Intiminators installed: I'm underwhelmed.

[Padmei]

I have to add if you really are that into good suspension why get a KLR? Great bikes but really if you want good handling why not just buy something more expensive to begin with. Sows ear etc

[400sm]

The OD of the valve is a tad under 34mm. The spring and spacers are also 34mm. Installation of the valves required some patience to get the sealring started in the bore, they were then a nice sliding fit. I am confident that the valve bodies are the correct size.

The diameter discrepancy identified was in relation to the shims, and their seating/sealing surface, which is not related to the OD of the valve.

And yes, 41mm is the OD of the tube.

Sweet.
Good luck with your endeavour.

[pete376403]

So you get a 690 for the better suspension, but it costs $6K or more extra more . Then you spend even more getting the things that the KLR has - bigger fuel tank, a better seat, luggage carrying capacity. There maybe a trade off in reliability (if the KTM repair threads on advrider are anything to go by)

Check out night falcons thread on advrider about modifying a 690 to get the above. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=580492&page=1 . I'd guesstimate that to do the same on a new 690 today isn't going to leave much change from $22- 23K (edit after seeing the list price of the 690 is $17995 at TSS)

Yes I'm happy with the KLR despite it's obvious shortcomings , which could be (mostly) corrected for a lot less

[nzspokes]

And yes, 41mm is the OD of the tube.

I think we have found the source of your problem.

[pete376403]

why? 41mm OD (outside diameter) is going to be about 34-35mm ID

[chopperT]

I like the KLR because I can develop the bike as I develop as a rider. Since I started riding 5yrs ago I've covered 100k, 25k on a Vespa (don't, I know),
and then the balance on KLR's (again, don't). Some things I am crap at, some thing the bike is crap at, And when I figure out the bike is crapper than I am I look for a solution.
In the meantime the poor old thing does 450km of commute a week. Riding a KTM, how much depreciation would I have burned up just riding slab to work? It seems like a waste of a perfectly good motorcycle to me.
So I have a KLR, and on the weekends I take it out in the woods, or the gravel, and have fun, but fun is also feckin' about with it and making it work for you.
I've taken care here not to run down anyone else's opinions on their bikes, and for many folks going and shelling out $$$ for custom tuned suspension is unaffordable and not required by their skillset, though I am sure that when the rider skillset and suspension tune are matched the outcomes are great. Without doubt if you are a professional rider, get a professional to set up your suspension.

[R650R]

All this talk of upgrades has my relationship with the DR on the rocks now and questioning how much I love it LOL
Still would like a decent seat along with F&R suspension tune, carbie, extra lights...
Maybe should just sell now and get something better for about the same money but then you can blow $$$ on all the others as someone has said.
Enjoying your technical explanations Robert about all the different setups, this is a great thread.

[Night Falcon]

I have to add if you really are that into good suspension why get a KLR? Great bikes but really if you want good handling why not just buy something more expensive to begin with. Sows ear etc

Yes I'm happy with the KLR despite it's obvious shortcomings , which could be (mostly) corrected for a lot less

without wanting to dissolve one of the more interesting threads on KB into the o'll KTM vrs KLR debate...for me the 690 was my dream bike despite the costs and I had no problems with reliability. - no matter what you spend on a KLR you wont come near the light weight, power and handling of a 690 - even an bodgied adventurized one.

The KLR is a great bike for what it offers at a budget price but I don't read too many threads where folks dream of owning let alone riding one - its a means to and end bike and that doesn't make it bad but the 690 for me defined a big part of what I love about bikes/riding. I've done cheap bikes before but once you've tasted the Orange Cool-aid its hard to go back to Pepsi

[400sm]

All this talk of upgrades has my relationship with the DR on the rocks now and questioning how much I love it LOL
Still would like a decent seat along with F&R suspension tune, carbie, extra lights...
Maybe should just sell now and get something better for about the same money but then you can blow $$$ on all the others as someone has said.
Enjoying your technical explanations Robert about all the different setups, this is a great thread.

Stay with Suzuki and try a DR Z400.
You will have more suspension than you will ever need.


You are welcome to test ride mine

[Robert Taylor]

I like the KLR because I can develop the bike as I develop as a rider. Since I started riding 5yrs ago I've covered 100k, 25k on a Vespa (don't, I know),
and then the balance on KLR's (again, don't). Some things I am crap at, some thing the bike is crap at, And when I figure out the bike is crapper than I am I look for a solution.
In the meantime the poor old thing does 450km of commute a week. Riding a KTM, how much depreciation would I have burned up just riding slab to work? It seems like a waste of a perfectly good motorcycle to me.
So I have a KLR, and on the weekends I take it out in the woods, or the gravel, and have fun, but fun is also feckin' about with it and making it work for you.
I've taken care here not to run down anyone else's opinions on their bikes, and for many folks going and shelling out $$$ for custom tuned suspension is unaffordable and not required by their skillset, though I am sure that when the rider skillset and suspension tune are matched the outcomes are great. Without doubt if you are a professional rider, get a professional to set up your suspension.

On the contrary an average rider ( i.e most of us ) will benefit to an even greater extent with customised suspension mods than will a highly skilled rider. It improves their confidence in the bike so much more ( and enjoyment )

[Robert Taylor]

Please bear with me on suggested mods to make Intiminators actually work properly. Ive got it rattling around in my head but at present my workload is insane

[Underground]

We can wait, I'm off to town on the bike tomorrow so I'll try and concentrate on working out what I think they are not good at and see if what you suggest your mods are going to improve are the same things.
Its bloody hard for an amature to figure that sort of stuff out.

[buggsubique]

I haven't been on here in a loooong time. Life etc. I just got my intimiahrgkajs fitted on my Africa Twin a couple of rides ago and so far I'm happy with them, but that has only been on low speed technical stuff so far. People on here know how hard I ride my AT and to be honest I find it part of the challenge - riding the bike to it's 90's limitations. So far, having put these widgets in I'm happy there is some improvement. I don't think I'll ever know what good suspension is unless I get divorced or win lotto or sell the kids or something. But yeah, for a number 8 wire fix on my time warp bike (that's for you MarkS), I'm chuffed so far. Find it a bit bumpier on the road, but the road is no place for my AT anyway. Can't recall if I posted this vid on here before or not, but this prompted me to at least give my forks a token fix with the intimiohasg...and to remember I ride an aged (although capable!) bike.

RT, thanks for all your views on here - good educationy stuff to consider... might send you my rear shock in the near future... don't think it's been looked at in 20 years and did a solid job of kicking me off on this ride

[chopperT]

Well yes RT you are probably right about the increased enjoyment/confidence levels for less experienced riders (myself included), but a capable suspension will also mask a riders deficiencies, and perhaps not allow them to progress? Learning to find the limit of the machine also teaches you about your own limits, if you can't find the edge of the envelope why do you need to extend it?

[bart]

did a solid job of kicking me off on this ride

I bet it was all grins until the music stopped....ouch.