d606

[Skypilot]

How does one go about finding a used KLX650 front end to upgrade their KLR? is there a list of motorcycle junk yards out there? How much improvement can be had by upgrading the springs on a 2008? I decided I need more suspensio for the rallies I ride in but cant afford to upgrade to a KTM 690 or... until my son finishes University in a few years. Any options I am missing for front suspension upgrade?

[Jeff Khoury]

Personally, I would start by increasing the preload by making some PVC spacers 1/2" longer than stock and doing a 10-20mm overfill on the fork oil before I went that far. That 4 buck mod was good'nuff for me and may save you a lot of work and money. -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "Skypilot" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 12:37:55 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] front suspension upgrade? How does one go about finding a used KLX650 front end to upgrade their KLR? is there a list of motorcycle junk yards out there? How much improvement can be had by upgrading the springs on a 2008? I decided I need more suspensio for the rallies I ride in but cant afford to upgrade to a KTM 690 or... until my son finishes University in a few years. Any options I am missing for front suspension upgrade?

[Eddie]

The 08' newer KLRs have incredibly long spacers already.(around a foot long!). I, for one, am glad I opted for a set of Progressive springs from the get-go. eddie

> [Original Message] > From: Jeff Khoury > To: Skypilot > Cc: DSN KLR650 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 7/16/2012 3:52:20 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] front suspension upgrade? > > Personally, I would start by increasing the preload by making some PVC

spacers 1/2" longer than stock and doing a 10-20mm overfill on the fork oil before I went that far.

> > That 4 buck mod was good'nuff for me and may save you a lot of work and

money.

> > -Jeff Khoury > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Skypilot" > To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 12:37:55 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] front suspension upgrade? > > > > > > > How does one go about finding a used KLX650 front end to upgrade their

KLR? is there a list of motorcycle junk yards out there?

> > How much improvement can be had by upgrading the springs on a 2008? > > I decided I need more suspensio for the rallies I ride in but cant afford

to upgrade to a KTM 690 or... until my son finishes University in a few years. Any options I am missing for front suspension upgrade?

> >

[Ian Francisco]

Spring rate is critical for proper setup. KLX forks are longer travel than the '08 and newer KLRs. They do make an improvement on '07 and older KLRs but are not a bolt on upgrade. Requires work in the trees. The 08 and newer KLRs only have about 7in. of travel. It would unbalance the ride to swap in a different front end, imo, unless it were done carefully and expertly. You can spend lots on suspension so it's down to how far you want to go budget-wise. I guess you start with cheap and easy and go up from there if you need more. Springs are cheap and easy so stiffening up the front is easy enough. People used to prefer straight rate springs over progressive rate for the pre-08 bikes. The amount of oil affects preload as well by lessening the amount of compressible air in the fork. Jeff's $4 mod is effective but if I'm not mistaken is intended for pre-08 bikes. 12 inches is a long spacer! Adding more to stiffen up the stock '08 front end would reduce travel even further. Another cheap mod is using $25 raising links in back to give the stock shock the leverage it needs to be firmer. Googling "klr suspension upgrade" returns some interesting results: http://www.klrworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=70 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127835 http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/346646-klr-suspension-upgrade/ You can get a decent DR350 cheap Then you could just use the KLR as intended. They made the '08 more streetable while keeping it "bad-road" capable but they had to give something up somewhere. Sounds like you've already found it's shortcomings. -- ian http://www.scarletfuries.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Scarlet-Furies/121218125931

> From: "Skypilot" > To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 12:37:55 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] front suspension upgrade? > > How does one go about finding a used KLX650 front end to upgrade their

KLR? is there a list of motorcycle junk yards out there?

> > How much improvement can be had by upgrading the springs on a 2008? > > I decided I need more suspensio for the rallies I ride in but cant afford

to upgrade to a KTM 690 or... until my son finishes University in a few years. Any options I am missing for front suspension upgrade?

>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Khoury]

I did it on my '09. It works quite well. +1/2" and 10mm overfill with ATF (thicker oil) Greatly improved action, less dive and the front end doesn't feel all "mushy" like before. Travel is the same. -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "Ian Francisco" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>, "chris eckert" Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 9:12:38 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: front suspension upgrade? Spring rate is critical for proper setup. KLX forks are longer travel than the '08 and newer KLRs. They do make an improvement on '07 and older KLRs but are not a bolt on upgrade. Requires work in the trees. The 08 and newer KLRs only have about 7in. of travel. It would unbalance the ride to swap in a different front end, imo, unless it were done carefully and expertly. You can spend lots on suspension so it's down to how far you want to go budget-wise. I guess you start with cheap and easy and go up from there if you need more. Springs are cheap and easy so stiffening up the front is easy enough. People used to prefer straight rate springs over progressive rate for the pre-08 bikes. The amount of oil affects preload as well by lessening the amount of compressible air in the fork. Jeff's $4 mod is effective but if I'm not mistaken is intended for pre-08 bikes. 12 inches is a long spacer! Adding more to stiffen up the stock '08 front end would reduce travel even further. Another cheap mod is using $25 raising links in back to give the stock shock the leverage it needs to be firmer. Googling "klr suspension upgrade" returns some interesting results: http://www.klrworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=70 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127835 http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/346646-klr-suspension-upgrade/ You can get a decent DR350 cheap Then you could just use the KLR as intended. They made the '08 more streetable while keeping it "bad-road" capable but they had to give something up somewhere. Sounds like you've already found it's shortcomings. -- ian http://www.scarletfuries.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Scarlet-Furies/121218125931 > From: "Skypilot" < chris.eckert@... > > To: "DSN KLR650" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 12:37:55 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] front suspension upgrade? > > How does one go about finding a used KLX650 front end to upgrade their KLR? is there a list of motorcycle junk yards out there? > > How much improvement can be had by upgrading the springs on a 2008? > > I decided I need more suspensio for the rallies I ride in but cant afford to upgrade to a KTM 690 or... until my son finishes University in a few years. Any options I am missing for front suspension upgrade? > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ian Francisco]

There you have it, Chris. Real world experience is invaluable.

