klr 600 timing chains

[Eric L. Green]

As promised, a brief review. The goal was to be able to withstand 100+ degree heat without having to continually soak a t-shirt to keep from keeling over from heat stroke. After some research, I found that the bead-gell type vests worked better than the ones with the "hygroscopic" liner. The one I got is called the 'Mira-Cool Reversable Vest', and is advertised on various web sites aimed at construction workers, one of whom has it for $29.95 plus shipping. This vest merely advertises "cooling sensations"... hmm... When the vest came, it was in a large zip-lok bag with instructions and another "tote bag" for soaking it. I end up instead using a 2.5 gallon Hefty slide-zip bag when I want to soak it, because the "tote bag" is not sealable, while I can slide the vest into the Hefty, pour in a little over a gallon of water, get the air out, zip it shut, and then lay the vest flat to soak. The closer the vest is to the skin, the better it works. And it doesn't work well at all if there is no breeze. After some experimentation, it appears that putting the vest on directly over my skin, then zipping my mesh gear over it, works best. As promised, it will go all day without needing re-soaking. As NOT promised, it also seems to cool me enough that I don't overheat (i.e., more than just a "cooling sensation", it actually cools, at least as long as I'm moving). Some downsides: 1. The model on the web site is wearing it over his shirt. There is a reason for this. The vest will stay wet for about a week after you get home. It gets moldy and stinks. Ultraviolet light (i.e. sunlight) kills mold. Thus I'm going to have to put it out in the sun to keep it from stinking worse than it aready is. 2. It's pretty much impossible to clean the thing, because you don't want to contaminate the hygroscopic beads with any kind of chemicals that could interfere wirh their ability to hold water. So as time goes on it's going to get rather, uhm, rank. 3. It covers a lot of your back, but not as much of your front. 4. It's a wet soggy mess once you're finished soaking it, so you'll need to carry it in a plastic bag when you travel until you hit the hot weather where you need it (i.e., mold and mildew time!). I carried it in the same bag that I use to soak it, in case I needed to add more water. (I didn't need to). 5. If you're not moving, it's not cooling. Eventually it starts feeling warm and soggy, rather than cooling, as it picks up your body heat. So if you're stuck in a traffic jam, you might overheat. (Good time to learn lane splitting if you're in California-land!). On the other hand, I went riding today through part of the Central Valley. It was an oven out there. The heat hit me in a wave. I estimate it was somewhere between 105 and 108 (yes, I lived in Phoenix and know what these "feel" like). But unlike prior trips, where I had to pull over and cool myself down, I could just keep riding! And while I've only worn it for 5 hours straight, it still had plenty of water left in it at the end of that time. I just chucked it on the scale and it has around 4 pounds of water still in it (i.e., around half a gallon of water), meaning it will probably last around eight hours before it's advisable to add more water (which can be done by putting it into the zip-lok bag and filling it up in a service station restroom). So despite its limitations, I have to say that it does what I want (i.e., lets me keep riding through an oven). Even if I did look kinda cheesy unzipping my mesh jacket, taking off my t-shirt, and putting on this thing then putting the mesh jacket back on over it. And I didn't have to wet it once, it stayed wet, as it should have given that it has absorbed over a gallon of water into those beads! -E

[jkhoei]

Thanks for the review. How about a link, then? --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> As promised, a brief review. The goal was to be able to withstand 100+ > degree heat without having to continually soak a t-shirt to keep from > keeling over from heat stroke. After some research, I found that the > bead-gell type vests worked better than the ones with the "hygroscopic" > liner. The one I got is called the 'Mira-Cool Reversable Vest', and is > advertised on various web sites aimed at construction workers, one

of whom

> has it for $29.95 plus shipping. This vest merely advertises "cooling > sensations"... hmm... > > When the vest came, it was in a large zip-lok bag with instructions and > another "tote bag" for soaking it. I end up instead using a 2.5 gallon > Hefty slide-zip bag when I want to soak it, because the "tote bag"

is not

> sealable, while I can slide the vest into the Hefty, pour in a

little over

> a gallon of water, get the air out, zip it shut, and then lay the vest > flat to soak. > > The closer the vest is to the skin, the better it works. And it doesn't > work well at all if there is no breeze. After some experimentation, it > appears that putting the vest on directly over my skin, then zipping my > mesh gear over it, works best. As promised, it will go all day without > needing re-soaking. As NOT promised, it also seems to cool me enough

that

> I don't overheat (i.e., more than just a "cooling sensation", it

actually

> cools, at least as long as I'm moving). > > Some downsides: > > 1. The model on the web site is wearing it over his shirt. There is a > reason for this. The vest will stay wet for about a week after you get > home. It gets moldy and stinks. Ultraviolet light (i.e. sunlight) kills > mold. Thus I'm going to have to put it out in the sun to keep it from > stinking worse than it aready is. > > 2. It's pretty much impossible to clean the thing, because you don't

want

> to contaminate the hygroscopic beads with any kind of chemicals that

could

> interfere wirh their ability to hold water. So as time goes on it's

going

> to get rather, uhm, rank. > > 3. It covers a lot of your back, but not as much of your front. > > 4. It's a wet soggy mess once you're finished soaking it, so you'll

need

> to carry it in a plastic bag when you travel until you hit the hot

weather

> where you need it (i.e., mold and mildew time!). I carried it in the

same

> bag that I use to soak it, in case I needed to add more water. (I

didn't

> need to). > > 5. If you're not moving, it's not cooling. Eventually it starts feeling > warm and soggy, rather than cooling, as it picks up your body heat.

