tweety is gone...good riddance!

[princek1]

I just purchased a '95 KLR650 with 11,100 miles on it. The bike looks brand new, and has never been in anything rougher than gravel, appearantly. PO bought it from the original owner with 1300 miles on it in '99. Any, it came with a set of Avon Gripsters front and rear, less than 1000 miles on them. At highway speeds, once over 45mph, the slightest corrections on the bars start a minor headshake. At 70mph, the slightest correction on the bars starts a serious headshake, that wants to turn into a tank slapper. Takes about 200 yards or so to calm her back down. I just checked the steering head bearings, they look good and are tight. Tires are at their proper pressure, not cupped, and look like they only have 1000 miles on em.... Any suggestions? If it's gonna handle like this, back in the paper it's gonna go! -Jeff Cranfill http://www.venturers.org

[mnron2002]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "princek1" wrote:

> I just purchased a '95 KLR650 with 11,100 miles on it. The bike > looks brand new, and has never been in anything rougher than

gravel,

> appearantly. PO bought it from the original owner with 1300 miles

on

> it in '99. > > Any, it came with a set of Avon Gripsters front and rear, less than > 1000 miles on them. At highway speeds, once over 45mph, the > slightest corrections on the bars start a minor headshake. At

70mph,

> the slightest correction on the bars starts a serious headshake,

that

> wants to turn into a tank slapper. Takes about 200 yards or so to > calm her back down. I just checked the steering head bearings,

they

> look good and are tight. Tires are at their proper pressure, not > cupped, and look like they only have 1000 miles on em.... > > Any suggestions? If it's gonna handle like this, back in the paper > it's gonna go! > > -Jeff Cranfill > http://www.venturers.org

If you have the capabilities, check for wheel alignment. Also, wheel bearings, tires balanced and installed correctly, swingarm play, fork twist; you know, the simple stuff. Wonder if someone didn't "dump" a bent bike? I've had two, and they've both been pretty darned stable. Good luck. MNRon

[Peter Dahlheimer, MD]

Tire balance? Height of the forks in the triple clamps? (mine did this with gripsters, and unbalanced tires, when i lowered the forks in the triple clamps so they were flush at the top. Moving them up so that about 2.5cm of fork was showing at the top fixed the problem again. _pete -----Original Message----- From: princek1 [mailto:princek1@...] Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 2:52 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] '95 KLR650 - Highway manners I just purchased a '95 KLR650 with 11,100 miles on it. The bike looks brand new, and has never been in anything rougher than gravel, appearantly. PO bought it from the original owner with 1300 miles on it in '99. Any, it came with a set of Avon Gripsters front and rear, less than 1000 miles on them. At highway speeds, once over 45mph, the slightest corrections on the bars start a minor headshake. At 70mph, the slightest correction on the bars starts a serious headshake, that wants to turn into a tank slapper. Takes about 200 yards or so to calm her back down. I just checked the steering head bearings, they look good and are tight. Tires are at their proper pressure, not cupped, and look like they only have 1000 miles on em.... Any suggestions? If it's gonna handle like this, back in the paper it's gonna go! -Jeff Cranfill http://www.venturers.org Checkout Dual Sport News at http://www.dualsportnews.com Be part of the Adventure! Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[monahanwb]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "princek1" wrote:

> I just purchased a '95 KLR650 with 11,100 miles on it. At highway

speeds, once over 45mph, the

> slightest corrections on the bars start a minor headshake. At

70mph,

> the slightest correction on the bars starts a serious headshake,

that

> wants to turn into a tank slapper.

- check the torque of the axle nuts, especially the front. About 60 lbs on each, I think, which is plenty, you'll need to use two arms. Front must be TighT. if the front is loose no telling what the bike will do, but it won't handle right. if the rear is loose it may not handle right either. also - - check the alignment of the rear wheel. It would have to be quite a bit out of alignment to cause odd behavior. - check fork tubes for straightness, and that the tubes themselves are not pulled up past the top clamps more than a quarter inch or so. - inspect the weak KLR triple clamps for cracks. And some not so obvious things like - are the tires mounted correctly, bead evenly seated? Correct direction? Wheel bearings good? They should rotate totally smoothly. This sounds like something a loose rear wheel bearing could cause, signaling impending failure.

[Tony Cornett]

Check your steering head bearings make sure the are tight. TC

----- Original Message ----- From: "Walter Lesnowich" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com>; "princek1" Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 2:12 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] '95 KLR650 - Highway manners > > I just purchased a '95 KLR650 with 11,100 miles on it. The bike > > looks brand new, and has never been in anything rougher than gravel, > > appearantly. PO bought it from the original owner with 1300 miles on > > it in '99. > > > > Any, it came with a set of Avon Gripsters front and rear, less than > > 1000 miles on them. At highway speeds, once over 45mph, the > > slightest corrections on the bars start a minor headshake. At 70mph, > > the slightest correction on the bars starts a serious headshake, that > > wants to turn into a tank slapper. Takes about 200 yards or so to > > calm her back down. I just checked the steering head bearings, they > > look good and are tight. Tires are at their proper pressure, not > > cupped, and look like they only have 1000 miles on em.... > > > > Any suggestions? If it's gonna handle like this, back in the paper > > it's gonna go! > > > > -Jeff Cranfill > > http://www.venturers.org > > > > Make sure you have proper tire pressure. 32psi F&R should > work with Gripsters. Also check that the front forks are all the > way up in the triple clamps. They should be flush with just the > cap sticking out. If either of these aren't it you may have too much > preload set on the rear spring. Lower it a notch or two. This should > do it. Finally a good fork brace will give more control if you are willing > to make the investment. The K9 works great and now is down to $150. > > Don't give up until you have exhausted all the remedies or you may > never know the fun you will miss even if your bike does look like a > Barbie and Ken model. > > Walt > A14 "War Horse" > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

[Guest]

Jeff, Worn swing arm bearings will cause this behavior. Harvey A15

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "princek1" wrote: At highway speeds, once over 45mph, the > slightest corrections on the bars start a minor headshake. At 70mph, > the slightest correction on the bars starts a serious headshake, that > wants to turn into a tank slapper. Takes about 200 yards or so to > calm her back down. I just checked the steering head bearings, they > look good and are tight. Tires are at their proper pressure, not > cupped, and look like they only have 1000 miles on em.... > > Any suggestions? If it's gonna handle like this, back in the paper > it's gonna go! > > -Jeff Cranfill > http://www.venturers.org

[dooden]

Could that be the preforated metal forming that tube on the end ? Duden

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "hens_p" wrote: > There is some type of fabric/material in there. I can see a small > hunk of it on my '01. > > Pat > > --- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Jim Ousley" wrote: > > There is NO fiberglass packing in a KLR muffler. > > There is NO packing of any kind in a KLR muffler. > > > > Just thought you would like to know. > > > > Jim > > Lexington Ky

[Motorcycle_Dan]

> Make sure you have proper tire pressure.

Good, I agree

> Also check that the front forks are all the way up > you may have too much preload set on the rear spring

Here it may be out but my experience is the twitchy front end needs more weight in the front. Dropping the front end (forks sticking out the top of the tripple clamp more) will put more weight on the front tire and should correct it. Especially true if the rear has lowering links and the front at the top. Everything else as others have posted. Balance, wheel and steering head bearings. Don't overlook the rear wheel. It can make it feel like the front end is not right. Dan /|\