nklr shark shooting..

[TexasThumpin@aol.com]

I've been doing a lot of thinking about this, and it puzzles me. Many people experience problems with the balancer, with the fuses, with the wiring, with the carburetor, etc. I began to wonder, no insult intended, that perhaps you guys suffering these anomalies may be pushing your bikes too hard, expecting more than they were designed to give. Many years ago, I got lucky and won a raffle at a Laguna Seca Grand Prix race. I was invited, with my guest, to the VIP tower. There I met a rep from Kawasaki, plus others. Well, anyway, we started chatting about the KLR because I had ridden mine up the coast to the races. During our conversation it just kind of became clear to me, that Kawasaki designed the KLR 650 to be a general all purpose bike. Not a lot of power, not a lot of goodies, not a lot of tooling expenditures. I have read on this list that many members like to ride their KLR WFO. Or steaking down the interstate between 80 and a 100 mph. Could it just possibly be that your riding style is not built into the KLR in the first place? I don't want to anger anyone, but I am beginning to suspect that long miles at high speed are very bad for this bike. That one big piston slamming up and down so damn fast, just to get up to say 80 mph. It was just something I was thinking about today and thought I'd share it with you. I need some help. My computer crapped out on me and I had to reload this damn AOL. I lost the info about the shock. Someone sent me some info about someone named Bell in El Cajon, California? Was that you Jake? Well, whoever it was, please send it again. I need a shock that is as easily adjustable as the stock shock is, but I need much better performance. Any help is greatly appreciated. Ride Safe, Ride Hard. Jim Texas Thumpin [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jim Franklin]

On Wed, Jan 09, 2002 at 10:14:51PM -0500, TexasThumpin@... wrote:

>mph. Could it just possibly be that your riding style is not built into the >KLR in the first place? I don't want to anger anyone, but I am beginning to >suspect that long miles at high speed are very bad for this bike. That one >big piston slamming up and down so damn fast, just to get up to say 80 mph. >It was just something I was thinking about today and thought I'd share it >with you.

80mph?? That's commuting where I live. I have almost 40K of hard miles on mine and all I have to show for it is an oil leak. Somewhere %-( Oh, and shot suspension. Stock the bike is so strangled it can, and has, run all day WFO. And still gotten 45mpg. jim

[Guest]

>Well, anyway, we started chatting about the KLR >because I had ridden mine up the coast to the races. During our

conversation

>it just kind of became clear to me, that Kawasaki designed the KLR 650 to

be

>a general all purpose bike. >Could it just possibly be that your riding style is not built into the >KLR in the first place?

I think the missing keword is inexpensive... The reasons you can buy the KLR for less than 60% of the cost of an F650-Dakar or KTM adventure are: 1. Less expensive parts, like a shock that isn't great, cheap pegs,handlebars,springs, etc, etc. etc, and 2. No redesign or product improvements, other than bold new graphics every few years and a very long model run. Think about how a 15 year old sport bike would hold up with the competition? Some of this shows up when used hard, but many of the problems also seem easily overcome with comparatively inexpensive aftermarket parts.

[garpoonga]

I've been researching the world of Dual Sport bikes for a while now and settled on the KLR because it seems to be to be the best out there that a normal working person can easily afford. I've read nothing but good things about how reliable the bike is. This doohickey thing has now gotten me rather worried. I can't dump 6000 for a bike and be worried about the engine going on me every time I head out. Is this an easy field repair if you have a new part with you ? The chain guides in my toyota was rather simple once all the "stuff" was out of the way. Is there a normal time that you would change the parts according to the maintence schedule that would prevent breakage. ie the way timing belts have to be changed at x number of KM. did I make the right choice with this bike ??????

[wingrj@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/14/02 18:20:08, garpoonga@... writes:

>This doohickey thing has now gotten me rather worried. I can't dump 6000 >for a bike and be worried about the engine going on me every time I >head out.

One of the readers of this lists tracked the ocurances; 12 out of 2000 = 0.6% I bought a 1990KLR650 and retired it at 65,000 miles. I found the dohicky to be maxed out at 65,000 miles and the chain in need of replacement. I curently have a 1995KLR650 at 45,000 and counting. Haven't looked at the dohicky yet. But at this milage, if the dohicky was going to be a problem, it would presented itself by now. I really don't think you have to worry about it. The only consistant problem on these KLRs is that something differen goes wrong on each KLR. Viewed best in the text font 'Courier' ___ /___\ (!* *!) __\^-^/__ / ___ \ _/ |___| \_ (__\=/ \=/__) O=|_[ ]_|=O Wish I could go through life like I go through traffic

[mnron2002]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "garpoonga" wrote:

> I've been researching the world of Dual Sport bikes for a while now > and settled on the KLR because it seems to be to be the best out > there that a normal working person can easily afford. I've read > nothing but good things about how reliable the bike is. This > doohickey thing has now gotten me rather worried. I can't dump 6000 > for a bike and be worried about the engine going on me every time I > head out. > > Is this an easy field repair if you have a new part with you ? The > chain guides in my toyota was rather simple once all the "stuff"

was

> out of the way. > > Is there a normal time that you would change the parts according to > the maintence schedule that would prevent breakage. ie the way > timing belts have to be changed at x number of KM. > > > did I make the right choice with this bike ??????

YES, you made the right choice. I'm on my second KLR, sold the first one, and regretted it until I got another. I will be changing my "doohickey" as a preventative measure when it arrives. This does not affect all of the bikes, but is easy to remedy, especially if done before something breaks... Just my $.01 worth... MNRon

[Tom Baumen]

I seriously doubt that any manufacturer can build a single cylinder motorcycle that will last 100,000 miles. It's just the nature of the beast. One piston shakes things up. I really don't think even the BMW F650 could do it. Anyway have you seriously considered how far 100,000 miles is and how long it would take you to ride that far on one bike under normal use? Longer than you want to own it I guess. The KLR is ,without much doubt, the bike that will go the farthest for the least cost,providing you take care of it and correct the inherent problems that are frequently address on this list such as the DOOHICKEY replacement which takes all of about an hours to do if you have the tools and confidence. So I guess I am saying buy the KLR. If you could see mine you'd be surprised how many miles are on it and I would take it anywhere right now if need be. Tom B

[Tony Cornett]

At the present rate I should have 100,000 miles on my 2002 A-16 in about 3 years . I bought it new 4/10/02 and I am approaching 17,000 miles with a doohickey and spring change. I wore out the stock tires a less than 1000 miles. I ride strictly on the road. I do not see a problem with 100,000 if oil is changed at 1,500 miles and a new filter every change. It is a large bore single but it has a counter balancer system that smoothes over a lot of vibrations. I find it on most of my trips it is as smooth as most multi cylinders. I ride at least 800 miles on the week-end. Good luck TC

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[Harry Thames]

Regular bullets fired underwater stop in just a few feet. Guns such as the GyroJet have a range of over one hundred yards underwater. Most of the divers I know use bang sticks which are contact weapons. I've seen two Glock 20's that divers carry underwater but have never seen one used. The Russians have a lazer aimed small caliber repeater that was designed to be used underwater (just seen pictures of it). Spearguns rule the sea. Harry SC