New Owners - Stupid Questions Thread

[machinebuilder]

Originally Posted by Gallowbraid

Love this thread, here's my noob question:

Have an 05 KLR, wasn't run for the last year, I've cleaned the carb, changed the oil, drained and put fresh gas in it...runs great now. Of course now winter has hit and I need to put her up for the season. So:

Is it better to prep it for the winter and simply store her, or is it better to occasionally start her up and let her run for a bit through the winter?

If it is better to store the bike, what are the things I need t do to prep it?

the simple solution for N GA

buy some warm gear and ride it there are plenty of days that it is not that cold.


With the KLR if you are really concerned turn the gas off and run it till it dies, look in thumpers or the garage there are countless theory's on how to store a bike.

GO test ride a F8, IMHO it's everything the KLR wants to be

[HighFive]

Are the Steering Bearings as greaseless as my rear wheel bearings were?

I haven't taken a looksee yet. But I will soon, when I receive my Scott's Damper and do the install. Anyway, for those who've looked, what kind of shape were your Steering Bearings in? What manner of evil is hiding in there?

HF

p.s. FWIW...lousy, worn, or bad steering bearings can cause the front end to shake, rattle, & roll. Its one of many possible sources for shimmy up front (for those who may be troubled by that). As far as my front end, she's rock solid at any speed. No shaking, no drifting, no light feeling. Runs on "rails" with the stock Scorpion tires. Knobs are still waiting on deck....

[inmate-n00b]

Originally Posted by HighFive

Yes, mine are. I have an alignment tool....the kind that screws onto the rear sprocket and has a long skinny steel rod for assisting visual alignment. Simple, handy thing, really.

I used it for alignment and confirmed the adjuster marks are very close (side to side) on my bike. I re-installed my chain 3 times (thru my bearing work) and re-confirmed this every time.

HF

p.s. But maybe mine is "special"

This is good to know. Thanks.
So much of the f800gs is so well thought out!
I'm very impressed! Can't wait to finally take my new bike home....

[Gallowbraid]

Originally Posted by HighFive

Uhhmmm.....trade the KLR for an F800 like I did. Call Honz at Gateway BMW in St. Louis. He loves to trade for KLR's. Then, you can spend the whole winter farkling it out.

And while you're at it....if you can't ride....start it once a week and let her idle a while. Maybe shift her through the gears while on a lift stand. Keep it on a trickle charger too.

HF

p.s. Do it....you know you want one. Or, you wouldn't be hanging around in here.

Looked at the F800's...could buy 11 KLR's (at least at what I paid) for the price of one F800. Maybe on down the road...

I'm thinking the "dress warm" idea along with riding the hell out of it might be the way to go.

[HighFive]

I understand completely, Gallow. Where you are, I once was.

I loved my KLR. Put 17,000 hard miles on my '05. Covered half the continent. Even rode it in a 200 mile Enduro against a field of orange! (Ozark200).

It was extremely modified and near bulletproof. I actually never intended to get rid of it. Then, I rode the F800 demo at Falling Leaf Rally in Potosi, MO in October. And....well....it was kind of like this:









My 30 minute test ride kind of turned into a 3 hour test ride.

I ran it through the paces in the twisties, dirt roads, & some hardcore 2-track with rocks and logs. She just ate it up and spit it out...begging for more. I took my KLR back thru the same paths later that day, and it was a slam dunk, no contest. The F8 was better performing in every category!

At the least, its equal to what a KLR can do off-road (which is a lot more than most people think), and WAY better on the road. Comfort, wind protection, 85 HP, and superior handling geometry. Last but not least: REAL BRAKES!

THIS is the bike I will ride to Alaska and back.

I thought it would be on my KTM 950.....nope.

I thought it would be on my KLR.....nope.

Even considered it on my Goldwing.....nada.

All sold (and KLR traded) for the F800. She's got some rough edges to sand and some ergo adjustments to make, but I think this is The One. I may have finally found IT.

Probably doesn't push everybody's button. But it sure engages mine.

