KLR 650 Modifications

[mrfix]

2005 KLR
lite sub fram bolt upgrade
H.T. norhtwest rack
Givi E36 side cases
Givi E45 top case with back rest and top rack.
Kawi tall wind shield.
Eagle doo and spring.
Rectangular sport mirrors.
Progressive fork springs with 2 1/4" spacers.
Progressive 420 rear shock.
Pro circuit 496 pipe.
Finger adjustable idle./air mixture screw.
.025" shim under needle.
Metzler tourance tires.
De-badged the whole bike.
Seat lettering removed.
Kawi tank bag.

[dolomoto]

Shoot, I'd rather just ride it! Carry some spare glass fuses. Did the carb vent T mod for water crossings...went down 1 tooth on the front sprocket (love it!)...Avon Gripsters suit my riding best...can touch footpegs down while cornering (yeeha!) but still hit some light off road stuff. To hell with saddlebags! Just put a tail bag and good quality tankbag (Wolfman Enduro) and hit the road....

Ahhh, but the other stuff: skid plate, LED tail light, chain oiler, blah, blah, blah is cool, really, really cool but maybe a little superfluous?

I reckon my KLR is named "El Cheapo"!

[holycaveman]

Originally Posted by dolomoto

Shoot, I'd rather just ride it! Carry some spare glass fuses. Did the carb vent T mod for water crossings...went down 1 tooth on the front sprocket (love it!)...Avon Gripsters suit my riding best...can touch footpegs down while cornering (yeeha!) but still hit some light off road stuff. To hell with saddlebags! Just put a tail bag and good quality tankbag (Wolfman Enduro) and hit the road....

Ahhh, but the other stuff: skid plate, LED tail light, chain oiler, blah, blah, blah is cool, really, really cool but maybe a little superfluous?

I reckon my KLR is named "El Cheapo"!

There is nothing wrong with keeping it simple!

[Lightnin]

At one point I was gonna add up the cost of all the stuff I've put on the bike but gave it up as a bad idea! It pleases me, to Hell with the cost!

Installed Stuff:

Doohickey - If there's only one must do(o)
De-Kalifornication - Yeah, it's one of those
Carb vent T-mod
Snorkle-ectomy
Twinair filter
14T CS sprocket
"Safety" interlocks neutered
ProTaper SE ATV High bars
Anti-vibe grips (brand unk)
Maier hand guards w/shields
Mirror/choke relocater thingy
Touratech GPS mount (yeah, Super-Bling, but nifty as hell)
Garmin V hardwired
Skid plate, Moose
Ubiquitous Tool Toobie
Fender bag - might stay, might not
LoPro magnetic oil plug
Footpegs, Moose
Footpeg mounts, Rick Danger
Brake pedal mount
Rear brake master cyl guard
Subframe bolt upgrade
Moose shifter
DS RadGuard
Lic plate moved, sub-fender flung over the fence
And probably more I don't recall (will update as lucidity allows)

Stuff in boxes waiting to join the party:

Progressive fork springs Larry R's
Gold Valve Cartridge emulators
K9 fork brace
SS brake lines F&R
Galfer brake pads F&R
Sealed bearings F&R
DS self locking NiftyNuts
Fuse relocation/upgrade
Powerlets (2)
IMS 6.6 tank
Complete set '05 tupperware (red, ebay score)
Rimlocks F&R
TKC-80s F&R w/4mm tubes
Misc do-dads which escape memory (update as above)

Goodies yet to order:

Victorinox Stickies
320mm disc super-brake
Hydraulic clutch
HT side racks
HT alum cases
Carrier Deck, brand undecided
Eldon's rear spring
Wolfman tankbag
Misc . . .memory . . .update . . .Yada . . .

Under consideration - Undecided:

Seat - stocker is ~OK . . .Maybe Corbin, maybe Rich's
Staintune - maybe when stocker fails or tweets too loudly
Dash
Alternator upgrade
Lights

The next major round of upgrades (forks & related) will happen sometime this winter, I'm in no hurry and enjoy the wrenchin' almost as much as the ridin'. Minor things (tires, rimlocks, &tc) will happen on an as needed basis.

This is fun hearing about everbody's bikes & projects. There're some really nicely done rides out there, keep 'em comin'!

Best, Steve

[VascoMerlin]

has anyone done something to their bike that they just hated? Or put something on that did absolutely nothing to better the bike or interfeared with something else?

