brighter headlight

[Eddie]

If I'd driven my car, I wouldn't be writing this. I'd still be at the accident scene. If I'd ridden my KLR650 home today, I probably wouldn't be writing at all. Neither could've stopped in time. The car has ABS, which actually increases stopping distances vs. non-ABS systems. The KLR has stock brakes and tires meant mostly for off road. Fortunately I was riding my other bike, a FZ8 with BIG dual front discs and warmed-up, sticky radials. You see, while I was riding at just 35mph, a woman looked right but turned left - straight out in front of me from a side street. I clamped on the brakes firm enough that the rear tire hovered just off the ground for a blink. I then did a hard U-turn and pulled along side her at a red light. Before she could even get the window down to speak, I hollered, "You just scared the **** out of me, lady! " and then I left her to ponder how close she came to injuring or killing me outright. Once the adrenaline wears off, I'm going to get some sleep. Today's the co-owner of my favorite bike shop's birthday and I'm joining her at Red Lobster for lunch. Thankfully. -eddie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[ron criswell]

A friend has modified his KLR front and rear by putting V-Strom 650 (I think) brakes on it. Mucho better for street. He offered to do mine but I haven't yet as they are fine for dirt and gravel....but after riding on the street yesterday, maybe I will. He had to make brackets to make it work. Criswell Sent from my iPad

On Apr 13, 2012, at 7:02 AM, "eddie" wrote: > > If I'd driven my car, I wouldn't be writing this. I'd still be at the accident scene. > If I'd ridden my KLR650 home today, I probably wouldn't be writing at all. > Neither could've stopped in time. > The car has ABS, which actually increases stopping distances vs. non-ABS systems. > The KLR has stock brakes and tires meant mostly for off road. > Fortunately I was riding my other bike, a FZ8 with BIG dual front discs and warmed-up, sticky radials. > You see, while I was riding at just 35mph, a woman looked right but turned left - straight out in front of me from a side street. > I clamped on the brakes firm enough that the rear tire hovered just off the ground for a blink. > I then did a hard U-turn and pulled along side her at a red light. > Before she could even get the window down to speak, I hollered, "You just scared the **** out of me, lady! " > and then I left her to ponder how close she came to injuring or killing me outright. > > Once the adrenaline wears off, I'm going to get some sleep. > Today's the co-owner of my favorite bike shop's birthday and I'm joining her at Red Lobster for lunch. > Thankfully. > > -eddie > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[david zawadzki]

Yea, the back brake is horrible as well. Are there any options for that? I know the front is 70% of braking power and if someone can recommend a replacement without emptying my checking account I would greatly appreciate it. Also make sure you don't have any moisture in you brakefluid. I read that with 3% of moisture/water in the fluid, your braking power is reduced by 40-50% If true - it's scary! -David Z mobile: 646.267.1109

On Apr 13, 2012, at 8:14 AM, Ron Criswell wrote: > A friend has modified his KLR front and rear by putting V-Strom 650 (I think) brakes on it. Mucho better for street. He offered to do mine but I haven't yet as they are fine for dirt and gravel....but after riding on the street yesterday, maybe I will. He had to make brackets to make it work. > > Criswell > > Sent from my iPad > > On Apr 13, 2012, at 7:02 AM, "eddie" wrote: > > > > > If I'd driven my car, I wouldn't be writing this. I'd still be at the accident scene. > > If I'd ridden my KLR650 home today, I probably wouldn't be writing at all. > > Neither could've stopped in time. > > The car has ABS, which actually increases stopping distances vs. non-ABS systems. > > The KLR has stock brakes and tires meant mostly for off road. > > Fortunately I was riding my other bike, a FZ8 with BIG dual front discs and warmed-up, sticky radials. > > You see, while I was riding at just 35mph, a woman looked right but turned left - straight out in front of me from a side street. > > I clamped on the brakes firm enough that the rear tire hovered just off the ground for a blink. > > I then did a hard U-turn and pulled along side her at a red light. > > Before she could even get the window down to speak, I hollered, "You just scared the **** out of me, lady! " > > and then I left her to ponder how close she came to injuring or killing me outright. > > > > Once the adrenaline wears off, I'm going to get some sleep. > > Today's the co-owner of my favorite bike shop's birthday and I'm joining her at Red Lobster for lunch. > > Thankfully. > > > > -eddie > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[RobertWichert]

