Life with a 950R SE

[ktmken]

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Joker, I put the same tire as you are running on my Adventure. I really like it in the dirt, but it seems to wander a bit on the pavement. Have you noticed this and does the wandering go away after the tire wears a bit?

We will go riding together soon!

KTMKen from Kelowna

 

[joker650]

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It seems to track straight and true. Now that I think about it, I never even balanced that sucka when I put it on, but runs smooth right up to 180k. I've been getting the carb settings fine tuned and after 3 tries i THINK IT MAY BE JUST RIGHT. I droped it off Friday and picked it up on my way home. Today on the way to work it all felt like butter...everything was soo sooooo smooth. The adjustment before was on the lean side and was a little rough . Gunna hit the single track on Wednesday to check it out.

I was a little bit spoiled with that Pirelli that was on the rear when I bought the bike. Man did that tire ever hook up in the dirt, on the pavement it just spun.



I guess I should do another instalment.





U wanna meet in Vernon for a short day ride this weekend....Saturdy? I think I can swing it....I think:hf:

 

[ktmken]

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Why don't we meet in Falkland for breakfast/coffee , take a quick ride over to Chase or Salmon Arm, and call her a day. ( I have to be back in Kelowna around 1:00 or so)

KTMKen

 

[klrman]

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Congratulations on the 950 Joker! If looks could kill, that would be the bike. Have not been around here for a few months but I thought you may end up with something like that. Hope you are enjoying the "extra power" :tup:

 

[joker650]

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Well I really like the bike.

It does has a cpl draw backs.

Here is one.

Broke my sub frame


Carrying 5L fuel some water and munchies on a 400k ride.
Broke right in front of the tail light.
Will post up some pics tomorrow.
I think it's all aluminum so repairs should be straight foreward. Gunna have to gusset it up some also.


__________________


More to come.

 

[klrman]

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Part of the fun as long as the sub frame can be fixed and beefed up. That proves your really riding it and not juet letting it sit like a trophy all poslished up and no where to go. My vstrom use to die all the time too, but it was because the dealers set the idle to 900 instead of 1100 rpm. KTM probably leans them out too just like Suzuki to pass emissions. Not sure though, but nothing a little tinkering won't fix hopefully.

Whoops! Just read your thread some more and you already talked about it being lean.

 

[joker650]

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One down fall of the SE is the fuel range(not MPG, 45 is what it gets, 2-up or single), but at 150k I don't want to have to push the sucka anywhere. so I've been carrying a 5.5L KOPLIN tank I got from Robert.

I have used it for 2 long rides, the DZ and a LSDS pre-ride that was 400k.No problems untill about 200 into the LS pre-ride, thats when the Vibes made the rear portion of the sub frame brake.

It broke right behind the rear seat mount.

But it didn't effect finishing the ride .:tup:





There is a threaded hole for the rear fender mount, thats where it broke.

 

[klrman]

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45mpg is good. My dl1000 gets about 52mpg in Summer and 45 in spring and fall no matter how I ride it and with 2-up or not too. Seems they change our fuel or something at the pumps when it gets colder. My tank always flashes round 270k and then will run to 370k theoritically, but around 300k I've always filled up as I start to get worried. I need to start carrying a 5 litre can of gas too. Too bad about the subframe, looks disappointing, but it happens to many bikes all the time. I hate to see it happen, but as long as it is the sub frame and not the main frame it's all good. I even drilled out my sub frame on my KLR and used that through bolt kit from dual star as was worried about it snapping too.

 

[joker650]

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Aqualine has made a 27L tank to make the bike a tank.

But at over $800................:hr:

 

[klrman]

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Pricey, but I like it! I didn't think it was possible to make a tank that big that would not destroy the lines of the 950, but this tank enhances it :tup: If I had your bike, I'd get that tank and never look back, it looks great.

 

[joker650]

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klrman wrote:

Pricey, but I like it! I didn't think it was possible to make a tank that big that would not destroy the lines of the 950, but this tank enhances it :tup: If I had your bike, I'd get that tank and never look back, it looks great.

Well If I had ur money....hey , I just had an idea



The other problem with the SE is that it's a tire eater....But it's sooooooo much fun :ted:

the bike has 8500k on it, of witch I have put on 7000. That 7000k has me on my 3rd rear and 2nd front.

I'm trying to make this cheap Chensing last for the LSDS, then I will put on another good tire. The Chensing got 1/2 worn down on the LS pre-ride, 400k.(I had it laying arround)

 

[klrman]

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You have the 950 now, so everyone is going to think you are the rich guy on the block

I don't have the tire problem on my bike yet, but I still run 80/20's so I can still gas it up and the tires look the same. Get into serious trouble if it gets muddy though so I avoid the stuff.

 

[joker650]

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So it's been 8 days since I last had a ride...on my SE

...but got the subframe all back together yesterday so I got to ride it to work again today

No thanks to the fellow that said he would weld it up for a measley$150..DFK:mad3:

Found another guy that fixed it up in a few hours....for FREE !! think I will drop him off some beer:ted:... Thanks Ralph :tup:

.......OOOoooooooooo, Thats what I'm talk'n bout :dr:
===========================================================


SO on the way home after work I thought I would take a ride out to the LSDS 08event site and see Chris.

WTF!!???

Pulling up to a light on the Trans-Can and pull in the clutch but had to pump it to get it to dis engauge properly:spl:



When I installed the smaller front sprocket I noticed the slave piston was a little wet on the out side of the piston (sealed up against the transmission). So I cleaned it up and knew the o-ring was leaking a little.



