I'm mildly excited...

[warewolf]

That's a good point: tyres do work in concert with the suspension, and the load they are carrying.

With cars, they say 'the first quarter of your suspension travel is your tyres.' Dirt bikes of course would have a different ratio.

I spent ages trying to sort the front suspension on my Triumph. Eventually I discovered the tyres I'd been using had stiff sidewalls. Changed to a brand with soft sidewalls, instantly discovered the front end was hammering the tyre, adjusted the suspension to suit... voila! Tyre & suspension working well together, much improved ride.

I've learnt weight has a big impact (pardon the pun) and I don't have much of it. Metzeler and Pirelli sportstouring tyres are way, way too stiff to work well for me, except at stupid low pressures. Hmm, where've we heard that before, maybe that's why I find TKC80s so useless? Michelin and Dunlop make tyres with conforming sidewalls and work really well for me at the recommended pressures.

[NordieBoy]

Michelin and Dunlop make tyres with conforming sidewalls and work really well for me at the recommended pressures.

And the nice soft E-07.

[warewolf]

And the nice soft E-07.

And that right there is the kind of feedback that encourages me to try them.

[daryl]

Nice bike want one myself why change oil filter after 50 kms,is that recommended. cheers daryl

[Padmei]

I tried to do my break in as per KLR650.com recommendations. The 08s have had oil burning issues related to the quality of rings used.

The factory oil is supposed to be crap so I got them to drain it before I started it first time.
They reckon the first 100 kms are the most critical so being a bit pedantic got them to change it & filter. there is generally a lot of swarf in the filter after the first 20kms or so.
Don't tell anyone you want one though or you'll get the DR boys after you

[NordieBoy]

Don't tell anyone you want one though or you'll get the DR boys after you

Saw an Army KLR650 today passing through the Rai on point for a pile of UniMogs and Pinzgauers.

[Padmei]

Could have used them for the kamikaze mxers.

[pete376403]

Woulda thought the army would have used DRs, because of the, y'know, superiority thing that just EVERYONE knows about. Apparently they're even bullet-proof.
Oh, the US Marines use KLRs? Well what would they know, not like Iraq or Afghanistan is hard territory..

















P T for the humour impaired.

[Padmei]

[Crisis management]

Blah, blah blah...., not like Iraq or Afghanistan is hard territory...

And who is winning this war then?

Everyone knows Bin Laden uses DR's!




PS. I'm serious!

[pete376403]

And who is winning this war then?

Everyone knows Bin Laden uses DR's!




PS. I'm serious!

Then it's official - DR = roadside IED (Improvised Explosive Device)

[Crisis management]

Then it's official - DR = roadside IED (Improvised Explosive Device)

I'll remember that...everytime I fall off I better sing out Allah Akubar!


(actually, I thought it just proved they were hard arses)

[Padmei]

Well did a few mods over the last couple of days. Fitted some MT21s & Acerbis hand guards. A bit of head scratching went on but got there in the end.

Went for a ride over the Maunga again this avo (twice this week - being quiet at work has it's advantages). Found the tyres good in the slippery mud stuff but the track was pretty bony so lost a bit of traction on the loose rocks.

I've been riding a lot slower trying to keep the bike moving smoothly rather than hanging on & hoping for the best. My riding was getting better, I thought, until I had an unexpected off around a harmless easy corner. For some reason my front wheel just slid under & I was on the ground looking at my scuffed new handguards. I was annoyed.

I was at the time standing up practising the full adventure pose & I wonder if my weight was too far forward. Is it best to stand up when riding along the flat & downhill if on "technical" terrain? It seems natural standing going uphill.

Any tips for riding technique?

Ps I love my bike & riding it too

[NordieBoy]

What pressures were you running?
Touching the front brakes at all in the corner?

I stand as much as I can now.

We need to organise an "Adventure Training Session" with my brother at the Waimea West MX track. It's got some nice little sections that would translate well to a track like the Maungatapu.

[Padmei]

I was running about 21 - 22psi. No front brake but wheel may or may not have been a tad wet, not noticably though.

Def +1 on the adv training seesion - I need all the help I can - Gonzo starts looking te other way when I go outside now

I was actually thinkin of doing something like that while riding today but didn't know where/ who with.