And you can thank your quick reacting brain too, eh? (and you avoided sliding the rear wheel too. Nice work.) Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 4/13/2012 5:02 AM, eddie wrote: > > > If I'd driven my car, I wouldn't be writing this. I'd still be at the > accident scene. > If I'd ridden my KLR650 home today, I probably wouldn't be writing at all. > Neither could've stopped in time. > The car has ABS, which actually increases stopping distances vs. > non-ABS systems. > The KLR has stock brakes and tires meant mostly for off road. > Fortunately I was riding my other bike, a FZ8 with BIG dual front > discs and warmed-up, sticky radials. > You see, while I was riding at just 35mph, a woman looked right but > turned left - straight out in front of me from a side street. > I clamped on the brakes firm enough that the rear tire hovered just > off the ground for a blink. > I then did a hard U-turn and pulled along side her at a red light. > Before she could even get the window down to speak, I hollered, "You > just scared the **** out of me, lady! " > and then I left her to ponder how close she came to injuring or > killing me outright. > > Once the adrenaline wears off, I'm going to get some sleep. > Today's the co-owner of my favorite bike shop's birthday and I'm > joining her at Red Lobster for lunch. > Thankfully. > > -eddie > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[mark ward]

Who did you get your KIT from?

--- On Fri, 4/13/12, Jeffrey wrote: From: Jeffrey Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Brighter Headlight To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, April 13, 2012, 3:19 PM Pre08 The ONLY way to go is the HID kits. Some purists may say the fixtures are not made for HID bulbs but so you scorch a few cagers. You only use 30 to 35 watts and they are cheap. My slim ballast HID kit was $3 and $20 shipping. Also, I added a switch to turn off the lights while I was doing it. Bank for buck, even if you have to pay $20 more, THERE IS NO COMPARISON. j#3 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Eddie]

Re: part 1 - small miracle. I'd just gotten off work from a 13 hour shift monitoring computer processing. part 2 - I don't remember hitting the back brake. But, thanks! I guess you really do do in panic what you practice in peace. eddie

> [Original Message] > From: RobertWichert >(snip)> > And you can thank your quick reacting brain too, eh? >(and you avoided sliding the rear wheel too. Nice work.)

[RobertWichert]

Well, I never hit the back brake, so maybe we are the same. On road anyway. Panic can be a good thing, as long as it moves you to action! Good job! Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 4/13/2012 8:40 AM, eddie wrote: > > > Re: > part 1 - small miracle. I'd just gotten off work from a 13 hour shift > monitoring computer processing. > part 2 - I don't remember hitting the back brake. But, thanks! I guess you > really do do in panic what you practice in peace. > eddie > > > [Original Message] > > From: RobertWichert > > >(snip)> > > And you can thank your quick reacting brain too, eh? > >(and you avoided sliding the rear wheel too. Nice work.) > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[John Biccum]

I would be very interested in a set of those brackets, I think he should consider making them commercially. I have a KLR and a Wee and I upgraded the Wee brakes by replacing the Wee calipers with a pair off a GSXR sport bike. So I have a pair of Wee calipers in my garage. I think that there a quite a few Wee owners that have done the GSXR caliper upgrade and I suspect that there are a fair amount of folks that own both a KLR and a Wee. I have upgraded the KLR brakes as well by swapping the rotor and relocating the wimpy caliper to suit the new larger rotor. But a better upgrade IMHO would be to use the stock rotor and a better, two-pot caliper. I think the Wee caliper would be perfect. From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ron Criswell Sent: Friday, April 13, 2012 5:15 AM To: transalp1@... Cc: KLR650 list Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] close but not close enough, thankfully. NKLR A friend has modified his KLR front and rear by putting V-Strom 650 (I think) brakes on it. Mucho better for street. He offered to do mine but I haven't yet as they are fine for dirt and gravel....but after riding on the street yesterday, maybe I will. He had to make brackets to make it work. Criswell Sent from my iPad

On Apr 13, 2012, at 7:02 AM, "eddie" > wrote: > > If I'd driven my car, I wouldn't be writing this. I'd still be at the accident scene. > If I'd ridden my KLR650 home today, I probably wouldn't be writing at all. > Neither could've stopped in time. > The car has ABS, which actually increases stopping distances vs. non-ABS systems. > The KLR has stock brakes and tires meant mostly for off road. > Fortunately I was riding my other bike, a FZ8 with BIG dual front discs and warmed-up, sticky radials. > You see, while I was riding at just 35mph, a woman looked right but turned left - straight out in front of me from a side street. > I clamped on the brakes firm enough that the rear tire hovered just off the ground for a blink. > I then did a hard U-turn and pulled along side her at a red light. > Before she could even get the window down to speak, I hollered, "You just scared the **** out of me, lady! " > and then I left her to ponder how close she came to injuring or killing me outright. > > Once the adrenaline wears off, I'm going to get some sleep. > Today's the co-owner of my favorite bike shop's birthday and I'm joining her at Red Lobster for lunch. > Thankfully. > > -eddie > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]