--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Ron Criswell wrote:
>
> I am sort of puzzled as to the debate about running a KLR at 80mph (indicated) with stock gearing for long distances. I do it and have done it many times. 500 to 600 and even 700 plus mile days. I cruise at about the same speed on the highway as I do my Concours. I know the Connie will cruise faster but I don't like paying the county mounty fines. The only problem I have with KLR power is passing a truck in the mountains. If I ride to Moab from Dallas / Ft. Worth, coming back I ride from Chama NM to Dallas / Ft. Worth in one day usually in pretty hot weather and either with stock windshield or none at all. It does it just fine and I don't add oil. I use Shell Rotella Dino 15 / 40 W ........ and use the Eldon Carl specified amount on oil filling (2 quarts plus 19 ounces if I remember correctly). I asked a friend whose business is teaching small engine repair at a local Jr College if that would hurt it? He said no as you are running it at about 2/3rds it's powerband (5200 rpm roughly). He owns 2 KLR's himself. One has about 75,000 miles on it. I have another friend that has one that he put a 17 inch wheel on front and a fat tire on back taking it to track days and was repeatedly hitting 8 grand on the tach. He asked me if I thought that would hurt it. Yes I said. His is still running. Mine is still running great at 53,000 plus miles. Some say Kawasaki is going to put the Versy engine in the KLR. As a Versy owner also, I don't that engine is right for the KLR for dirt use. I like the big thumper power characteristics of the KLR for off road. Maybe they could make a 800 cc thumper with about 50 rearwheel horsepower and 6 gears. That would be better in my opinion for our uses with a KLR. Gee maybe with EFI too.
>
> Criswell
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jan 1, 2011, at 4:54 PM, "spike55_bmw" wrote:
>
> > I too can get to 85-90 mph (GPS measured) with my 15T:44T (97.7% of stock) sprocket combo for brief periods but it's no fun. Again, it's America, you can run your KLR at 85 if you want.
> >
> > Don R100, A6F
> >
> > --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, RobertWichert wrote:
> > >
> > > Motorcyclists, as a general rule, tend to muck with their bikes. Some
> > > more than others. e.g. cafe racers, choppers, bobbers, etc. etc.
> > > Modifying is one of the attractions of motorcycling. After all, you
> > > can't bring your pickup into your front room very easily.
> > >
> > > As for cruise speed, the stock KLR 650 will run for hours at an
> > > indicated 85 mph. I've done it without problem on many occasions. I
> > > now have a 13 tooth front sprocket and I don't do that any more. It
> > > "will" go that fast, but it's too high on the tach for me.
> > >
> > >
> > > Cheers and Happppppy New Year!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Robert P. Wichert P.Eng
> > > +1 916 966 9060
> > > FAX +1 916 966 9068
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ========================================================
> > >
> > >
> > > On 1/1/2011 2:56 AM, spike55_bmw wrote:
> > > >
> > > > If you have to run 70 - 85 mph for long periods of time most days, the
> > > > KLR probably isn't the bike for you.
> > > >
> > > > Recently, I was relating a visit to the local dealer where they took
> > > > in a 'Frankenstein - '08 KLR' as a trade on a Versa. The previous
> > > > owner had wider Excel rims laced up to the KLR hubs, 19" front wheel,
> > > > lowered it, pulled the guts out of the muffler, changed the forks,
> > > > changed the gearing, had opened up the seat and carved out some foam
> > > > and the cover was all baggy, dropped it while in motion on its right
> > > > side, and there were probably other things changed / broken on it that
> > > > I didn't see a first glance. I asked if the stock parts were available
> > > > but they were not. I almost considered therapy after witnessing this.
> > > >
> > > > I realize we live in America and we can do whatever the hell we want,
> > > > whether or not you have the money or it is a good idea but this
> > > > previous owner should have had a heart-to-heart with himself before
> > > > trying to make the mighty KLR into something it isn't.
> > > >
> > > > I'm not against modifying these bikes to make them "fit" you and your
> > > > purposes or to improve their mechanical subparts but at a certain
> > > > point you've got to ask yourself "did he fire 5 shots or 6"? Past that
> > > > point, you're making a big mistake.
