klr super plug

[hershonm]

I've just ridden to the Midwest from Denver for the MotoGP at Indy and to visit friends/family there and in Hutchinson KS, Flint MI and Muncie IN. Thirty-two hundred miles in nine days, incl three days in Indy w/o getting on the bike. The engine used very little oil in the first 2,000mi, but the level dropped on the way home - maybe halfway down the window. I have a centerstand, so my readings are pretty accurate. I used Valvoline 10/40 motorcycle oil. It seems somehow to "wear out," huh? I believe I'll switch to fully synthetic after I put 2,000mi on the Valvoline I just poured in. For the fourth or fifth time this year, I removed covers, seat and battery to top up the cells and hook up my Battery Tender. Have to do it after each trip - battery's always low on water. When I do that on my 2008 motorcycle, and I think about how much Kawasaki saved by not providing a "modern" maintenance free battery, I am convinced yet again that I will never buy another Kawasaki. I ran out of Chain Wax in Flint, then rode south to Muncie and home to Denver. I used Route 36 from Indy to Denver, mostly two-lane, and passed through dozens of small towns. In the roughly 1,000mi, there was ONE import motorcycle shop, a Yam/Kaw store in Kansas. Otherwise, only H-D stores, not good sources for chain lube. I got by on WD40 and some borrowed Kawi "Racing" chain lube at the store in Kansas. My chain seems fine despite the neglect. I never got less than 50mpg and I think I nearly reached 60 once or twice. I cruised at 4500 to 5000rpm. My rear Kenda K761 has flattened but is still safe at 8600mi. I think I'll buy another. Nothing fell off; nothing came loose. Gearing's stock and the plug's still original. Bike steers fine now that I've adjusted the steering bearings. Never had to do that to a 10,000mi motorcycle before. Oh - I have the aftermarket centerstand that does NOT come with a lifting handle. It goes well over center when you put the bike on it, slanting down and forward. It is an attractive nuisance, if you know the expression. It barely lifts the rear wheel off the surface, but hoisting the bike up on it is hard work, esp when the bike is loaded for touring. I can't be without a centerstand but I hate this one. I like the good gas mileage and mostly do-it-yourself maintenance of the KLR - although there's an awful lot of it. I really enjoy the Four-Stroke Singles Nat'l Owners Club - the guys and their activities. I like Fred Hink and Elden Carl and some of the KLR cult. But jeez, guys...it ain't a great motorcycle, is it?

[Rick McCauley]

I beg to differ. I believe it is a great motorcycle. Especially for the price. Mine just turned over to 20,000 miles on the way home from work yesterday. First chain replacement, at over 19,000 miles. I Hear I can get even more if I use WD-40 only. Started out using cheap Wal-Mart oil for first 3,000 miles, but changed it often. Been using Mobil 1 MX4T ever since. Change oil every 3,000 miles or so. Never add any oil in between changes. But I admit, I don't ride it hard. Bike hardly ever sees 5,000 rpm or over. New $55 tire on the rear roughly every 5,000 miles. New $45 tire on the front every 8-10,000 miles. My V65 Sabre was $140 tire rear only. I did upgrade the doohickey, That I consider Kawasaki's fault. I upgraded both front and rear springs, but that is my fault. I eat too much. New rear brake pads at 18,000 miles, probably my fault. Power slides are fun. Yes the brakes are weak, but they stop the bike quite effectively. Even with my 280 lbs on it. Look at it as having ABS :- ) No it isn't high tech like a KX 450, ($7,549.00) or a Gold Wing, ($20,000+) but it is dependable as a rock, gets great mileage, and with a few hundred bucks you can set it up nicely to meet your requirements. Rick A17

