--- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "seniorblast"
wrote:
> I just drove my new KLR 2003 home from the dealer. I'm lucky I
made
> it. Braking was almost nil, just enough to slow down. I had to
move
> out of the lane into the shoulder to avoid a car that breaked ahead
> of me even if I had a lot of time.
>
> I tried to block the wheels on a dirt road to no avail. The handle
> and the pedal go all the way to the end and it still does not block.
>
> I called back the dealer bceause I was not impressed. His answer
was
> that it takes about 300 miles (500 kms) or so before they get
better.
>
> Am I taken for a ride (a dangerous one that is)?
>
> Thanks for your input.
The KLR brakes are not (usually, some exceptions noted) the best
brakes around, BUT they do work. It sounds like the brakes need to
be bled properly. Talk the dealer into putting on a good steel-
braided line and rebleed the brakes properly. (at least start there,
right??) I would have turned around and gone right back to the
dealer as soon as I had problems..
BTW, both of my new KLR's were trucked home and I went over the bikes
before even riding them. In both cases the chain was too tight, and
some fasteners were loose. The chain has been known to cause seals
and bearings to fail when too tight. I also put on steel-braided
brake lines front and rear on the '02 within 50 miles as I knew from
experience on my previous KLR that they would not live up to my
expectations....
Enjoy that bike, but check it over carefully...
Ron in St. Cloud, MN