Super Sherpa thread

[XRWilly]

Originally Posted by baldrick

How did the rejetted carb work for you? Did you try shimming the needle as well?

Thanks for asking. I didn’t shim the needle, although I saw some discussion here and around about that. It seemed that reviews were kind of mixed. As far as the jetting and fuel screw adjustments, I’d say that it improved the cold start process and time dramatically, but it’s still quite aways from where I’d like it. Not complaining, because it’s better than I thought it would be. I wasn’t able to get it out on the highway and trail this weekend, so I need to spend some time there, but I thought it was already pretty decent at speed on the highways and chugging around some trails.

Originally Posted by thumper4154

Hi inmates.

Hi Thumper. Welcome!

[pantheman]

would it be possible for someone to post ,what the Yahoo site is saying ,cause I cant seem to find it anywere. Or at least send a link so I can see the carburetor settings my self.
Thnx

[tomatoe333]

Originally Posted by pantheman

would it be possible for someone to post ,what the Yahoo site is saying ,cause I cant seem to find it anywere. Or at least send a link so I can see the carburetor settings my self.
Thnx

DrJekle carb mod:

1. Change the main jet to a #130 (stock is #127)
2. Change pilot jet to a #20 (stock is #17.5)
3. Drill out/remove cover over pilot screw. Set screw to 2.75 turns out (counter-clockwise) from fully closed.

The carburetor is a Mikuni BST. You'll need that info if you want to buy the jets online, or from your local bike dealer. They are not Kawasaki parts, but they are standard Mikuni jets.

[eepeqez]

Originally Posted by pantheman

would it be possible for someone to post ,what the Yahoo site is saying ,cause I cant seem to find it anywere. Or at least send a link so I can see the carburetor settings my self.
Thnx

Site is HERE.

Info on jets is HERE.

[pantheman]

Thanks a million Tomato. Looking forward to rejet my carb too. Its all for the best right?? Power and fuel economy ??

Why in earth Kawasaki made it like that??
I guess its natural for my Sherpa to start a litle difficult in cold weather and taking some time to get warmed up?

thank you as well Eepeqez

[eepeqez]

Originally Posted by pantheman

Why in earth Kawasaki made it like that??
I guess its natural for my Sherpa to start a litle difficult in cold weather and taking some time to get warmed up?

It's tuned lean for low emissions, particularly in the start up cycle. And yes, they require choke and a delicate touch on the throttle on cold mornings.

[lake_harley]

Took a "test trip" on my recently purchased '01 Super Sherpa. Bike ran without flaw for the ~530 miles I rode over 2 days. The majority of the ride on the first day was "lettered highways" for those of you familiar with Missouri roads. The pace was mostly in the mid 50's MPH range and the bike got just shy of 75 MPG.....292 miles on 3.9 Gal of gas. Day two had me on busier highways where I had to pick up the pace to ~60 MPH, which appeared to drop the MPG to the low 70's.

I purpously packed the saddlebags and tailbag with way more stuff than I needed for 2 days, but wanted to get a bit of feel what a little "bulk" would be like on a longer trip. No major complaints with the bike as you see it in the last picture, which was taken after returning home, other than a sore butt. Something will need to be done to reduce the "I'm sitting on a 6 X 6" feeling I had. I want to be able to do 400-500 mile days, so the seating will need something to make it a bit more bum-friendly.

I'm looking forward to putting on a 15T front sprocket (on order), and eventually going to more street oriented tires, since I expect most of my riding will be pavement. I also have a set of "superbike" bars ordered with lower rise than the existing aftermarket bars, to get my hands lower and a bit of forward lean against the wind. I also plan to build/mount some sort of small flyscreen to reduce the wind a tad and possibly add a throttle lock to be able to relax my right hand and get rid of the "buzz" occasionally.

Maybe I'll add on my small tent and sleeping bag, and try camping in the future for the sake of economy. I will never be mistaken for an outdoorsman, so nothing serious, just a tent and sleeping bag to spend the night rather than shelling out for motel rooms. Doesn't make sense to spend <$15/day on gas and then pay $70+ for a motel room, although the shower, comfy bed, and the AC set on "cube ice" were refreshing! Just what does one do while waiting for it to get dark enough to sleep after setting up camp? I just never understood or cared for camping, on my rare attempts at it.

Here's a couple pictures I took along the way.

Two pictures taken from on top a narrow ridge with the valleys below. The floor of the valley is much lower than it appears in the pictues....probably 200', or more, below.



Lots of riding on roads like the one in the picture below! Made me glad to be on a bike....any bike!


