new parts on order, lotsa parts

[edzzed]

since i have been avoiding spending money on the klr and have now quit smoking i have a heavier wallet so decided to do some work on the klr. i ordered lotsa parts from ebay. 146.00usd for 2 new rotors and pads, 128.00usd for chain, and sprockets, 170.00 at holeshot for 2 new tires. my question is will i notice a huge difference changing the front sprocket from 15t to a 14t. anyone who has done it feel free to advise. thanks ED http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p242/edzzed/adamslakesept2008208.jpg

[joker650]

Changing 15 to 14 on my DR650 made a nice differance in the bush....about 10k differance(eng rpm to road speed)

[Phoenix]

Going from a 15 to a 14 was the easiest mod with a noticeable difference offroad, the hills and obstacles are much more fun now:D. My Dr tops out at about 140 kms/h with the 14, will get another 15 for longer pavement rides.

I tried a 13 and a 45 for real steep and 2 up. It was great b/c I did not have to ride both brakes and hope the controled slide would soon end when coming back down with my wife on the back.

Unfortunately, with that combo,I had lost the equivalent of the top gear on the faster gravel roads and occasional Highway. Fuel and oil consumption soared.

For interest, I counted the times I used my brake comparedto others I was riding with. I woulduseengine compression more for slowing down for turns and down hillcontrol. I used my brake once to an average of six times for the others.

I am back to stock front ( 15 ) and stock rear ( 41 ??) because my riding has been more inclined to 400 kmdistance days averaging 60-90 km/ hr on the gravel with not too much steep stuff. Kawasaki picked those ratios for a reason. I feel it is a good balance for me for now. Mostly faster with the occasional steep climb.

On one of the trips we did, last season, we ended up going up a long, very steep, cross ditched road to a bowl where we discovered a bull elk and 20 or so of his herem. I had just taken the 13/45 comob off the bike. I would have been more comfortable with that combo but the stock combo combined with the low end tork of the klr650, it handled it with great success.

Hmm on another occasion, my KLR figured it couldgoanywhere a KTM could go. Soit followedthe KTMup to the base of the upper T Bar at Mt Cain....where was my low gear then....I did it without embarrassment and harm to the bike....The knobbies saved me that time combined with the low end torque of the engine....(Just for the record ...KLR and KTM severely beat out Suzuki that day:dr:) One Suziki did attempt the run, the other Suziki did not even attempt the run.

For me, I think the KLR 650 is too big and cumbersome for those steep tight technical trails anyways.I doubt if I will go back to the 13/45 combo. That is why I have more than one bike. I have my xl600 r which has a 45 on the back. This makes it quite nimble.

The old story "KLR 650 is a Good all round dualsport bike".

Sprockets are cheep enough just trythings out for your individual riding habits and preferences see what you like

Speaking of lotsa parts....I have a "Cogenics Moab Shock" and progressive fork springs andemulators coming for my KLR. I am really looking forward to reporting back on those upgrades.