magnetic drain plugs

[tryce@reid-crowther.com]

Hello group! I took the advice of the list a month ago, and got ahold of a 1995 KLR650, which had just under 20000km on it.  Lotsa modifications, good condition etc, etc.  I'm happy to report that after the first month of riding in my life, I love the bike more than I did the day I bought it!  Thanks to all of you for the gentle prodding and good advice. I still have a couple of questions, though.  First, I'm not sure if the previous owner upgraded the front brake line to a steel-braided line or not.  How can I tell?  Keep in mind this is my first bike, so I have nothing to compare the stopping power to.  Are there specific markings on the line that I can look for? Second:  Is there a proper operating temperature that the bike should be reaching?  Does the KLR has a thermostat that regulates coolant flow through the radiator?  I'm finding that after half an hour of riding, the coolant temp. gauge is still showing just about 'C'.  Is this where the bike should be?  I've ridden with a friend who has a Y2KLR, and granted that he's a maniac, his auxilliary fan was kicking in while I was just getting to the middle of my gauge.   Any ideas would be much appreciated! Tim Ryce '95 KLR 650 (A9)

[mechanizeinc]

Blackened Blued is mostly Black. I built the 2004 beauty spring/summer of 2010 from a scattering of parts from all over the us, mostly Kawasaki. It's a Frankenbike combination of bike makes/models and years: Honda Enduro rear fender, KX450F KYB48U fork assembly, 87 kick lever on an 87 clutch basket in a 2002 engine lower beneath 06 top end... and a vintage Russian round eye gas mask as a fairing to protect my $20 WallyWorld Blazer auxiliary driving lights. Almost every screw is either painted black or cold gun blued. I've got &75 to eighty bucks invested in my headlight(s), including the relay and a high wattage replacement bulb for the high beam side. I planned on one day, ultimately investing in a big 'ol bad-ass legit baja type light. Yeah, they're still $500. but my gas mask is deteriorating and the $75 custom solution isn't as bright as the vintage 70's era rectangular that is the first gen OEM solution that I didn't want to invest in at the beginning. I don't mind fabricating custom brackets and like the looks of the old Honda VF, Nighthawks, Kawasaki ZRX, etc... My first question is to those of you who have owned several faired motos. What has been the best/brightest headlight you've run? Second question. When the turn signals deteriorate and break, I want to replace them with something just as robust as the Lego looking first gen stalks that take a beating and do a fairly good job of protecting the side of the bike in a fall. I don't like the little things. The svelte styled blades/ etc look out of place to me on a first gen KLR. I don't like the clones but will stick with them if someone doesn't know or a quality replacement as the supply of later model inexpensive eBay/salvage parts starts to wear thin. Mech

[Jud]

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

> My first question is to those of you who have owned several faired motos. What has been the best/brightest headlight you've run?

A big, round automotive halogen sealed beam mounted in a Sprite headlight bucket, installed in a Tom Stewart fairing.

[Jeffrey]

I joined the HID club. It really is amazing on my 04. I got the slim ballast HID kit from China on that auction site. The H4 HID kit with a was only $3 and $20 shipping. I kept the color temp low at 4300K if I remember correctly...it isn't blue or purple; just very bright white. I tried regular hi amp/wattage H4 bulbs and all they helped but they also stole too much juice. The HID only uses 30-35 watts. Those bright halogen bulbs can use over 100 watts. IT THROWS A HELLUVA A LOT OF LIGHT IN MY STOCK HEADLIGHT FIXTURE. Probably illegal esp. on high beam. If I turn my high beam on it radically lights up any reflective surface for approx 1500 ft. It is amazing how when I am cruising on the fwy at night, my HID light can make signs on the fwy so far away reflect back so brightly. I know it is me, because when I switch to low beam, the fwy signs fade abruptly even when there is much traffic around. My headlight is pointed properly...yeah I know HID isn't supposed to be used in stock older lighting fixtures but I would rather scorch cagers than get run over by one. I don't intentionally scorch a cager unless it is necessary or if they deserve it. J#3

[Eddie]

I upgraded my 09' with a pair of inexpensive HID units myself.(similar temp. bulbs - very bright white) While I had to reaim the headlights lower, I am quite happy with the amount of light they put out - especially riding in deer country at night! eddie in Ga.

> [Original Message from J#3] > > I joined the HID club. It really is amazing on my 04. I got the slim

ballast HID kit from China on that auction site. The H4 HID kit with a was only $3 and $20 shipping. I kept the color temp low at 4300K if I remember correctly...it isn't blue or purple; just very bright white.

