KLR can haul some weight

[highdesertranger]

imo all dirt bikes with an electric starter should have a back up. my 2 cents. highdesertranger

 

[offroad]

Backup for electric start would be a push start on a hill? Yes that's really hard on flat lands. And if you kill your battery charge because you flooded the engine and can't start it, then you are stranded. Am sure there are ten other ways to get stranded with a bike that will not start. But would sure like to have several contingencies. Guess kick starter would be one of those contingencies.

Maybe also have survival gear and a two meter radio and cell phone. Maybe a ELB too. If course all if you are going survival mode on the plans with the klr.

Were kick starters used because battery tech used to suck in heat conditions? And now it's much better?

 

[masterplumber]

Having had my battery die because I turned the key to far and left the tail light on, I can say a kick starter would sure be more convenient. My bike weighs over 400 lbs when it's loaded up, and there's not always a hill handy - or it's up hill! I was able to flag someone down, and get a jump start, but that requires unbolting the seat on a KLR. There's always a way, until all avenues have been exhausted anyway. It would just be a lot more convenient. I've personally put over 25,000 miles on this bike in the last 4 years, and I've only had the battery dead once, and a starter button issue another time, so yes, they are very reliable. But you know the second part of Mr Murphy's law - if it goes wrong it will be at the most in - opportune time. Back ups are always good.

 

[LeeRevell]

Best thing is to leave the seat unbolted - it will NOT come off even if you dump the bike. Been there and done that too many times! And I rewired my fuses to use the plastic blades fuses, and are accessible without removing the seat or side plastic. I have a ciggy plug to use for the Slime brand air pump. I also have two auxillary driving lights in case the headlight fails - had that happen at night too!
Cardinal rule with any thumper bike - Blue Loctite is your friend! Use it on all fasteners!

 

[offroad]

LeeR - funny you mention auxiliary lights. Was just looking at some for my vtx1300 to mount in the crash bar. Seems it would be a good safety addition to any bike.

And I also installed a cigarette lighter socket direct to the battery that is mounted on the handlebars. Use it for running a GPS but also can be used to charge the battery.

 

[LeeRevell]

With the KLR you have to be careful of adding the Aux lights. We don't have a whole lot of extra wattage left with the headlight on. I cannot run my Aux lights with the headlights, only with the headlight off. I need some lower-powered Aux lights.

 

[masterplumber]

I've been considering some of the new LED lights due to the low wattage issue. They're advancing pretty rapidly with that technology and really bringing the price down even on the good lights. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to leave my seat unbolted - I know lots of KLR guys and had never heard anyone consider it. I might have to try it around locally just to see if I can feel it move. I did drill out my side panels and use longer bolts with locking nuts threaded on lower so I at least don't have to dismantle half the bike to get to the seat bolts.
I have an auxillary 12 volt plug on my handlebars to charge my phone, run a compressor, etc... I keep planning on upgrading the fuses, and putting them someplace more accessible at the same time, but I just never seem to get around to it. I've honestly only ever blown one fuse on this bike, and it was due to stopping the headlight switch in the middle - you can turn on both filaments at once - but only for a second!
As long as we've headed down the reliability road on this thread - I've pretty much eliminated all the safeties on my bike, as they are known to fail at the most inopportune times. My bike will start and run in gear, out of gear, clutch in or out, kickstand up or down, etc... You need to pay attention, but I actually find riding it more convenient than my buddy's bike that has all the safeties in place still. The biggest improvement is I can just pull in the clutch and start it, without having to find neutral first. I've also added a tee to the breather hose that normally drops through the swing arm. I ran a line from the tee up along the top of the frame so it still breathers when crossing streams a foot or so deep, but any moisture can still drain out through the bottom outlet. All of these mods probably cost less than $1 total and a little time, but I think greatly improved the reliability.

 

[LeeRevell]

Same here, after having the clutch lever interlock fail in the field, I disabled it and the side stand switch. They are just too easily knocked out of alignment. I also removed the chain guard fin, which greatly simplifies chain maintenance. Looking at my pic closely, you will see also my tail light is different. I removed the sub fender and moved the tag up, and installed a round trailer light. Kindof funny all the outer mods I have done on this bike, but have never once split the engine cases, in nearly 45,000 miles of use. It just runs like that energizer bunny...... I feed it Seafoam religiously. Good 'preventive medicine'!

 

[offroad]

Good note about light wattage. May need to look at led solution.

 

[masterplumber]

I kept the sub fender, but was just able to squeeze my license plate up under the stock light by using the bottom holes on the mount. It's actually pressed in there just slightly. I forgot I'd done that mod, after first catching the plate with the knobbies on a trail in Utah. I can bottom out now without hitting the plate, and it is completely blocked from being able to bend back under the fender. I've also drilled an L shaped hole into the top of the air box to allow more air flow - that probably helped more when I ran a Big Gun exhaust that came with the bike. I got tired of the loud noise so I tracked down a stock exhaust - much happier now. Funny thing is, the bike actually pulls better at low end now, and I haven't lost enough at wide open to really even notice.

 

[VJG1977]

You may be under estimating how much  a motorcycle can carry.

[img=273x182]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...GmR7e4oucmxwXOQub_2G5NmQ5wfjAnhVNs_xYAw[/img]

[img=232x174]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...qP-SOjSMx14JmT00Xc4-_4bnboL4bPNhlNAqjyx[/img]
[img=247x176]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...tvckTuRHMHrWinsDwcyNoFqkQRvRx0NOwO7Wsyw[/img]


[img=220x176]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...kWSDVdNMkYOInUOtYJOCuoZzUCx1kvNyYzTzSWg[/img]

 

[LeeRevell]

I once had a riding buddy take a funny pic of me with my KLR looking to be towing a huge gooseneck trailer. I'll see if I can find it when I get back home.