looking for a dual sport ride

[desert_denizen]

Question for anyone..I have 90' KLR 650. Can someone tell me the ideal amperage for the fuses located under the seat (what a poor fuse system.) Currently, I have a 20a for main and 15am for lighting. I am noticing intermittent problems with starter where when key is turned it will hesitate at times before turning over. I have check sidestand and think it is possible short around fuse area. Plus, is procedure to change cooling system easy? Anybody got any links to this procedure for flushing and changing radiator fluid? Brian 90 KLR 760 wish bike: 01'Triumph Bonneville

[robert7ii]

I finally bought a nice Craftsman torque wrench, one that goes low enough in inch-lbs to be useful in day-to-day bike maintenance and repair. It's a 3/8 inch drive, and my sockets and extensions are generall 1/2 inch drive. If I use an adapter or an extension to use my 1/2 inch sockets, will the torque wrench still register correctly? (I guess you could call this "necking up".) With one exception, have owned strictly sportbikes over the years. I have some racetrack experience; the KLR is my entry into the dual sport world. I remember reading on this forum that a fellow had mounted Continental Conti-Tours on his KLR and took it to a track for a track day (among a sea of sportbikes). Now, I can't seem to find the post--doesn't show up when I search on the tire name. Anybody have any experience with this tire? Any tire recommendations for supermoto-type applications? The KLR is oscillating a bit at speeds above 80mph. It has its stock nobbies mounted, with just 1400 street miles on them. Is this oscillation to be expected? It's not a tank-slapper by any means, but there is some front end hula going on, and it can get unnerving. Thanks in advance for your time.

[Stu]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "robert7ii" wrote:

> I finally bought a nice Craftsman torque wrench, one that goes low > enough in inch-lbs to be useful in day-to-day bike maintenance and > repair. It's a 3/8 inch drive, and my sockets and extensions are > generall 1/2 inch drive. If I use an adapter or an extension to use my > 1/2 inch sockets, will the torque wrench still register correctly? (I > guess you could call this "necking up".) >

It will work correctly. For a lot of the stuff that needs low torque (cam cap bolts, etc.) a 1/2" drive socket won't fit in there in the first place. Better off to go buy a set of 3/8" sockets, they can be had from Cratsman for what, $15 or so?

> With one exception, have owned strictly sportbikes over the years. I > have some racetrack experience; the KLR is my entry into the dual > sport world. I remember reading on this forum that a fellow had > mounted Continental Conti-Tours on his KLR and took it to a track for > a track day (among a sea of sportbikes). Now, I can't seem to find the > post--doesn't show up when I search on the tire name. Anybody have > any experience with this tire? Any tire recommendations for > supermoto-type applications? >

Whatever tire fits an XR 650 R

> The KLR is oscillating a bit at speeds above 80mph. It has its stock > nobbies mounted, with just 1400 street miles on them. Is this > oscillation to be expected? It's not a tank-slapper by any means, but > there is some front end hula going on, and it can get unnerving.

Very common, loosen all the front end bits (axle, fork pinch bolts), check the tightness on the steering stem nut, then retorque everything after making sure it's all lined up correctly. I reckon a stock KLR will always feel a bit unstable at high speed*. *KLR "high speed" being anything over 70 or so. I put a Happy Trails K9 fork brace on my '99 and the front end feels rock solid at any speed.

> Thanks in advance for your time.

De nada, amigo! Thanks CA Stu

[Devon]

robert7ii@... wrote:

>The KLR is oscillating a bit at speeds above 80mph. It has its stock >nobbies mounted, with just 1400 street miles on them. Is this >oscillation to be expected? It's not a tank-slapper by any means, but >there is some front end hula going on, and it can get unnerving. > >

There is some variation among KLR front ends (the tooling is 17 years old after all). That's why some people insist the KLR has a decent front end, some swear it's crap and desperately needs a fork brace. They're both right! I had to replace the forks due to crash damage, and the second set of stock forks I had were MUCH better than the first, and required completely different oil weight to get the same feel and performance. It sounds like you could use a fork brace. But before you spend the money (the happy-trail.com "K-9" was my favorite) do all the usual stuff- check the front axle torque, steering bearings, wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, rear axle torque, etc..... Devon

[JJNeet1@aol.com]