Stretched my legs a bit, while stopping to see an old preserved mill in a national forest along the way. It was powered from the water from a spring that put out an estimated 80+ MILLION gallons of water a day.


Back home....no complaints other than the forementioned sore butt. Bike ran well and used no oil or experienced any problems. Nearly ready for a longer trip with maybe a few tweaks and improvements.


Lynn

[katumo_jtb]

Nice trip Lynn, looks like fun. I've had some hard seats and in my experience, a wool seat cover worked great. Of course you could have the seat done by an upholsterer if you don't mind spending the money. It's probably money well spent since it would contribute to riding enjoyment more than a couple extra horsepower or a cool gadget. I happened to have a spare seat cover for a car I no longer had, so I cut it up to fit my bike and it worked like a charm.

One question, has anyone ever ridden supermoto on their Sherpa? I took a class where we rode CRF 230's. It's a kick how far you can lean them over with decent tires. I would think a Sherpa would make a great little weekend track bike.

[XRWilly]

Originally Posted by lake_harley

Took a "test trip" on my recently purchased '01 Super Sherpa. Bike ran without flaw for the ~530 miles I rode over 2 days.

Cool trip report. 530 miles is a heck of a test ride. Glad you’re likin’ the Sherpa.

Me, I stay in motels. When I was younger, I could do the camping thing. Now…I just look for an older motel with AC to rest up for the next day. The more off the beaten path the better.

[lake_harley]

Originally Posted by XRWilly

Me, I stay in motels. When I was younger, I could do the camping thing. Now…I just look for an older motel with AC to rest up for the next day. The more off the beaten path the better.

At 58 years old, I tend to agree with the preference for the motel stay. I just have this guilty "wuss" feeling, that I'm not a real adventurer without camping.

Maybe this would be a better question posed as a poll somewhere else, but what sort of "cheap" motel rates have others found? I realize "cheap" is a relative term, both by area of the country or by one's own financial standards. I've stayed in some dives in my life, in fact one room smelled so bad I didn't take my things into the room till morning, and only then long enough to shower off the smell from the night's stay and to put on clean cloths for the day. I smoke, and with that low standard and lowered sense of smell, even I was repulsed by the room.

Lynn

[XRWilly]

Originally Posted by lake_harley

Maybe this would be a better question posed as a poll somewhere else, but what sort of "cheap" motel rates have others found? I realize "cheap" is a relative term, both by area of the country or by one's own financial standards. I've stayed in some dives in my life, in fact one room smelled so bad I didn't take my things into the room till morning, and only then long enough to shower off the smell from the night's stay and to put on clean cloths for the day. I smoke, and with that low standard and lowered sense of smell, even I was repulsed by the room.

Haha…there’s always a fleabag motel nearby. I like those single-story places where you can park your motorcycle right outside your window. My last fleabag was just last month in a town called Unadilla, Georgia on my way back from a North Carolina trip. It was a place called the Regency Inn. Real old place, not very well kept up…but it did the job for only $30.

Had a great day on the trails today. Very hot out today!

[Dirtnadvil]

I am getting ready to put some tires on the sherpa. The rear I have now is a Kendra trackmaster 100/100/18. It doesn't look like the bike will handle much more tire.
I want to put a Dunlop 606 on the rear. If any of you guys has done this, what size is the tire that you used.

[8gv]

First let me compliment you on the gold rims. My '00 SS had gold as well and I think it classes up the bike.

Regarding the seat, I have just ordered a WalMart ATV seat pad for $18. They are available on their website. I have read testimonials on this board (and the product page) singing their praises so I figure it's worth try.

[lake_harley]

8gv....Thanks for the compliment, although I can't take any credit for the rims, since it came to me that way.

I too have read about the infamous WalMart pad. Let us know how much it improves the seat. Almost anything would have to be an improvement for a longer ride. I've seen more than one bike with a sheep hide pad and have thought about that route too, but usually the real-deal hides are pretty pricy, aren't they?

Lynn

[8gv]

Originally Posted by lake_harley

8gv....Thanks for the compliment, although I can't take any credit for the rims, since it came to me that way.

I too have read about the infamous WalMart pad. Let us know how much it improves the seat. Almost anything would have to be an improvement for a longer ride. I've seen more than one bike with a sheep hide pad and have thought about that route too, but usually the real-deal hides are pretty pricy, aren't they?

Lynn

It will be a double test. I bought one for my current ride, a KLR250 and one for a pal who rides a KLX250. My KLR seat is not too bad, somewhat like the SS with a half inch more padding but wider. The KLX seat is thin and narrow. We rode about 60 miles sitting the other night and agreed that our upcoming 500+ mie trip would disable us both without some padding.