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[Jim Fortner]

Hi Kelly and welcome to the monkey house. I also have a 93 KLR. More than likely the doohickey or the spring on the 93 is broken if they have not been replaced. I believe the spring was broken on my 93. Here are a few photos of it's evolution. http://langly.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/KLR/88964_cndHE#3107350_u9uQ4 Lots of knowledgeable folks here. Enjoy the KLRs. Jim from Plano, TX

On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 4:28 PM, socalhodaka wrote: Hi Kelly here from San Diego. Over the last few week I have entered the world of the KLR. I have plenty of bikes that include a 02 KTM 520 DS bike for more dirt, yz205 and 426fs for track and a collection of vintage Hodaka's. In the past all may road touring was on a 03 Harley Bagger until we sold it a couple months ago. Now came the KLR, the 02 has all the norm mods and a few farkle's. I have been on a few street rides and really like it all, but still need to learn the ins and outs of the bike. Then came the 93 that fell into my lap for $320 bucks, yep I offered $300 but they countered $320. Now this bike is not running and the PO was a kid that could not tell me much about when it stopped. Its not locked up but I think something is up we the doohicky. It looks like someone has been into it. I have the cover off and tomorrow will be able to pull the flywheel and start checking it all out. So I may have a ton of questions as I go. From the looks of it and all the activity here I'm in the right spot. Thanks Kelly Photos of my two bikes are in the folder name socalhodaka.

[Robert]

For some time, I had been hearing a bumping noise (solid metal on metal) when I would drive over a pot hole, drop off a curb etc. After looking it over, and finding nothing, I took the KLR 650 (07) to the shop and told them to find it. They drove it and heard the noise but didn't find it. Determined that something was loose and dangerous I got a friend to come out to the house to help. I was determined to find the problem and fix it. After over 30 minutes of looking, tightening up bolts, chain, etc. we were at the end of the rope. Then, I stiff palmed the frame and heard the noise that was similiar to what I was hearing when driving the bike. I said, "That is the sound that it makes." Before I got the words out my buddy, standing to the side, said "I see it." The frame was loose. Very loose. A bolt on each side was about to come out. It was the part of the frame that holds up the rider. I took the bolts out and they were not damaged, so I put loc-tite on them and torked them. Now I ride with much more confidence. How we missed those bolts when we were going around tightening is beyond me. I learned on the farm that it is very important to keep bolts tight on equipment. Failure to do so will result in damage to equipment. But failure to keep bolts tight on a bike could result in a serious accident. Never ignore a noise that sounds like something is loose, especially if it might be part of the mechanics of the bike frame. RW