> > > >
> > > > Don R100, A6F
> > > >
> > > > --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> > > > , "Ian" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Stock gearing is (I think) 15/43. Works for me. One guy switched to
> > > > a 45 rear and runs either 14T or 16T in front for dirt or street.
> > > > Running 16/45 would be better than running 16/43. One guy reported
> > > > having to downshift a lot under load running 16/43.
> > > > >
> > > > > I think most will agree you can run at 5k rpm all day and not hurt
> > > > the motor. One guy said he runs at 6.5k rpm for hours (~85mph). I
> > > > think if you do that you will have to add oil often and also water to
> > > > the battery if you have a vented battery. And, the mpg will drop
> > > > drastically.
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> > > > , Craig Kahler wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have found it could use both a lower low and higher high gear.
> > > > > > My work around has been alternating between a 13T and 16T front
> > > > sprocket.
> > > > > > The problem is the sprockets are not quick and easy to
> > > > change,(while on the road).
> > > > > > I have thought of making a dual sprocket setup, but can't find the
> > > > room on a KLR650.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Craig Kahler
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --- On Tue, 12/28/10, Jeff Khoury wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: Jeff Khoury
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR Cruise Speed Question
> > > > > > To: "mark ward"
> > > > > > Cc: "DSN _KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> > > > >, "Jim Douglas"
> > > > > > Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 5:42 PM
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Also, as a philosophical point - if you have a hankerin' for the
> > > > haul-ass, a big single isn't the bike for you. I've had a few from
> > > > different manufacturers and they all have one thing in common: they
> > > > have scads of torque but peter out quickly on the top-end.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > My Suzuki Savage would pull a house off its foundations but flat
> > > > refused to do even a hair over 85. It was a 4-speed... it DEFINITELY
> > > > needed another gear.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -Jeff Khoury
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: "mark ward"
> > > > > > To: "DSN _KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> > > > >, "Jim Douglas"
> > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 12:27:29 PM
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR Cruise Speed Question
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Some change the front sprocket adding 1 tooth.
> > > > > > While you loose some torque in 1st, (good for steap hills, deep
> > > > sand, etc.) and use a little higher RPMs starting off, you lower
> > > > the RPMs on the Highway.
> > > > > > Check out (Google Bigcee & KLR650) at the bottom almost everything
> > > > you want about a KLR650, including links.
> > > > > > Where are you located?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Mark (w. Mich.)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --- On Tue, 12/28/10, Jim Douglas wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: Jim Douglas
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR Cruise Speed Question
> > > > > > To: "DSN _KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> > > > >
> > > > > > Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 7:45 PM
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Think we all want just one more gear. To me, and others will chirp
> > > > in, 60-65 is best for cruising. Sometimes you will have to move
> > > > > > over for the big SUV's and BMW's but I have never been comfortable
> > > > on a KLR past that. Typically I am not in a hurry to get
> > > > > > anywhere when I am riding. You will have a blast with the KLR
> > > > and hope you have a wonderful time with it! I am on my
> > > > > > 3rd one now and just may end up keeping this one!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 12/28/2010 11:28 AM, Dan wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Greetings,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I've owned a number of different dual sport and street bikes but
> > > > am new to the KLR scene. I picked up a stock 2007 KLR with about 2000
> > > > miles on it and I am trying to familarize myself with it's different
> > > > handling characterists. I've noticed that the bike seems to be working
> > > > pretty hard when I am riding at sustained speeds on the highway
> > > > (typically 65 - 75 mph). The bike is generating about 5000 rpm at just
> > > > under 75 mph indicated speed. My highway riding has almost exclusively
> > > > been on larger displacement multi-cylinder bikes so perhaps I am not
> > > > accustomed to the KLR's feel at speed, but it sure feels like the bike
> > > > could use another gear. I don't want to change the gearing because I
> > > > have been riding the bike off-road as well. Am I overtaxing the bike
> > > > or is it at home cruising along at this speed/rpm? Thanks in advance
> > > > for the feedback.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Dan
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>