Cabritos 2000 KLR650

[elmo_4_vt]

Hey, just bought one myself... A 2007 in black. What type of rear rack did you end up using? I'm going on Ebay now to look, but I like how yours sits further back then some of them you see.

Oh, and what knobbies? Still trying to decide what I want to go to. The '01 I had a couple years ago had pretty aggressive one and I liked them a lot when playing off road, but they took some of the ride-ability away on the street.

Thanks.

 

[Cabrito]

My knobbies "roar" a little on the highway.....music!

Yes they do howl. They also make a wiggly ride on grooved highways over 70mph.:Wow1::bike_rider:

Hey, just bought one myself... A 2007 in black. What type of rear rack did you end up using? I'm going on Ebay now to look, but I like how yours sits further back then some of them you see.

Oh, and what knobbies? Still trying to decide what I want to go to. The '01 I had a couple years ago had pretty aggressive one and I liked them a lot when playing off road, but they took some of the ride-ability away on the street.

Thanks.

Pannier racks are from this guy -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawa...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cf206ac57

tires -
Pirelli MT21 in Front and Michelin T63 on the rear. These handled the bike nicely on the easy trails at Hollister last week at the Overland Rally.

Here is a not so great shot with the panniers

 

[Cabrito]

Latest updates

Avon Gripsters have been on for a while, and they are great around San Francisco.

Bike was down for a little bit because of a blown water pump seal.

I finally got around to putting on the CHP cases I got a while back. They are mounted with the Happy Trails mounting kit. Easy on and off. I'm still looking for a better pannier option though because these bags are a little flimsy.

Also just picked up a second set of wheel from Craigslist. The knobbies will go on them so I can do a quick switch if I ever go riding in the dirt again :bike_rider:

 

[Cabrito]

New Seahorse cases

The CHP bags that I tried out were total junk, the one that did not have two compartments inside was not rigid enough to support any real weight and would bow out when fully loaded. They are now off. I got a pair of Pelican 1430 top loading cases, but could not get them to mount up properly without moving my turn signals. I hacked one of them up pretty good shaving away at it with my dremmel tool trying to get it to go into position. So I gave up on that idea. They are sort of small anyway.

Here are some new pics including the second set of wheels with the knobbies.

I also like the customer service from Seahorse. I had ordered the plastic locks, but they came with plastic keys that I think are going to break with lots of use. I emailed them and they are sending the twist lock safety latches to me at no charge. I can always lock them prope

 

[HenryJ]

Nice to hear about what didn't work too. Looks like a nice solution.

Weather here is getting close to tolerable for me. Spring is near.

 

[Cabrito]

KLR Tech Day last weekend

Rode up to Santa Rosa in 30 degree weather last Sunday morning for a Tech Day -
Did the Doo Hickey (mine was not broken). Engine is quieter now.

Also did the 0.22c mod, and added thumb adjust screw for air mixure + adjusted it properly.

NO MORE POPPING ON DECELERATION!

Doing the Doo -

We had about 12 bikes there.

 

[HenryJ]

Sweet! Bet you will rest easier knowing the "Doo is Dun". The finger adjuster will come in handy for those big altitude changes.

I've come close to breaking mine out, but winter keeps rearing its ugly head and I am a wimp.

 

[Anhedonius]

Rode up to Santa Rosa in 30 degree weather last Sunday morning for a Tech Day -
Did the Doo Hickey (mine was not broken). Engine is quieter now.

Also did the 0.22c mod, and added thumb adjust screw for air mixure + adjusted it properly.

NO MORE POPPING ON DECELERATION!

Doing the Doo -

We had about 12 bikes there.

Hey, I just joined. I'm in Humboldt County. If there are tech days going on in Santa Rosa I'd love to know about them. I went to one years ago down there at Moose's house with my little granddaughter, we had a blast. Did the Doo (it was cracked 90% through at 7700 miles), some other stuff.

 

[Cabrito]

Hey, I just joined. I'm in Humboldt County. If there are tech days going on in Santa Rosa I'd love to know about them. I went to one years ago down there at Moose's house with my little granddaughter, we had a blast. Did the Doo (it was cracked 90% through at 7700 miles), some other stuff.

First - Welcome to the Portal. :bike_rider:

There is a big tech day up in Etna California in June. I might be there but not sure yet.
You should check out the Kawasaki KLR 650 Forum - lots of good people that are very helpful.
http://www.klrforum.com/
Some of these guys are the ones who put on the Santa Rosa one and some of them will be in Etna. I got some real good help and info from them.

Link to the Tech Day
http://www.klrforum.com/showthread.php?t=10048

Link to a group ride to the tech day
http://www.klrforum.com/showthread.php?t=7825

 

[Cabrito]

It's been a while since my last update nine months ago.
I've been on several long rides that included over-nighters, and hundreds of miles off pavement. I've also been using the bike as my main work commute vehicle a lot.

Fenders -
I've tried a few different front fenders to help combat the cross winds but found that the fork brace solved all cross wind issues. I'm now back to the original front fender and love the look of it.

