klr 650 wanted

[divesandiego]

I bought an '04 KLR with about 6K on it back in April--I ran it up to 10K in no time. But I recently took her for a high-speed burn through the desert; and when I hit the highway I noticed she was losing a lot of power and surging badly at sustained high RPMs, such as at highway speed. Now she tops out at 80 with the throttle pulled back to the lock and surges horribly when you back off the throttle. Low-speed performance is totally normal up to 4000 RPM. After I failed to diagnose the problem I took it to the dealer; they said it was the clutch, but I replaced the clutch myself and it didn't solve the problem. The local Kawi dealer has now had the bike for a WEEK and they're totally stumped. They've torn apart the whole fuel system to no avail. I know the whole wiring harness was replaced before I bought the bike. Also, I put a jumper on the kickstand lockout switch and removed the whole lockout switch assembly the day before my fateful desert ride. I thought this was a simple bike with simple problems! Any help would be greatly appreciated--I miss my KLR like a hot ex-girlfriend. Will

[Blake Sobiloff]

On Jul 28, 2006, at 10:46 AM, divesandiego wrote:

> Now she tops out at 80 with the throttle pulled back to the > lock and surges horribly when you back off the throttle. Low-speed > performance is totally normal up to 4000 RPM.

Sounds like you have some junk in the high speed circuit of your carb. I can't believe that the dealer would claim that its a clutch problem. Well, OK, maybe I can, but that doesn't speak well for dealer competence--as may be evidenced by their scratching their heads for a week over the issue. ("Dang! He didn't fall for the clutch excuse. Whadda we do now?") Your safety switches would cause the bike to cut out completely, not lose power at only wider throttle openings/higher RPMs. -- Blake Sobiloff http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> San Jose, CA (USA)

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> > On Jul 28, 2006, at 10:46 AM, divesandiego wrote: > > Now she tops out at 80 with the throttle pulled back to the > > lock and surges horribly when you back off the throttle. Low-speed > > performance is totally normal up to 4000 RPM. > > Sounds like you have some junk in the high speed circuit of your > carb. I can't believe that the dealer would claim that its a clutch > problem. Well, OK, maybe I can, but that doesn't speak well for > dealer competence--as may be evidenced by their scratching their > heads for a week over the issue. ("Dang! He didn't fall for the > clutch excuse. Whadda we do now?") > > Your safety switches would cause the bike to cut out completely, not > lose power at only wider throttle openings/higher RPMs. >

Ditto that. If that's not it, look at the diaphragm. Third possibility: is it still hot there. It is here. I suppose you could be getting some fuel vaporization in a hot fuel line, although that is more often an intermittent problem. Dirty air filter? Old worn-out KLR?

[Gorm Larsen]

Look at the vacuum line from the intake tube to the pet cock. It sounds exactly like what happened to me. When it gets real hot, that vacuum line gets soft and the vacuum, when you have reached speed and close the throttle a bit, will almost collapse the hose, causing fuel starvation. If the hose is close to the cylinder, take it off and re-route it around the back of the carb and up to the pet cock so it isn't exposed to the heat from the cylinder. Cured the problem for me. GormL., BC, Canada divesandiego wrote: I bought an '04 KLR with about 6K on it back in April--I ran it up to 10K in no time. But I recently took her for a high-speed burn through the desert; and when I hit the highway I noticed she was losing a lot of power and surging badly at sustained high RPMs, such as at highway speed. Now she tops out at 80 with the throttle pulled back to the lock and surges horribly when you back off the throttle. Low-speed performance is totally normal up to 4000 RPM. After I failed to diagnose the problem I took it to the dealer; they said it was the clutch, but I replaced the clutch myself and it didn't solve the problem. The local Kawi dealer has now had the bike for a WEEK and they're totally stumped. They've torn apart the whole fuel system to no avail. I know the whole wiring harness was replaced before I bought the bike. Also, I put a jumper on the kickstand lockout switch and removed the whole lockout switch assembly the day before my fateful desert ride. I thought this was a simple bike with simple problems! Any help would be greatly appreciated--I miss my KLR like a hot ex-girlfriend. Will --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1 /min. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Norm Keller]

I don't like to disagree with Blake but I was surprised when a dirty side stand switch caused mine to act up and cut out intermittently. I'm still trying to advance a good theory as to why but flipping the by-pass switch took the problem away. After a bit of moving the side stand the problem went away and only reoccurred once. We have a lot of magnesium-chloride used on our roads during the winter which is corrosive beyond calcium-chloride which was used. Maybe the "salt" deposits conducted enough to partially ground out the ignition primary? Sounds like a bit of a reach but that's all I can think of. Norm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Blake Sobiloff]

On Jul 29, 2006, at 11:04 AM, Norm Keller wrote:

> I don't like to disagree with Blake

Why not? I certainly don't know everything! Plus, Norm, I've learned a lot from your posts so please don't hesitate to provide your thoughts and insight. -- Blake Sobiloff http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> San Jose, CA (USA)

[arvadageorge]

I'm looking for a KLR650 2001 Or so--6000 miles or so---for $3000.00 or so ?? George Gangler george@... www.arvadacycle.com Arvada Cycle 10940 W 44th Ave Wheat Ridge Co. 80033 303-422-3957