front tire & low pressure

[mark ward]

My first time on trails, I was told to get down to 12lbs, the bike still seamed unstable, in sand & mud, So the next day I was told, "12 is way to high, you need to get down to 8lbs. YIKES!!!! that ride lasted 3 miles on MUDDY roads. (most of thme were on 275's and 400's.)

--- On Mon, 10/29/12, revmaaatin wrote: From: revmaaatin Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: front tire To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, October 29, 2012, 6:50 PM Hi Fred, 12 psi is making me pucker up a bit as well. It would seem mass x acceleration has a lot to do with the frequency of flats. Slightly slower speeds seem to alieveate at lot of the flats; not completly, but prudence not to hit a rock shelf or jagged edge any faster than 3-5mph. By the way, the 14/46 cogs are tremendously helpful for aging hands as well. = less clutch slipping required. I must note, most of the time the speed is < 8mph/gps or less with brief periods at 20-25mph. The lowest pressure I am riding at is 17psi and loving it. Not a lot of sand, but the fire trails vary alot between clay to broken limestone/bassalt/granite/quarry trash-rocks to include baby head and softball boulders/marbles. Previoulsy, I have been riding at full 32/36 psi setting and it was doable, but not fun. Letting the tire pressure down has made a HUGE difference. The two dual sport geezers I am riding with are 68 and 71; I thought I was 'good/adequate' but these guys ride circles around me on the KLR with their DR650 and DRZ400 bikes. Finally convinced, and letting the tire pressure down makes the KLR a whole new bike. It is still a heavy pig, but a whole new game! I slightly mis-stated a tire pressure earlier. I asked them about their specific tire pressure: 16psi. The 12 psi guy is someone I have not met yet but is reported to ride fearlessly at that psi. These men also come from a bike-history of riding/racing enduro's most of their life. A little bit of life-experience makes a big difference. Riding/following them has pushed it up a notch for me and has opened up trails that I previously ignored. ymmv. smile. and you MUST know someone who will sell you tubes. Fred--a question for you. Is it 'best' to use the UHD tubes front and rear, or just front or rear IRT to pinch flat avoidance? What do you consider the most important? front/rear for HD tubes? If you only had a choice of only one...is it best to be on the front or rear. (I have spare UHD fronts, but have consumed the UHD rear tubes.) I have never had a pinch flat; never had a front flat, but have shredded the rear tubes on nails ~70K Klr miles. Though, I suspect if I keep chasing thes dual sport geezers, I will be introduced to some pinch flats soon. revmaaatin. who has spares from Fred in his box of tricks. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote: > > 12psi in your tires in my neck of the woods could net you many flats. (good for my business) > We have lots of sand with hidden rocks. Running low air pressure may help you in the sand but those hidden rocks will surely pinch flat you at every opportunity. > > YMMV > > Fred > www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > > > > From: revmaaatin > Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2012 10:37 PM > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: front tire > > > Lower tire pressure will also do wonders. > = 18psi (some say less). > I am riding with DR650 guys at 12psi and no rim locks. shrug. > ymmv. > > revmaaatin. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[mark ward]

The head looked/felt good. I incressed the presures above stock preasure, as suggested on the list, took it for a WINDY DAY, test ride, 80+ and NO shakes. TOSSED alot by the wind, but no Slapping. 22 in the front must alow Bouncing. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[RobertWichert]

Just for the record, I tightened the head even though it looked and felt good. I figured as long as it moved easy, well, tighten it some more. I did that and then some. Problem went away. BUT WAIT... I agree with you that below a certain point of tire pressure, you'll get head shake. I'm OK at 20 psi. And it's been a while since I tightened the head bearing preload, so I may do that again when I feel like it. Some is good, more is better! Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 10/29/2012 12:48 PM, mark ward wrote: > > The head looked/felt good. > > I incressed the presures above stock preasure, as suggested on the > list, took it for a WINDY DAY, test ride, 80+ and NO shakes. > > TOSSED alot by the wind, but no Slapping. > > 22 in the front must alow Bouncing. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bogdan Swider]

That wind catcher of a front fender doesn't help keeping the front wheel planted either. Bogdan From: RobertWichert > Date: Monday, October 29, 2012 2:11 PM To: mark ward > Cc: List KLR DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.comDSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>> Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Tank slap update. Just for the record, I tightened the head even though it looked and felt good. I figured as long as it moved easy, well, tighten it some more. I did that and then some. Problem went away. BUT WAIT... I agree with you that below a certain point of tire pressure, you'll get head shake. I'm OK at 20 psi. And it's been a while since I tightened the head bearing preload, so I may do that again when I feel like it. Some is good, more is better! Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 10/29/2012 12:48 PM, mark ward wrote: > > The head looked/felt good. > > I incressed the presures above stock preasure, as suggested on the > list, took it for a WINDY DAY, test ride, 80+ and NO shakes. > > TOSSED alot by the wind, but no Slapping. > > 22 in the front must alow Bouncing. > > [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]

Yeah, I heard all about the fender and the fork brace and the rear shock preload, but tightening the head bearing preload was like night and day. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 10/29/2012 1:16 PM, Bogdan Swider wrote: > That wind catcher of a front fender doesn't help keeping the front wheel planted either. > > Bogdan > > From: RobertWichert > > Date: Monday, October 29, 2012 2:11 PM > To: mark ward > > Cc: List KLR DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.comDSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>> > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Tank slap update. > > > > Just for the record, I tightened the head even though it looked and felt > good. I figured as long as it moved easy, well, tighten it some more. > I did that and then some. Problem went away. > > BUT WAIT... > > I agree with you that below a certain point of tire pressure, you'll get > head shake. I'm OK at 20 psi. > > And it's been a while since I tightened the head bearing preload, so I > may do that again when I feel like it. Some is good, more is better! > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > =============================================== > > On 10/29/2012 12:48 PM, mark ward wrote: >> The head looked/felt good. >> >> I incressed the presures above stock preasure, as suggested on the >> list, took it for a WINDY DAY, test ride, 80+ and NO shakes. >> >> TOSSED alot by the wind, but no Slapping. >> >> 22 in the front must alow Bouncing. >> >> [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] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com > Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map > Group Apps: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >