valve shim size data collection

[Bryan Loehr]

One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's not the greatest in windy conditions. There are times where I feel like the front wheel is being kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent posters have theorized that the front fender is part of the problem. My question--does the stock front fender have to be as long as it is? Has anyone cut the fender back to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If so, what were the results? I know the risk of more water/mud in the face, but, let's talk about this. Bryan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 2004-06-24 11:19:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time, bryanl@... writes:

> > One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's not the greatest in windy > conditions. There are times where I feel like the front wheel is being > kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent posters have theorized that > the front fender is part of the problem. > > My question--does the stock front fender have to be as long as it is? Has > anyone cut the fender back to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If > so, what were the results? I know the risk of more water/mud in the face, > but, let's talk about this. > > Bryan >

Bryan, The theory stock front fender problem is just that, unproven theory and most likely nothing more than urban myth. If a wind was blowing strong enough to catch the minimal surface area on the front fender and turn the front wheel against your will don't you think that wind would catch the rest of the bike and push it off the road? In thirty+ years of riding high fendered dirt bikes I've never experienced such problems. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Lujo Bauer]

You could put on a low fender. http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~lbauer/klr/low-fender/. Unlike Pat, I think that does make for slightly smoother sailing on the highway. -Lujo Bryan Loehr wrote:

> One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's not the greatest in windy conditions. There are times where I feel like the front wheel is being kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent posters have theorized that the front fender is part of the problem. > > My question--does the stock front fender have to be as long as it is? Has anyone cut the fender back to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If so, what were the results? I know the risk of more water/mud in the face, but, let's talk about this. > > Bryan > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[matteeanne@yahoo.com]

Dont know about the smoother sailing, but that is the butt ugliest klr I have ever seen! Way to go! You put on a matching coat and your stylin'! --- Lujo Bauer wrote:

> You could put on a low fender. > http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~lbauer/klr/low-fender/. > Unlike Pat, I > think that does make for slightly smoother sailing > on the highway. > > -Lujo > > Bryan Loehr wrote: > > > One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's > not the greatest in windy conditions. There are > times where I feel like the front wheel is being > kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent > posters have theorized that the front fender is part > of the problem. > > > > My question--does the stock front fender have to > be as long as it is? Has anyone cut the fender back > to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If > so, what were the results? I know the risk of more > water/mud in the face, but, let's talk about this. > > > > Bryan > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at > www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris > Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > >

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[James Leathers]

I replaced mine with an Acerbis super motard style. It seems to work fine. It offers enough protection unless you are a real mudder. Try www.denniskirk.com It is only about $20-25 and you can save your OEM fender in case you plan a ride you know is going to be mud-city. Jim in IL

----- Original Message ----- From: "Bryan Loehr" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2004 5:38 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Front Fender Mod > One thing that has to be said for the KLR is it's not the greatest in windy conditions. There are times where I feel like the front wheel is being kicked right out from under me by the wind. Recent posters have theorized that the front fender is part of the problem. > > My question--does the stock front fender have to be as long as it is? Has anyone cut the fender back to reduce it's surface area effected by wind? If so, what were the results? I know the risk of more water/mud in the face, but, let's talk about this. > > Bryan > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

[Steve Hersant]

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

> Dont know about the smoother sailing, but that is the > butt ugliest klr I have ever seen! Way to go! You put > on a matching coat and your stylin'!

Not so...I like it ! The butt ugly KLR's are permanently covered with dirt. This is apparently a badge of honour, but, in my opinion, usually means lousy mechanical care. Steve

[Spike55]

Everytime my bike fell over, it landed on the left side. The radiator shroud would get push in a bit and that would flex the screen over the radiator. When picking up the bike, the rear part of the fender would sweep across and fold that screen over. The screen eventually started breaking apart. I decided to try to increase the clearance between the two by lowering the fender (actually moves forward as well as down). I took the plastic cutting board from the kitchen (shhhh - she does know it yet) and fashioned a spacer that fits on the flat spot between the fender and triple-tree. I used two thicknesses of the board and that gave me 7/8". I wanted to go with a solid spacer since I place a short 2x4 between the fender and the tire when I cinch down the front of the bike to haul it. I put two pictures out there. I have enough cutting board left to put in one more 3/8+" layer but I'd have to again buy longer bolts if I could find some. Stock bolts are only long enough for one spacer. Don R100, A6F

[Jeff Saline]

On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:11:23 -0000 "Spike55" writes:

> Everytime my bike fell over, it landed on the left side. The > radiator > shroud would get push in a bit and that would flex the screen over > the > radiator. When picking up the bike, the rear part of the fender > would > sweep across and fold that screen over. The screen eventually > started > breaking apart. > > I decided to try to increase the clearance between the two by > lowering > the fender (actually moves forward as well as down). I took the > plastic cutting board from the kitchen (shhhh - she does know it > yet) > and fashioned a spacer that fits on the flat spot between the fender > > and triple-tree. I used two thicknesses of the board and that gave > me > 7/8". I wanted to go with a solid spacer since I place a short 2x4 > > between the fender and the tire when I cinch down the front of the > bike > to haul it. > > I put two pictures out there. I have enough cutting board left to > put > in one more 3/8+" layer but I'd have to again buy longer bolts if I > > could find some. Stock bolts are only long enough for one spacer. > > Don R100, A6F

<><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> Don, Nice idea and application to fix the clearance issue. Thanks for sharing it with us. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[Bill Watson]

Hey Don, You might want to keep in mind that at some point, you'll have moved the fender down enough that during a large bump, the tire will actually contact the fender and try to stop rotating the front wheel (sounds fun...) or START rotating the front fender... I guess the only way to see how much room you have would be to remove both front fork springs and see if the forks bottom before the tire hits the fender. Sounds like an abrupt "oops" if it happens! Bill Watson Phoenix, AZ www.xanga.com/watt_man --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Spike55]

Bill: I'm hoping that 7/8" to 1 1/4" isn't going to compromise the safety margin but your test procedure would verify that there is / isn't a potential problem. At this point, I think that I have achieved enough of an increase in the gap between the rear portion of the fender and the radiator screen. I'll let you know what I find out. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bill Watson wrote: > > Hey Don, > > You might want to keep in mind that at some point, you'll have moved the fender down enough that during a large bump, the tire will actually contact the fender and try to stop rotating the front wheel (sounds fun...) or START rotating the front fender... I guess the only way to see how much room you have would be to remove both front fork springs and see if the forks bottom before the tire hits the fender. Sounds like an abrupt "oops" if it happens! > > Bill Watson > Phoenix, AZ > www.xanga.com/watt_man > > > --------------------------------- > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >