nklr backroads diary

[have2ride102]

I just spent the better part of the day installing my much coveted Progressive shock spring. Guess what happened when I got everything put back together and sat on it to test things out. The bleeping thing is rubbing against that horseshoe shapped cutout in the swing arm. I can't imagine what the problem could be. It's the same spring that comes on the Progressive 420 shock. I haven't heard of any problems installing the whole shock on the KLR so I'm at a loss trying to figure out my problem. Any assistance would be appreciated. The set up: 1) Stock shock 2) Progressive HD 500/560 spring 3) Not lowered 4) Bummed out owner Russ

[Devon]

I've had the 420 shock, and the 500-560 spring over a stock shock. Neither one had fit problems on an A15. The only thing I can think of, is the 500-560 spring is a 2.5" ID spring rather than the 2.25" spring. If it gets cocked to one side maybe it will get close enough to rub the swingarm. I don't know if it's possible or easy to do (or would matter), but any chance you installed the shock facing the other way? Devon have2ride102@... wrote:

>I just spent the better part of the day installing my much coveted >Progressive shock spring. Guess what happened when I got everything >put back together and sat on it to test things out. The bleeping >thing is rubbing against that horseshoe shapped cutout in the swing >arm. I can't imagine what the problem could be. It's the same spring >that comes on the Progressive 420 shock. I haven't heard of any >problems installing the whole shock on the KLR so I'm at a loss >trying to figure out my problem. Any assistance would be appreciated. > >The set up: >1) Stock shock >2) Progressive HD 500/560 spring >3) Not lowered >4) Bummed out owner > >Russ > > >

[Chris]

Hasn't happened to mine with that setup yet, though I don't beat the bike up much at this point either.

> The only thing I can think of, is the 500-560 spring is a 2.5" ID spring > rather than the 2.25" spring. If it gets cocked to one side maybe it > will get close enough to rub the swingarm. > > I don't know if it's possible or easy to do (or would matter), but any > chance you installed the shock facing the other way? > > Devon >

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[Krgrife@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/5/04 6:40:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time, have2ride102@... writes:

> I just spent the better part of the day installing my much coveted > Progressive shock spring. Guess what happened when I got everything > put back together and sat on it to test things out. The bleeping > thing is rubbing against that horseshoe shapped cutout in the swing > arm. I can't imagine what the problem could be. It's the same spring > that comes on the Progressive 420 shock. I haven't heard of any > problems installing the whole shock on the KLR so I'm at a loss > trying to figure out my problem. Any assistance would be appreciated.

I had the same problem when I was using the Progressive 350/450 spring on a stock shock and a friend with an Ohlins also experienced this. There is a little bit of overhanging lip on the top of that swing arm "horseshoe" which was rubbing the spring. A little work with my Dremel took off just enought to solve that problem. You just need to be careful to not take off too much, its pretty easy to feel when that lip has been ground back just even with the rest of the surface. Kurt Grife [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[pdstreeter@mmm.com]

This is written by Gary Charpentier, who is on this list and lives in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. He has written a number of articles by now. Paul Streeter Shoreview, Minnesota http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/archives/diaryarchives.htm I don't know how many of you have read this, but it's written by a guy riding his KLR all over the place. He used to write "Diary of a Cafe Racer" series, and in his last column he says he's getting a KLR and starting the "Backroads Diary". It might be somebody on the list, now that I think about it, since I think I remember somebody on here calling their bike Kermit. Anyway, it's a pretty good read - here's an excerpt he wrote about the KLR in the last Cafe Racer column: "So by the time this column is published, I will have taken delivery of my new Kawasaki KLR650, and will be off on new adventures. Since most of these are going to feature something other than high-speed cafe racing, this will be my last entry in the Diary of a Cafe Racer. Though I am sad to see it go, it is time for me to move on... My new column will be called "Backroads Diary", and it will be much larger in scope. I intend to explore the "road less travelled"; that which was left behind to wither and die in the wake of the mighty (boring) Interstates. I want to ruminate in the shade of old art deco gas stations, eat in mom-and-pop diners, and get as far away from the world of Walmart and McDonald's as I possibly can. For this, I need a tactical motorcycle. The KLR has been adopted by the Marine Corps for light reconnaissance and courier duty, and it has been the machine of choice for expeditions into the deepest, darkest third world terrain on the planet. At around $5000 brand new, it is also one of the best bargains in motorcycling. This makes it the perfect mount for my new adventures."