Here is the Acerbis Super Motard Front Fender that I tried out for a while. (nice and low profile, but sheds water all over the rider)

Back to the original Front Fender. When all is said and done I actually prefer the stock look.

Seat -
I went to Corbin seats and got a custom fit Dual Platform seat. I can ride all day in this seat.

Luggage -
I went through the CHP bags, to a pair of Seahorse that are great around town, to a few soft bag types.

Wolfman Expedition Dry bags. I used them on one trip, but didn't really like how they mounted up on my racks. I really like the Wolfman products but they sure do use a lot of straps..

Tourmaster bags ($35 on CraigsList). Fine for around town, but I don't like the saggy look. Nice and light though.

I finally have ended up with some Happy Trails Teton's 7.5”. I can't even tell they're back there. Love them!

Top Case -
I used a Pelican 1550 for a top case for a while. I loved all the storage space and put lashing points on it so I could put even more stuff on top of it. I didn't love the extra weight though. I also found that I put so much crap into it that I couldn't find anything when I needed to.

Right now I'm using a small gun case that works with the quick release system on my Micatech back rack. It's not very secure, but I can toss my lunch or small items in it when I'm running around town.

Tires-
I burned through my set of Avon Gripsters after about 7500 miles of a mix between City, Highway, and off pavement. I'm onto a set of Shinko 705 Trail Masters. I also have a second set of wheels with my knobbies that are still holding up well alter a few thousand miles.
I really like these tires so far. They handle the street riding the same as my Avon Gripsters, and are half the price. I know from all the rides I've been on with others that use them that they are great off pavement.

There are a few other things I've done, but I'll do a second post for them.

 

[dr. benny]

This is a great MX jumping bike :roost:

 

[Cabrito]

This is a great MX jumping bike :roost:

The Doctor is in the house! Ben has ridden his KLR more miles than most people ever will..

 

[Cabrito]

A few more things that I've done.

Lowered Foot Peg Brackets -
These are probably a hazard, and not the greatest idea. They hang lower than anything else and do bottom out. I've read reports of them breaking and leaving you without a foot peg for the ride home.
I'm planning on removing them, and found a guy who modifies stock pegs to be lower.

Tool Tube made out of PVC. My friend makes them and sells them at his Tech Days.
I've broken four hose clamps so I back them up with big zip ties.

The White Dash made by another KLRista that I bought and he installed at the Nor-Cal Tech Dayz
My old man eyes can now see how fast I'm going and it corrects the KLR speedo that's off by about 5mph.

Poor mans windshield extension. Made by the same guy who did my White Dash. Helps deflect the wind a tiny bit.

Go Cruiser Throttle Control – Cheap and easy cruise control.
http://2wheelride.com/throttle_pro.html

The bike has been super reliable and fun this past year. Sure it's no fun over 70mph, but it's a blast on city streets and back roads.

I did have to re-do my Doo Hickey. I think I mauled the spring when installing it. The first time I went to adjust the thing it broke. Back in June at the Nor-Cal Tech Dayz I cracked it open and found this -

I installed the torsion spring this time. It's been fine since.

The only problem (and it's a big one) is that it's got a real thirst for oil. Freeway riding uses so much oil that I have to add some every 4 to 5 hundred miles. I'm sensing a 685 kit in the near future.

That's it for now...

 

[Cabrito]

Two year update

Time for an update exactly two years later. Bike has been nothing but solid for the past two years. Lots of great road trips.

Turned 30k miles on my last trip.



Relocated my License plate with the Bolts with the LED light inside them.

I got rid of the lowering brackets on the footpegs and got some super expensive Pivot Pegz. They have a huge platform and pivot. They rock off pavement.


Upgraded the front forks with Progressive springs and Race Tech Emulators


Required drilling out the innards of the forks.

The on and off pavement handling was greatly improved.

Also added a cheap Lexx exhaust and found some “stitch” tank panniers for $30 that I found at the MotoShop in SSF.


Then the Shinko Failure.. Coming up.

 

[Cabrito]

The Shinko’s were great for about 4100 miles. I rode them hard on all sorts of terrain carrying heavy loads. Lot’s of long slab, goaty roads, and off pavement. Then This happened.
Lug started to separate from the tire.

The tire developed a bubble showing that the ply’s were seperating.


There is a lot of talk on ADV about these tires failing. Mostly on real big ADV bikes with the radial ply tires, but these were the bias ply that I was using.

For a short time I went with another set of the Shinko’s and tried a taller tire to reduce my RPM’s at freeway speeds. It worked a little, but I’ve lost faith in the tires so I switched back to Avon Gripsters.

I also added a Micatech Top Case and found that the Aerostitch tank panniers make great side bags.



Next up was the “Dime Mod” Placing a dime in between the brake lever and the master cylinder. This removed a tiny bit of play and give quicker brake lever response.



ADV Monster Lights added - I put yellow lens protectors on them right after I got them.


Not as bright as the Rigid but much cheaper and get the job done nicely. Mine is on the left in this picture. I prefer not to blind other motorists when I ride.


My mounting method is pure Ghetto..



But wait.. There's more. It's been two years after all since my last update and all of these were only from 2012..