--- On Wed, 9/9/09, hershonm wrote: From: hershonm Subject: [DSN_KLR650] My '08 at 14,000mi To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 11:06 AM I've just ridden to the Midwest from Denver for the MotoGP at Indy and to visit friends/family there and in Hutchinson KS, Flint MI and Muncie IN. Thirty-two hundred miles in nine days, incl three days in Indy w/o getting on the bike. The engine used very little oil in the first 2,000mi, but the level dropped on the way home - maybe halfway down the window. I have a centerstand, so my readings are pretty accurate. I used Valvoline 10/40 motorcycle oil. It seems somehow to "wear out," huh? I believe I'll switch to fully synthetic after I put 2,000mi on the Valvoline I just poured in. For the fourth or fifth time this year, I removed covers, seat and battery to top up the cells and hook up my Battery Tender. Have to do it after each trip - battery's always low on water. When I do that on my 2008 motorcycle, and I think about how much Kawasaki saved by not providing a "modern" maintenance free battery, I am convinced yet again that I will never buy another Kawasaki. I ran out of Chain Wax in Flint, then rode south to Muncie and home to Denver. I used Route 36 from Indy to Denver, mostly two-lane, and passed through dozens of small towns. In the roughly 1,000mi, there was ONE import motorcycle shop, a Yam/Kaw store in Kansas. Otherwise, only H-D stores, not good sources for chain lube. I got by on WD40 and some borrowed Kawi "Racing" chain lube at the store in Kansas. My chain seems fine despite the neglect. I never got less than 50mpg and I think I nearly reached 60 once or twice. I cruised at 4500 to 5000rpm. My rear Kenda K761 has flattened but is still safe at 8600mi. I think I'll buy another. Nothing fell off; nothing came loose. Gearing's stock and the plug's still original. Bike steers fine now that I've adjusted the steering bearings. Never had to do that to a 10,000mi motorcycle before. Oh - I have the aftermarket centerstand that does NOT come with a lifting handle. It goes well over center when you put the bike on it, slanting down and forward. It is an attractive nuisance, if you know the expression. It barely lifts the rear wheel off the surface, but hoisting the bike up on it is hard work, esp when the bike is loaded for touring. I can't be without a centerstand but I hate this one. I like the good gas mileage and mostly do-it-yourself maintenance of the KLR - although there's an awful lot of it. I really enjoy the Four-Stroke Singles Nat'l Owners Club - the guys and their activities. I like Fred Hink and Elden Carl and some of the KLR cult. But jeez, guys...it ain't a great motorcycle, is it? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[J. Christopher Krok]

________________________________________________________________________

> 3a. My '08 at 14,000mi > Posted by: "hershonm" hershonm@... hershonm > Date: Wed Sep 9, 2009 9:07 am ((PDT)) > > When I ... think about how much Kawasaki > saved by not providing a "modern" maintenance free battery, I am > convinced yet again that I will never buy another Kawasaki.

Might just be the way Kawasaki views this market segment (cheap); my ZRX came with a maintenance-free battery, and it's specified in the manual. That means that half of the Kawi's I've seen have maintenance free batteries! Chris -- J. Christopher Krok, Ph.D. Big Cee Studios

[Mike Frey]

Heh.... Another KLR / ZRX owner. My 2002 ZRX still has the original battery. Even after sitting for a month or more, I hook the charger up to it an it indicates "fully charged" I have an AGM battery in my CA KLR and it sits for as long as 6 months and holds the charge (bike always starts right up, too). Mike J. Christopher Krok wrote:

> > > __________________________________________________________ > > 3a. My '08 at 14,000mi > > Posted by: "hershonm" hershonm@... > hershonm > > Date: Wed Sep 9, 2009 9:07 am ((PDT)) > > > > When I ... think about how much Kawasaki > > saved by not providing a "modern" maintenance free battery, I am > > convinced yet again that I will never buy another Kawasaki. > > Might just be the way Kawasaki views this market segment (cheap); my ZRX > came with a maintenance-free battery, and it's specified in the manual. > That means that half of the Kawi's I've seen have maintenance free > batteries! > > Chris > > -- > J. Christopher Krok, Ph.D. > Big Cee Studios > >

[dooden]

