The only thing I like more than riding my moto is riding my mountain bike so if I can combine the two I would be very very happy! 🙂
I saw this setup down in Sedona AZ over Christmas and it looks ideal for what I need to do.
MTB rack attaches to rear of moto…
I’ll have to do a bit of research on this bike rack, but if it all looks good I think I’ll get one for the summer.
Fork close up…
I need to confirm that it will work with my bikes that have 15mm & 20mm thru-axle forks as well as one that has a standard QR fork. Since those are all pretty common these days I’m assuming the rack can accommodate them.
The only way you can be sure you’ll have the tools you need on the road is to use your bike’s tool kit at home. I know that’s a pain because the travelling tools are all nicely bundled up and you’ve got more tools at home that are easier to get to.
Don’t use ’em!
Break out the on bike tool kit and use it for every repair you would want to be able to handle on the road. If you are missing something or your puny wrench won’t break a bolt loose better to find out at home than 50 miles from nowhere.
I keep a basic record of any service I do to my KLR more serious than lubing the chain as well as any farkles I install. Only takes a second to update and a year or two down the road it’s great to have this info when you need make some decisions about your bike or evaluate how something is working.
When I sell the KLR someday a buyer will be stoked to know what I’ve done to keep the bike running well which should result in a higher price.
I lubed the chain while I had the bike on the centre stand. Glad to get this maintenance done. I’ve got some trips planned to recon logging roads up north on the island.
I use a lot of straps to attach surfboards and kayaks to our vehicles. Straps wear and it’s important to take them out of service before they break in use and damage your expensive gear. As I inspect my straps I cut out damaged sections and save what’s left. At some point that doesn’t leave enough to strap a boat onto a vehicle. So I move the strap along and use it on my KLR650.
Handy for big boxes…
I leave a bungee net on my KLR for unexpected loads and I use it a lot, but it can only wrangle smaller items. I’ve started riding with the short strap tucked under the net so I can use it when bigger objects need hauling or when I need more security than a bungee net can offer.
Well I got her done! 😉 Swapping in some new tires on my KLR650 wasn’t crazy hard, but it did take some time and I’m glad I had access to the internet to confirm a few details.
Tools I used…
I used the tools from my bike’s toolkit to install the new tires. Good thing as I realized I was missing a couple key items I needed.
I used the centerstand on my KLR to lift each wheel so I could pull them from the bike.
This was good practice!
It would have been way easier to get a local shop to install the T63’s, but this was good practice for me and it gives me confidence knowing I have the tools and knowledge to get my bike sorted if I do flat out on some remote logging road.
There are lots of folks buying dualsport bikes that are new motorcyclists because it’s an approachable and exciting part of riding world or they are street riders who want to explore some of those dirt roads and trails they pass on the highway. Learning on the job in the dirt can be painful, dangerous and demoralizing – especially if you are an experienced street rider who ends up feeling like they’ve never been on a bike before! One smart option is to learn the basics before you hit the dirt so that you at least understand what is supposed to happen and to take away some of the fear of the unknown.
My KLR dirt riding experience is years old and I feel like I’m starting over so I ordered up this Dual Sport Riding Techiques DVD from DSR. At $29.99 it’s a low cost way to refresh my memory of how not to get killed on my KLR in Baja this winter!
To save me some time here is what DSR says about their DVD:
“This DVD isolates each of the skills needed to follow the road less traveled, gives specific pointers and ways to practice, and then puts them all together on the trail.
The DVD covers in detail:
Body Position
Turns
Hill climbs and descents
Rocky/ rooty/ rough terrain
Sandy/ muddy/ loose terrain
Line selection
Bike setup
Each section contains specific drills that you can do to improve your riding at your own pace, including ways to tailor the exercises for riders with more or less experience. With practice, these drills cement the correct response for any given situation, and when combined with some great tips on line selection, you’ll find new confidence and enjoyment when riding off-road.
In addition, bonus features include:
Suspension Setup
Tire Changes
Trailriding Footage
Filmed on location in Utah and Colorado.
