KLR650 Farckle Fairy!

Happy to be done Part 1 of the Farckle Party!

There were a few accessories [aka farckles] that I wanted to add to my KLR650 before I took her onto the dirt. It took a while to get them in from the US, get them powder coated and installed, but she’s [mostly] ready to rumble now.

What she looked liked fresh from the dealer...

I’ve still got a few things I want to add to the bike:

• magnetic oil drain plug
• Barkbuster hand guards
• Continental TKC80 tires
• Progressive springs
• Happy Trail metal top box
• Master cylinder guard
• 16T sprocket
• Uni air filter
• Doohickey & spring upgrade
• Headlight rock guard
• Centerstand

These will all get added slowly before next summer.

Thank you Farckle Fairy!

Here is what I’ve done so far:

• Happy Trail skid plate
• HT engine guard and highway pegs
• HT crash bars
• HT soft luggage racks
• Bajaworx Dakar windscreen
• Ortlieb saddle bags
• Aerostich tank panniers
• Custom decals

I’ll post details of each mod to this blog as I get time.

Happy Trail KLR Fork Brace…

Happy Trail fork brace...

A stiff front end on a KLR is a good thing. I ordered up a Happy Trail fork brace to add a bit of precision to the KLR’s vague front end. It’s cheap it’s effective and it’s easy to install. First let’s look at some dual sport fork brace porn…=-)

Happy Trail logo...

Clamp detail...

Bottom view...

End view...

Side view...

Stock fork setup...

Getting ready for the install...

Step 1: take off the end caps and loosen the centre bolts.

Expose the top of the fork...

Step 2: lift the fork boots to expose the top of each fork leg.

Put brace in place...

Step 3: put brace loosely in place and ensure it’s sitting level on the top of each fork leg.

Install end caps...

Step 4: install end caps and tighten evenly [no torque specs provided by Happy Trail]. Then tighten centre bolts evenly. Work suspension through full range and ensure there is no binding or interference.

Go ride your KLR...

I’ll provide a review of the Happy Trail KLR650 fork brace after I get some miles on my bike.

Squeak Be Gone!

The only thing really annoying me about my 2010 KLR650 motorcycle was the crazy loud squeaking noise it made every time I moved the bars left and right.

$0.75 worth of fuzzy velcro...

A member of KLR650.net posted that he solved the same problem with a bit of fuzzy velcro glued to the spot where the clutch cable is rubbing on the metal frame.

I tried the same solution and it worked great. Best 60 seconds I’ve spent working on my bike so far…=-)

 

KLR650 GPS Mount Mk2…

GPS mounted higher up on cross bar…

I tried mounting my Garmin eTrex Vista Cx on the main bar under the crossbar, but only one ride proved that it’s not a great spot for it. Don over on the KLR650 Yahoo Group suggested just wrapping the crossbar with rubber [in this case an old bicycle inner tube] and mounting the GPS to the crossbar.

A little higher and easier to see...

So I gave it a shot and the GPS is in a better position for viewing and access to the joystick/buttons while riding. Hopefully all that rubber will isolate the GPS from some of the KLR’s vibrations.

Lots of rubber wrapped around the crossbar...

First Oil Change…

Getting ready for my first oil change...

The best thing you can do for anything with a motor is frequent oil changes. I was hoping to get a magnetic oil drain plug in the mail for my KLR so I held off my first oil change as long as I could, but at 300kms I figured I better get on with it.

The old oil she was dirty!

I picked up the supplies I needed before starting:

• 2L of Kawasaki 10W40 oil
• a small funnel
• an oil pan
• a 17mm socket

Nice clean new oil…

I tried to buy some oil at my local Suzuki/KTM dealer [closest MC shop], but the parts manager recommended I stick with Kawasaki oil until I was out of warranty just in case I had any engine trouble they couldn’t complain. I came back from a 15 minute ride and let the bike sit for 5 minutes before I dumped the oil out.

Full, but not too full…

I didn’t change the oil filter since the mileage was so low. I’ll do a filter change next time I dump the oil – probably at 800kms. The bike took a bit less than 2L of oil. I dumped the old oil into some plastic containers and I’ll find a place locally where I can recycle it. The whole operation took less than 15mins.

Adventure Rider Magazine…

Cover Sept/Oct 2010...

I bough the issue of Adventure Rider Magazine shown above because I wanted to read about a dualsport kiteboard rider’s adventures. It’s a pretty nice magazine and is available as a PDF download so you don’t have to pay for shipping and wait for your magazine to arrive. If you are looking for more dualsport action to keep you entertained when you aren’t able to head out for your own adventures this magazine is worth a look.

Lost Coast article...

BMW F800 Stormtrooper Build…

Click here to see a video explaining why this BMW is all broken...

Click on the image above and watch the video then and ask yourself what you would do when your BMW F800GS’ front fender explodes from a rock brought up by your wheel and your bike goes down hard when the front brake crossover line snags the tire?

Talk about making the best of a crash...