I agree KHI should install a AGM battery in a Dual-Sport bike.. However, when the factory battery takes a dump, spend a few dollars more and go with a AGM / Sealed whatever ya wanna call it battery and forget about it. And put your battery chargers that output 1 amp or more far from the little battery the KLR uses. If you insist on a wet cell, I suggest you check the water level often. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Mike Frey wrote: > > Heh.... Another KLR / ZRX owner. > > My 2002 ZRX still has the original battery. Even after sitting > for a month or more, I hook the charger up to it an it indicates > "fully charged" > > I have an AGM battery in my CA KLR and it sits for as long > as 6 months and holds the charge (bike always starts right up, > too). > > Mike > > J. Christopher Krok wrote: > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > > > 3a. My '08 at 14,000mi > > > Posted by: "hershonm" hershonm@... > > hershonm > > > Date: Wed Sep 9, 2009 9:07 am ((PDT)) > > > > > > When I ... think about how much Kawasaki > > > saved by not providing a "modern" maintenance free battery, I am > > > convinced yet again that I will never buy another Kawasaki. > > > > Might just be the way Kawasaki views this market segment (cheap); my ZRX > > came with a maintenance-free battery, and it's specified in the manual. > > That means that half of the Kawi's I've seen have maintenance free > > batteries! > > > > Chris > > > > -- > > J. Christopher Krok, Ph.D. > > Big Cee Studios > > > > >

[notanymoore]

Does the '08 KLR 650 burn oil? From what I've heard on these groups, yes. My '06 KLR is pretty good on oil, but I don't take very long trips. In general, the KLR is harder on oil that a lot of bikes because of the heat generated. This is especially hard on the battery as you found. I went to a sealed battery after my second season. Is the KLR maintenance intensive? Yes compared to other Japanese models. No if you talk about a Harley. Fortunately, most of it is do-it-yourself because of the older, simpler design. Can't do a lot of that on the newer crotch rockets and cruisers. You will find regular tightening of fasteners is required on the KLR especially if you do long distance riding as described. Quality of 3rd party parts is variable. Most require some "modification" to fit. Not all provide same functionality as other models. But there are a lot of 3rd party options for the KLR. The KLR is pretty forgiving on chain maintenance, if you stay on-road. I can't recommend WD40. But any old chain lube seems to do OK otherwise. The engine is relatively low power so the stress on the chain is not high unless you haul a heavy load or do a lot of off-road. Basically, the KLR is a 20+ year old design. Even after the '08 redesign it's not really a "modern" bike design compared to equivalent models. Because it's a low priced model, some of the OEM equipment is mediocre - tires, chain, battery, fasteners. Soft brakes, top heavy weight and poor OEM tires limit it's off road use. Low horsepower and lack of a sixth gear limit it as a cross-country ride. On the other hand, an inexpensive, go-anywhere dual-sport with a water-cooled engine, 6 gallon gas tank, easy handling and decent short-medium distance highway ride makes up for a lot of idiosyncrocies. So I guess it depends on what you're looking for in a "great" bike. I live on he edges of a large urban area, don't travel more that one day's ride and can have only one bike. Within those parameters, it's not a bad deal.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "hershonm" wrote: > > I've just ridden to the Midwest from Denver for the MotoGP at Indy and to visit friends/family there and in Hutchinson KS, Flint MI and Muncie IN. Thirty-two hundred miles in nine days, incl three days in Indy w/o getting on the bike. > > The engine used very little oil in the first 2,000mi, but the level dropped on the way home - maybe halfway down the window. I have a centerstand, so my readings are pretty accurate. I used Valvoline 10/40 motorcycle oil. It seems somehow to "wear out," huh? > > I believe I'll switch to fully synthetic after I put 2,000mi on the Valvoline I just poured in. > > For the fourth or fifth time this year, I removed covers, seat and battery to top up the cells and hook up my Battery Tender. Have to do it after each trip - battery's always low on water. > > When I do that on my 2008 motorcycle, and I think about how much Kawasaki saved by not providing a "modern" maintenance free battery, I am convinced yet again that I will never buy another Kawasaki. > > I ran out of Chain Wax in Flint, then rode south to Muncie and home to Denver. I used Route 36 from Indy to Denver, mostly two-lane, and passed through dozens of small towns. In the roughly 1,000mi, there was ONE import motorcycle shop, a Yam/Kaw store in Kansas. Otherwise, only H-D stores, not good sources for chain lube. > > I got by on WD40 and some borrowed Kawi "Racing" chain lube at the store in Kansas. My chain seems fine despite the neglect. > > I never got less than 50mpg and I think I nearly reached 60 once or twice. I cruised at 4500 to 5000rpm. My rear Kenda K761 has flattened but is still safe at 8600mi. I think I'll buy another. > > Nothing fell off; nothing came loose. Gearing's stock and the plug's still original. Bike steers fine now that I've adjusted the steering bearings. Never had to do that to a 10,000mi motorcycle before. > > Oh - I have the aftermarket centerstand that does NOT come with a lifting handle. It goes well over center when you put the bike on it, slanting down and forward. It is an attractive nuisance, if you know the expression. It barely lifts the rear wheel off the surface, but hoisting the bike up on it is hard work, esp when the bike is loaded for touring. I can't be without a centerstand but I hate this one. > > I like the good gas mileage and mostly do-it-yourself maintenance of the KLR - although there's an awful lot of it. I really enjoy the Four-Stroke Singles Nat'l Owners Club - the guys and their activities. I like Fred Hink and Elden Carl and some of the KLR cult. > > But jeez, guys...it ain't a great motorcycle, is it? >

