[dsn_klr650] i gave a young woman a story to tell this aft

[gust0261]

Question: I have what I think are stock tires on my KLR650 2007. The Service manual says I should have 21 psi on the front tire but the tire says 36 psi holds a certain max carrying weight load. Do I go with the pressure on the tire or what it says in the service manual. The same goes for the rear tire. In the service manual it says 28 psi for the rear tire and the tire itself says 36psi for a certain max carrying weight load. I'm planning a 3,000 mile road trip soon (almost all on-road) so I'm wanting to avoid a blowout. I weigh 230 and will be carrying around 90 pounds of baggage with me. Any thoughts?

[transalp 1]

The max pressure on the tire itself is the max. safe pressure recommended. Sort of like a car tire that says 40 or 45psi. You wouldn't want to run it that high. But, if you did, it wouldn't cause damage. So said, the day I brought my 09' home, my friend that took me to the dealership followed me home and commented on how low the rear tire looked. The manual says 21psi front and rear (up to 215 lbs load) and 28psi up to 401 lbs load. The shop had set the bike up at 21/21. I increased the rear pressure to 28psi - per the manual. The front tire cupped a bit from riding on road aggressively and the rear wore out in under 6k miles. I'm 185 pounds w/o gear & since then have been running 30psi in each and have had no ill effects doing so. Like your planned trip - I ride almost exclusively on road. One thing, I must note: I have a set of Avon Gripsters on the bike now. As others pointed out, they get the nickname Slipsters in mud. But, as a 90/10 street/trail tire last a pretty long time. ( I went through several sets on a pair of XL600V Hondas. ) On the KLR, I noticed the rear rubbed the chain guard right after I installed the tire. Then I realized I hadn't adjusted the tire pressure from seating the bead. With about 40psi, the tire balooned up until it made contact. Once I set it back down to 30psi, all was fine. No tire rubbing. eddie

> [Original Message] > From: gust0261 > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 7/25/2010 1:35:49 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] tire pressure, service manual, or psi on side of

tire?

> > Question: > I have what I think are stock tires on my KLR650 2007. The Service

manual says I should have 21 psi on the front tire but the tire says 36 psi holds a certain max carrying weight load. Do I go with the pressure on the tire or what it says in the service manual. The same goes for the rear tire. In the service manual it says 28 psi for the rear tire and the tire itself says 36psi for a certain max carrying weight load. I'm planning a 3,000 mile road trip soon (almost all on-road) so I'm wanting to avoid a blowout. I weigh 230 and will be carrying around 90 pounds of baggage with me. Any thoughts?

>

[mark ward]

[Jeff Saline]

On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:06:52 -0000 "gust0261" writes:

> Question: > I have what I think are stock tires on my KLR650 2007. The Service > manual says I should have 21 psi on the front tire but the tire says > 36 psi holds a certain max carrying weight load. Do I go with the > pressure on the tire or what it says in the service manual. The > same goes for the rear tire. In the service manual it says 28 psi > for the rear tire and the tire itself says 36psi for a certain max > carrying weight load. I'm planning a 3,000 mile road trip soon > (almost all on-road) so I'm wanting to avoid a blowout. I weigh 230 > and will be carrying around 90 pounds of baggage with me. Any > thoughts?

<><><><><><><> <><><><><><><> gust0261, If you have the original tires on a 2007 I'll suggest they won't last on a 3,000 smile trip. If I was going on a 3,000 smile trip I'd try to start with fresh tires or tires with probably less than 1,500 smiles on them. I don't have a tire suggestion as I set my KLR up for more off pavement riding than long pavement trips. For tire pressures I suggest you try something like 32 psi front and 36 psi rear. See how you like that and adjust from there. It also might be worth making sure your rear shock is set at 5 on the preload (left side of shock) and III or IV for the rebound (right side of shock on the bottom under the black plastic cover). 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 . ____________________________________________________________ SHOCKING: 13" Macbook Pro for $91.72! SPECIAL REPORT: Macbooks are being auctioned for an incredible 85% off! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4c4c81b72afc790ca3m07vuc

[fasteddiecopeman]

On-road I run 36F and 42R in both my KLR and my Versys. If you're going onto single-track you might 'air-down' to 18 psi for traction in the rough, and keep speeds lower till you air back up. Ed

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "gust0261" wrote: > > Question: > I have what I think are stock tires on my KLR650 2007. The Service manual says I should have 21 psi on the front tire but the tire says 36 psi holds a certain max carrying weight load. Do I go with the pressure on the tire or what it says in the service manual. The same goes for the rear tire. In the service manual it says 28 psi for the rear tire and the tire itself says 36psi for a certain max carrying weight load. I'm planning a 3,000 mile road trip soon (almost all on-road) so I'm wanting to avoid a blowout. I weigh 230 and will be carrying around 90 pounds of baggage with me. Any thoughts? >

[mark ward]

