KLR 650 Modifications

[sandalscout]

Whoops, should have refreshed before I replied.

OH, and I should have done the math correctly... WATER is 8.3 pounds per gallon, not gasoline. Gallowbraid is right. My bad.

[RevBill]

.. never thought about this much .. @ 6.073 lbs/US GAL for gasoline ..

Stock @ 6.1 GAL = ~ 37 lbs
IMS 6.6 GAL = ~ 40 lbs
IMS/Safari Super-Tanker @ 10 GAL = ~ 61 lbs

.. 21 lbs gain over the IMS 6.6 .. bahh .. nothing really for an ADV bike doing long hauls and gravel/forest roads ..
.. especially if it really does lower the COG (?? would like to know it that claim in true) ..


.. any weight offset from losing the Stock hardware (and crash gear) when installing the Safari or IMS 10 Gal tank?? .. anyone with some scales or numbers?? .. might gain (or rather, lose) some pounds back there ..

(edit) .. fwiw .. before someone jumps all over me about "the weight" .. smarter men than me have calculated the weight of a standard US Gal of gas at anywhere from ~5.8 lbs/gal to ~6.2 lbs/gal (and more for ethanol) .. I found one sight that suggests using 6.073 lbs/gal as a good measure for figuring .. and blah blah blah yadda yadda etc., etc., until your eyes cross .. I'm a simple man really .. you guys can argue this until you are blue in the face, I'm using the 6.073 lbs/gal and running with it .. ymmv .. (end edit)

.. btw .. Bri .. Good Questions (you'll read them in the next post .. lol .. I edited mine after he posted) ..

[SkiBumBrian]

Didnt do the math, I trust you.... I am a weight FREAK and I bought a 6.6 (I know, I know, nothing) and the placement of the weight seemed lower. Anybody have some info or feelings on the change in the center of gravity/ fuel capacity/ weight/performance? I far as looks go I hate my IMS tank but for the protection I like it without installing HEAVY crash bars it is growing on me. I heard of a technique for sealing the IMS tank from the inside and being able to paint it. Is the tank polyethylene or polyurethane???? somebody please enlighten me. One you can seal, the other you cannot or so I have heard.

[Jettn Jim]

Don't care about paint...but my IMS will take an honest 7Gal....

[MotoBoss]

I too can get 7gal in my IMS. 300+ until reserve and another 40-45+ miles on resereve.
Looks like a pig but I love it, just like my dog

[MacG]

Originally Posted by RevBill

.. never thought about this much .. @ 6.073 lbs/US GAL for gasoline ..
.. any weight offset from losing the Stock hardware (and crash gear) when installing the Safari or IMS 10 Gal tank?? .. anyone with some scales or numbers?? .. might gain (or rather, lose) some pounds back there ..

I weighed the parts during my install,here are the numbers from the review:

"I used a small scale and rounded the numbers off but it gives a ballpark idea of what is there. Gasoline calculated at 6.1 lbs./ gal.
After the install,these are the results:

Stock tank empty.... 10.5 lbs.
Shrouds..... 3.0 lbs.
HT PD bars and
required mounting bars 11.5
6 gal. gas 36.5
------------
Total 61.5 lbs.

IMS tank empty..... 11.5 lbs.
10 gal. gas 61.0 lbs.
-------------------
Total 72.5 lbs. "

The review:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=795563

[RevBill]

you da man .. Yahtzee .. Bingo .. DING DING DING .. we have a winner folks .. lol ..

.. thanks Mac .. good of you to post that up .. now the "bad news" is about 10-11 lbs .. rather than about 21 lbs ..

.. that's some good data ..

Originally Posted by MacG

I weighed the parts during my install,here are the numbers from the review:

"I used a small scale and rounded the numbers off but it gives a ballpark idea of what is there. Gasoline calculated at 6.1 lbs./ gal.
After the install,these are the results:

Stock tank empty.... 10.5 lbs.
Shrouds..... 3.0 lbs.
HT PD bars and
required mounting bars 11.5
6 gal. gas 36.5
------------
Total 61.5 lbs.

IMS tank empty..... 11.5 lbs.
10 gal. gas 61.0 lbs.
-------------------
Total 72.5 lbs. "

The review:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=795563

[bluefin2na]

Originally Posted by judjonzz

By all accounts, Intiminators will make the forks work better, but they won't do anything for flex. The most common fork swaps have been KLX650 and DRZ400, but I am sure there have been others. It is not a trivial exercise, and requires a bit of machine work.

There is a school of thought that says, for all the trouble and expense, you would be ahead of the game to buy a KTM.

Yeah, untill your off on a far a way ride and she starts puking fluids all over the place, or your doing a long haul with 150 miles on the slab. No question those bikes are top notch, for a minute, but the long haul like anything after 300 hours, and your riding on borrowed time. Dont drink the Kool Aid

[GO_OUTSIDE!]

Luckily my klr is pretty regular on the gas, always within 10 miles to empty, trails or highway. Ill just use the odometer and to hell with reserve.

[SamM]

My 6.6 IMS holds 7.5 gals. Been thinking about going to the 5.5 IMS tank just to drop a few more pounds from the bike. I think I'll ditch the airbox and the heavy AGM battery too. Should have the bike back in a few weeks and I'll finish the rebuild.

[beergut]

Ever pull the bike down and check out the bearings in the swing arm and that thing that connects the shock to the chassis and the wishbones?

Whoa, mine were almost dry at 7000mi.

Mobile 1 Synthetic grease should take care of it for many years to come.

[Jettn Jim]

Originally Posted by SamM

My 6.6 IMS holds 7.5 gals. Been thinking about going to the 5.5 IMS tank just to drop a few more pounds from the bike. I think I'll ditch the airbox and the heavy AGM battery too. Should have the bike back in a few weeks and I'll finish the rebuild.

Shoria Lithium Iron.... I lost 10LBS!
I'd keep the airbox..........

[DirtyDog]

Originally Posted by beergut

Ever pull the bike down and check out the bearings in the swing arm and that thing that connects the shock to the chassis and the wishbones?

Whoa, mine were almost dry at 7000mi.

Mobile 1 Synthetic grease should take care of it for many years to come.

Common KLRista knowledge is that the bearings on the entire bike are only slightly greased during factory assembly. Be glad you looked at them early.

Originally Posted by Jettn Jim

Shoria Lithium Iron.... I lost 10LBS!
I'd keep the airbox..........

For a bike used at all offroad (or in dusty or wet conditions), the airbox is essential.

[beergut]

I missed that memo. I bet the tripple clamps are shit too, huh?

What on this bike doesn't need to be re-done for it to be decent?

[Jettn Jim]

Originally Posted by beergut

I missed that memo. I bet the tripple clamps are shit too, huh?

What on this bike doesn't need to be re-done for it to be decent?

It's just simple maintenance.... unless you do it yourself it's probably not right.