battery tender

[gremoby61]

Hello ya'll are. I'm stationed in Germany, and really enjoy my KLR. I've had it for 16 mos, and have modified it to my liking. Great street oriented tires (80/20), lowered front fender, Centerstand, did the doohickey, got a nice rack, mounted some german hard bags on it, corbin seat, tank bag, bark busters. I ride all around my little german town and the surrounding area. It's a goreous area, castles, rivers, tight twistys both up and down, and I love the kaw's torque on uphill righthanders. It's a great bike for this area. The problem is, I want to explore. I want to do the Alps. I took it out on the autobahn last year for a trip 100 miles away and was almost creamed a few times. The bike's gearin is stock? 13/42 is what's on there. I have the chance to buy a BMW GS1100, but it's euro specs and if I buy it, I'll have to sell the Kaw, and I know that the Kaw would be a perfect bike for the states, and besides I don't want to sell it anyhow. The BMW is perfect for what I do, but I've lived my whole life not having perfect and making do with what I've got (Vermont farmer mentality). On my autobahn trip year I rode at 65 mph at around 5k revs. I was able to push it to 70-75, with corresponding increases in rpm's, but absolutely ZERO speed/acceleration reserve. If increase my CS sprocket to 14 or 15, will I get 75 mph and not explode the engine? It's a 2002 green camo KLR with 9500 miles and I'm the 3rd owner. Thanks guys Harry near Ramstein

[spike55_bmw]

In the States, our stock gearing is 15T front:43T rear (1:2.86 ratio). Your 13T:42T gearing (1:3.23 ratio) is about 11.5% lower than our stock gearing, which means it is better in the dirt and less better at the higher highway speeds, if that is truely what the gearing is on your bike. I question that because you noted 70-75 mph @ 5K rpms, which sounds very stock (15T:43T) to me. But to answer your basic question, yes, you can use many different combinations of gears (your 106-link chain may not be long enough to accomodate some) to change the MPH at the two known KLR rpm "sweet spots" at approx 4K and 5.3K but in the end it is better to hover around the stock gear ratio if you want to maintain the bike for dual-purposes. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "gremoby61" wrote: > > Hello ya'll are. > > I'm stationed in Germany, and really enjoy my KLR. I've had it for 16 mos, and have modified it to my liking. Great street oriented tires (80/20), lowered front fender, Centerstand, did the doohickey, got a nice rack, mounted some german hard bags on it, corbin seat, tank bag, bark busters. I ride all around my little german town and the surrounding area. It's a goreous area, castles, rivers, tight twistys both up and down, and I love the kaw's torque on uphill righthanders. It's a great bike for this area. > > The problem is, I want to explore. I want to do the Alps. I took it out on the autobahn last year for a trip 100 miles away and was almost creamed a few times. The bike's gearin is stock? 13/42 is what's on there. I have the chance to buy a BMW GS1100, but it's euro specs and if I buy it, I'll have to sell the Kaw, and I know that the Kaw would be a perfect bike for the states, and besides I don't want to sell it anyhow. The BMW is perfect for what I do, but I've lived my whole life not having perfect and making do with what I've got (Vermont farmer mentality). > > On my autobahn trip year I rode at 65 mph at around 5k revs. I was able to push it to 70-75, with corresponding increases in rpm's, but absolutely ZERO speed/acceleration reserve. > > If increase my CS sprocket to 14 or 15, will I get 75 mph and not explode the engine? > > It's a 2002 green camo KLR with 9500 miles and I'm the 3rd owner. > > Thanks guys > > Harry near Ramstein >

[RobertWichert]

I believe that the stock front sprocket is 15 tooth.  Changing to 13 tooth is a common (I did it) change, but NOT for the Autobahn.  With a 15 tooth (stock) sprocket, it will cruise happily at 80 mph (indicated) all day (I've done it).  This is still not up to Autobahn standards though, so you'll be in the slow lane the whole time. It will get you there, though. Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ========================================================

On 1/16/2011 8:58 AM, gremoby61 wrote:   Hello ya'll are. I'm stationed in Germany, and really enjoy my KLR. I've had it for 16 mos, and have modified it to my liking. Great street oriented tires (80/20), lowered front fender, Centerstand, did the doohickey, got a nice rack, mounted some german hard bags on it, corbin seat, tank bag, bark busters. I ride all around my little german town and the surrounding area. It's a goreous area, castles, rivers, tight twistys both up and down, and I love the kaw's torque on uphill righthanders. It's a great bike for this area. The problem is, I want to explore. I want to do the Alps. I took it out on the autobahn last year for a trip 100 miles away and was almost creamed a few times. The bike's gearin is stock? 13/42 is what's on there. I have the chance to buy a BMW GS1100, but it's euro specs and if I buy it, I'll have to sell the Kaw, and I know that the Kaw would be a perfect bike for the states, and besides I don't want to sell it anyhow. The BMW is perfect for what I do, but I've lived my whole life not having perfect and making do with what I've got (Vermont farmer mentality). On my autobahn trip year I rode at 65 mph at around 5k revs. I was able to push it to 70-75, with corresponding increases in rpm's, but absolutely ZERO speed/acceleration reserve. If increase my CS sprocket to 14 or 15, will I get 75 mph and not explode the engine? It's a 2002 green camo KLR with 9500 miles and I'm the 3rd owner. Thanks guys Harry near Ramstein

[fasteddiecopeman]

After 'drying' out a battery a couple of years ago (Battery Tender for 6 months over winter), I replaced w/ an AGM battery, and now I route my Battery Tender thru a 24 hour timer, set so it goes on for one hour in 24. Ed

[Jeff Saline]

Harry, Stock sprockets are 15/43. Your's is set up more for dirt/slow work than autobahn. You should be able to put a 15 on the front without issue. The 15/43 combo uses a 106 link chain. I'm guessing that might be what you currently have if your axle is near the rear of the adjuster slots. Might make it better on the autobahn but for me autobahn travel wasn't ever really fun. No matter what you do to it you won't see the speeds needed to keep up with autobahn traffic. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT . . ____________________________________________________________ Home Refinance 3.8% FIXED No Hidden Fees, Easy Approvals & Better Terms-Free Quotes-3.9% APR! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d33526dbddcacc9c49st01vuc