New to the KLR

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shepherd klr

Guest
I want to say thanks to those that have made this sight. I have just purchased a
KLR and I would like some straight facts. This is my first dual sport and I am going to have her set up right.

So that puts my questions out there, what should be done and what is not needed? Should the front brake line be changed for better braking? What about the back brakes? How long will the stock tires last? Should I change the exhaust?

So I put it out there. I know that all depends on what type of riding I want to do but I would like some real imput to make the bike better.

Thanks Clayton the newbie on this sight

I am not a spam bot ! I am just a new KLR owner looking for answers and not a computer whiz
 
joker650

joker650

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Welcome to the site Clayton. You should post this in the Kawasaki section.
 
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Yak_KLR650

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Clayton - Welcome! You'll love the KLR ... eventually.Did you buy new or used? What year/mileage? Any additions to the bike or is it bone stock? Where do you live/ride? What type of riding do you want to do? Tight single track? Wrong bike! Fire roads, easier trails, long tours over various terrain? Good choice!

1. buy a big bottle of blue loctite use it on every fastener on the bike.

2. change the doohickey.

3. tire life will vary depending on where you ride (surface), how heavy you are, how much you crank that right wrist, how much tire pressure you run in them. The stock tires are crap anyway, so the sooner they wear out the better.

4. change the gas regularly (ride it!).

Then decide what you need to do to make it suit you and your style of riding. Changing exhaust etc in the search for more horsepower is marginally successful - save your money. You can put on a stainless braided brake line (front) for better feel, but those single piston brakes won't stop you any faster with it.

There are lots of mods you can can do to make the bike better, but they are only better if they are suited to what you want to do with the bike.

Check out these websites:

http://www.klr650.marknet.us/

http://www.multisurfacemotorcycling.com/

http://www.motorcycleexplorer.com/

http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/index.html

http://klrworld.com/forums/

http://www.klr650.net/forums/

Then get out and ride!

Doug.
 
04klr

04klr

Well-known member
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and I happen to have a doohickyc for sale at a loss, for 50 bucks all in, still packaged, I accidentally bought two.
 
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Yak_KLR650

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04klr wrote:
and I happen to have a doohickyc for sale at a loss, for 50 bucks all in, still packaged, I accidentally bought two.
Click to expand...
He doesn't have any foot peg bolts though - he used up all the spares!:dr:
 
The Pope

The Pope

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you can cut out the airbox for better air flow, i think called the "L" mod.:tup:

yak is right about the stock tires, get rid of them! i have kenda 270's (no model # written on the tire) and i love them. just keep a high air pressure or they will wear quickly.

my opinion would be that an aftermarket exhaust is worth the money. i have a hindle on mine and love it.

do the cheaper mods first though, you may find that your style of riding doesn't need much more hp.

the best thing you can do to your bike is maintenance. it is a kawasaki so if you maintain it (ie, oil changes, visual inspections, chain lube, tire pressure etc) it will not let you down in the bush.

oh and one more thing... RIDE!
 
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shepherd klr

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Mr Yak

To answer your questions as follows, I bought the 2008 klr with zero mileage and as stock as you can get. I live in Hatzic lake and the riding I am going to do is adventure based . New places, trails and such.

I am still babying the bike until the engine is broken in. I have talked about the "Doohickey" with the dealer and they are not sure if the probelm has been fixed with the 2008 model. In my mind that means get it done anyway.

Big blue bottle is on its way. lol. The stock tires at this time seem to be ok, but I am going to put on some Mefo's when I can get them in. I have been told that the tkc's are just as good. I am taking her back in to BBY kawasaki so they can do the first oil change and check over. They say that it is a good time to have the valves checked as well. Not sure myself on that , seems a bit early for me.

I already do like my KlR alot for she is alot of fun.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to me about this crazy machine.

Clayton
 
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Yak_KLR650

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I really like the TKC 80's. Unless someone shows me something a lot better, that's what I'll keep running. That seems about right for a first valve check. Not sure how opening up the engine and replacing the doohickey will affect warranty. I'd tend to wait until just before warranty period ends. If you want to ride long distances on the KLR (unless they upgraded it for '08) I'd look at a better seat. I have a seat redone by a KLR rider in Williams Lake that is fabulous for long rides.

Enjoy!

Doug.
 
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shepherd klr wrote:
Mr Yak

To answer your questions as follows, I bought the 2008 klr with zero mileage and as stock as you can get. I live in Hatzic lake and the riding I am going to do is adventure based . New places, trails and such.

I am still babying the bike until the engine is broken in. I have talked about the "Doohickey" with the dealer and they are not sure if the probelm has been fixed with the 2008 model. In my mind that means get it done anyway.

Big blue bottle is on its way. lol. The stock tires at this time seem to be ok, but I am going to put on some Mefo's when I can get them in. I have been told that the tkc's are just as good. I am taking her back in to BBY kawasaki so they can do the first oil change and check over. They say that it is a good time to have the valves checked as well. Not sure myself on that , seems a bit early for me.

I already do like my KlR alot for she is alot of fun.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to me about this crazy machine.

Clayton
Click to expand...

I love the new TKC 80's on my KLR....will be all I run for tires from now on.



I checked my valves myself, and they were good, so will check them again at 24,000 kms as per Kawasaki's recommendation......they actally suggest the first valve check at 24,000 kms, and that is conflicting witht he dealers that suggest 1,000 kms.

I hope you never broke it in too easy, seems many burn oil that were babied and not ridden to seat the rings from new....I guess time will tell with yours.

Check the muffler attachment bolts, I bet they are loose...and I bet the expansion bottle cap could use a little snugging up as well.



Lift the dash part witht he gauges a little and put a couple strips of black electrical tape on the black bar it rests on to....it will vibrate there otherwise.



And adjusting the pilot screw makes it run about 100 times better. :hb:
 
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shepherd klr

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Mr McFly

Thanks for the reply to my comments here. I have not babied her to much for alot of the k"s that I have put on where on the highway with alot of shifting up and down as the dealer told me to. I have put about 1300 k's on the bike in about 2 weeks. That is not so bad.

I have to say that going to Chilliwack each morning has been fun but a little crazy. I have had two idiots in cars pass me in my own lane. I do not like it when that goes on. I have over 20 years on a bike and these are the only two times that this has occured. Can you say a little pissed off. " Nuff said".

The thing that I found strange on my bike is the fact that it heats up fast. Come off the freeway into Abby and the gauge goes right up to the middle of the heat range. I am going to ask about that.

I have talked to Rob about parts for my bike as suggested by Spiceboy. That is a great place to have some parts in Poco. But he mentioned that a gentleman by the name of Norm has 95 mods done to his KLR. Rob also said that Norm is "MR KLR" so if you see this message Sir Norm I have some questions for you. Thanks Clayton
 
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shepherd klr wrote:
Mr McFly

Thanks for the reply to my comments here. I have not babied her to much for alot of the k"s that I have put on where on the highway with alot of shifting up and down as the dealer told me to. I have put about 1300 k's on the bike in about 2 weeks. That is not so bad.

I have to say that going to Chilliwack each morning has been fun but a little crazy. I have had two idiots in cars pass me in my own lane. I do not like it when that goes on. I have over 20 years on a bike and these are the only two times that this has occured. Can you say a little pissed off. " Nuff said".

The thing that I found strange on my bike is the fact that it heats up fast. Come off the freeway into Abby and the gauge goes right up to the middle of the heat range. I am going to ask about that.

I have talked to Rob about parts for my bike as suggested by Spiceboy. That is a great place to have some parts in Poco. But he mentioned that a gentleman by the name of Norm has 95 mods done to his KLR. Rob also said that Norm is "MR KLR" so if you see this message Sir Norm I have some questions for you. Thanks Clayton
Click to expand...

As soon as I hit traffic and have to ride slowly, mine as well jumps to mid way on the temp gauge......then it just stays there till i get out on the open road again, and it drops way down in a moment to maybe 1/8 th of the way up is all.

But mine has nver climbed past the screw head i can see in the gauge....that is my referance mark i use, it runs covering hte screw head often, but never higher.
 
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Agent Orange

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mcfly wrote:
shepherd klr wrote:
Mr McFly

Thanks for the reply to my comments here. I have not babied her to much for alot of the k"s that I have put on where on the highway with alot of shifting up and down as the dealer told me to. I have put about 1300 k's on the bike in about 2 weeks. That is not so bad.

I have to say that going to Chilliwack each morning has been fun but a little crazy. I have had two idiots in cars pass me in my own lane. I do not like it when that goes on. I have over 20 years on a bike and these are the only two times that this has occured. Can you say a little pissed off. " Nuff said".

The thing that I found strange on my bike is the fact that it heats up fast. Come off the freeway into Abby and the gauge goes right up to the middle of the heat range. I am going to ask about that.

I have talked to Rob about parts for my bike as suggested by Spiceboy. That is a great place to have some parts in Poco. But he mentioned that a gentleman by the name of Norm has 95 mods done to his KLR. Rob also said that Norm is "MR KLR" so if you see this message Sir Norm I have some questions for you. Thanks Clayton
Click to expand...

As soon as I hit traffic and have to ride slowly, mine as well jumps to mid way on the temp gauge......then it just stays there till i get out on the open road again, and it drops way down in a moment to maybe 1/8 th of the way up is all.

But mine has nver climbed past the screw head i can see in the gauge....that is my referance mark i use, it runs covering hte screw head often, but never higher.
Click to expand...
:hr: oh oh , not the screw head ........ didn't anyone ever tell you about "the screw head"? Never -ever run it as high as "the screw head" ....... well , at least it's still under warranty ........ or does that void the :shock:
 
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