Frank
Explorer
Preventive maintenance
You know...that stuff you know you should do, but would rather not do because you would rather be :bike_rider:. Hopefully these photos will direct you in a different direction on those thoughts. I read so many articles about the KLR on how to farkle this, what skid plate will be the best, what jet to put in to get the bike 30 more miles down the road, etc. etc. etc....but rarely do you read about the dirty work. Keeping the bike going.
If you have a KLR (or any bike) and haven't totally tore the thing apart, you are only doing a dis-service to yourself, especially if you wonder off the beaten path at all. Upon reassembly, you should be understanding why and how each part works together. When failure happens (because it will) you will understand how and why it happened. There are enough youtube videos, tutorials and manuals out there that you should be able to do about anything to the bike. -and if you don't feel comfortable doing these things, there are riders all over the country willing to help. I have no problem helping someone out, your garage or mine just let me know. I am in South Bend, Indiana and willing to travel to help.
Not pictured, but I am a firm believer in zip ties, synthetic bearing grease, dielectric grease, and locktite. I opt to use amsoil synthetic waterproof grease (likely have to order it), permex (the stuff at your local auto part store) and the real deal locktite *blue* stuff. Use whatever you will, this is what I use and it hasn't let me down.
All of my electric connections got pulled apart and a dab of dielectric grease put in. When I popped in a new spark plug (also not pictured), I put some in the wire where it makes contact with the plug. All of these things will make the bike run smoother, resists corrosion, and will give you a piece of mind.
That said, how about what I did take photos of. Have you read about (or found out for yourself) how the steering head bearings, swing arm bearings, and the bottom pivot bearings are almost always dry? Probably not, but you have read about which lowing links work the best. And the links have to come off to get to the bearings, though always go neglected. I bought my bike from a NASA engineer, who seriously reworked everything on this motorcycle, putting thought to what he thought was everything. While he managed to go complete overboard on almost everything, he lacked to pay attention to these bearings.
This is my bottom steering head bearing and it is damn near dry, only what Kawasaki put in from the factory.
IMG_1988 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
My swing arm, very little grease as well
IMG_2049 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
The bearings at the bottom ...not sure what the proper term is....but they too were dry. I did pull this completely out for another set of bearings, but you get the idea.
IMG_2026 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
The bolt that holds it all together which should be lubed and near mirror finish...(I was able to clean this up)
IMG_2048 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
As you have all of your bearings out, clean them up real well with some brake cleaner and inspect them. If they are discolored at all (especially like a blue tint), replace them. Mine were all fine, thank God. And when it all goes back together...don't be afraid to use liberal amounts of grease. Yes, some will squish out...just clean it up. This bottom 3 bearing thing is a huge PITA to put back in and it will take a few choice words and likely a second set of hands to get it back together. Oh, and you will find that there is a sleeve where the bearings are. You will have to tap those out. Be careful. (put a socket on them and tap the socket)
IMG_2066 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
So hopefully those few photos have changed your mind about simple maintenance. If you aren't messing around, you could probably knock out all of these bearings on a Saturday night and not need to worry about them for another 30k miles. With all of the other detail the previous owner went through, I really wasn't expecting to find this. I am glad I did, but even more pissed I didn't do it when I got the bike last year.
The bike couldn't be ready for more miles if it didn't have fresh oil in it. I have been happy with Amsoil full synthetic 10w-40. I try to keep my daughter involved as much as possible and she is slowly starting to enjoy being in the garage.
IMG_2079 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
So there you have it. My bike is ready for the road, with no plans yet for the summer. My father and brother in law are taking their KLR's to Alaska and I wish I could join them My time will come. -If I was able to go, I feel my bike is ready to go. :victory:
You know...that stuff you know you should do, but would rather not do because you would rather be :bike_rider:. Hopefully these photos will direct you in a different direction on those thoughts. I read so many articles about the KLR on how to farkle this, what skid plate will be the best, what jet to put in to get the bike 30 more miles down the road, etc. etc. etc....but rarely do you read about the dirty work. Keeping the bike going.
If you have a KLR (or any bike) and haven't totally tore the thing apart, you are only doing a dis-service to yourself, especially if you wonder off the beaten path at all. Upon reassembly, you should be understanding why and how each part works together. When failure happens (because it will) you will understand how and why it happened. There are enough youtube videos, tutorials and manuals out there that you should be able to do about anything to the bike. -and if you don't feel comfortable doing these things, there are riders all over the country willing to help. I have no problem helping someone out, your garage or mine just let me know. I am in South Bend, Indiana and willing to travel to help.
Not pictured, but I am a firm believer in zip ties, synthetic bearing grease, dielectric grease, and locktite. I opt to use amsoil synthetic waterproof grease (likely have to order it), permex (the stuff at your local auto part store) and the real deal locktite *blue* stuff. Use whatever you will, this is what I use and it hasn't let me down.
All of my electric connections got pulled apart and a dab of dielectric grease put in. When I popped in a new spark plug (also not pictured), I put some in the wire where it makes contact with the plug. All of these things will make the bike run smoother, resists corrosion, and will give you a piece of mind.
That said, how about what I did take photos of. Have you read about (or found out for yourself) how the steering head bearings, swing arm bearings, and the bottom pivot bearings are almost always dry? Probably not, but you have read about which lowing links work the best. And the links have to come off to get to the bearings, though always go neglected. I bought my bike from a NASA engineer, who seriously reworked everything on this motorcycle, putting thought to what he thought was everything. While he managed to go complete overboard on almost everything, he lacked to pay attention to these bearings.
This is my bottom steering head bearing and it is damn near dry, only what Kawasaki put in from the factory.
IMG_1988 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
My swing arm, very little grease as well
IMG_2049 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
The bearings at the bottom ...not sure what the proper term is....but they too were dry. I did pull this completely out for another set of bearings, but you get the idea.
IMG_2026 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
The bolt that holds it all together which should be lubed and near mirror finish...(I was able to clean this up)
IMG_2048 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
As you have all of your bearings out, clean them up real well with some brake cleaner and inspect them. If they are discolored at all (especially like a blue tint), replace them. Mine were all fine, thank God. And when it all goes back together...don't be afraid to use liberal amounts of grease. Yes, some will squish out...just clean it up. This bottom 3 bearing thing is a huge PITA to put back in and it will take a few choice words and likely a second set of hands to get it back together. Oh, and you will find that there is a sleeve where the bearings are. You will have to tap those out. Be careful. (put a socket on them and tap the socket)
IMG_2066 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
So hopefully those few photos have changed your mind about simple maintenance. If you aren't messing around, you could probably knock out all of these bearings on a Saturday night and not need to worry about them for another 30k miles. With all of the other detail the previous owner went through, I really wasn't expecting to find this. I am glad I did, but even more pissed I didn't do it when I got the bike last year.
The bike couldn't be ready for more miles if it didn't have fresh oil in it. I have been happy with Amsoil full synthetic 10w-40. I try to keep my daughter involved as much as possible and she is slowly starting to enjoy being in the garage.
IMG_2079 by Frank Vest, on Flickr
So there you have it. My bike is ready for the road, with no plans yet for the summer. My father and brother in law are taking their KLR's to Alaska and I wish I could join them
My time will come. -If I was able to go, I feel my bike is ready to go. :victory:
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