From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V1 #235 Reply-To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Friday, September 11 1998 Volume 01 : Number 235 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 11:32:07 PDT From: "Juan Villarreal" Subject: (klr650) Fwd: FSSNOC-RED RIVER RALLY Ron Hampe-- witness to history... From: "Ron Hampe" And a Good Time was had by all, especially yours truly... The F-650 ran just great. Did lose a some power over the 7000 foot mark, but that was to be expected... The scenery was fantastic, real western looking with high peaks, not mountainly like Colorado, mostly canyon riding.. The best is it is only 550 miles from Wichita..Even Ted Turner has a few acres near Red River... 500,000 or thereabouts. We had 133 in attendance on 111 motorcycles representing 22 states and one couple from England..I am guessing that 2/3 of those attending rode in... Those who did ride in logged 52,347 miles... Who says you can't tour on a single (19 of the 111 were on multi's )?... The KLR was the number one choice with 16, F-650's (including the Strada) numbered 11, and the MZ's also totaled 11... All told the Dual Sports represented 45% of the bikes at the rally... DS numbers are increasing each year.. The food was the best ever and at this years banquet we had entertainment for the first time... We had a great guitar player and a drummer on caribbean style drums playing music from the 50's and 60's with a lot of commentary about the culture of those times... Brought back a lot of memories... They played a lot of Marly's music... We also had Topeka, Ks. public tv there filming a segment for a program and they will have the video availble for FSSNOC members to purchase... Not bad for a little old club from Hutchinson , Ks. Randy and I rode straight thru on Thursday... This was a new mileage record for me on a Thumper... We covered the 550 miles in 10 hours and never went over 75... I do think I am going to pop for a little bit taller and wider windshield (oh, another part of my body just asked for a little better seat). Well, time to go hug the tank and thank the bike for another great and safe ride... I hope all of you had as great a week as I had. RON HAMPE ( : - ) >> FSSNOC #1214 KLR 650 DSOG BMWMOA #66471 CHAIN GANG ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 13:00:11 -0600 From: bruixot@rmi.net Subject: Re: (klr650) Footware As a former Desert Storm troop, I recommend the Matterhorns: Goretex, Vibram, and thinsulate.Wore them for 5000 km in South America last year. Lotsa Alcan riders seem to wear them. Not pretty at cocktail parties but you can ride and hike in them, and still be nimble enough to run or kick those ankle biting critters . Cost about US$125 at military clothing sales (need your ID card). FWIW r. kaub wrote: > Let's discuss the best all around boots to wear. > I wear issue combat boots of which I have several pairs which cost me nothing. > They are the newer style with the monster lugs on the bottom. I've found > them to be very comfortable and fairly waterproof if you keep them > polished. All-in-all, I'd be hard pressed to justify spending a couple of > hundred plus on boots that don't do all that much more. Comments? > Bob Kaub > State University of New York > PO Box 6000 > Binghamton, NY 13902 > 607-777-2715 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 98 13:22:18 PDT From: "Marick Payton" Subject: (klr650) Bending alumnium I'm building a frame for saddlebags, bending up 1-1/4" wide aluminum strip. they make a really awful tearing sound when you bend them and there are obvious surface tears on the outside of the bend. I've done this before and nonetheless achieved a pretty stout structure, but I worry about it. Does anyone have any tricks that enable such aluminum strips to stretch a bit under such bending, rather than tearing? For instance, heating? Thanks, Marick ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 13:32:27 PDT From: "Juan Villarreal" Subject: (klr650) Re: XR650 mirrors (mirror vibration) >Honda XR650 mirrors with >>the built-in vibration dampeners. >Juan....I was wondering, how do they look? Do they look 'right'? I mean >like they belong there...and are they black? If they would integrate well >on the bike I might see about getting some. >thanks, >ericR Eric... I'm not REAL big on aesthetics, but then again as a kid I never had those orange flags on my bicycle either. You get the picture... Given that, I'd say they look normal to me; I've never thought about or noticed that element of it, so I guess that says something in itself. And yes, they are black. One element you may want to think about though is the cost-- I dropped around $65 for my pair (bought 'em from a dealer). I'd try this forum first ("Hey, does anybody have a pair of XR650 mirrors they want to sell to Eric?!"). Best o'luck man. Juan Villarreal, '97 KLR ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 13:34:47 -0700 (PDT) From: frjsmithjr@webtv.net (Francis Smith) Subject: (klr650) Long Highway Trips Anderson: I've done some 300 mile days (on the stock seat, no highway pegs, no throttle lock) and probably could have ridden another 100-200 miles. With me, alot has to do with the weather - don't like HOT. Jim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 