SO watchingNim's Island with Wifey and the daughter tonight...andafter having a 6pak ...the movie started to SUK for Daddy. OUt to the shop I go.



Pull off the master cyl lid and ...YUP, empty.





They recomend a light weight organic oil....

Where is that can of AMSOIL?

Can ya see it?





OOPs...forgot to d-load one pic....BRB :ted:

need another beer also:hb:

 

[joker650]

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Ok...I'm back.

Fresh beer and new pic:clap:



SO they call for a light oil in the hydraulic system.

I think what the problem with this system is is that the verry small amount of hyd oil in the slave cylinder just gets too hot mounted on the side of the transmission and needs to be changed quite often.

After some reading I found I was not the only one that thought this way.

Although it's too late for the seal in this slave cylinder I'm just going to flush the system with some new -heavier- oil and see how it works for a cpl weeks(the leak is verry verry small)



SO afer finding my AMSOIL(did u see it in the pic). I compaired it to some 15w fork oil.

hm....what is lighter?

I used the fork oil.





SO I filled up the resevoir .......about 6 times.





ANd blead the system untill the new oil came out.







SO I put the cap back on....leaving the resevoir full to the top, allowing the rubber seal to push out any eccess fluid, leaving no air in the resevoir for those up-side-down times.

Clean up time....

Spray soapy water all over the frick'n place. (same water I use for doing tires).







Then rince with a re-filled DZ08 water bottle.





Spray and rince the slave cyl also.





And test......purrrrfect.





THe feel is a little stiffer with the heavier oil in there, but I will be putting a very good hi-temp hydraulic oil that I deal with at work.



It took longet to make the post than actually do the work. The work took about 20min.

 

[klrman]

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Nice job there and glad that subframe is all welded up as well. I think your KTM is a little like a Ferrari.... a little bit of maintenance but a LOT of fun!

 

[joker650]

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klrman wrote:

Nice job there and glad that subframe is all welded up as well. I think your KTM is a little like a Ferrari.... a little bit of maintenance but a LOT of fun!

It sure aint a Jap bike:ted:

......that said, I think all the brands have their issues.

DRZ400 , Waterpumps

KLR650...well too many to list(sorry)

DR650...base gasket (in the early years)

x-challange...some FI problems (I think that what it was)

Honda...Ti valves

Yamaha..nothing worth riding (in a DS bike)

The list goes on.

LIke I said earlier in one of my first posts. There are a cpl known issues with the LC8 engine and they are well documented and seem to happen religously at certain km intervals.



I find myself paying attention to what I do with the throttle now. I know I have the LSDS 08 ride nex weekend so I am being verry gental with the throttle untill the ride.(I just put the new tireon 2 weeks ago)...gotta make it last. The 400k pre-ride wore it 1/2 down

 

[klrman]

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I lived in Austria for several years and raced a KTM 250 MX from 1977 on and then switched to a RM 250 so I know what you mean! But your right, all the bikes will have their known issues no matter what. I can't ride my V-Strom like you ride your SE so nothing goes wrong with it yet. If I start slamming it through the hills and start bouncing of the rocks and ride it hard, I bet issues will start unfolding as well and besides that, the V-Strom is not built to ride like that. I still think you have the best looking enduro out there.

Here's what I picked up on ADV forum . Maybe the subframe is a warranty thing.

"I had an 03 Adventure and a DRZ400, got rid of both and got an SE. Only major issue I've had is the subframe, it snapped about 4 weeks ago from corrugations, got the bike back today from the dealer, they replaced the subframe under warranty, so that was good. No real way to support it though, but the dealer tells me that if it keeps snapping, they'l keep doing warranty claims. My 07 SE came standard with rear pegs."

 

[joker650]

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I like how easy it is to do anything on this bike

Nine-5 OH Front axel removal


Working out of town and brought my bike with me.
Headed out for a ride after work...leaving the hotel the bike fels a little funny.
Stoped for fuel and...Oh NO!
Flat front tire

SO I searched for a spot to fix it and found a place that had a cpl broken concrete curbs and mad a stand to put the bike on.
SORRY NO PICS...yet

SO I remove the nut from one side and loosen the pinch nuts on the other side.
With the left side axel nut removed..looking inside the axel is a plastic threaded insert with a 10 or 12 mill hex head.
I put the aleln wrench with the proper socket on it (in the stock kit) on the plastic hex head a turned clock wise and gently pushed and the axel slit out verry easily.
(Maybe everyine already knew this..but I thought it was quite a good idea)

1/2 hr "L8T"r and I was back riding .

Here is the filling system I used.
Used 2 cartridges to pump ut the tube to check it while removed and fill to 28psi when installed.

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[klrman]

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Have you ever noticed your neck getting stiffer and cracking more than usual? I guess I'm snapping open the throttle too hard too often on my Vstrom and that would be the reason my neck is feeling the heat. Could also be that I am 49 already and my body is not as willing as it used to be. My Uncle was climbing apple trees at 91, so I'm not setting a good example at the moment :hr:

 

[Hooligan]

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I know a legal advisor in the US that retired at age 65, bought a GS1150 and decided to take up riding. (never rode anything)This was in 2000.

In 2004he came with me and 24 other beemer riderson a 10,000km ride to Southern Africa. Blacktop, Gravel and minor trails......I was blown away at the guys skills on that german tank. Needless to say, as a result of this guys performance I amconvincedthere is hope for most of us for a long riding life.

We might not be Dakar candidates but as long as we can hold on and stay on the right side of the line we're good. :tup:

:hb: