Matt's New Toy!

[doyoulikeithere]

Yes Matt, I change my own tires.
Yours look pretty bald.
Shinko 244 is a nice tire for our sort of riding at a pretty good price too.
Just think how much you could save over the F250, if you rode the KLR instead of driving the car... MIne gets 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
I have been commuting to work on my KLR all spring summer and now fall. I have racked up over 8000 Kilometers since I bought the bike june 28th.
Plus the bike was parked for repairs for 3 weeks after the crash. My van, its just kinda sitting there being jealous ! lol...

[mdmead]

Funny you mentioned the Shinkos... I ordered a set yesterday! (Using my Amazon points and a gift card I had laying around, my out of pocket was zero!)

I figured up my mileage once after a ride and it was 57 mpg. Nothing to sneeze at for sure! (Geez, with the size of tank on this thing, the range is HUGE!) The trip to our cabin is nearly three hours, so I'm not really interested in riding there, and then riding around for fun. Besides, I have a lot of supplies I have to haul back and forth depending on the projects I'm working on. As for locally, I don't really do too many solo trips, and those I do, I need more hauling capacity then the bike offers. The bike is my toy... my most practical one... but still a toy for free-time play!

A project I need to tackle shortly is to put a set of leads on my battery to hook up my trickle charger. (I've got them on all of our ATVs and the riding mower.) My guess is the bike will sit most of the time once our temps drop into the 40s. I'm a fair weather rider for sure! (I have great cold weather gear, but it is for sub-freezing weather and snowmobiling!)

[mdmead]

Found these on the porch when I got home yesterday!



Not sure when I'll get 'em mounted...

[doyoulikeithere]

Great Tires.
You should like them.
Climbed mine up some steep slippery rock trails today and got pretty muddy too.
I sure do like them on my green bike... GPS says I climbed 43% grade..
Put a 14 tooth sprocket on the front end of your drive chain too if you can.
It helps a lot in the mountains. My red bike has a 16 and more streety tires.

[mdmead]

Yup, already went to a 14T when I replaced the chain and sprockets awhile back! I didn't ride it enough with the 15T to really notice a difference, but I knew I was more interested in off-road performance than on.

It's not really geared as low as I'd like with the 14T, but I don't want to give up any more on-road capability. I will say though this motor is a torque monster and will idle down to near nothing and not stall - gotta love that!

[Wiley]

Do you find the 14t negatively impacting your on road use, I am on road 90% time, but performance wise I am more interested in off road handling (specifically anything that makes it easier for me), as my on road driving is just commuting around. I have not gone off road yet to even see if the 15t bothers me, but since its a common change I figure at some point I probably will. Thanks

[mdmead]

Do you find the 14t negatively impacting your on road use,

I don't mind it at all on roads when I'm travelling at 45-50 mph. Even 55-60 mph for short trips is okay. I find it a bit tiring at longer distances above 55 mph, and my one trip where I was running 65 and above, I was thinking the 15T or 16T would have been nicer. Watching the tach, I still have plenty of rpms left for running at 60-65 mph, but I just prefer to run in the 4-4500 range, and I'm quite a bit higher than that at those speeds!

[doyoulikeithere]

I really like the 14 in the woods. I can cruise a bit slower in 2nd gear which I like.
On the highway for any distances at speed the 14 isnt great. RPM climb way high to keep highway speed up. This contributes to oil useage if you rev over 5000 a lot of the time.
With a 16, I cruise at 100KM/H at about 4200 rpms, Perfect for highway, crappy in the bush on technical trails and steep stuff.
With a 14, I dont ride the highway much as its at about 5000 @ 110KMH, but in the woods:
the lower gears let me climb 'walls' in 1st and climb everywhere else in 2nd.

[doyoulikeithere]

Matt, Has the "Doo-Hickey" been done on yours?
Do it if it hasnt been.
Its easy and will save a ton of repairs if it breaks, and it will....
I did both my gen 1 KLRs this year and both had probs with the doo when I opened up too see.

[mdmead]

Matt, Has the "Doo-Hickey" been done on yours?
Do it if it hasnt been.
Its easy and will save a ton of repairs if it breaks, and it will....
I did both my gen 1 KLRs this year and both had probs with the doo when I opened up too see.

No, it hasn't. (My friend I bought it from didn't know what I was talking about when I asked him.) It is on my to-do list as a winter project. Haven't decided if I'm going to buy the needed tools or try and borrow them through one of the KLR forums. I'm hoping with only 5K miles on the bike, I've got a bit of time...

[doyoulikeithere]

That big photo above is my 1996 bike with a busted lever.
The big missing chunk was in the bottom af the crankcase.

My 2006 was at 5200 miles when I did it.
The spring was broken but the lever was intact.

Both bike run a lot smoother now.
I have the tools but dont get off of this rock very often...
You could bring it here ...

[doyoulikeithere]

I see a lot of guys posting about rides in Washington State,
all the time on Face book in the group called "Pacific Dual Sport Riders"
In fact on the picture of my green bike above, you can see my Pacific Dual Sport Riders group Sticker .
I'm sure you would find the Doo tools to borrow, or a tech day to attend in your area, or Post & Host a tech day and people will bring the tools to you.
I found those facebook groups were a great place to find parts and help from people after I crashed my bike and had to rebuild. There are a lot of very helpful people out there..

[Kidhauler]

Try going on the www.dualsportbc.com forum as well. They have a lot of members and there is usually a ride going somewhere most weekends I know they have great board with subsections for different areas of the province. You could probably find help and or tools on there as well.

[Meterpig]

Advrider.com has a very active PNW section as well along with massive support for the killer. I have an 05 in my garage that will get sold this spring along with my beemer. Why? Kids. I don't like to leave much anymore and prefer to do stuff with them (hence the renewed interest in my astro).

I love the KLR except for the dodgy front suspension/suspenders. I never knew the front end flexed like Barbara Streisand in the 90's until my bum had graced the seat of the KTM 950. From then on..I was ruined. However, for gravel roads and "adventures", the KLR is purrrrrfect. The roads up here are sort of dicey and not always friendly to KLR suspension. One fun fact, I found that the DR650 has larger diameter forks...for a lighter bike.

The Moab shock for the rear will change your entire riding experience as well. Oh...and the seat is not so hot.

[mdmead]

Why? Kids. I don't like to leave much anymore and prefer to do stuff with them (hence the renewed interest in my astro).

Yeah, the KLR is strictly 'daddy' time. My wife wouldn't let my daughter ride with me or on her own bike. Luckily we do get to spend time together on ATVs, snowmobiles and in our boat!

Oh...and the seat is not so hot.

Overall I don't really have any complaints with the handling and suspension. My goal is for this to just be a machine to slow down and enjoy the sights around me. If I'm pushing the suspension... and I have a couple of times... that is my cue to slow down.

But yeah, the seat isn't the most comfortable. Will need to put more butt time on it to see if I overcome it or feel the need to upgrade.

Been missing riding the bike lately. Already looking forward to spring and I haven't even had my snowmobile out yet!