Total running time: Approx 50 minutes”
So what did I think?
excellent production value
simple well illustrated explanations for each point
enough actual riding segments to keep me stoked
wide enough scope to get you rolling on the trail without trying to cram so much in you get overwhelmed
logical breaks between sections so you can easily FFWD to the section you want to review
friendly supportive attitude for the dirt newbie
great focus on staying safe and respecting the environment
bonus features were useful
I was really impressed with this DVD. It’s clear that Ned Suesse [instructor/narrator] has been teaching DS riding for a long time and that he loves riding his bike in the dirt. He comes across like a wise friendly coach who’s always cautious, but let’s you know that if you work hard you’ll be out there rocking and rolling with the rest of the DS riding community. Each section of the DVD builds on the previous one and is broken down into easy to understand steps with clear examples of what happens when you do it right or wrong. One thing I really appreciated was the clips throughout the DVD of experienced guys riding skillfully across the terrain that was just being discussed. That was entertaining and motivating plus it showed how to use the skills you were being taught at real speeds. Without them I might have gotten a bit bored like being in school too long, but with those clips it was really fun to watch the DVD just for the beautiful scenery and the riding action.
Besides the 50mins of main DVD footage there are quite a few useful bonus features: on topics like suspension setup, tire changes and some fun trail riding footage. Just when you thought you’d seen it all if you open the DVD folder on your computer you’ll see a 6 page PDF file with tips for each section that you can print take with you on the trail to refresh your memory when you are out there using the skills you’ve learned. That’s a nice extra value added item that highlights the fact the DSR folks want to see you be successful and that they really care.
How to use this DVD?
Nobody, including the DSR folks, is going to claim that you’ll become an expert DS rider by watching a DVD. Having said that if you are new to dirt/gravel riding you need to start somewhere and this DVD is good place. Taking a course or learning from a more experienced rider is a smart option, but rather than going into a course cold it makes a lot of sense to review the basics on this DVD so you get the most from your time with an instructor.
If you don’t have a DS riding course readily available or a friend who can show you the ropes you can use this DVD to learn the basics – IF YOU ARE CAREFUL. Reread that last bit – it’s important! Pick a safe place to practice. Go with a buddy or at least let someone know wear you are and when you’ll be back. Work on a couple things at a time and stop before you get tired. Of course where all the necessary protective gear and if you aren’t sure what you need ask an expert before you head out.
The Bottom Line
This DVD is educational and entertaining. The production quality is excellent and the topics it covers are all essential skills for the new DS rider. For $29.99 it’s one of the better investments you can make and once you are done with it you can pass it along to a friend to get them excited about DS riding.
I can’t afford $1400 for a 2 day course or $2600 for a 5 day catered trip, but I can afford $30 for a DVD I can watch whenever I need a refresher on the basics and I can share it with friends who might be thinking about getting a dualsport bike.
I needed to drop my KLR off for service and didn’t want to ride the bus back home so I strapped a folding bike to the rear rack and used that to pedal home. It was quite secure with two Roc-straps and I’ll use this system next time I need service. It was dead easy…=-)
The stock front fender on a KLR650 is huge and not everyone loves how it looks. The size contributes to some instability at highway speeds when the wind is gusting or you are in turbulent air around vehicles.
So I figured I would try it out and see what I think. You can buy these KTM fenders online for as little as $25 + shipping.
View from below…
The mounting holes on the KTM fender are close, but not exactly where they need to be for the KLR. You’ll need a Dremel tool to enlarge the holes a bit. It’s nothing major – about a 1 beer job if you aren’t anal and a 2 beer job if you want it to look pretty.
Side view…
I did a rough job and got it on fast. You’ll need to deal with the speedo cable that is running through a bracket riveted on the right side of the stock fender. I just drilled out the front rivet and left the rear part of the bracket on the fender in case I wanted to reinstall it later. You can relocate the bracket to the KTM fender, but it isn’t needed.
Here is the stock bike for comparison…
So far the KTM fender is working well. I need more time to road test it on the highway and see what I think. I’ve heard that some people prefer the larger stock fender for rain riding as it provides more protection. I’ll have to figure out how I feel about both fenders. Swapping them is a 3-5 min job so I may end up using both of them depending on what sort of riding I’m doing at the moment.
Note the sharp fairing points on each side of windscreen...
The Bajaworx Dakar windscreen bolts right onto a KLR650 with some minor filing of the mounting holes to get the stock well-nuts in. However, as you can see above the different shape of the Dakar compared to the stock screen means that there are two sharp points on the fairing aimed right at the rider.
Not ideal!
So I went about removing them.
Dremel time!
I marked the cut line with a sharpie and a ruler. Pulled off the Dakar and used a Dremel tool to cut off the excess material.
Cut and sanded...
After cutting off the point I used a sanding wheel to remove any sharp edges. I didn’t get too detailed as this is KLR not a BMW! It just has to work. It doesn’t have to impress anyone…=-)
The finished product...
After the extra points were removed I reinstalled the Dakar. The bike looks better and I can still use the stock screen if I feel like a lower unit at some point.
The KLR650 Blog 