On Wed, Jul 18, 2012 at 9:52 AM, Jeff Khoury wrote: > I did it on my '09. It works quite well. +1/2" and 10mm overfill with > ATF (thicker oil) > > Greatly improved action, less dive and the front end doesn't feel all > "mushy" like before. Travel is the same. > > > > -Jeff Khoury > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ian Francisco" > To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>, "chris eckert" chris.eckert@...> > Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 9:12:38 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: front suspension upgrade? > > > > > > > Spring rate is critical for proper setup. KLX forks are longer travel than > the '08 and newer KLRs. They do make an improvement on '07 and older KLRs > but are not a bolt on upgrade. Requires work in the trees. The 08 and newer > KLRs only have about 7in. of travel. It would unbalance the ride to swap in > a different front end, imo, unless it were done carefully and expertly. > > You can spend lots on suspension so it's down to how far you want to go > budget-wise. I guess you start with cheap and easy and go up from there if > you need more. Springs are cheap and easy so stiffening up the front is > easy enough. People used to prefer straight rate springs over progressive > rate for the pre-08 bikes. The amount of oil affects preload as well by > lessening the amount of compressible air in the fork. Jeff's $4 mod is > effective but if I'm not mistaken is intended for pre-08 bikes. 12 inches > is a long spacer! Adding more to stiffen up the stock '08 front end would > reduce travel even further. Another cheap mod is using $25 raising links in > back to give the stock shock the leverage it needs to be firmer. > > Googling "klr suspension upgrade" returns some interesting results: > > > http://www.klrworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=70 > http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127835 > http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/346646-klr-suspension-upgrade/ > > You can get a decent DR350 cheap Then you could just use the KLR as > intended. They made the '08 more streetable while keeping it "bad-road" > capable but they had to give something up somewhere. Sounds like you've > already found it's shortcomings. > -- > ian > http://www.scarletfuries.com > http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Scarlet-Furies/121218125931 > > > From: "Skypilot" < chris.eckert@... > > > To: "DSN KLR650" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 12:37:55 PM > > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] front suspension upgrade? > > > > How does one go about finding a used KLX650 front end to upgrade their > KLR? is there a list of motorcycle junk yards out there? > > > > How much improvement can be had by upgrading the springs on a 2008? > > > > I decided I need more suspensio for the rallies I ride in but cant afford > to upgrade to a KTM 690 or... until my son finishes University in a few > years. Any options I am missing for front suspension upgrade? > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > -- ian http://www.scarletfuries.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Scarlet-Furies/121218125931 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeffrey]

the biggest bang for the buck is to get a pre08 and put in Progressive springs. For less than $100 you have mo' betta' travel than the post07s. For the rear, if you have many miles on your bike/shock, just get a slightly used post 07 and upgrade the rear shock spring. Less than $200. J#3

[Jeff Khoury]

Here is my blog post with instructions on the suspension upgrade (post '08) if anyone's interested. http://www.dsrtegl.com/2012/04/klr-400-front-suspension-mod.html -Jeff Khoury

[revmaaatin]

Jeff. Just curious, Why 10mm increase vs 5 or 15? What is the science behind chaning OEM rec; etc. I have been an ATF fan for years. FoMoCo Type F of course; since they build the best auto trans, their fluid must be the best, right? revmaaatin.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Khoury wrote: > > Here is my blog post with instructions on the suspension upgrade (post '08) if anyone's interested. > > http://www.dsrtegl.com/2012/04/klr-400-front-suspension-mod.html > > -Jeff Khoury >

[Jeff Khoury]

As I understand it, increasing the amount of oil within the fork decreases compressible (air) space in the top of the shock. When the shock compresses, it has two effects: 1: Pressure builds faster above the oil, causing a stiffer "bottom" to the shock, sort of like a progressive spring, but less pronounced. 2: The increased pressure speeds up the rebound of the shock, in part compensating for the heavier oil (ATF) that I put in to increase compression damping. The problem is on traditional forks is that compression and rebound are controlled by the same orifice. If you slow down compression, you slow down rebound at the same time. Cartridge forks do not have this problem; they have separate orifices for each. The increased pressure "assists" the springs in pushing the fork back out after compression. ...that is how it was explained to me by an old school motocross racer. I chose 10mm because it was a conservative overfill. I figured I would try more if it didn't have the desired effect. It felt fine when I was done so I didn't mess with it. -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "revmaaatin" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 9:08:38 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: front suspension upgrade? Jeff. Just curious, Why 10mm increase vs 5 or 15? What is the science behind chaning OEM rec; etc. I have been an ATF fan for years. FoMoCo Type F of course; since they build the best auto trans, their fluid must be the best, right? revmaaatin. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , Jeff Khoury wrote: > > Here is my blog post with instructions on the suspension upgrade (post '08) if anyone's interested. > > http://www.dsrtegl.com/2012/04/klr-400-front-suspension-mod.html > > -Jeff Khoury >