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "transalp 1" wrote: On the KLR, I noticed > the rear rubbed the chain guard right after I installed the tire. ~~~Ed, You can bend the chain guard over to the left some with your hand, to get it out of the way of your tire rubbing it. the bracket is thin metal and easily bendable. that's the way they do it guvnor=:-) Jake Reddick Fla. What is a DPO? Dipshit Previous Owner; i.e., the idiot responsible for all of the damaged threads, missing parts and hacked electrical connections on the used KLR you just bought. You don't notice these problems immediately, of course... klr faq http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/ > > The max pressure on the tire itself is the max. safe pressure recommended. > Sort of like a car tire that says 40 or 45psi. You wouldn't want to run it > that high. But, if you did, it wouldn't cause damage. > > So said, the day I brought my 09' home, my friend that took me to the > dealership followed me home and commented on how low the rear tire looked. > The manual says 21psi front and rear (up to 215 lbs load) and 28psi up to > 401 lbs load. The shop had set the bike up at 21/21. I increased the rear > pressure to 28psi - per the manual. The front tire cupped a bit from riding > on road aggressively and the rear wore out in under 6k miles. > I'm 185 pounds w/o gear & since then have been running 30psi in each and > have had no ill effects doing so. Like your planned trip - I ride almost > exclusively on road. One thing, I must note: I have a set of Avon Gripsters > on the bike now. As others pointed out, they get the nickname Slipsters in > mud. But, as a 90/10 street/trail tire last a pretty long time. ( I went > through several sets on a pair of XL600V Hondas. ) On the KLR, I noticed > the rear rubbed the chain guard right after I installed the tire. Then I > realized I hadn't adjusted the tire pressure from seating the bead. With > about 40psi, the tire balooned up until it made contact. Once I set it back > down to 30psi, all was fine. No tire rubbing. > > eddie > > > > [Original Message] > > From: gust0261 > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > > Date: 7/25/2010 1:35:49 PM > > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] tire pressure, service manual, or psi on side of > tire? > > > > Question: > > I have what I think are stock tires on my KLR650 2007. The Service > manual says I should have 21 psi on the front tire but the tire says 36 psi > holds a certain max carrying weight load. Do I go with the pressure on the > tire or what it says in the service manual. The same goes for the rear > tire. In the service manual it says 28 psi for the rear tire and the tire > itself says 36psi for a certain max carrying weight load. I'm planning a > 3,000 mile road trip soon (almost all on-road) so I'm wanting to avoid a > blowout. I weigh 230 and will be carrying around 90 pounds of baggage with > me. Any thoughts? > > >

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "gust0261" wrote:

> > Question: > I have what I think are stock tires on my KLR650 2007. The Service manual says I should have 21 psi on the front tire but the tire says 36 psi holds a certain max carrying weight load. Do I go with the pressure on the tire or what it says in the service manual. The same goes for the rear tire. In the service manual it says 28 psi for the rear tire and the tire itself says 36psi for a certain max carrying weight load. I'm planning a 3,000 mile road trip soon (almost all on-road) so I'm wanting to avoid a blowout. I weigh 230 and will be carrying around 90 pounds of baggage with me. Any thoughts? >

Hi Gust- LEG PULL switch--ON Some here will offer you technical advice. Bah-humbug. How about some hubris advice! How much thrill do you want! Just follow the OEM advice! It will be thrilling--if you survive. Use the OEM recommenced air pressures--because sure as heck, you will find them a thrill when you skid the tires and then SKID your pants. SERIOUS switch--ON Fall 2003, its a New to me, 2001 KLR650/2505 miles--woo-hoo, and me, yikes, out of the saddle some 27+ years. I asked your same question ~7 years ago when riding on OEM tires at OEM pressures, after encountering slide and squirm while riding with great spirited and reckless abandon, and at slow speeds with a steep lean angle, cough, I skidded the tires and then skidded my PANTS! not really the pants, but it was close...and the second time it happened, it was REALLY disconcerting. Like you, I turned to LIST WISDOM and said, Q. "What's up with this tire setup/skid/slide/etc?" A. "OEM tires/pressure is an 'average' for all conditions." = NOT for great spirited and reckless abandon two lane twisty roads of central KY (and I don't mean the jelly). Following list wisdom, I aired up: my tires no longer skid and my pants? well, not as often.... Like to experiment? even slightly? How technical of a rider are you? Do you ride at the edge of the envelope, or are you an 'occasional' spirited rider? smile. Your higher personal weight will suggest higher tire pressures to begin.... How about this-- Find a quiet place with a nice curve-- Air up to 32F/36 Rear and ride that curve at 45-50-55-60 and note the results. ie feel, response etc. Bleed off a lb of pressure, and ride the profile again. Note: that your tire pressure readings will go up with a warm tire. So to make the test 'even' make sure you are starting with cold pressure of 32/36, 'warm'up the tires and check again. It should be ~2-3 lbs higher (on a hot pavement, maybe even more) Also, I have found that I loose .25-.5 of pressure with a pressure check tire pressure and so that needs to be taken into account as well. Now--for more information than you asked. smile. Summary: I would imagine that you will most likely find the best results at near max tire pressures due to bike weight, body weight, plus the 90lbs of kitchen sink you are carrying. Also NOTE: sag and rear-shock rebound will play into your bikes overall performance--as well as your butt position in the saddle. ADDITIONALLY--IMO: you are a candidate for a shock upgrade; at least adding a 450/550 progressive spring. I am 200# (in costume) with 40# of camping/gear and use a 350/450 progressive spring on a std shock in good condition. 350/450 = takes 350 lbs of force to move it the first inch, 450lbs to move it the second inch (as I understand it) That spring is available from Fred, Arrowheadsports http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com/ --disclaimer: no affiliation, just a delighted customer. Dial him up, describe to him all you have said above (he is also the list MOD), order what he recommends, and take it out of your mailbox on Wednesday. smile. You will need a professional grade spring compressor to change the spring. I did one last week at the local car dealer--no kidding, don't try it without the proper press! On a personal note, 90# is a lot of stuff; and for some that are far more experienced and humorous than I, have suggested, "Pack the bike, go for a ride of ~3 miles, come back, unload 1/2 the stuff, and then leave on your trip." That suggestion does not work for all cases, but I remember a time, one experienced camping biker helped me sort off 22# of TOOLS to mail home some 5 days into the trip. The bike was much more fun to ride, and certainly easier to pick up as well.... You should also note the placard on the pre-08's luggage rack is 22#. shrug. revmaaatin.