KLRsys build

[kellymac530]

Originally Posted by 2fast4u

Just wondering why your starting with such nice bikes? And why not just buy a KLR and a Versys or Ninja motor and wiring harness and electronics off e-bay?
I liked your first build and think you do nice work. I have a Ninja 650 i made into a DS and have enjoyed riding it on and off road.
I would like to see someone take a KLX 450 or CRF 450 and put the Ninja or Versys motor in it. I think that would be the ultimate DS. It would be LIGHT, great suspension, dirt wheels, very good on road and able to ride on the interstate and did i mention LIGHT.
Will be watching your build.

Your idea is fine, but I can think or at least 3 reasons why it is just not optimal.
1} Fuel tank volumn- The biggest tank you can get for either of those is maybe 4 gallons, a bit small for any long haul ADV riding, at least for meabyway.
2} Perimeter frame- The shape may make it hard to fit a twin between the spars and then that is where the tank needs to sit so that could be a REAL PITA. With a steel or aluminum tank you can do as KLRsys did and tap a dent here or there to fit over the bigger motor, not so with the plastic only tanks on a KLX/CRf......
3} Not street plateable in many if not most states anymore. Maybe back in the day, or if you were fortunate enough to get on plates previously that would be a great start, but here in Cali that is NOT gonna happen anymore.

Great idea, a light, great suspended, great handling, dirt oriented adventure bike with a smooth and powerful twin motor in it, but a DRZ, KLR, XL or some other street plated bike is about the only options here. All just mediocre options, but you take what you can get, OR custom build your own....if you are a better fab guy than me. Mods like this are in my range of building, but doing a whole frame jig up is past my skill and tools.

[Dallara]

Originally Posted by 2fast4u

Just wondering why your starting with such nice bikes? And why not just buy a KLR and a Versys or Ninja motor and wiring harness and electronics off e-bay?
I liked your first build and think you do nice work. I have a Ninja 650 i made into a DS and have enjoyed riding it on and off road.
I would like to see someone take a KLX 450 or CRF 450 and put the Ninja or Versys motor in it. I think that would be the ultimate DS. It would be LIGHT, great suspension, dirt wheels, very good on road and able to ride on the interstate and did i mention LIGHT.
Will be watching your build.

Oh, you can essentially exactly what you want, and describe... Just go to:


http://www.rallytwin.com/


Of course, bring a big, *BIG* checkbook!

IMHO, what KLRsys is building makes a ton of sense. Just a shame Kawasaki has never seen the logic.

Dallara






~

[kellymac530]

Dallara,
Regarding your sig line=
If you lived near me, you wouldd OFTEN see a motorcycle outside of MY psychiatrist office...but riding doesn't HURT my broken brain...it takes both components to keep me alive and out of prison.....lol
I am my own WORST enemy

The riding keep ME happy= The MEDS keep my wife happy.

[Multisurface Rider]

Originally Posted by Dallara

Oh, you can essentially exactly what you want, and describe... Just go to:


http://www.rallytwin.com/


Of course, bring a big, *BIG* checkbook!

IMHO, what KLRsys is building makes a ton of sense. Just a shame Kawasaki has never seen the logic.

Dallara


~

A KLR that will do everything off pavement a stock KLR (motor) will do, then hit the pavement and rock down the road like a Versys. Thats what I'm talking about.

[ShadyRascal]

I don't want a KLR.


But I want one of these.

[SuperRio]

Originally Posted by ShadyRascal

I don't want a KLR.


But I want one of these.

I got one and I LOVE!!!!! it.

Keep up the great work KLRsys.

[tomatocity]

I have an '05 that I would swap out if KLRsys was to make a kit. I would sell the low mileage 685 Big Head engine to help pay for the conversion.

[KLRsys]

Just wanted to show the pile of Versys parts that get used in the conversion other than the motor itself. Several of these parts are only partial used, like only the first inch of the header pipes are used, the instrument mount and surround are cut up, etc. The entire wiring harness and all electrics are used. I also have to use the longer chain off the Versys, but it has to be shortened a bit. This particular pile is going into the 09 KLR I'm currently working on.

[KLRsys]

Originally Posted by SuperRio

I got one and I LOVE!!!!! it.

Keep up the great work KLRsys.

Yeah, I'm lovin' mine too. Just wish I had more time to ride. I do get to spend 10 days in the Texas hill country over the holidays and that should be fun. But I'm telling you, I have a strong desire to ride this next one up to Victoria. I've never been to the north west but I've always wanted to go.

[KLRsys]

Originally Posted by tomatocity

I have an '05 that I would swap out if KLRsys was to make a kit. I would sell the low mileage 685 Big Head engine to help pay for the conversion.

I keep thinking as I'm building what it would take to make a kit, but I'm getting the impression that creating a kit that anybody could install successfully would be far more work than building the bike. And then theres the liabilty issue to deal with...

[KLRsys]

One nice change to the 05, I moved the cruise control controls to the right side switch housing. Used some small Radio Shack switches. Toggle for on/off, black is resume, red is set. Much easier to reach.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by KLRsys

Just wanted to show the pile of Versys parts that get used in the conversion other than the motor itself...

i see you're using a slightly modified Versys wiring harness, it looks about 6" shorter than the OEM version.

thanks again.

[KLRsys]

Originally Posted by jdrocks

i see you're using a slightly modified Versys wiring harness, it looks about 6" shorter than the OEM version.

thanks again.

So does the man have a serious eye for the details or what! Of course looking at his bikes, you know he does. I stand corrected, I use almost all of the Versys wiring harness.

You're most certainly welcome and thanks for the info on the paint.

[thomas.tc.young]

you make me jealous klrsys, with job hunting and crappy part time work i never find time to even begin to work on my versys/klr.

[KLRsys]

Finally started making some real progress on KLRsys II. Never can get much done at year end. Spent a lot of time hand making motor mounts.

On Jan 14^th it looked like this…



Three evenings later the frame is tacked up and four of the six mounts are in.



I wanted to reroute the exhaust to better clear the left front motor mount so next I made the header pipes. Took this pile of stainless tubing…



And made some pipes.



Today I'm at this point, ready to clearance the gas tank, finish the exhaust and start on the radiator mounting. On this bike it looks like I can use the Versys radiator. On the first bike I had to use the narrower EX650 radiator.



I'm hoping to ride this thing in early March.