deer strike: klr:1 deer:0

[Blake Sobiloff]

On Nov 15, 2006, at 9:48 PM, gsolo99 wrote:

> 1) Do I need a special tool

Nope, just a proper-sized socket.

> 2) Is there a website or diagram which shows how to adjust

Your owner's manual does a fair job.

> 3) What is a good setting for the dampening and preload. I weigh about > 212lbs

Every bike and rider are different, but the proper way to set your preload is to measure the sag. I expect that you'll max out the preload setting trying to get the correct amount of sag (3" on a KLR), but you should get a helper and measure it to make sure. See http://www.4strokes.com/tech/racesag.asp> for instructions. -- Blake Sobiloff http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> San Jose, CA (USA) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Chris]

has anyone had an issue with the rear shock softening up? I have a 9 month old '07 with 4400 miles. I just cranked up the preload to half.. (3 i think) and that seems to help. before i did that it seemed like the bike wouldn't really want to lift itself up onto the kickstand. i could help it but it would sink back. i have also noticed that it is harder to drop the kick stand than it used to be, then i have to help it lean up and to the left. is this normal? it seems like the spring is loosing it's stiffness. and lord knows that it can be bad to lose some stiffness.

[Blake Sobiloff]

On Aug 3, 2007, at 7:16 PM, chris wrote:

> has anyone had an issue with the rear shock softening up? I have a 9 > month old '07 with 4400 miles.

It depends on the kind of riding you do, and the luck of the draw. Some folks have had the shocks leak as soon as yours apparently has; others can go 40K miles. (Kawi QC, I guess.) You should be able to get a new one under warranty, and maybe the new one will be longer lasting. -- Blake Sobiloff http://www.sobiloff.com/> San Jose, CA (USA)

[Doug Pippin]

Chris The stock shock spring on the KLR is a POS. Unless you weigh about 100 lbs it's way to soft. You can buy a stiffer spring from Multisurface Motorcycling http://multisurfacemotorcycling.com/products/spring.htm I purchased the Topgun spring from Multisurface Motorcycling and installed it on my stock shock. Serviced the shock while it was off with new oil and a cleaning job. BTW the oil was very dirty. The ride after installing this spring was better than stock (no bottoming over bigger bumps) but it was too stiff for my 195 lb weight and I could not get the proper sag even with the pre-load on the lowest setting. Since then I've installed a Cogent Dynamics KLR 650 "Moab" Shock and I'm very happy with it. It's a huge improvement over the stock shock and comes with a couple of spring weight selections. If your fussy you can custom order the spring based on your weight and riding abilities. The Moab shock is built using the De Carbon damper design with a floating piston separating the gas charge from the damper fluid, ensuring consistent and fade resistant damping. A sophisticated high-flow damper piston with damping control that automatically adjusts dependent on velocity. The KLR 650 Moab shock has an easy to access damping adjustment control that allows the rider to select the shock response that best meets riding conditions. Take a look at it at: http://tinyurl.com/2bg95f If you or anyone is interested call Rick (e-mail or phone) (see contact info on web page) and mention my name for a good discount on the listed price. Doug Pippin ---------- At 10:48 PM 8/3/2007, you wrote:

>12a. rear shock > Posted by: "chris" hayduke@... hayduke.klr07 > Date: Fri Aug 3, 2007 7:22 pm ((PDT)) > >has anyone had an issue with the rear shock softening up? I have a 9 >month old '07 with 4400 miles. I just cranked up the preload to half.. >(3 i think) and that seems to help. before i did that it seemed like >the bike wouldn't really want to lift itself up onto the kickstand. i >could help it but it would sink back. i have also noticed that it is >harder to drop the kick stand than it used to be, then i have to help >it lean up and to the left. is this normal? it seems like the spring >is loosing it's stiffness. and lord knows that it can be bad to lose >some stiffness.

---------- Doug Pippin 828-684-8488 d_pippin_89@... ---------- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[T]

Welcome to the stupid deer club. Glad you made it through. Glad you were wearing gear that let you make it through. Night riding's a pig, but I've hit both of mine at 7:00 in the morning. Once again gear makes luck doable. Heal well. t.

[achesley43@ymail.com]

Finally broke down and bought a new Progressive shock for the KLR. Had redone the front last year with RT Gold Valve Emulators and new bushings. Plus finally installed KLX needle and jets in the carb and advanced the ex cam a notch.  Have not really had the weather for me to get out on the bike , but the few hundred I did get to put on , seems the back end is really smoother now.  Just love to keep upgrading on my A14 which just did turn over 46k Miles this month.  And, for the 2nd year in a row, I did put more miles on it than my '07 Suzuki 1250S Bandit with over 80K miles on it. But, being as I quit the LD travel  due to shoulder problems, the KLR became my go to bike the last few years. 

[Monty]

Well done!  Remember you asking about the shock last year. What do you think about those RT emulators?  IMO the front end is much more compliant, especially on those wash boards or shudder bumps.  New grease in the swing arm is always a good thing!  Something I did which improved comfort and ergonomics greatly was to replace the stock bars.  IMO the stock bars are way too wide and maybe a bit tall.  Enjoy the upgrades, spring is just around the corner.....   

[achesley43@ymail.com]

I like the RT emulators pretty good. Have not been on anything really rough with them. Next fork oil change I'm gonna soften them up a bit more or try lighter oil. Or, drill the 6 holes in the dampner rods a bit larger. 

I did put a set of 2" ROX rubbermounted risers  on the  bike a few months back. Liking them pretty much also.