment? > > If not, anyone has any ideas of what my problem could be? Any > comments would be much appreciated. I'm praying right now that it's > nothing serious, as my friend and I are planning to ride our KLR's > from Montreal, Canada to Moab, and then do the whole West Coast in > about 2 months... > > Paul T. > Montreal, Canada > A4 > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Support Dual Sport News by subscribing at: > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >

[Zachariah Mully]

Paul- Being a veteran of the fork wars on the KLR here's the procedure to straighten/check them out if they've been tweaked/bent in the triple clamps: 1)Get the bike up on something so that the front wheel is off the ground (jackstands work in a pinch) 2)I like to loosen the axle as this will immediately let you know how badly you've tweaked them. If it's bad, you'll notice that once you've loosened the axle, the fork lowers will assume positions independent of each other (to some degree... I bent mine bad enough that loosening the axle resulted in a twang as the forks lowers parted ways). I don't think that you have to remove the axle or wheel, but it wouldn't hurt. 3)loosen the bolts on the triple clamps, be careful as the forks are now free to drop out of the triple clamps, unweighing the front of your bike and possible causing it to fall off whatever jury-rigged stand you've got it on (don't ask how I know). I like to pull the forks down out of the triple clamps just enough to inspect the part of the tube held by the lower triple clamp. Both times I bent my forks this area had been scored by the lower edge of the triple and is a dead give away that you'll need to replace at least one upper fork leg. 4)Rotate the forks in the clamps. I do this because I can also tell if a leg has been bent. This will also help realign everything. If you've got the wheel still on (with the axle loosened) watch the gap between the hub and the fork lower, if it changes as you rotate your upper tubes, then at least one upper tube will need to be replaced 5)get the forks back into place and tighten up the bottom triple clamp just enough to hold the tubes. I like to look at the alignment of the forks from the side, this is easiest to do if the wheel is off, but you might be able to do this without taking it off... If you bent something, then one leg will most likely be bent back towards the radiator. 6)If not, snug everything up, if you've got the service manual and a torque wrench, FOLLOW THE TORQUE SPECS! I think that my second set of forks bent partially because I had the triple clamps too tight. That and the tree I hit. I don't have the torque specs on me, but I am sure someone can give them to you. You've most likely either tweaked the forks in the triple clamps... Or as I just thought, perhaps your handlebars are bent? The stockers are made of compressed silly putty and can bent in the most gentle falls... Same goes for tweaking your forks... Just ask Robb... a 5 mph slide on wet grass and his were all outta whack. ------------------ Zack Banana Republic of Washington, DC KLR650A5 "Buster" ZG1000A1 1966 Vespa 125 COG #4664 -----Original Message----- From: prospectt@... [mailto:prospectt@...] Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 12:37 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Forks... Hi, I've experienced recently some problems with the fork alignment on my KLR. The bike hasn't been involved in any hard falls or serious suspension abuse recently, and the basically the problem appeared suddenly, I'd say. I rode the bike to work and it steered fine. It's on my way back that I've noticed that something was wrong. I'd doubt somebody dropped or ran into my bike as there's not a single new scratch on it and it's not exposed to cars from where it's parked, plus I can see the bike from where I work. The symptoms: I have to keep the handlebars turned just a little on the right in order for the bike to go straight. I've checked the air pressure in my front tire, so that is not the problem. The left fork tube seems to be about hardly a millimeter lower than the right one (I haven't noticed if it was in this position while the bike was steering fine). Would that be enough to cause this misalignment? If not, anyone has any ideas of what my problem could be? Any comments would be much appreciated. I'm praying right now that it's nothing serious, as my friend and I are planning to ride our KLR's from Montreal, Canada to Moab, and then do the whole West Coast in about 2 months... Paul T. Montreal, Canada A4

[Dan Oaks]

I'd like those torq specs if someone has them handy. I think this could get to be a weekly procedure with me. -- bierdo Zachariah Mully wrote:

> Paul- > Being a veteran of the fork wars on the KLR here's the procedure to > straighten/check them out if they've been tweaked/bent in the triple > clamps: > > 1)Get the bike up on something so that the front wheel is off the ground > (jackstands work in a pinch) > > 2)I like to loosen the axle as this will immediately let you know how > badly you've tweaked them. If it's bad, you'll notice that once you've > loosened the axle, the fork lowers will assume positions independent of > each other (to some degree... I bent mine bad enough that loosening the > axle resulted in a twang as the forks lowers parted ways). I don't think > that you have to remove the axle or wheel, but it wouldn't hurt. > > 3)loosen the bolts on the triple clamps, be careful as the forks are now > free to drop out of the triple clamps, unweighing the front of your bike > and possible causing it to fall off whatever jury-rigged stand you've > got it on (don't ask how I know). I like to pull the forks down out of > the triple clamps just enough to inspect the part of the tube held by > the lower triple clamp. Both times I bent my forks this area had been > scored by the lower edge of the triple and is a dead give away that > you'll need to replace at least one upper fork leg. > > 4)Rotate the forks in the clamps. I do this because I can also tell if a > leg has been bent. This will also help realign everything. If you've got > the wheel still on (with the axle loosened) watch the gap between the > hub and the fork lower, if it changes as you rotate your upper tubes, > then at least one upper tube will need to be replaced > > 5)get the forks back into place and tighten up the bottom triple clamp > just enough to hold the tubes. I like to look at the alignment of the > forks from the side, this is easiest to do if the wheel is off, but you > might be able to do this without taking it off... If you bent something, > then one leg will most likely be bent back towards the radiator. > > 6)If not, snug everything up, if you've got the service manual and a > torque wrench, FOLLOW THE TORQUE SPECS! I think that my second set of > forks bent partially because I had the triple clamps too tight. That and > the tree I hit. I don't have the torque specs on me, but I am sure > someone can give them to you. > > You've most likely either tweaked the forks in the triple clamps... Or > as I just thought, perhaps your handlebars are bent? The stockers are > made of compressed silly putty and can bent in the most gentle falls... > Same goes for tweaking your forks... Just ask Robb... a 5 mph slide on > wet grass and his were all outta whack. > > ------------------ > Zack > Banana Republic of Washington, DC > KLR650A5 "Buster" > ZG1000A1 > 1966 Vespa 125 > COG #4664 > > -----Original Message----- > From: prospectt@... [mailto:prospectt@...] > Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 12:37 PM > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_klr650] Forks... > > Hi, > > I've experienced recently some problems with the fork alignment on my > KLR. The bike hasn't been involved in any hard falls or serious > suspension abuse recently, and the basically the problem appeared > suddenly, I'd say. I rode the bike to work and it steered fine. It's > on my way back that I've noticed that something was wrong. I'd doubt > somebody dropped or ran into my bike as there's not a single new > scratch on it and it's not exposed to cars from where it's parked, > plus I can see the bike from where I work. > > The symptoms: I have to keep the handlebars turned just a little on > the right in order for the bike to go straight. I've checked the air > pressure in my front tire, so that is not the problem. > > The left fork tube seems to be about hardly a millimeter lower than > the right one (I haven't noticed if it was in this position while the > bike was steering fine). Would that be enough to cause this > misalignment? > > If not, anyone has any ideas of what my problem could be? Any > comments would be much appreciated. I'm praying right now that it's > nothing serious, as my friend and I are planning to ride our KLR's > from Montreal, Canada to Moab, and then do the whole West Coast in > about 2 months... > > Paul T. > Montreal, Canada > A4 > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Support Dual Sport News by subscribing at: > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

-- Dan (BIERDO) Oaks, President Formtech Services, Inc. '01 XT225 '01 KLR650 '99 DR650 '82 XL250R '78 TC90 '91 Yammy 4 stroke golf cart 2 bad dogs and a sled Mfr. of Printing Equipment & Supplies formtech@... bierdo@... http://www.formtechservices.com Mfr. of 4x4 POLY Motorcycle Parts bierdo@... http://www.dirtly.com 2970 Robins Nest Ct. Saint Cloud, FL 34772-8182 USA 800 522-6257 407 957-7887 (fax)

