transmission trouble - could use a clue

[revmaaatin]

RANT SWITCH- ON Is it me? Or is it 'beauty in the eye of a beholder'. First it was Tuperware bikes of assorted colors--now this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-KLR-New-2009-Kawasaki-KLR650- BLACK-KLR-650- 09_W0QQitemZ180320710218QQihZ008QQcategoryZ50016QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ 1QQcmdZViewItem Who in the world dreams up these colors? Do they actually pay someone to dream up these color combinations--or do they just buy up discarded decals and throw them at the dart board of design? Suzuki and Honda and Yamaha designers must be rolling on the floor with laughter. The only up side, is that the graphics do change, and you can identify the year by its color scheme, like "trash can '00." The only year they got right was the 98, 01, and 03. Well, maybe the 07 black bike. Everything else is nearly laughable--don't get me started on the red that turns to PINK--but thankfully most of the hideous color skeems can be hidden under a thick coat of dirt, or changed out for IMS white. RANT- TURNED DOWN Just curious, how many folk here in KLR land have had to replace the fragile-looking plastic of the 08+? RANT OFF revmaaatin.

[Gary]

1995 was the last model KLR650 that had any "personality" that amounted to anything. The absolute worst colors were 96-99 and 2000. As for the 08s and 09s.....they are uglier than pooting in church no matter what color they are.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > RANT SWITCH- ON > > Is it me? Or is it 'beauty in the eye of a beholder'. First it was > Tuperware bikes of assorted colors--now this? > > http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-KLR-New-2009-Kawasaki- KLR650- > BLACK-KLR-650- > 09_W0QQitemZ180320710218QQihZ008QQcategoryZ50016QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ > 1QQcmdZViewItem > > Who in the world dreams up these colors? > > Do they actually pay someone to dream up these color combinations-- or > do they just buy up discarded decals and throw them at the dart board > of design? > > Suzuki and Honda and Yamaha designers must be rolling on the floor > with laughter. The only up side, is that the graphics do change, and > you can identify the year by its color scheme, like "trash can '00." > The only year they got right was the 98, 01, and 03. Well, maybe the > 07 black bike. Everything else is nearly laughable--don't get me > started on the red that turns to PINK--but thankfully most of the > hideous color skeems can be hidden under a thick coat of dirt, or > changed out for IMS white. > > RANT- TURNED DOWN > > Just curious, how many folk here in KLR land have had to replace the > fragile-looking plastic of the 08+? > > RANT OFF > > revmaaatin. >

[Richard A. Butler]

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

>Lamar,

From your description of the transmission problem, it sounds like the shift lever still has some spring tension and moves/returns as it should. I suspect a small horseshoe shaped flat type spring (92081- 1496)located behind the clutch on the right side of the engine. This spring holds a steel piece that changes motion from the shift lever to the shift drum.You can inspect this without pulling the motor. Another possibility would be that the bolt holding the pin end of your shift drum has loosened. This is a great oppertunity to clean the oil screen too as it lives under the right engine cover. A new water pump seal could come in handy if you order parts. It might be helpful to look at the parts diagram to better understand all this, I use the on-line Ron Ayres KLR parts fiche. These springs rarely fail, but then again the trusty KLR almost never has transmission troubles,...well at least very few. Let us know what the problem turns out to be. Richard Butler

> I've been starting it and running it around the block the last weeks > just to keep the battery up, but today was too nice not to ride. I > got a few blocks away and tried to shift from 2nd to 3rd. It felt > like I missed the shift. No problem, just clumsy, I thought. I

tried

> again but 3rd wouldn't engage. I was coasting to a stop, so I tried > to click down to 1st. Nothing happened! I rode back home in 2nd. > The shift lever goes up and down as it should, but it won't take a > gear with it. > > I have never had this happen on ANY bike and therefore have no > experience in a tranny. WHAT has happened? Does this sound

familiar

> to anyone??? SOS!!! > > Thanks in advance. > > Lamar > A14 >

[Arden Kysely]

I think Kawi did a good job on the 2008 colors (especially blue), but went downhill on the '09s. That said, there's a black '09 that parks next to me and I've gotten used to the look...somewhat. Still, I prefer a bike that stands out in traffic and black doesn't cut it for that. My favorite KLR look is still the original 1987 Great White Whale. Even with the graphics faded and peeling, I was sorry to see that bike go. The '88 and '89s weren't bad, either. And Barbie is a classic, whether you like lavender or not. The teal of my former A11 and the later olive green are OK, but other than those, Kawi has missed the mark on color and style. Even the Kawi green model a few years back didn't quite do the trick for me. Looks great on the KLX250S, through. __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > RANT SWITCH- ON > > Is it me? Or is it 'beauty in the eye of a beholder'. First it was > Tuperware bikes of assorted colors--now this? > > http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-KLR-New-2009-Kawasaki- KLR650- > BLACK-KLR-650- > 09_W0QQitemZ180320710218QQihZ008QQcategoryZ50016QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ > 1QQcmdZViewItem > > Who in the world dreams up these colors? > > Do they actually pay someone to dream up these color combinations-- or > do they just buy up discarded decals and throw them at the dart board > of design? > > Suzuki and Honda and Yamaha designers must be rolling on the floor > with laughter. The only up side, is that the graphics do change, and > you can identify the year by its color scheme, like "trash can '00." > The only year they got right was the 98, 01, and 03. Well, maybe the > 07 black bike. Everything else is nearly laughable--don't get me > started on the red that turns to PINK--but thankfully most of the > hideous color skeems can be hidden under a thick coat of dirt, or > changed out for IMS white. > > RANT- TURNED DOWN > > Just curious, how many folk here in KLR land have had to replace the > fragile-looking plastic of the 08+? > > RANT OFF > > revmaaatin. >