HF

[Lion BR]

Originally Posted by Gallowbraid

Looked at the F800's...could buy 11 KLR's (at least at what I paid) for the price of one F800. Maybe on down the road...

I'm thinking the "dress warm" idea along with riding the hell out of it might be the way to go.

hmmm... there is no algebra that will make your proposed equation work.

Unless this is the KLR you are talking about:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=640772

[Gallowbraid]

Originally Posted by Lion BR

hmmm... there is no algebra that will make your proposed equation work.

Unless this is the KLR you are talking about:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=640772

I guess it's technically not 11...I paid $1500 for an 05 KLR 250 with 2400 miles on the clock. So if we say a new F800 is 11ish...it's more like 7 and 1/3 KLR's. I are smarts and canz does maths.

Only things I have going for me in the future are the finances will only get better and (this is the important part): My wife likes the look of the F800 If she's sold on it then it means I can buy it! Ha!

[rediRrakaD]

HighFive,
What Knobbies are you going to use???
Much respect, after following your WR250R writings.
Cheers,
S.

[HighFive]

Originally Posted by rediRrakaD

HighFive,
What Knobbies are you going to use???
Much respect, after following your WR250R writings.
Cheers,
S.

Thanks for your kind comments, rediRraka. That WRR is some fine bike, for sure.

I'm going with the TKC80's for now. Purposely down-siziing the rear to 140 from stock 150.

They are tried and proven with me....in my 950 days. They really don't last very long, cause they are quite soft. But, that's what makes them so good offroad....they're SOFT.....which translates to "grippy" in the rocks.

I'm keeping my eye on the Heindu situation. Never tried those before. I understand they last long on pavement. Just not certain how aggressive they are offroad.

HF

[huckleberry]

Originally Posted by HighFive

Thanks for your kind comments, rediRraka. That WRR is some fine bike, for sure.

I'm going with the TKC80's for now. Purposely down-siziing the rear to 140 from stock 150.

They are tried and proven with me....in my 950 days. They really don't last very long, cause they are quite soft. But, that's what makes them so good offroad....they're SOFT.....which translates to "grippy" in the rocks.

I'm keeping my eye on the Heindu situation. Never tried those before. I understand they last long on pavement. Just not certain how aggressive they are offroad.

HF

If you try k60's i think you;ll be impressed!

[ba_]

What is the easiest way to remove the chain (assume I will throw the OEM one away)?

[EnderTheX]

Originally Posted by ba_

What is the easiest way to remove the chain (assume I will throw the OEM one away)?

You didn't get a new one under warranty?... There is a chain recall (or service bulletin, whatever) out there.

Remove the drive sprocket, remove the rear wheel, IMHO.

Oh yeah, and replace both your sprockets whenever you do a chain replacement, better safe than sorry, worn sprockets wear out chains fast, and vise versa.

[ba_]

Originally Posted by EnderTheX

You didn't get a new one under warranty?... There is a chain recall (or service bulletin, whatever) out there.

Remove the drive sprocket, remove the rear wheel, IMHO.

Oh yeah, and replace both your sprockets whenever you do a chain replacement, better safe than sorry, worn sprockets wear out chains fast, and vise versa.

Apparently my VIN was not one of the VINs affected by the service bulletin.

Planning on replacing the sprockets at the same time. The DID with the rivet style master link is what most people are choosing for the chain?

[LukasM]

Originally Posted by ba_

Apparently my VIN was not one of the VINs affected by the service bulletin.

Planning on replacing the sprockets at the same time. The DID with the rivet style master link is what most people are choosing for the chain?

There is no "the" DID, they offer many different models. I would get the ZVM-X for it's strength and because I hate chain maintenance. VM2 is also good but won't last quite as long.

[ba_]

Originally Posted by LukasM

There is no "the" DID, they offer many different models. I would get the ZVM-X for it's strength and because I hate chain maintenance. VM2 is also good but won't last quite as long.

I was looking at the VM2 with sprockets here:
http://www.sprocketcenter.com/p/1071...gs-09-10-.html