So if

> you're stuck in a traffic jam, you might overheat. (Good time to learn > lane splitting if you're in California-land!). > > On the other hand, I went riding today through part of the Central

Valley.

> It was an oven out there. The heat hit me in a wave. I estimate it was > somewhere between 105 and 108 (yes, I lived in Phoenix and know what

these

> "feel" like). But unlike prior trips, where I had to pull over and cool > myself down, I could just keep riding! And while I've only worn it

for 5

> hours straight, it still had plenty of water left in it at the end

of that

> time. I just chucked it on the scale and it has around 4 pounds of

water

> still in it (i.e., around half a gallon of water), meaning it will > probably last around eight hours before it's advisable to add more

water

> (which can be done by putting it into the zip-lok bag and filling it

up in

> a service station restroom). > > So despite its limitations, I have to say that it does what I want

(i.e.,

> lets me keep riding through an oven). Even if I did look kinda cheesy > unzipping my mesh jacket, taking off my t-shirt, and putting on this

thing

> then putting the mesh jacket back on over it. And I didn't have to

wet it

> once, it stayed wet, as it should have given that it has absorbed

over a

> gallon of water into those beads! > > -E

[jkhoei]

Actually nevermind, i forgot that you posted the name ... i'll look it up. thx. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

> As promised, a brief review. The goal was to be able to withstand 100+ > degree heat without having to continually soak a t-shirt to keep from > keeling over from heat stroke. After some research, I found that the > bead-gell type vests worked better than the ones with the "hygroscopic" > liner. The one I got is called the 'Mira-Cool Reversable Vest', and is > advertised on various web sites aimed at construction workers, one

of whom

> has it for $29.95 plus shipping. This vest merely advertises "cooling > sensations"... hmm... > > When the vest came, it was in a large zip-lok bag with instructions and > another "tote bag" for soaking it. I end up instead using a 2.5 gallon > Hefty slide-zip bag when I want to soak it, because the "tote bag"

is not

> sealable, while I can slide the vest into the Hefty, pour in a

little over

> a gallon of water, get the air out, zip it shut, and then lay the vest > flat to soak. > > The closer the vest is to the skin, the better it works. And it doesn't > work well at all if there is no breeze. After some experimentation, it > appears that putting the vest on directly over my skin, then zipping my > mesh gear over it, works best. As promised, it will go all day without > needing re-soaking. As NOT promised, it also seems to cool me enough

that

> I don't overheat (i.e., more than just a "cooling sensation", it

actually

> cools, at least as long as I'm moving). > > Some downsides: > > 1. The model on the web site is wearing it over his shirt. There is a > reason for this. The vest will stay wet for about a week after you get > home. It gets moldy and stinks. Ultraviolet light (i.e. sunlight) kills > mold. Thus I'm going to have to put it out in the sun to keep it from > stinking worse than it aready is. > > 2. It's pretty much impossible to clean the thing, because you don't

want

> to contaminate the hygroscopic beads with any kind of chemicals that

could

> interfere wirh their ability to hold water. So as time goes on it's

going

> to get rather, uhm, rank. > > 3. It covers a lot of your back, but not as much of your front. > > 4. It's a wet soggy mess once you're finished soaking it, so you'll

need

> to carry it in a plastic bag when you travel until you hit the hot

weather

> where you need it (i.e., mold and mildew time!). I carried it in the

same

> bag that I use to soak it, in case I needed to add more water. (I

didn't

> need to). > > 5. If you're not moving, it's not cooling. Eventually it starts feeling > warm and soggy, rather than cooling, as it picks up your body heat.

So if

> you're stuck in a traffic jam, you might overheat. (Good time to learn > lane splitting if you're in California-land!). > > On the other hand, I went riding today through part of the Central

Valley.

