riding near grants pass oregon?

[Larry]

I am hoping to relocate in the Grants Pass area of Oregon. In my exploring of the area I found a BLM land area off of Quartz Creek rd in Merlin, Hellsgate area. I have not riden there yet but am wondering what this area has for a DRZ400 and or a KLR 650. It looks to have single track and of course lots of fire roads. What is the outlook by locals towards off road riding? The maps show several possible routes all the way to the coast. Any input would be appreciated. I have been riding for almost 40 years and like a good A loop once in a while and ride dual sport a lot. Larry Rego

[Billy Watson]

Just bought a 1,000 mile 2004 KLR and am setting up the planned maintenance sheet for it. I m familiar with the process, I m still riding a 68,000 mile Honda XL600 so I m OK with selected mile intervals for most of the stuff and won t be asking about frequency of things like oil, filter, chain, air filter, brake fluid, and fork oil changes. Coolant will be changed pretty frequently because it s too cheap NOT to change. However, the bikes do vary in a few areas so I d like some advice on maintenance intervals on four items. PS, riding duty cycle is 90% street 10% dirt it s primarily the daily commuter vehicle getting (2) 20-mile rides a day on the street. SWINGARM LUBRICATION: The Honda had zerk fittings, so this was easy. The KLR has none? I have to remove the swingarm to lube it each time? KLR owner s manual says 10,000 mile intervals. Opinions? BALANCER CHAIN TENSION: Yeah, I ll change the doohickey ASAP. But the Honda had a gear-driven balancer so there was zero maintenance never touched it. KLR owner s manual says 5,000 mile intervals. Is that reasonable in your opinion? BALANCER CHAIN REPLACEMENT: Elden Carl s doohickey site suggests replacing the chain every 30,000 miles because the tensioner system wasn t designed to accommodate much chain wear and stops being useful because it tops out? I m disappointed if this is the case, but don t want further damage. Those of you with 40K, 60K, 80K miles have you found that your system topped out and required chain replacement already? VALVE CLEARANCE CHECK: Took 20 minutes at most on the Honda from start to finish. Looks like a much bigger deal here. But I recognize the superiority of the shim-and-bucket system, it should outlast the Honda s system so it shouldn t have to be done very often, right? Then I see that the KLR owner s manual says every 6,000 miles! Again, I m a little disappointed I expected at least 20K. Anyone keep a log of their adjustments over the years so I can appreciate a typical wear rate? I recognize the typical wear direction results in less clearance and possibly burned valves, so I m not going to be cavalier about it. Thanks in advance. If there is some other item not yet listed, please advise. Bill --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Meet the all-new My Yahoo! Try it today! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[wannabsmooth1]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Billy Watson wrote:

> > Just bought a 1,000 mile 2004 KLR and am setting up the planned

maintenance sheet for it. I'm familiar with the process, I'm still riding a 68,000 mile Honda XL600 so I'm OK with selected mile intervals for most of the stuff and won't be asking about frequency of things like oil, filter, chain, air filter, brake fluid, and fork oil changes. Coolant will be changed pretty frequently because it's too cheap NOT to change. However, the bikes do vary in a few areas so I'd like some advice on maintenance intervals on four items. PS, riding duty cycle is 90% street 10% dirt it's primarily the daily commuter vehicle getting (2) 20-mile rides a day on the street.

> > SWINGARM LUBRICATION: > > The Honda had zerk fittings, so this was easy. The KLR has none? I

have to remove the swingarm to lube it each time? KLR owner's manual says 10,000 mile intervals. Opinions?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lube it NOW, and about once a year, unless you ride water often, then more. They often come DRY from the factory.

> BALANCER CHAIN TENSION: > > Yeah, I'll change the doohickey ASAP. But the Honda had a

gear-driven balancer so there was zero maintenance never touched it. KLR owner's manual says 5,000 mile intervals. Is that reasonable in your opinion?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

When you change your oil. It takes about 1 minute.

> BALANCER CHAIN REPLACEMENT: > > Elden Carl's doohickey site suggests replacing the chain every

30,000 miles because the tensioner system wasn't designed to accommodate much chain wear and stops being useful because it tops out? I'm disappointed if this is the case, but don't want further damage. Those of you with 40K, 60K, 80K miles have you found that your system topped out and required chain replacement already?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The aftermarket balancer lever(s) allow more adjustability. Since the article was written, we've measured a couple of chains with about 45-50K miles on them, still well within wear limits in manual. The CAM CHAIN is another story. Inspect the automatic tensioner when you do the valve adjustment (you have to remove it anyway) to see how far out the adjustment arm is. Once it gets too far out, not enough bearing in the housing, it can wobble up and down, instead of just pushing out. Time for new chain. Maybe 50K? Time will tell, when you look.

> VALVE CLEARANCE CHECK: > > Took 20 minutes at most on the Honda from start to finish. Looks

like a much bigger deal here. But I recognize the superiority of the shim-and-bucket system, it should outlast the Honda's system so it shouldn't have to be done very often, right? Then I see that the KLR owner's manual says every 6,000 miles! Again, I'm a little disappointed I expected at least 20K. Anyone keep a log of their adjustments over the years so I can appreciate a typical wear rate? I recognize the typical wear direction results in less clearance and possibly burned valves, so I'm not going to be cavalier about it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

They usually stay well in adjustment for 10-20k miles, once they've taken a set. Adjust yours now, as often the initial 600 mile adj never really happenened. Set to top of limit. Then probably just check for the next 15K or so, at 5-6k intervals. Maybe good for 20K.

> Thanks in advance. If there is some other item not yet listed,

please advise.

> > Bill

All the best, Mike Eagle Mfg & Eng San Diego, Ca since 1990

[mwl_95623]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Billy Watson wrote:

> >

snip snip snip

> > VALVE CLEARANCE CHECK: > > Anyone keep a log of their adjustments over the years so I can > > >appreciate a typical wear rate?

I just posted my log a couple weeks ago. Search the archives for: "Valve Adjustment and Wear Rate Log" Matt