I have direct experience with cold-starting the KLR and the difference oil can make.
On a couple of subsequent trips to Big Bear, I noticed a radical difference in startup.
My bike is set up and tuned for riding at or near sea level in Southern California. We went for a weekend trip to Big Bear (altitude 6,800ft) to let the kids play in the snow.
On the first trip, I was running Castrol SynTec 20W-50 (before I learned that 20W-50 is generally a bad idea in a KLR in almost all cases). The low had dipped into the 20s overnight and when I went to start the bike, it would crank (albeit more slowly than it should) and would only "hit" occasionally. Eventually, I had to squirt carb cleaner down its gullet to get it to kick over and even then it was rough getting it started.
Two weeks later, it sat out overnight in approximately the same conditions. This time I'd switched to Rotella T6 Synthetic 5W-40 (My new favorite oil). It started right up without any real trouble, although I had to leave the enrichener on a little longer than the 10-15 seconds I use it at home.
I can't recommend reading "Motor Oil 101" emphatically enough. I must admit that I was completely wrong in my thinking about oil grade (weight) selection, as are most people I know. It's not about thickness, it's about flow. My bike starts and runs WAY better using 5W-40 than it ever did on 20W-50. If I had an oil pressure gauge, I might go even thinner.
-Jeff Khoury
alarms nklr
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- Posts: 367
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 3:07 am
klrs, cold weather and oil
5-40wt is fine esp. since synthetic
but the 0-etc oils scare me in hot weather
Jeffrey 3
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- Posts: 11
- Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:54 pm
alarms nklr
The best way to prevent your KLR from being stolen is to put a Yamaha cover over it
[b]From:[/b] mark ward
[b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com; Jud
[b]Sent:[/b] Sat, January 15, 2011 12:13:18 PM
[b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: alarms NKLR
"BAD GUYS?? or A HOT woman?? Last fall on my trip to maine, I was coming out of a restaurant on a main stret mid size town. I was backed up to the curb, A (Hot) lady about 30 was standing close to the bike looking at the gear, as I crossed the street she seamed kind o startled and backed up about 5ft., then said "AH AH, I Ride too." Then as she started to walk away asked How is the Backpack, attached? It did dawn on me untill later some other Questions she asked, and the TONE OF HER VOICE, She was going to steal my backpack. YEARS ago, I was taught, "LISTEN TO THE MUSIC" when some one talks. What is the tone of there voice when you first meet and as the talk goes on. We all know the game of talking to dogs, Talk in a real NICE voice and call him shitty, he will take it as a good thing. say something, NICE IN A BAD voice, he will back away. "Listen to the music!" She was on total defence and looking around a bit, Where to RUN.
>
Right. You don't have to kill them all. Just identify a ringleader and make an example of him.
From: Jud Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: alarms NKLR To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 12:56 PM --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddie" wrote: > Would-be bad guys can be introduced to all new motorcycle terms such as +P and JHP. >--- On [b]Sat, 1/15/11, Jud [i][/i][/b] wrote:

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