18:33:47 EDT From: K650dsn@aol.com Subject: (klr650) Fwd: technical help. This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --part0_905553227_boundary Content-ID: <0_905553227@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Any ideas here? - --part0_905553227_boundary Content-ID: <0_905553227@inet_out.mail.ath.forthnet.gr.2> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline Return-Path: Received: from rly-ya03.mx.aol.com (rly-ya03.mail.aol.com [172.18.144.195]) by air-ya04.mx.aol.com (v49.1) with SMTP; Fri, 11 Sep 1998 11:18:05 2000 Received: from nefeli.forthnet.gr (nefeli.forthnet.gr [193.92.150.20]) by rly-ya03.mx.aol.com (8.8.8/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with ESMTP id LAA16321 for ; Fri, 11 Sep 1998 11:18:04 -0400 (EDT) Received: from ath.forthnet.gr (ppp-mar247.ath.forthnet.gr [194.219.224.26]) by nefeli.forthnet.gr (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id SAA24800 for ; Fri, 11 Sep 1998 18:17:10 +0300 (EET DST) Message-ID: <35F93FCA.17DBCDDB@ath.forthnet.gr> Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 18:20:43 +0300 From: Demetrios X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.05 [en] (Win95; I) To: k650dsn@aol.com Subject: technical help. Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Dear friends. My name is Jim and i am from Greece. Maybe u can help. Recently i bought one KLR 650 (second hand). The first thing when i got it was to change oil. I went to the engineer and changed oil (Motul Oil). After 2500 miles my motor stopped. I went to the engineer and the KLR was out of oil and stuck. Inspite having 2.3 lt of oil in the tank it had 200ml. The motor didnt seem to have oil leackage or to burn oil. The pressure of the motor was very strong and didnt seem to have problems with cylinder&piston. Was working smoothly and strong. The exaust gasses where clear. According to u what was the reason that the KLR burnt 2 lt. oil for 2.500 miles. Can u help ? Sorry for my poor english . - --part0_905553227_boundary-- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 07:50:02 +1000 From: Ted Palmer Subject: Re: (klr650) Footware r. kaub wrote: > Let's discuss the best all around boots to wear. Ah, no such thing. > I wear issue combat boots of which I have several pairs which cost me nothing. I tend to stick to my Alpinestars MX leather boots. The steel edge on the front makes them a better propostion for kicking cars, not to mention the 1.5kg mass of each boot. The leather is about 3mm thick and the sole is reinforced for that kickstarting bollocks. Mister_T ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 08:07:24 +1000 From: Ted Palmer Subject: Re: (klr650) Re; Chain Lube PAT_HENSLEY@HP-USA-om32.om.hp.com wrote: [...] > I wonder if it really matters that much given the new fangled O-ring > chains if you pamper them they will last a great deal longer. Comments? FWIW, the supplier I get my chains and hardened sprockets from ("Chain Gang" Brisbane Oz) more or less claims that on the upper quality O-ring chains, lubing is mainly to keep the outside of the chain from rusting. I still clean my chains, it's part of the whole clean bike thing for me. I'm one of those weirdos that polish the underside of the mudguards. Mister_T ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 18:17:39 -0500 From: "Jim Sprecker" Subject: (klr650) O-ring chains I know of a TDM850 that got 23K, and a CBR1000 that got 25K out of one set of sprockets and chain. Of course these were strickly street use though... Jim. - ----------------------------------------------- > jsprecker@uswest.net < - ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 16:56:47 -0600 From: BrBo Subject: (klr650) Accessories,, Hey Fred, I wanted a bit of info on a couple of parts on the list that we previously discussed. The magnetic drain plug, has it been a popular item, and what kind of performance does it give? does it actually make a difference from what a good quality fram can trap? Also the bulb H4 90/130 - what kind of regulations do most states have on bulb strength? is it different for a bike versus a car? Does it improve the light power enough to justify $15? How well to the gel grips improve vibration? or else do they do? anyone else who wants to respond to these items feel free,, thanks, Brian '98klr650-5462km ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 19:04:08 -0500 From: "rg" Subject: Re: (klr650) Re: Mirror Vibration > The fuzzy mirrors on my KLR ..,, Has anyone . . . Scientific mirror test I did: Broke my KLR mirror off. Needed another one quick. Took an old rusty one about 2 " longer off an old 70 Honda SL350 I had sitting around so I could get back on the road until I got a replacement, . . Three Results: 1. I can actually see behind me now in the Honda mirror, not just my shoulder. 2. The vibration is much reduced with the old long mirror. Go figure? 3. I've had several "comments" of how nice my "dirt bike" now looks with that old long rusty mirrow on one side. Do you think those cruiser guys at work are just putting me on? I consider the source. Conclusion: Now looking in the J.C.Witney catalog for a pair of long old Honda mirrors with out any exotic springs/weights or aerodynamic benifits. Maybe they even have them in KLR Black. Food for thought. Robert ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 20:36:05 -0400 From: Michael Kovaliv Subject: (klr650) Hope nobody minds. I know this is the KLR list, but does anybody have any information or links for the new Honda Dual Sport that is coming out? The KLR is still my first choice for next spring but I should check out the competition right? Michael Kovaliv Windsor, Ontario. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 20:45:48 -0400 From: Michael Kovaliv Subject: Re: (klr650) Hope nobody minds. I was at my dealer today and they mentioned I should check out the new Honda Dual Sport. Maybe they have it wrong. Fred Hink wrote: > -----Original Message----- > From: Michael Kovaliv > To: klr650@lists.xmission.com > Date: Friday, September 11, 1998 6:33 PM > Subject: (klr650) Hope nobody minds. > > >I know this is the KLR list, but does anybody have any information or > >links for the new Honda Dual Sport that is coming out? The KLR is still > >my first choice for next spring but I should check out the competition > >right? > > > >Michael Kovaliv > >Windsor, Ontario. > > > > > > > > I have heard rumors of a new Honda dirt bike but nothing about a DS Honda. > The dirt bike is supposed to replace the aged XR600. I hear aluminum frame > and water cooled mentioned. Nothing about displacement. If you hear > anything please let me know. > > Fred Hink > Arrowhead Motorsports > http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/khink/moabmc/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 19:25:37 -0600 From: bruixot@rmi.net Subject: Re: (klr650) Product review: Belstaff Protoura Fellow list correspondents claim that I am too picky with my jacket selection. They are right -- I am picky! Also stubborn and opinionated and....disappointed at how the Belstaff Protoura jacket turned out. But your mileage may differ. Herewith is first impressions of Belstaff Protoura jacket, versus Cortech Tour Master jacket, as serious multiseason on/offroad items: Neither crash testing nor waterproofness testing available yet. Taller collar on the Belstaff is nice, as is the feel of the material there on my post-Neanderthal neck. Tourmaster Cortech version loses a point here. Inside pockets. Belstaff has poor zippers and non durable nylon pocket material. Belstaff down one. Cortech Cordura material seems more durable. Again, no crash testing, but I suspect that the Belstaff would shred more readily. Belstaff Protoura elbow padding items seem almost useless in how I would normally fall (do I fall normally?) but Cortech seems only marginally better in this respect. Both would probably roll away from an elbow in distress. Belstaff has no standard back pad but Cortech does, and it inspires confidence. So Cortech comes out a little better on the padding/shredding fall protection thought experiment. Perhaps as a result of its perceived less durable nature, the Belstaff Protoura seems to be not as stiff as the Cortech. Cortech front lower pockets too shallow. Belstaff about right here, with deeper pockets reminiscent of the good old days of waxed-cotton Belstaff/Barbours and real Six-Day Trials..... but upper pockets just too small. I like the Belstaff handwarmer slash pockets. Although I prefer big durable snaps to velcro, the one of the Belstaff snaps would not stay snapped. Lose a point and return to quality control, now. Lack of any ventilation on Belstaff is unwholesome, making it unwelcome for the variable-temperature riding we get into. Cortech tried here, with partial success, but you have to be moving along. What is needed, I think, is an extended 2-way flap-protected pit-zip design similar to US military tactical goretex parkas. Anatomists and IR-sensor designers will tell you that the armpits vie with the crotch for being a body hot-spot. The Belstaff claims to be a breathable waterproof material but the nylon liner just isn't as free-breathing as the Tourmaster Cortech approach which uses a mesh liner. Front main zipper on Belstaff is sized too small. No doubt it will come apart after a little hard use. The storm flap on the Belstaff is a good move, as is the elastic at the very bottom skirt. The belt position on the torso is better for my body with the Belstaff than the Cortech jacket is. The back pocket on the Cortech is a nice touch. Extra credit! Zip-in liners on both are about equal, and no great shakes. In my opinion zip-in liners are not a good move, since most multiweather riders tailor their layering, and deleting the liner would make pricing nicer. And speaking of pricing: even with the Protoura on sale, it would cost about US$50 more than the Cortech. Final grades: For my purposes and biases, I believe that the large-size Tourmaster Cortech jacket will be the choice, even though the sleeves are going to be a bit too long, and the skirt too short. On a 10-point scale, the Belstaff would get a 6, and the Cortech a 7 (primarily rated for features, fit, perceived durability, cost/value). Nobody gets an "A" in my classes. By the way, the treatment and service at Chaparral Motorcycle Accessories (related to these jackets) has been exceptional. FWIW, Dr Robert ("Ride long and hard and fast, dammit, and take no prisoners.") ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V1 #235 ****************************