I've been thinking about going from my 2001 KLR250 to a KLR650.Since I sold my big street bike, I'm pushing my 250 pretty hard to make my commute of 65 miles round trip-most on the freeways at 65-70 mph at 7000-7250 rpms.So I have a couple of questions on the 650.What does it get in gas mileage in mpg? Whats the range, at said gas mileage, before hitting resrve for listers? How comfortable/uncomfortable is the seat for longer rides? Thanks, Jon Neet [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Eric L. Green]

On Sun, 10 Oct 2004 JJNeet1@... wrote:

> I've been thinking about going from my 2001 KLR250 to a KLR650.Since > I sold my big street bike, I'm pushing my 250 pretty hard to make my > commute of 65 miles round trip-most on the freeways at 65-70 mph at > 7000-7250 rpms.So I have a couple of questions on the 650.What does it > get in gas mileage in mpg?

I average about 50mpg in the city, about 45mpg on the highway at 75mph. (It's a tall bike with alot of frontal area).

> Whats the range, at said gas mileage, before hitting resrve for listers?

I've never actually hit the reserve. I usually fill the tank back up at 200 miles, and it usually takes a little over 4 gallons at that time. I've gone 220-230 miles without hitting reserve, but I'm not particularly interested in pushing things. Having to reach qdown and flip that little lever is not something I'm interested in doing, for one thing I can never remember which way it needs flipping for reserve :-}.

> How > comfortable/uncomfortable is the seat for longer rides?

It depends on your buns. My buns apparently are well suited to the stock seat, I have ridden 400-mile days with no real discomfort caused by the seat. (On the other hand, I discovered every seam in the seat of my pants, and am now considering wearing bicycle shorts under my protective gear for any future trips of that length). Other people report that they get "monkey butt" from the stock seat, and recommend seats by Corbin, Russel, or others. So apparently buns differ in what they can tolerate. I'd suspect that if you have no issues with the KLR250 seat, you'd have no issues with the KLR650 seat. -E

[mwl_95623]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" wrote:

>I've gone 220-230 miles > without hitting reserve, but I'm not particularly interested in

pushing things. Having to reach

> qdown and flip that little lever is not something I'm interested

in doing, for one thing I can

> never remember which way it needs flipping for reserve :-}. >

The easy way to remember is ... drum roll please ... you turn it in the direction you want to go; FORWARD! Matt

[Eric L. Green]

On Sun, 10 Oct 2004, mwl_95623 wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Eric L. Green" > >I've gone 220-230 miles > > without hitting reserve, but I'm not particularly interested in > pushing things. Having to reach > > qdown and flip that little lever is not something I'm interested > in doing, for one thing I can > > never remember which way it needs flipping for reserve :-}. > > The easy way to remember is ... drum roll please ... you turn it > in the direction you want to go; FORWARD!

Hey look, when I'm driving and my passenger tells me to turn right, I always have to ask him or her, "Which right?". Uhm, yes, I'm a bit directionally-impaired . -E

[Joel Maiorano]

I became a KLR 650 owner (2004) for the first time last month. Joined the listserv and have been watching and learning. I have two questions regarding some challenges I have having with my bike. 1. In order not to get my KLR to not back fire with popping noises when I down shift, I have to run it rich (keep the choke up on it).Any thoughts on how this can be addressed. 2.Also, I am getting alot of chirping noises out of my muffler (making a funny sound). I was wondering what may cause this or is the muffler shot. Are these two problems connected? Thanks for your thoughts. Much appreciated. Joel [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 10:39 PM -0700 6/1/09, Joel Maiorano wrote:

>1. In order not to get my KLR to not back fire >with popping noises when I down shift, I have to >run it rich (keep the choke up on it).Any >thoughts on how this can be addressed.

Your coasting enrichener diaphragm may be torn, but unlikely. Instead, try pulling the aluminum plug at the bottom of the carb to access the pilot screw and turn the screw out maybe 1/2 turn. Or, you may also have an exhaust leak, most likely where the header meets the cylinder head.

>2.Also, I am getting alot of chirping noises out >of my muffler (making a funny sound). I was >wondering what may cause this or is the muffler >shot. Are these two problems connected?

That's what we in the industry call an "undocumented feature" of the bike. Mark