[Steve Rydall]

me too please... steve EH 12

----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Oaks" To: "Zachariah Mully" Cc: ; DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 5:50 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Forks... > I'd like those torq specs if someone has them handy. I think this could get to > be a weekly procedure with me. > > -- > bierdo >

[tcgrigg@earthlink.net]

My trusty manwell sez triple clamp bolt torque: 18.0 ft/lb

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Steve Rydall" wrote: > me too please... > steve > EH 12 > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dan Oaks" > To: "Zachariah Mully" > Cc: ; > Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 5:50 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Forks... > > > > I'd like those torq specs if someone has them handy. I think this could > get to > > be a weekly procedure with me. > > > > -- > > bierdo > >

[monahanwb@yahoo.com]

It was hot when I left the office today at noon. I am liking being somewhat "disabled", I get to come in at ten and leave at noon, so I guess there is a little silver lining in all the gray clouds. I had been looking for new gloves, mostly to wear with my Hein Gericke Superbike pants/jacket combo, I didn't have anything that really went with them, my favorite deerskin summer gloves wore out last year and all I had was some cheapies I had bought in an emergency one day. At the RKA tent at Sears this weekend, though, I was checking out some Firstgear Mojave gloves, and when my hands started sweating inside the cheapies at noon today I decided to ride over to RKA (around the corner) and pick some up, since they are only $35. Kathy at RKA was still unpacking the truck from the race weekends, I think they had been there at Sears all week. She rummaged around in a bunch of boxes and I determined that the XXLs would fit the best. Putting them on and riding home, I must say, these puppies flow some air, a nice complement to my Firstgear leather kilimanjaro jacket (no longer sold) which has awesome vents and is by far the easiest to wear leather jacket for hot days. These are short, no gauntlet, which enables a little air to flow up your sleeve. Gauntlets are definitely out for hot days, by the way (that's the word I get from Milan, anyway). They have nylon breather strips in between the fingers and the back is well perforated. There is a substantial velcro strip to fasten it tightly around the wrist. For the money, they look to be the best hot weather gloves I've had. I believe they only come in black - it is pretty nice supple black leather. I used to prefer the Tour Master Deerskin summer gloves, but these may have them beat. The Tour Masters velcro did wear out after a while. Firstgear's velcro appears to be more substantial. We'll see. I give em Four Hot Links on the Barbecue Bill rating scale. Recommended, so far. Backroad Bill

[snomobill@yahoo.com]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Dan Oaks wrote:

> I'd like those torq specs if someone has them handy. I think this

could get to

> be a weekly procedure with me. > > --

My book says 18 ftlbs for both the top and bottom clamps. Here's a tip that has worked me on many a skinny forked (and tiny clamped) dirtbikes through the years. Get the fork tubes and clamp surfaces solvent clean and smear loctite on the tubes before sliding them into the clamps. It has virtually eleminated the twist on every ride syndrome, unless you really take a big hit. Works on smooth bars and/ or too. Because my daily commute includes a couple uphill wheelies my battle has been with the steering head beaings, any one got any advice on keeping them tight? Don't say keep the wheel down, it's for the kids at the bus stops, being a bad influence is so much fun! cheers

[KLR650 Mailig List]

Stem Head Nut: 42N-m (4.3kg-m, 31ft-lb) Front Fork Lower clam bolts: 21N-m (2.1kg-m, 15ft-lb) This info is from klr600 Service Manual.... fil

> me too please... >steve > EH 12 > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dan Oaks" > To: "Zachariah Mully" > Cc: ; DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 5:50 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Forks... > > >> I'd like those torq specs if someone has them handy. I think this >> could > get to >> be a weekly procedure with me. >> >> -- >> bierdo >> > > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Support Dual Sport News by subscribing at: > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

-- '01 KLR650-A15