> It was an oven out there. The heat hit me in a wave. I estimate it was > somewhere between 105 and 108 (yes, I lived in Phoenix and know what

these

> "feel" like). But unlike prior trips, where I had to pull over and cool > myself down, I could just keep riding! And while I've only worn it

for 5

> hours straight, it still had plenty of water left in it at the end

of that

> time. I just chucked it on the scale and it has around 4 pounds of

water

> still in it (i.e., around half a gallon of water), meaning it will > probably last around eight hours before it's advisable to add more

water

> (which can be done by putting it into the zip-lok bag and filling it

up in

> a service station restroom). > > So despite its limitations, I have to say that it does what I want

(i.e.,

> lets me keep riding through an oven). Even if I did look kinda cheesy > unzipping my mesh jacket, taking off my t-shirt, and putting on this

thing

> then putting the mesh jacket back on over it. And I didn't have to

wet it

> once, it stayed wet, as it should have given that it has absorbed

over a

> gallon of water into those beads! > > -E

[Randy Shultz]

I bought one also when it was discussed a few weeks ago. I wear mine over a t-shirt, however, and it worked well for me in the 115 degree desert heat of recent weeks. It keeps my t-shirt slightly damp, and evap takes care of the rest. Well worth $30 in my opinion. In the instructions they specically state to let it air dry. You can't expect to keep it wet and sealed in a plastic bag and not have mildew. I hang mine on a plastic coat hanger when I get home and it's dry in a couple of days, no mildew at all. But then I live in a place with single digit humidity levels.

[Krgrife@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/31/2005 9:52:45 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, tselacanth@... writes: The KLR600/650 balancer chain appears to be P/N 92057-1158, with a description of "BF06HX" or "BF06HX70L", $209.70 @ Ron Ayers. The "06" and "70L" may be 3/8" chain pitch and 70 chain links, respectively, (The Tsubaki website refers to an automotive special high performance timing chain, BF04M - Special Simplex Chain, for example; http://tsubakimoto.com/products/auto/timing_chain.html). The 2005 Kawasaki VN2000 balancer chain appears to be P/N 92057-0028, with a description of "DID 06HD (F) SDH", $51.22 @ Ron Ayers. If the two chains have similar specifications, it might be possible to resize one or two VN2000 chains to get one KLR chain fo less $$$. A lot of if's though. Contacting Tsubaki and DID may provide more info. Several years ago a couple of us contacted Tsubaki and other chain companies and were never able to match this chain. I have always thought the price to be outrageous. Kurt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[rafter]

I have been using one of thse vests for over 3 years. Wear it over a long sleeve cotton white shirt. Works best in conditions of < 70% humidity... On multi day trips I take it off, hang it up overnight, resoak it for 3 - 5 min. the next day,. usually blotting the excess dripping water off the outside before putting it on. When I get back home, I hang it outside in the sun, it takes a couple of days to completely evaporate all the water out of the crystal polymer nuggets. Mine does NOT smell, has no mildew....is clean... Along with the vest, I use one of the crystal polymer filled tubular bandanas and the ABSOLUTELY BEST item I have found, a small 1/4" thick flat oval shaped crystal polymer nugget filled pad that fits up in my helmet. I soak both of these for 5 min or so, until the crystals swell with water, blot them off a bit, slip the pad in my helmet, tie the bandana around my neck, slip the vest on, all this makes riding in the Hill Country & West TX in July, Aug & Sept. a Whole lot more comfortable.... The helmet pad is actually sold as a cooling pad for hardhats, I just cut off the velcro tabs used to connect to the hardhat inner webbing. it stays tucked up in my helmet, edges of pad slipped under the edges of the helmet padding. I gave $5 for it a couple of years ago. Enter a search for crystal polymer cooling on eBay, you will get several hits for the bandanas, vests & hard hat liner pads as well as wristpads, other stuff. I wear mine when I'm working on fencing, out on the tractor, other times out in the sun. They are great! Later, Randy Jackson (53) 22307 Hazy Hollow Dr Spicewood, TX 78669 512-264-0061 AMA 278399 VJMC 3173 (Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club) GWRRA 175436 TMOIA (Turbo MC Owners Intl.) XS/XJ 1100 Owners Association Just joined FSSNOC, The Four Stroke Singles National Owners Club '02 KLR650 '86 KL:600 B '93 TW200 and a bunch of others..... Battery Tender & Seafoam, can't live without them...

[Eric L. Green]

On Mon, 1 Aug 2005, Randy Shultz wrote:

> In the instructions they specically state to let it air dry. You can't > expect to keep it wet and sealed in a plastic bag and not have mildew. > I hang mine on a plastic coat hanger when I get home and it's dry in a > couple of days, no mildew at all. But then I live in a place with > single digit humidity levels.

I don't store it in the plastic bag except when riding, where it's necessary to do so in order to keep it from getting the rest of my gear wet. I left it over a chair back to dry (i.e., the chair back was wearing it), but before it finished drying I got it wet again to wear for another weekend's riding. Staying continually wet like this is what caused the mildew. I do *not* live in a place with single digit humidity levels (it was rather muggy here last week). I suspect the t-shirt matters when it comes to wearing it over a t-shirt. However, I have not gotten enough data to know what type of t-shirt works best. I do know that wearing it directly over the skin does appear to work quite well, as long as there is no shirt *over* it to block the wind. -E