[spike55_bmw]

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

> > SNIP >> > But jeez, guys...it ain't a great motorcycle, is it? >

I just returned from a 2,500 mile ride from PA , OH, MI, WI, and back. I now have 20K+ on my 2006. The orginal chain started to 'freeze-up' after two days of rain. Although I'm only adjusted back to the 3.5 marks on the swingarm, I must have some bad O-rings that allowed the loss of lube and rusting. I started lubing it every 200 miles and that resolved the problem but I must have been turn a pound of oily dirt on that back wheel. I rode many two-lane roads but I did use some of the super-highways in Michigan that were posted at 70 mph. That meant for many miles I did 75 - 80 mph. What I found is that I used a noticable amount of oil when I ran at those higher speeds / rpms. So, I used oil when there were many miles of sustained 5,500 / 6,000+ rpms. Below 5,500 rpms, I had no preceptible oil use. Although I'm a habitual blue threadlocker user, I lost one of the rear brake caliper / bracket bolts. Again, because of the chain issue, I'm changing out the gears and chain. Will post pics but the front OEM 15T sprocket wore more heavily than the JT 44T rear with nearly the same mileage on both. Don R100, A6F

[Rick McCauley]

--- On Thu, 9/10/09, notanymoore wrote: Is the KLR maintenance intensive? Yes compared to other Japanese models. ___________________________________________________________________ I respectfully disagree. How do you see the KLR as more maintenance intensive than any other chain driven bike? Jap or otherwise. Lube the chain once in a while like any other. Only 1 spark plug to worry about. Camchain has automatic adjuster. You can adjust the balancer chain in about 30 seconds. Only 1 carb. (no syncronizing needed). I have 20,000 miles on my 2003, and I have only changed the exhaust shims once, and they were still in spec. I figured as long as it was apart, i would set them to the maximum gap. The intake shims are still the ones Kawasaki put in the day it was born. Other than normal maintenance, that any other $5,000 bike would need, I have done nothing except fix the doohickey. Rick A17 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rick McCauley]

Don't forget that the front sprocket turns 3 times for every 1 turn of the rear one. actually 2.93 times in your case. Rick A17

--- On Thu, 9/10/09, spike55_bmw wrote: Again, because of the chain issue, I'm changing out the gears and chain. Will post pics but the front OEM 15T sprocket wore more heavily than the JT 44T rear with nearly the same mileage on both. Don R100, A6F [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Khoury]

Rick, How DARE you use logic and applied mathematics in a motorcycle discussion forum? Posts here are all supposed to be subjective and packed with unverifiable assertions! FOR SHAME! -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick McCauley" To: "dsn klr650" dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:33:51 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: My '08 at 14,000mi Don't forget that the front sprocket turns 3 times for every 1 turn of the rear one. actually 2.93 times in your case. Rick A17 --- On Thu, 9/10/09, spike55_bmw < spike55_bmw@... > wrote: Again, because of the chain issue, I'm changing out the gears and chain. Will post pics but the front OEM 15T sprocket wore more heavily than the JT 44T rear with nearly the same mileage on both. Don R100, A6F [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]