Just picked up my new 2005 KLR 650

[JasonLester]

OK well almost new. only 2400 miles. Got a pretty sweet deal on it.
Supposedly the Doo is done. (I'll probably check that, you'll see why in a second)
Corbin flat seat.
oversized rear rack. Alaskan sheep skin pad.
3 helmets
box of oil filters
manuals.
I think I got 6 keys (not sure why so many)
highway begs and guard (I'll probably replace this when I put the Nerf bars on it)
I think I'm missing something.

The bike was listed very reasonable. We drove a good ways to see it. Unfortunately it never would start. (Which worked in our favor) So we got it for even less. He seemed happy and I am happy. Well except it seems I already need to clean the carb.

We've basically troubleshot to that point. We drained the tank and refilled with new high test. Drained The carb. Checked the air filter and put in an iridium (new) plug. We got tired of tinkering with it and decided to mess with it this week.
Compression is fine on it.
Its a one owner bike and he didn't do anything other than oil changes. We stopped by a local Kawasaki dealer and he said with the milage and the year he suspected the the carb too. This was before we checked everything else.

Anyway here it is!

[propforward]

 

Wow that's a heck of a find, nice one. I'm sure it will fire up if you strip the carb and clean it. Skanky old gas from sitting around will play hell with a starting circuit sometimes. Looks real tidy!

[JasonLester]

I think I got a great deal anyway. I payed $2700 for my bike and all the stuff too. From what I have seen they go for 3400 or more. The next best one I was looking at was 3799. It was a like new bike. But for less I got less miles and a like new bike that has never been offroad.

I need to get a few stickers off of it though. And I figure going through the carb will only be a benifit to me on the AK trip. Looks pretty simple to do anyway.

[propforward]

I'd say you did pretty well there. There isn't much to these bikes really. You'll get it running and it will go really well. The CVK carburettors are pretty simple. A careful strip and clean and rebuild and all will be well - you got a lot of bike for the money I think. Seems unlikely that anything else would be wrong with it. Those CVKs don't like to sit for long with old gas - that seems to be true of any bike.

[SLO-KLR]

  Jason!  Congrats on the new scooter.  That is one huge garage you have there with some other very nice toys. 

[JasonLester]

Thanks Slo-KLR

That's at work in our warehouse. Dad and I have a few toys in there (Mostly Dad  but I have keys). Including those in the photo and a few more. The KLR's (he has a 2006) will be for our AK trip in June. When we went to look at this bike I knew they were pretty simple to fix. When it didn't start we knew it would help us a little on the price.

He had bought it new and put less than 2400 miles on it and paid almost 5k plus the extras. I figure it cost him over one dollar a mile before maintence and gas/insurance....ouch...thats some pricey driving. We'll put more milage than that with our AK trip.   

[JasonLester]

It lives!!!   

I came in to work this morning with some seafoam and was going to try to put it in the tank with the new gas we got. looked down and realized the spark plug wire was still off... We were so tired from the 8 hours of driving we had done to get the bike, we forgot to hook it back up before trying the new gas.

It fired right up.    I'm excited. Now I'll get it all back together and let the seafoam do the rest. No pulling the carb today.


Just thought I'd share the good news.

Jason

[golfmuch]

Sweet.

[propforward]

Brilliant! This is why it's often important to walk away when getting frustrated with a project. Often times you come back and find the solution quickly. Glad it's working out for you - now you really did get a hell of a deal! 

[waverlyhagood]

  jason.  .    Is that your mechinic in the picture?     

[JasonLester]

Thanks guys I was so excited this morning when it fired up. Not that I minded going through the carb.

And yeah thats my son. He probably would have seen my mistake on the spark plug wire. So maybe he should be my mechanic. 

Actually it was my dad my son and me for the trip to pick up the bike. We had alot of fun even though it was a long drive. I'm just glad he's getting old enough to go with me on trips like that....now I don't want to hurry that up at all though....Maybe a sidecar for the AK trip..lol... Like his mom would let that happen.

[88Toyota]

I have done that. I have also had the kill switch on the handlebars off and found that it just won't start no matter how much you tinker with it. I know how you feel  . Congrats on the new bike  and 

[JasonLester]

Thanks 88.

Just took my first ride on it. Did real well. I still think the carb is dirty. It backfires a little on me. But now I know the seafoam is in the carb. so hopefully it will do its job. It also seems like the choke is a little off. Not sure if thats from us messing with it or what.

I was riding it up the road hear by work and some idiot in a little car decided to pass me as I slowed to turn left. Yep you guessed it he passed me on that side. Its a one lane road to boot.