Let this thread move to the do's and don't's of klr mods. What do they need to be more fun, and what should we absolutley stay away from?!

[DMZ]

Originally Posted by KLRific

has anyone done something to their bike that they just hated? Or put something on that did absolutely nothing to better the bike or interfeared with something else?

Let this thread move to the do's and don't's of klr mods. What do they need to be more fun, and what should we absolutley stay away from?!

I was told that removing the wind shield would reduce buffeting. It was easy to test that theory. Took it off and hit the highway.

The stock wind screen is actually very effective.

[Paves]

Subframe bolts
Skidplate
Magnetic drain plug
Trailwing 302 tyres front and rear
Rimlocks
Doohickey (had a broken spring)
Emgo toothed footpegs (cheap and nasty but do the job just fine)
Highway pegs with netting zip tied across them so they provide some engine protection.
Clutch switch overide (or whatever it's called)
Home made frame to hold saddle bags off exhaust
Barkbusters (a 'hand me down' and need to be better positioned)
Homemade tool tube (but it was too big and heavy and fell off!)
R clips in the axle nuts.

[30Bones]

Progressive front springs and 15W oil seems to be the best mod I have done to the KLR. You really notice it. I can only imagine a bigger rotor.

Acerbis gurads or your brand of choice. No more stocker flopping around in the wind.

Renthal alum. bars seem to eliminate most vibes as well.

Skid plate. Just cuz everyone else has em

The rest are just bags and trying a different tire each time.

cmack, can you use a tank bag still with that tank? I've never gotten a clear answer that I recall. I really want an IMS tank, but use a tank bag a lot. I have the std. kawi unit and a high dollar DS bag I'd hate to sell/loose money on.

[R_W]

How much taller does the IMS tank sit? at the fuel cap.

I want the IMS tank and tank panniers, and I think the panniers I want will fit with the IMS if it is taller--they hit my knees when installed on the stock tank.

[gunny_usmc]

Originally Posted by KLRific

has anyone done something to their bike that they just hated? Or put something on that did absolutely nothing to better the bike or interfeared with something else?

Let this thread move to the do's and don't's of klr mods. What do they need to be more fun, and what should we absolutley stay away from?!

Yep, being a short sob I got the lowering links, hated how it rode after that, especially having to replace my tag twice from the back tire ripping it off. I had the corbin dished on at the same time, I'm happy and comfortable with the stock links an corbin. Tried riding without the tall windshield, not bad with my street helmet on, but wearing a mx helmet really sucks without the tall windscreen.

[nooner818]

OK, here's the bike...


And here's the mods...

Body/Frame
Custom Corbin Dished Seat - $299.00
Suzuki DR650 Stock Peg (CMS) - $29.68
Happy Trails PD Nerf Bars - $269.00
Happy Trails SU Side Rack - $239.00
Acerbis Rally Pro Hand Guards (Arrowhead) - $80.95
Acerbis Rally Pro Spoilers (Arrowhead) - $22.95
Muffler Guard (Dual Star) - $39.95
Master Cylinder Guard (Dual Star) - $14.95
D.H. Gibbs Skid Plate (Happy Trails) - $69.95
Lowered Big Foot Side Stand (Dual Star) - $71.90
Progrip 737 Grips (Arrowhead) - $7.95
Headlight Stone Guard (Jay Collins - bentspoke) - $20.00
Anti - Vibration Mirrors (Dual Star) - $67.90
Cellular Antenna - $50.00
Billet Mirror Mount (Dual Star) - $15.95
4 Bolt Sub-Frame Upgrade (Arrowhead) - $5.00

Brakes
Rear Brake Bracket & Bushing (Arrowhead) - $42.95

Engine
IMS Shifter (Arrowhead Motorsports) - $29.99
Magnetic Drain Plug (Dual Star) - $14.95

Electrical
Sylvania Silverstar 9003 - $19.95
12V Accessory Plug (TPI) - $14.00
Charging Pigtail - N/A
Nikko Horn (Arrowhead) - $22.95
Rear LED Brake Light (Dual Star) - $84.95
Headlight Modulator (Comagination) - $69.95
Weatherproof ATO Fuse Kit (Totally Wired) - $22.00
ATO Fan Fuse Kit (Totally Wired) - $11.00
Headlight Wiring Harness (Totally Wired) - $45.00

