suspension upgrades

[Curt Van Weelden]

A friend of mine told me that he has a 13 tooth front sprocket but he can't remember where he got it. I see reference to these in the archives, but no sources. Does any one know of source for these? I have the 14 and the prevailing torque nut, but 15 to 14 didn't make enough difference for me. Curt

[Ernie Campbell]

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/parts_frames.html Ernie Campbell

----- Original Message ----- From: Curt Van Weelden To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2007 7:14 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] 13 Tooth Counter Shaft Sprocket A friend of mine told me that he has a 13 tooth front sprocket but he can't remember where he got it. I see reference to these in the archives, but no sources. Does any one know of source for these? I have the 14 and the prevailing torque nut, but 15 to 14 didn't make enough difference for me. Curt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ronald Criswell]

Fred at Arrowhead used to have them. Criswell

On Dec 8, 2007, at 6:14 PM, Curt Van Weelden wrote: > A friend of mine told me that he has a 13 tooth front sprocket but he > can't remember where he got it. I see reference to these in the > archives, but no sources. Does any one know of source for these? I > have the 14 and the prevailing torque nut, but 15 to 14 didn't make > enough difference for me. > > Curt > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[John thomas]

I got mine from Eagle mike ? did I get the name right? Really makes a diffrence gong down hill and I lift the front wheel like a feather. I have even had it at 1:00 WAH!!! all I had to do was release the throttle and she came right back down. Thomas Forest Park Ga. "Old Geezer club member 39.6" 90 Tengai 20,451 miles 78 CB400A 7,839 ----- Original Message ---- From: Ronald Criswell To: Curt Van Weelden Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, December 8, 2007 7:19:27 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] 13 Tooth Counter Shaft Sprocket Fred at Arrowhead used to have them. Criswell

On Dec 8, 2007, at 6:14 PM, Curt Van Weelden wrote: > A friend of mine told me that he has a 13 tooth front sprocket but he > can't remember where he got it. I see reference to these in the > archives, but no sources. Does any one know of source for these? I > have the 14 and the prevailing torque nut, but 15 to 14 didn't make > enough difference for me. > > Curt > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Curt Van Weelden" wrote:

> > A friend of mine told me that he has a 13 tooth front sprocket but he > can't remember where he got it. I see reference to these in the > archives, but no sources. Does any one know of source for these? I > have the 14 and the prevailing torque nut, but 15 to 14 didn't make > enough difference for me. > > Curt >

Curt, I bought mine from 'Fred' at http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/ follow the links. He also has the 14, 15, 16. And the bigger rear sprockets also. A SIDEBAR comment: Fred mentioned to me when I first called him 4 hears ago, "The KLR likes RPM's above 3000" that is, if you can keep the bike around/NLT 3000ish, the bike will be happier, and so will the 'pilot'. I have found this to be good advice, and anytime I have gotten in trouble, stalling, falling, flopping, sometimes resulting in getting pinned under the big-green-pig, it was when I have let the Rpm's get low. Some of which is 'operator technique' but we are all students of the zin-killerista, shrug, so we share are foibles and fauxpaws. shrug. and occasionally learn something in the process. Now, having said all this, that is really why you are wanting the 13T sprocket--for better offroadability. However, there is a 'better' solution, as described 2 paragraphs below.... Required: Unusual disclaimer-I send money to Fred, Fred sends parts. shrug. That said, I have not had to use the 13T. Yet. Why? Well glad you asked. smile. If you have been following along, the past month/year(s) the better set up (perhaps) would go to a 14/45T rather than the 13/43 that you are looking at. I am fairly certain that you could use the 106T chain without out any difficulty if you just added the 45T sprocket. If my memory is correct, many have done this very thing. Our friend and fellow poster--Jeff Saline, about 3years ago first mentioned his use of the 14/46 combination for anything non pavement, and the 16/46 for long distance pavement work--and in the past week has mentioned it again. I also now use a 14/46--so powerful that my bike now sports 'John Deere' on the front Cowl. What had still been a handful at 14/43 (especially in the rocks/boulders) has now become an absolute joy to ride the Dakota prairie trails, moraine fields and rock ridges. The proof in all this occurred in early fall, Jeff and I rode through a Black Hills, SD area that is usually '4-wheeler' domain--and when some locals learned that we rode the big-green-pigs down the trail built for fire suppression bulldozers, they just shook their heads. (and so did I) The trick was the gearing--14/46 (alternate would be the 14/45) and an absolute joy--but I said that already. smile. There may be a 'down-side' for some--but very little for me. You are going to give up some top end speed, i.e. at the 75+mph speed that many love to ride at, will be at a cost of some 1000rpm's faster over stock gearing--and most likely a subsequent increase in oil consumption (experienced by many), but not all. shrug. Maybe going a little slower is not a bad thing, especially when falling down. shrug. The benefit of going slow in the KLR power band of 3000rpms in first gear without monkeying/slipping the clutch constantly. Perhaps slipping the clutch is an easy task during the first hour of off-road riding, but incresing difficult to do easily as fatigue sets in. and now, THE NKLR content, yawn. It has been snowing here...and thawing and freezing. As usual for this time of year, I begin to commit KLR adultery...frequently...and I have had to revert to the manly-man alternate 1HP 4x4 KLR with built in (cough) crotch warmer rather than the A-15 electric hand warmers. Chasing the cows in a stout wind/low wind-chill is still a tough go...even with the furball heater below the saddle working its heart out. The hard part has been getting on the horse with all the extra clothes...an interesting proposition to saddle up with all the extra clothes! Almost as hard as getting the leg over the 35hp KLR with luggage while wearing a full winter costume. All things being equal, wind chill, is about the same. shrug. The thrills are about the same...except the 1hp model, has a mind of its own. Which is not always bad.... revmaaatin. ps One last thought...that comes to mind of having a KLR that is more dirt-worthy...when the big pig is about to fall down, let go of the handlebars and GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Yes, I am shouting). About to fall down is when you find yourself passing through ~89degree's of angle of bank (=near horizontal). YIKES: Don't be the one left holding on the the bars with your legs on the pegs. Getting pinned under it is less- than-the-hot-setup...and you are likely to get a 3m to 1 year penalty of NO-KLR while the surgeon pins your bones back together. shrug. and so it goes...as many here can attest. smile. But who would have it any other way?

[ocpianoman]

Sorry I didn't look for a FAQ or search older posts about this. Thought I'd go ahead and post some KLR content for those who think NKLR subjects don't belong here. Took a look at my fork seals which are shot. So, the forks have to come apart. Got to thinking about suspension upgrades after seeing some stock KLR fork springs on eBay, and also some Progressive brand. I have Progressive brand fork springs in two of my bikes (VX800 and GS450) and have been happy with the performance levels and at approx. $70 they are reasonably priced. What other brands have worked well in KLRs for the listers? Straight rate or progressively wound? What spring rates? Part numbers? After seeing some Works shocks (rear) that have two springs on each shock I wondered how the stock KLR fork springs would work if the spacers were replaced with the same length or maybe a little longer of heavier spring, separated from the stock springs by washers of course. The complaint I've read about the stock springs, besides being too soft was that the rate wasn't progressive enough, ie, just as soft when compressed as when fully extended. As we all know about two or three in. of suspension travel are lost just by sitting on a stock KLR. Some say the total sag with rider's weight should be about 25% of the total travel, which would make about 2.5in. front and rear about right. Any stories about the rear shock are welcome too. I read one lister used 1 in. RAISING links to get a nicer feel from the rear suspension.