klr650 in march issue of "rider" magazine

[eddiebmauri]

Hi all, I have a question about storage of a KLR, here's the situation: A month ago I got a company cage that I can use for personal use as well. So, my KLR, which was a daily rider, now sits. I have ridden it for less than an 2 hours in the last month. I keep it outside under a MC cover. So, should I get a battery trickle changer? Will starting it every other day be enough to keep the battery happy? BTW, is a fairly new battery. Are there any other issues that I should consider relative to storing a KLR when it is not being ridden a lot? And, yes, I know that the only real solution is to ride more, am working on that. Thanks Eddie (03' KLR - "la poderosa)

[Tumu Rock]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote:

> > So, should I get a battery trickle changer? Will starting it every > other day be enough to keep the battery happy? BTW, is a fairly new

Heya Eddie, A trickle charger certainly won't hurt anything. Starting the bike and not riding it (or at least getting it up to operating temperature) will do more harm than good. If'n you're not gonna ride it much for while, get some Stabil and add it to a full tank of gas. Helps keep the gas healthy and the full tank keeps much moisture from building up inside your tank. Alternatively, I could come over and ride it for you... da Vermonster

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote:

> > Hi all, I have a question about storage of a KLR, here's the

situation:

> A month ago I got a company cage that I can use for personal use as > well. > So, my KLR, which was a daily rider, now sits. I have ridden it for > less than an 2 hours in the last month. I keep it outside under a

MC

> cover. > > So, should I get a battery trickle changer? Will starting it every > other day be enough to keep the battery happy? BTW, is a fairly

new

> battery. > > Are there any other issues that I should consider relative to

storing

> a KLR when it is not being ridden a lot? > > And, yes, I know that the only real solution is to ride more, am > working on that. > > Thanks > > Eddie (03' KLR - "la poderosa) >

Eddie, I always try to be helpful person... 1. If you bring it to SD, I will gladly keep the battery charged and the gas changed for as long as is necessary. No? Oh. How about this: 2. Or just install the leads for a battery tender on it permanently, with a fully serviced batter (for water), plug in the charger at least once a week, (some leave them on all the time). Starting the bike to charge the battery is a least-acceptable means of charging as it is not likely to get to full operating temps, etc. If it is warm enough, there are those on the list that don't do anything for 6 months at a time, and it all works just fine for them. I prefer the fully charged battery, which by the way, I got 4+ almost 5 years out of the OEM battery, which is 'unusual' to read the reports here on the list--and it was due to battery maintenance. The OEM battery will need distilled water at least at the oil change interval (of 1500 miles) and if ridden when it is really, really hot, more often, maybe as little as 1000 miles. 3. Inflate the tires to max rec pressure for long term storage to minimize wx checking. Check it occasionally for pressure as it will leak down. 4. Seafoam in the gas tank. I would use it all the time anytime you don't know how long it is going to be before the next ride. Here in the Dakota's, when it starts getting chilly, we add Seafoam every fill up when we are parking at the end of the day...and don't know when the next time we will ride. Sometimes it is overkill, sometimes it is months before we ride again. shrug. It is your gummy carb, do what you think best. smile. 4. Your bike storage problem is similar to the one I first experienced when I bought the new to me KLR. When you buy the battery tender (brand) get the extra 25 feet of cord, which will allow you to leave the tender in the house, and run the cord out the window or out the door (over the door threshold) and not 'rain-soak' the charger. Your charger will thank you. cough. If you use a batttery tender...be sure to walk completely around the bike before you shove off--it will keep you from dragging the battery tender down the street. At least, that is what I hear. revmaaatin.

[Ronald Criswell]

Somebody at a Parts store said using Seafoam too often was hard on the valves. Don't know about that but if I let the Concourse sit long (couple weeks or so), it starts running rough and have to Seafoam it. The KLR can sit forever and always starts and runs like a top. Criswell

On Jan 31, 2008, at 3:08 PM, revmaaatin wrote: > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" > wrote: > > > > Hi all, I have a question about storage of a KLR, here's the > situation: > > A month ago I got a company cage that I can use for personal use as > > well. > > So, my KLR, which was a daily rider, now sits. I have ridden it for > > less than an 2 hours in the last month. I keep it outside under a > MC > > cover. > > > > So, should I get a battery trickle changer? Will starting it every > > other day be enough to keep the battery happy? BTW, is a fairly > new > > battery. > > > > Are there any other issues that I should consider relative to > storing > > a KLR when it is not being ridden a lot? > > > > And, yes, I know that the only real solution is to ride more, am > > working on that. > > > > Thanks > > > > Eddie (03' KLR - "la poderosa) > > > Eddie, > I always try to be helpful person... > 1. If you bring it to SD, I will gladly keep the battery charged and > the gas changed for as long as is necessary. > No? Oh. How about this: > 2. Or just install the leads for a battery tender on it permanently, > with a fully serviced batter (for water), plug in the charger at > least once a week, (some leave them on all the time). Starting the > bike to charge the battery is a least-acceptable means of charging as > it is not likely to get to full operating temps, etc. If it is warm > enough, there are those on the list that don't do anything for 6 > months at a time, and it all works just fine for them. I prefer the > fully charged battery, which by the way, I got 4+ almost 5 years out > of the OEM battery, which is 'unusual' to read the reports here on > the list--and it was due to battery maintenance. The OEM battery > will need distilled water at least at the oil change interval (of > 1500 miles) and if ridden when it is really, really hot, more often, > maybe as little as 1000 miles. > 3. Inflate the tires to max rec pressure for long term storage to > minimize wx checking. Check it occasionally for pressure as it will > leak down. > 4. Seafoam in the gas tank. I would use it all the time anytime you > don't know how long it is going to be before the next ride. Here in > the Dakota's, when it starts getting chilly, we add Seafoam every > fill up when we are parking at the end of the day...and don't know > when the next time we will ride. Sometimes it is overkill, sometimes > it is months before we ride again. shrug. It is your gummy carb, do > what you think best. smile. > 4. Your bike storage problem is similar to the one I first > experienced when I bought the new to me KLR. When you buy the > battery tender (brand) get the extra 25 feet of cord, which will > allow you to leave the tender in the house, and run the cord out the > window or out the door (over the door threshold) and not 'rain-soak' > the charger. Your charger will thank you. cough. > > If you use a batttery tender...be sure to walk completely around the > bike before you shove off--it will keep you from dragging the battery > tender down the street. At least, that is what I hear. > > revmaaatin. > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Arden Kysely]

Thanks for the plug, Blake. There's tons of good riding in the southern Sierra. And naturally, the KLR is a great bike for it-- whatever the vintage! __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote: > > Our very own Arden Kysely has a "tour test" published in the March > 2008 issue of "Rider" magazine--I just got my issue in the mail > today. He rides an '08 KLR650, while his buds ride an R1200GS, a KTM > 950 Adventure, an R1150GS, and an XR650L. > > Arden also reviews the "Dual Sport Riding Techniques" DVD, so if you > think you need a second opinion after Jeff's review, enjoy! > -- > Blake Sobiloff > http://www.sobiloff.com/> > San Jose, CA (USA) >

[mikeypep]

Same here. The KLR can sit for a month or two and start right up. The Connie sits a week and it starts like its been sitting for months. One more reason I like the KLR so much.