[Tony]

HIDs of some sort will be the best option now, LED headlights are still a bit expensive. I'm using Baja Designs Tecate on a dual sport, which is basically a standard dual sport headlight with an HID, and a separate MR16 75W low beam. The cost is high, but not $500 high. Still, I'd look first at swapping out the standard bulb for an HID aftermarket unit on the KLR. That wasn't possible on my current bike as the stock headlight is a POS. Not as 'badass' (gawd I hate how that word is overused as an aspirational term for motorcycle upgrades) as the baja light, but probably a whole lot more cost effective. ________________________________ From: mechanizeinc To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2012 2:19 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] A couple of questions Blackened Blued is mostly Black. I built the 2004 beauty spring/summer of 2010 from a scattering of parts from all over the us, mostly Kawasaki. It's a Frankenbike combination of bike makes/models and years: Honda Enduro rear fender, KX450F KYB48U fork assembly, 87 kick lever on an 87 clutch basket in a 2002 engine lower beneath 06 top end... and a vintage Russian round eye gas mask as a fairing to protect my $20 WallyWorld Blazer auxiliary driving lights. Almost every screw is either painted black or cold gun blued. I've got &75 to eighty bucks invested in my headlight(s), including the relay and a high wattage replacement bulb for the high beam side. I planned on one day, ultimately investing in a big 'ol bad-ass legit baja type light. Yeah, they're still $500. but my gas mask is deteriorating and the $75 custom solution isn't as bright as the vintage 70's era rectangular that is the first gen OEM solution that I didn't want to invest in at the beginning. I don't mind fabricating custom brackets and like the looks of the old Honda VF, Nighthawks, Kawasaki ZRX, etc... My first question is to those of you who have owned several faired motos. What has been the best/brightest headlight you've run? Second question. When the turn signals deteriorate and break, I want to replace them with something just as robust as the Lego looking first gen stalks that take a beating and do a fairly good job of protecting the side of the bike in a fall. I don't like the little things. The svelte styled blades/ etc look out of place to me on a first gen KLR. I don't like the clones but will stick with them if someone doesn't know or a quality replacement as the supply of later model inexpensive eBay/salvage parts starts to wear thin. Mech [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[RobertWichert]

I also upgraded to SilverStar. Quick and painless. Much more light. Not badass. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 1/9/2012 10:36 AM, Tony wrote: > > HIDs of some sort will be the best option now, LED headlights are > still a bit expensive. I'm using Baja Designs Tecate on a dual sport, > which is basically a standard dual sport headlight with an HID, and a > separate MR16 75W low beam. The cost is high, but not $500 high. > > Still, I'd look first at swapping out the standard bulb for an HID > aftermarket unit on the KLR. That wasn't possible on my current bike > as the stock headlight is a POS. Not as 'badass' (gawd I hate how > that word is overused as an aspirational term for motorcycle upgrades) > as the baja light, but probably a whole lot more cost effective. > > ________________________________ > From: mechanizeinc > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2012 2:19 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] A couple of questions > > > > Blackened Blued is mostly Black. I built the 2004 beauty spring/summer > of 2010 from a scattering of parts from all over the us, mostly > Kawasaki. It's a Frankenbike combination of bike makes/models and > years: Honda Enduro rear fender, KX450F KYB48U fork assembly, 87 kick > lever on an 87 clutch basket in a 2002 engine lower beneath 06 top > end... and a vintage Russian round eye gas mask as a fairing to > protect my $20 WallyWorld Blazer auxiliary driving lights. Almost > every screw is either painted black or cold gun blued. > > I've got &75 to eighty bucks invested in my headlight(s), including > the relay and a high wattage replacement bulb for the high beam side. > I planned on one day, ultimately investing in a big 'ol bad-ass legit > baja type light. > > Yeah, they're still $500. > > but my gas mask is deteriorating and the $75 custom solution isn't as > bright as the vintage 70's era rectangular that is the first gen OEM > solution that I didn't want to invest in at the beginning. > > I don't mind fabricating custom brackets and like the looks of the old > Honda VF, Nighthawks, Kawasaki ZRX, etc... > > My first question is to those of you who have owned several faired > motos. What has been the best/brightest headlight you've run? > > Second question. When the turn signals deteriorate and break, I want > to replace them with something just as robust as the Lego looking > first gen stalks that take a beating and do a fairly good job of > protecting the side of the bike in a fall. I don't like the little > things. The svelte styled blades/ etc look out of place to me on a > first gen KLR. I don't like the clones but will stick with them if > someone doesn't know or a quality replacement as the supply of later > model inexpensive eBay/salvage parts starts to wear thin. > > Mech > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:42:24 -0000 "Jeffrey" writes: The skinny magnet could only pick up a couple of items out of my tool box. The larger diameter magnet picked up a whole bunch of stuff. <><><><><><><> <><><><><><><> I don't leave tools in my engine so only expect my magnetic drain plug to attract a little bit of metal in the oil. Best, Jeff . . ____________________________________________________________ Groupon™ Official Site 1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Get 50-90% off your city's best! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4f0c7108cab17956c6st02vuc

[mechanizeinc]

I put a Silverstar in the first KLR I had. Ran 14 gauge wire and relayed. MUCH improved over stock. I thought it was still inadequate until I ran central Texas roads after midnight with my current kludge. I actually got stopped by a state trooper last summer: "I can't see you... If I can't see you, how can YOU SEE?!" Insane. I purchased my first KLR, an '06 in Kawasaki green for added visibility. I intended to add running lights, flashing light to my helmet, wear a reflective neon safety vest. Now I'm blacked out due to budget. I like the rounds. "Real Jeeps have round headlights." And a KLR is a Jeep of a bike if there ever was one. Mech Starting to look for used Baja lights but did find a big 'ol ZRX bulb/reflector housing WITH an HID installed listed on eBay...

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, RobertWichert wrote: > > I also upgraded to SilverStar. Quick and painless. Much more light. > Not badass. > > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068