checking timing

[hershonm]

When my '08 showed 5600mi, I bought a pair of Kenda 761s, the mostly street Kendas, and installed the rear one. It worked great. At about 7500mi, I put the front one on - and my steering got weird. The bike felt uncertain on the road and would not hold a precise line in curves at normal speeds. I used 27psi, 32 and finally 35. Not much different. I checked the tire companies' tech pages and learned that none of them want you to put their 90/90-21 tires on 1.60" rims. Too skinny. So - I could have a 1.85" rim spoked up, a considerable investment. Or I could buy a smaller tire, like a Distanzia 80/90-21, or I could go back to the original Dunlop K750, made especially I believe for the 1.60 rim. I am doing just that, buying a ($40) K750. Maybe in the winter I'll spring for the wider rim - the "A" solution, I think. Anyone else had this same experience?

[Fred Hink]

There were a few years that the KLR used the 1.85" front rim but they switched back to the 1.60". I have never heard anyone mention handling problems using the Kenda K761 on a KLR. I know there have been a few that have switched to a wider 18" or 19" front rim for better handling. The Dunlop K750 is a tire that has good all around handling but is also known for not lasting very long. If you are going to be changing rims, you might consider going to a 18" or 19". I am sure those that have done this can let you know their experiences. Fred www.arrowheadmotorsports.com

----- Original Message ----- From: hershonm To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2009 6:48 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] narrow front rim When my '08 showed 5600mi, I bought a pair of Kenda 761s, the mostly street Kendas, and installed the rear one. It worked great. At about 7500mi, I put the front one on - and my steering got weird. The bike felt uncertain on the road and would not hold a precise line in curves at normal speeds. I used 27psi, 32 and finally 35. Not much different. I checked the tire companies' tech pages and learned that none of them want you to put their 90/90-21 tires on 1.60" rims. Too skinny. So - I could have a 1.85" rim spoked up, a considerable investment. Or I could buy a smaller tire, like a Distanzia 80/90-21, or I could go back to the original Dunlop K750, made especially I believe for the 1.60 rim. I am doing just that, buying a ($40) K750. Maybe in the winter I'll spring for the wider rim - the "A" solution, I think. Anyone else had this same experience? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[eddiebmauri]

Does anyone know if the Avon Gripster (a.k.a "Slipster") is made for the KLR's 1.60" rim? Or does the Gripster just happen to fit? Eddie (03' KLR "la poderosa")

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "hershonm" wrote: > > When my '08 showed 5600mi, I bought a pair of Kenda 761s, the mostly street Kendas, and installed the rear one. It worked great. At about 7500mi, I put the front one on - and my steering got weird. The bike felt uncertain on the road and would not hold a precise line in curves at normal speeds. I used 27psi, 32 and finally 35. Not much different. > > I checked the tire companies' tech pages and learned that none of them want you to put their 90/90-21 tires on 1.60" rims. Too skinny. > > So - I could have a 1.85" rim spoked up, a considerable investment. Or I could buy a smaller tire, like a Distanzia 80/90-21, or I could go back to the original Dunlop K750, made especially I believe for the 1.60 rim. > > I am doing just that, buying a ($40) K750. Maybe in the winter I'll spring for the wider rim - the "A" solution, I think. > > Anyone else had this same experience? >

[Rick]

I can't tell you if the Slipster is made for the KLR but I can tell you I put them, front and back, on my wife's and my KLR's when we traveled Mexico/Central America for 3 months. We did about 7500 miles south of the border and still had 30% of the tread left. They were great for our kind of traveling. Some dirt, mostly pavement and no mud to speak of.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote: > > Does anyone know if the Avon Gripster (a.k.a "Slipster") is made for the KLR's 1.60" rim? Or does the Gripster just happen to fit? > > Eddie (03' KLR "la poderosa") > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "hershonm" wrote: > > > > When my '08 showed 5600mi, I bought a pair of Kenda 761s, the mostly street Kendas, and installed the rear one. It worked great. At about 7500mi, I put the front one on - and my steering got weird. The bike felt uncertain on the road and would not hold a precise line in curves at normal speeds. I used 27psi, 32 and finally 35. Not much different. > > > > I checked the tire companies' tech pages and learned that none of them want you to put their 90/90-21 tires on 1.60" rims. Too skinny. > > > > So - I could have a 1.85" rim spoked up, a considerable investment. Or I could buy a smaller tire, like a Distanzia 80/90-21, or I could go back to the original Dunlop K750, made especially I believe for the 1.60 rim. > > > > I am doing just that, buying a ($40) K750. Maybe in the winter I'll spring for the wider rim - the "A" solution, I think. > > > > Anyone else had this same experience? > > >

[Greg May]