Wheels and Tires
Tire Valve Caps / Core Remover (Dual Star) - $.99

Luggage
Wolfman Alfa Glove Bag (Derby Cycles) - $34.99
Wolfman Explorer Tank Bag & Rain Cover (Wolfman) - $179.94
Saddlebags Dry Bags #912 (Aerostich) - $167.00
Tailbag (Kawasaki – Chico Motorsports) - $89.95
2 Compression Stuff Sacks (Jandd Mountaineering) - $55.90
Moose Fender Bag (Pitposse) - $24.95

GPS
Lowrance IFinder Expedition C + (GPS Dude) - $329.15
Ram Bar Mount RAM-B-149-LO3U (GPSCity) - $38.95
Power Charger / Headphone Adapter (LEI) - $34.95

Misc.
License Plate Mod - $19.00
Starter Safety Bypass - N/A
Kickstand Running Safety Bypass - N/A
Clutch Running Safety Bypass - N/A

Carburetor
Carb. "T" Vent Line Mod (Arrowhead Sports) - $9.95
No Toil Air Filter (Chico Motorsports) - $25.00
Needle (#4 SS Washer? – .020") - $2.00

Engine
Doohickey Kit (Arrowhead Sports) - $129.95

Drive
Sunstar 14 Tooth Countershaft Sprocket (Arrowhead) - $29.95
Eagle Prev. Torque Contershaft Locknut (Arrowhead) - $9.95

Frame
8.8 Grade Foot Peg Mount Bolts - $2.00

Rear Suspension
Top Gun Shock Spring (Multisurface Motorcycling) - $65.00
Shockwears Shock Protector (Arrowhead Motorsports) - $16.95
Happy Trails 1" Lowering Links - $79.00

Front Suspension
Progressive 11-1151 Front Springs (Arrowhead) - $89.95
Racetech Cartridge Emulators (Arrowhead) - $159.95

Wheels and Tires
Posse Air Valve Guards (Pitposse) - $2.99
Front Tire: Continental TKC80 (Motorcycletires.com) - $72.41
90/90X21
Rear Tire: Continental TKC80 (Motorcycletires.com) - $82.22
130/80X17
Rim Lock 2.50 (Dual Star) - $37.90
Rim Lock 1.60 (Arrowhead) - $6.55
Monster Tubes (Dual Star) - $21.95
Sealed Front Wheel Bearings (Arrowhead) - $9.95
Sealed Rear Wheel Bearings (Arrowhead) - $18.95

The Fun I've Had (Everywhere, USA) - PRICELESS!

Would anyone with a calculator handy like to add that stuff up? No, maybe it's better if I dont know!

The picture was taken as I left to go down to Hollister for the Corbin seat, so it's not in the photo.

Jeez, I didn't even throw in all the riding gear.

[rick danger]

Originally Posted by DMZ

I was told that removing the wind shield would reduce buffeting. It was easy to test that theory. Took it off and hit the highway.

The stock wind screen is actually very effective.

That mod is totaly dependant on rider hieght. And maybe helmet type. I was getting hit right in the face with wind dumped off the shield. Cut it down and now have "clean" air,which is much quieter

[DMZ]

Originally Posted by rick danger

That mod is totaly dependant on rider hieght. And maybe helmet type. I was getting hit right in the face with wind dumped off the shield. Cut it down and now have "clean" air,which is much quieter

The way I tested for clean air was to feel the size of the undisturbed air bubble created by the fairing with my left hand while doing 60+mph. The bubble was quite a bit smaller w/o the windshield. I am 6'2" and normally sport a full face helmet. The stock airflow hits me right at the top of my helmet and slides on over.

[VascoMerlin]

Originally Posted by nooner818

OK,
Would anyone with a calculator handy like to add that stuff up? No, maybe it's better if I dont know!

I just added it up in my head real quick... jk
but you spent $ 3,530.17 on upgrades for your KLR

I would have to suspect that so far you have taken the cake.
Only there is no prize and this isn't even a contest... so ... tough shit haha

j

[nooner818]

Originally Posted by KLRific

I just added it up in my head real quick... jk
but you spent $ 3,530.17 on upgrades for your KLR

I would have to suspect that so far you have taken the cake.
Only there is no prize and this isn't even a contest... so ... tough shit haha

j

You just had to go and tell me!