Well if you have some skills and a vision maybe you make the best of the insurance cheque and rebuild the bike to better suit your needs.

All Photos & Video: belong to http://www.lostrider.com - click on image to jump there...

The bike belongs to Finn from Lost Rider.com who posts over at ADVrider forums as ChiTown.

Note there is no crossover brake line anymore!

After watching that crash video I was just glad Finn made it out without any serious injuries. I figured the bike would be a write off and he’d buy something new, but I was wrong. He brought it back to life better than ever. Great job Finn…=-)

Icon Interceptor Reflective Vest

Can you see me?

I don’t want to look like a traffic cone 24/7 when I am riding my bike. In fact I generally buy black or other dark colours for my riding gear. Most of the time that works fine for me, but there are situations [fog, dark rainy nights, rush hour traffic, etc..] where having extra visibility is a good idea. So I got an Icon Interceptor vest in high viz green/yellow.

Victoria to Duncan, BC ~100km round trip…

I’m still breaking in my KLR650 and haven’t had a lot of time to go on any big rides so I decided to get out for a trip to Duncan, BC to add 100kms to my Odo and check out how the vest worked at highway speeds.

Definitely not mellow yellow!

I bought the large-XL size of vest so it wouldn’t be crazy tight when worn over my riding gear. The vest goes on easily over my riding jacket and I can access the bottom front pockets with the vest on which is handy. It didn’t flap or move around at speed which made me happy. Nobody had any trouble seeing me, but I can’t say whether it made any difference on a sunny low traffic day like today.

Front detail…

The vest is made up of a double layer of mesh fabric that’s eye searingly bright. This type of nylon will fade pretty fast wen exposed to UV which makes a vest a smart choice. You can replace it when it’s not as visible any more without feeling bad about the cost. It’s not crazy hot where I live so I can’t tell you how this will be in super hot climates. It should breathe okay, but it won’t let the venting on your riding jacket work as well as if you didn’t have it on.

Back detail…

The quality of construction throughout seems excellent.

The sides adjust…

You can adjust both sides to fit different gear via a shock cord and toggle.

Reflective material…

There are reflective sections of material front and back.

ID holder…

The ID holder on the front is velcro backed and comes off. I’ll just slide a business card in there in case someone needs to ID me or finds my vest if I leave it behind. Over all it seems like a decent product and I’ll be happy to put it on when I feel like I need to be seen better without having to wear day glo yellow all the time.

Ortlieb Messenger Bag Pro…

Ortlieb Messenger Bag Pro...

I posted a 3 month review of the Ortlieb Messenger Bag Pro over on my bicycle blog. You can read it by clicking on the image above. I wanted to add a bit of info here for any dualsport motorcyclists looking for a high quality waterproof backpack to wear while riding. This 30L [8 gal] capacity bag is very tough, 100% waterproof and fit very well. It was designed for professional bicycle couriers, but is ideal for riding your KLR650 or other dualsport. It carries enough to be useful without allowing you to go nuts and overload it. The waterproof body means your gear stays dry no matter how hard it rains or if you fall off into a stream!

KLR and Ortlieb bag…

This bag is a bit big for riding my bicycles so I only take it about 25% of the time for those missions, but when I’m riding my KLR this bag is the perfect size for running errands around town and I like not leaving anything attached to my bike. I just jump off and take care of business.

Ortlieb Velocity next to the Ortlieb Messenger Bag Pro…

Ortlieb makes a smaller waterproof backpack called the Velocity which I’ve been using for 3yrs – click on the image above for details. I love it on my bicycles and when walking because it holds enough to be useful, but not too much. It’s nice to be able to throw a laptop into these bags and not worry it will get wet when it’s pouring rain out.

Back details…

The shoulder straps fit well and are very comfortable. The bottom of the bag sits on the seat behind me when I ride my KLR so I don’t have to carry the weight of the bag on my shoulders while I ride. Ventilation is good, but I don’t live somewhere that gets crazy hot in the summer. I’ve used other Ortlieb saddle bags made from the same tough material on offroad bike tours and crashed at 30kph with only scuffs on my bags to show for it.

KLR650 GPS Mount…

Garmin eTrex Vista HCx mounted to my KLR650...

I have a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx that I wanted to mount to my KLR650. It’s an older GPS I have already repaired once so I didn’t want to spend much on getting it attached to the KLR in case it dies soon.

I used a Garmin bicycle handle bar mount I owned...

So I checked my GPS parts box and found an unused bicycle handle bar mount that fits the KLR’s bars.

View of GPS bracket....

I’m not sure how long the clip on the back of the GPS will hold on for when riding rough roads, but as I said it’s an older GPS and when it gets replaced I’ll buy a more burly mount.

Overview of cockpit...

The Garmin GPS is not in a bad position. I can see the whole screen and access the joystick & buttons pretty well.

Harley Davidson Dualsport

 

HD Dualsport from ADV Rider....

Click here for more details

 

Back in Black!

