KLR riders out there

[Padmei]

It won't be long before you change back to the 15. The low gearing is good for a dedicated offroad day but as with most bikes it gets annoying on the road. the KLR has heaps of grunt to run a 15 tooth.

I remember when i did the drilled slide, shimming needle & airbox mod - absolutely transformed the engine - shitloads more responsive. A new pipe is good too, I put a R1 pipe on mine & it fricking rumbled ooooooohHHHHhhh yeah

[pete376403]

An internal combution engine has an optimum temperature that it runs at. Too hot is obviously bad leading to component failure (coolant boils out,gaskets blow, lubrication can't cope, etc ). Overcooling isn't immediately but fuel economy can suffer, water and acids build up in lube oil as it never gets hot enough to boil them away leading, over the long term, to corrosion inside the engine.

I have also read that components are manufactured to conform to a certain size or shape when they are at the correct temperature.

Have a look at watt-mans page http://www.watt-man.com/Information__Articles.html where he details the theory and results of his testing.

[Woodman]

My advice and comments.

No I couldn't tell whether my doo spring was broken, just went in there because the internet said I should.

Mine used to have wild temp swings as well and got quite hot quite regularly, on anything slowish the fan was on a lot. Thermobob fitted now and the temp stays pretty even and funnily enough doesn't get hot as often. The procycle version looks a whole lot tidier than the thermobob.

Padmei is right about the 14 tooth. the only time I miss it is on very steep downhills. If you find the fifteen too high use the clutch, as klrs have bulletproof clutches, and anyway they will tractor up most hills.

Great bikes, enjoy it and don't get too bogged down with all the stuff online.

685 kit is a great improvement though.

[nerdneh]

My advice and comments.

No I couldn't tell whether my doo spring was broken, just went in there because the internet said I should.

Mine used to have wild temp swings as well and got quite hot quite regularly, on anything slowish the fan was on a lot. Thermobob fitted now and the temp stays pretty even and funnily enough doesn't get hot as often. The procycle version looks a whole lot tidier than the thermobob.

Padmei is right about the 14 tooth. the only time I miss it is on very steep downhills. If you find the fifteen too high use the clutch, as klrs have bulletproof clutches, and anyway they will tractor up most hills.

Great bikes, enjoy it and don't get too bogged down with all the stuff online.

685 kit is a great improvement though.

Good advice, which vegetable Mr P.?

[tri boy]

I know the pacific island nations arn't exactly flush with cash, but sheesh, they must really be financially impoverished at the moment.
Raro coppers on BLUE KLRs,
Must of been a really bad Taro export season...........

[NordieBoy]

I know the pacific island nations arn't exactly flush with cash, but sheesh, they must really be financially impoverished at the moment.
Raro coppers on BLUE KLRs,
Must of been a really bad Taro export season...........

Really? The only KLR I saw last month wasn't being ridden by a copper.

There was a nicely restored 81-82 XR250 though.

[pete376403]

KLR for Kook Kops being prepped at Motorad Wellington prior to being sent over there

[NordieBoy]

KLR for Kook Kops being prepped at Motorad Wellington prior to being sent over there

Wonder if he gets a turn with the radar gun?

[Woodman]

I know the pacific island nations arn't exactly flush with cash, but sheesh, they must really be financially impoverished at the moment.
Raro coppers on BLUE KLRs,
Must of been a really bad Taro export season...........

This is why I love klrs......

[888]

Interesting comment from the "Stealership" I got the KLR from: "no one really worries about coolant in their bikes, it's just not an issue". This after I picked up the bike and noticed their was very low coolant in the reservoir. And the battery had almost zero fluid. And the heated handlebar grips didn't work. And most of the screws on the fairings were missing. I topped up the coolant and the battery and the bike went back in so they could fix all the other bits. Typical from this particular dealership- but the question remains: does anyone check their coolant and flush the radiator on a regular basis? I know I'm going to...

[pete376403]

I do check levels (oil, water, battery, brakes) regularly. Oil seems to be the only one I have to top up (frequently)

the factory coolant has corrosion inhibitor so if you flush it out, remember to add more (corrosion inhibitor)

Also regularly have good look around for missing fasteners. Loctite is your friend.

The other thing I would recommend is to pull the rear suspension apart to grease the linkage bearings and swingarm pivot bearings. They have bugger all grease applied in the factory. The big bolt behind the plastic covers (just aft of the footrests) corrodes very easily and becomes next to impossible to get out of the linkage rocker.

All this and more is covered at the marknet KLR site.

Oh, and steering head bearings should be checked for grease as well, factory skimped there, too

[888]

Good call, linkage and swingarm bearing greasing has been in the back of my mind, but I'll get that done asap. Is there a "best product" for motorcycle coolant, or is any Mobil Anti-Freeze "servo" stuff good enough?? I've found a great tutorial on flushing out the radiator/resorvoir but I want to put in the best product.

[Woodman]

I have replaced my coolant twice in 5 years. first was just routine, second was when I rebuilt the motor, mind you I check the fluids quite regularly because the bike occaisionally (regularly) gets inverted. Greased swingarm and suspension pivots 2 or 3 times. Use coppercote on axles and pivots on final assembly then they will never corrode in and will just slide out.
Never done steering head bearings but will when replacing yet another blown fork seal.

[Padmei]

I didn't realise you bought a new KLR triple 8. Before you do too many miles go thru & loctite all your bolts especially your subframe bolts & def grease your swingarm. I replaced my coolant after a couple of years.
Don't get too hung up on details with the KLR ( I know I was when I first got mine)- they've been around for many years, engines are under-stressed & pretty well bulletproof & lope along at a reasonable pace for NZ conditions.

[888]

I didn't realise you bought a new KLR triple 8. Before you do too many miles go thru & loctite all your bolts especially your subframe bolts & def grease your swingarm. I replaced my coolant after a couple of years.
Don't get too hung up on details with the KLR ( I know I was when I first got mine)- they've been around for many years, engines are under-stressed & pretty well bulletproof & lope along at a reasonable pace for NZ conditions.

My bad, actually a used (20k on da clock 2007) KLR. Luckily the "stealership" has come to the party and fixed all the issues I had at first and given me a three month warranty on the battery (will it last that long?) and they gave me a hundy voucher for their shite prep on the bike before I took it out. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love the KLR far more than the Zook DR650 I had before, it is just a far superior bike for my style of riding