[JoeWannaB]

Welcome to the asylum. Nice little mule you got there. If the seafoam doesn't clear up the back firing, you may want to check your valve clearances. The PO may not have had them checked after the break in period. I'd do it before heading for AK just for piece of mind.

[JasonLester]

JoeWannaB,

Your probably right. I'll have to put that on my list of things to check before the trip.

 I have noticed the backfiring getting less. Unfortunatly the weather and work have kept me from getting the title and tag for it. So for now its a garage qween. I think next week I'll be able to get to the DMV and get that stuff done and get some gas through her. I can't wait. I think it will clear up the little bit of backfiring. Its really only when you let off the gas quick and mostly doesn't seemed warmed up. I was also thinking the choke may be on more than I think....

Ah the fun of tinkering ...lol

[JasonLester]

new pics.

getting ready for AK

[JoeWannaB]

Bikes are looking great. I'm really salivating over that garage space. Has the backfiring worked itself out?

[JasonLester]

I haven't put 3 miles on it unfortunatly. I turned the carb and cleaned it. It was pretty clean. It idles better after a short warmup. But it still pops when decellerating. Not sure whats going on there. May need to totaly pull the carb I guess. But it was so clean in the bottom side. Its been pretty cold here so I haven't even got tags for it. I'll do that in the next few days and start really riding it.

Oh and as for the garage space. It pays to have your own company :) This is our building the warehouse section. Needs cleaned up and the boats taken out though. Then we could get the cars and jeep all in a row in the back there.

[max49]

 Nice Bikes. I have the same color '05 also.
Backfiring on deceleration is usually caused by  lean condition. Your main jet could still be partially clogged.
  I'd be careful how much weight you put on your rear rack and load if with soft stuff if you can. My son had some big problems with the 6 mm bolts that hold it to the subframe that sheered off fromit bouncing up and down.  He rides off road a lot so yours may be fine if you're going to be mostly on the slabs.

[steve]

for that AK trip, one of those really ought to have the larger IMS tank.  i'd pick the black one since it doesnt have the radiator protection on it yet.  it'll be nice to have that extra range and a reserve tank for the silver one to share. just sayin'

sre

[JasonLester]

I don't think we'll need more that the 6.1 gallons of fuel. Dad has done the trip several times in his truck and in a jeep years ago. He carried feul back then bu now says there is fuel availible. Basicaly if you stop you get fuel. I thought of an extra fuel cell of sorts just in case.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the IMS tanks are only .5 gallons bigger. Not sure its worth that when I can carry that easily in a fuel cell if I think I need it.

[steve]

.5 gallons is about 25 miles.  that's a lot of pushing. 

the reason i put on my IMS was for the radiator protection.  i could have put on the bars but i wanted the option of more fuel capacity. 

sre

[waverlyhagood]

  I have tried to put 6.1 gallons in a stock tank . I went from empty to full up to just below the opening. The stock tank will not hold 6.1 gallons. It's more like 5.6 gallons. Thats going by the reading on the pump. The IMS tank actually gives you close to 1 gallon more fuel to use.  Just my 2 cents.   

[JasonLester]

I have tried to put 6.1 gallons in a stock tank . I went from empty to full up to just below the opening. The stock tank will not hold 6.1 gallons. It's more like 5.6 gallons. Thats going by the reading on the pump. The IMS tank actually gives you close to 1 gallon more fuel to use.  Just my 2 cents.

are you sure the stock tank was totaly empty. With the design of the tank there is a good bit of gas trapped on the opposite side of the tank from the petcock. You can tilt the bike way over and get that fuel into the usable area. Its like an extra reserve. My guess is that is why your stock tank will only take 5.6 gallons.

As for the trip. On the roads we plan on driving dad took a 1978 Jeep CJ5 up that same route in 1982. There were less gas stations then. And the jeep had a shorter range than the bikes have (15 gallons with a 304 and 3spd trans around 200 miles to a tank). He took a 5 gallon can but never used it.

Lets say the KLR only has 5.6 gallons. At 50 miles to the gallon thats 280 miles. Thats a looong way to not see a place to get gas. If you only got 40 mpg its 224 miles. Still more than the Jeep.

Just my thinking. I'm not worried about running out of gas. I think you'd have to be trying to really push it,passing up gas,to run out. 

[waverlyhagood]

  Yes the tank was totally empty. I had gotten some bad gas and I porded the gas out and cleaned the fuel valve.  When I filled the tank up 5.6 was all I was able to get in it. Now as I said that was the reading on the fuel pump. JasonLester as you stated the fuel stops are not as far apart as they use to be. You mite be ok with the stock tank. Just my 2 cents. Hope I didn't put you to sleep.