2010 KLR650 with cheesy decals...

I love my KLR650, but I hate the cheesy $4 decals.

 

My buddy Sean took some video while I pulled the decals from my KLR.

A little heat and a little pulling...

The decals peel off pretty easy with a little heat from a hair dryer.

To remove the glue residue....

A little Goo Gone takes off the glue that stays behind.

That's better....

That looks way way way better if I do say so myself…=-)

Now for some custom decals!

I’ve got a plan for some custom decals so I’ll be off to a sign shop next week now that I have a blank canvas to work with.

Tire & Chain Kit

Tire and chain kit...

I’m starting to put together some tools and spares for my KLR650 so when I head further afield I’ll have what I need to deal with common problems. I decided to start with a kit that has what I need to deal with a flat tire or a broken chain.

Tire Stuff:

• tire spoons x 2
• spare front and rear tubes
• patch kit
• CO2 inflator
• Bicycle pump
• Tubless tire plugs

I bought a kit that had some tubless tire plugs/tools in it. I’ll carry them for now even though my KLR650 uses tubes because I may be able to help someone else who is stuck with a flat.

Chain Stuff:

• chain breaker
• spare quick links x 2

This is just a start as I need to make sure I’ve got everything I need to pull both wheels, but you gotta start somewhere. I’ll be building up a tool kit I take with me on longer rides including general stuff like a spark plug, chain lube, duct tape, zip ties electrical tape, etc…

Guardian XL Motyorcycle Cover

My ghetto bike cover...

This is my first motocycle since university that has to live outside…=-( On the plus side it’s nicely tucked away between my garage, hedge and F150. There is a tree over top of it so this spot is sheltered from wind and sun. The only trouble is rain and all the crap that drops from the tree – including bird poo! A gnarly old paint tarp got used for the first week or so, but it wants to fall off at the first breeze even in this protected spot.

A Guardian XL motorcycle cover...

So I swung by Action Motorcycles in Esquimalt and Deanne was very helpful in my quest for a decent cover for my KLR650.

The box...

The large size Guardian cover fits the naked bike fine, but I choose the XL because I want to get my cover on with a tall windscreen as well as tank panniers and saddle bags. Since the bike is out of the wind a bit of extra material doesn’t hurt.

Side view...

The cover fits the bike well and runs almost to the ground.

A vent to let moisture out...

It’s got a vent to let any moisture inside out. Construction looks good and it has a lifetime warranty. I’ll report back with a review of how it’s working towards the end of the year.

Seal Line E-Case Review…

Seal Line E-Case with my iPhone...

Click on the image above to read my initial review of the Seal Line E-Case. It comes in a bunch of sizes that would suit anything from an iPhone to an iPad. Rated at waterproof to 1m for 30mins it will handle rain on your bike fine and the device is fully functional for navigation or making calls.

Changing a rear tire…

The video shows a tubeless rear BMW GSA tire geting changed so not exactly the same as working on a KLR, but a useful video in any case.

Baja Kiteboarding…

I’m hoping to head down to Baja this winter for a couple months to kiteboard and camp on the beach. I found these videos of some folks who did just that.

ADV Rider Magazine [Sept/Oct 2010 issue] has an article about these folks and their trip which you can buy online.

ADV Ride Sequatchie Videos

If you want to see parts 2-7 of this ride just click here. Camera is mounted on a heavily modified KLR650.

First ride…

BC is green that’s for sure!

All my riding so far has been short errands in the city. So I decided to head out of town to visit my friend Greg near Sooke, BC and get some more break in miles on the new KLR.

The ride…

I actually went a bit farther than shown on the map as Greg lives past Sooke on the westside. Hwy 14 is twisty and reasonably low speed 80-90kph so I could stay under 4000 RPM while I am breaking in the motor, but still have fun!

My 2010 KLR is still 100% stock…

The ride was great and it was nice to see Greg. I got reminded how the weather on the coast and in Victoria are totally different. It was really hot in town, but as I rode west the temperatures dropped quickly. I’ll be taking some riding pants next time so I can go further without freezing to death!

I’m stoked to have a bike again after a lot of years with only 4 wheels…

Greg’s dad gave him a motorcycle that’s in good shape, but isn’t insured at the moment. I’ve already started working on Greg to get him motivated to insure the bike so we can go riding…=-)

KLR650.net Review…

Next generation KLR in the desert...

There is a useful review over at the KLR650.net that goes over all the new features/changes of the 2008+ bikes vs. the earlier model. It’s clearly a very enthusiastic perspective in support of the KLR, but that’s not shocking coming from a site called the KLR650.net!

The only two things in this review that I would not agree with are:

• the new fairing plastic will get wrecked if you drop this bike…it’s just plastic…so if you are going to ride off paved roads and want your plastic to stay minty fresh get some crash bars.
• the rear platform rack is bigger than before but still too small to be particularly useful. If you want to carry anything significant back there you’ll want to add a larger platform.

Overall I do agree that the new KLR650 is an improvement over the older model in many ways.