I have 761's on my '04 and have no issues with the handling....all seems fine and stable on pavement, they do allow the bike to hunt around on gravel but with no knobs I'm sure this would be the norm. I sometimes ride with a couple buddies on street bikes and 1/8 inch chicken strips are present after some fast rides. When I first installed then I really paid attention to how the felt, 2 of them cost about the same as 1 tire for my KZ so how good could they be? Pretty good as far as I'm concerned...but admittedly with the large blocks with no sipes I tread carefully in the rain. After running through a set unless I decide to do more off road I'll install another set. I know that the '08 had different suspension but I would think being lower and stiffer would be even more of a match for the 761's then on my '04. If I was you i think I would check the normals stuff, steering head bearing, wheel alignment, static sag etc., I did this on mine right after I bought it with 3000kms on it and was rewarded with a noticeable improvement. I'm not sure of your riding experience but one thing that I've found bikes in general and bikes with wide bars especially like a relaxed grip on the bars, trying to over control and the stability will be upset......have a great day.....Greg

--- On Sat, 7/25/09, hershonm wrote: From: hershonm Subject: [DSN_KLR650] narrow front rim To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Received: Saturday, July 25, 2009, 9:48 AM When my '08 showed 5600mi, I bought a pair of Kenda 761s, the mostly street Kendas, and installed the rear one. It worked great. At about 7500mi, I put the front one on - and my steering got weird. The bike felt uncertain on the road and would not hold a precise line in curves at normal speeds. I used 27psi, 32 and finally 35. Not much different. I checked the tire companies' tech pages and learned that none of them want you to put their 90/90-21 tires on 1.60" rims. Too skinny. So - I could have a 1.85" rim spoked up, a considerable investment. Or I could buy a smaller tire, like a Distanzia 80/90-21, or I could go back to the original Dunlop K750, made especially I believe for the 1.60 rim. I am doing just that, buying a ($40) K750. Maybe in the winter I'll spring for the wider rim - the "A" solution, I think. Anyone else had this same experience? __________________________________________________________________ Make your browsing faster, safer, and easier with the new Internet Explorer 8. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Paul Statham]

I would check the steering bearings . The 08 had some troubles in that area. No grease in the bottom bearing. I had to replace mine just out of warranty. Paul

--- On Sat, 7/25/09, Greg May wrote: From: Greg May Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] narrow front rim To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "hershonm" Received: Saturday, July 25, 2009, 6:07 PM I have 761's on my '04 and have no issues with the handling.... all seems fine and stable on pavement, they do allow the bike to hunt around on gravel but with no knobs I'm sure this would be the norm. I sometimes ride with a couple buddies on street bikes and 1/8 inch chicken strips are present after some fast rides. When I first installed then I really paid attention to how the felt, 2 of them cost about the same as 1 tire for my KZ so how good could they be? Pretty good as far as I'm concerned... but admittedly with the large blocks with no sipes I tread carefully in the rain. After running through a set unless I decide to do more off road I'll install another set. I know that the '08 had different suspension but I would think being lower and stiffer would be even more of a match for the 761's then on my '04. If I was you i think I would check the normals stuff, steering head bearing, wheel alignment, static sag etc., I did this on mine right after I bought it with 3000kms on it and was rewarded with a noticeable improvement. I'm not sure of your riding experience but one thing that I've found bikes in general and bikes with wide bars especially like a relaxed grip on the bars, trying to over control and the stability will be upset......have a great day.....Greg --- On Sat, 7/25/09, hershonm wrote: From: hershonm Subject: [DSN_KLR650] narrow front rim To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com Received: Saturday, July 25, 2009, 9:48 AM When my '08 showed 5600mi, I bought a pair of Kenda 761s, the mostly street Kendas, and installed the rear one. It worked great. At about 7500mi, I put the front one on - and my steering got weird. The bike felt uncertain on the road and would not hold a precise line in curves at normal speeds. I used 27psi, 32 and finally 35. Not much different. I checked the tire companies' tech pages and learned that none of them want you to put their 90/90-21 tires on 1.60" rims. Too skinny. So - I could have a 1.85" rim spoked up, a considerable investment. Or I could buy a smaller tire, like a Distanzia 80/90-21, or I could go back to the original Dunlop K750, made especially I believe for the 1.60 rim. I am doing just that, buying a ($40) K750. Maybe in the winter I'll spring for the wider rim - the "A" solution, I think. Anyone else had this same experience? ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ Make your browsing faster, safer, and easier with the new Internet Explorer 8. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads. yahoo.com/ ca/internetexplo rer/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Randy S]

Hi guys. Trying to run down an electrical problem on my A18. Misses between 4K and 6K under load. I've replaced my battery and had the coil checked. Stator is good. Trying to test oout my CDI and don't have a spare I can swap. Manual says to check the timing but I don't see how to do it without blowing oil out of the timing hole. I assume you're not supposed to drain it of oil beforehand, so has anyone ever checked the timing before and might be able to give me a claue as to how to do this correctly?