Adventure in Ohio?

[steveb126]

Originally Posted by Mikef5000

Late to the party....

Great ride yesterday! It was almost 10 and a half hours and right on 400 miles for me. About time for another oil change .


More importantly.... perhaps some of you remember my Buell Ulysses woes; the reason I bought my Tenere back in March.

Quickest recap ever: Very minor oil seepage... brought it in for warranty repair. Problem got worse... brought it in for more warranty repair. Problem got worse... brought it in for more warranty repair, this time they needed to replace the cases, which means engine rebuild. Next oil change found bearing parts in the tranny fluid... brought it in for more warranty repair, to get to the tranny they have to split the cases again, another motor rebuild, this time with tranny rebuild. {at this point in time I bought the Tenere, planning on selling the Uly whenever I got it back from this rebuild} 50 miles after I got it back from the second rebuild, it exploded oil everywhere, and was a mess. Noticeable minor issues, as well as the catastrophic oil issue. {Bike is still under warranty, closing in on 3 years old, 29,000 miles}

At this point in time I wrote up a report. One hell of a report. Diagrams, documents, images, time lines, causes/effect summarys. A 26 page report. I sent it to Harley Davidson, the local (servicing) dealership, and the dealership I originally purchased it from (and hadn't spoken too since, they're out of state).

My report (in as respectful a way as possible) blamed the local servicing dealership for all the problems, and expectedly, they were all pissed off and unhelpful. The dealership I originally bought it from was extremely helpful, but limited in what they could do. Then I got a hold of Harley. Things began coming together. They were understanding, supportive, and helpful! Long story slightly shorter, Harley asked how much I wanted out of the bike, they agreed to my number, and they bought the bike back! And not only that, they came and picked it up, check in hand.


So, out of respect for those that were helpful, I feel the need to name drop here...

AD Farrows here in Columbus/Delaware should be avoided for Harley/Buell work. The techs are incompetent, plus the majority of the employees have the worst kind of personalities. Sorry, but I've worked with them way more than I wanted to over the past 2 years, and these are my official findings.

Harley, like, corporate Harley, really pulled through and did the right thing. Sure they may make chrome couches and more clothes than half the clothing brands out there. But I had everything going against me; discontinued bike, high mileage, already bought a replacement out of the family, etc, yet they really came through here. I have a new found respect for the company. (Still no respect for the pirate/poseur Harley riders though, see South Park episode "The F Word")

And finally, Valley HD & Buell in Belmont, OH and Wheeling, WV. These guys worked with Harley to finish everything up and complete the deal. Great to work with, persistent, friendly... Recommended.


That is all! Carry on with your regular ADV convo's.

That is great news Mike !

[invisible monster]

Originally Posted by Mikef5000

Late to the party....

Great ride yesterday! It was almost 10 and a half hours and right on 400 miles for me. About time for another oil change .


More importantly.... perhaps some of you remember my Buell Ulysses woes; the reason I bought my Tenere back in March.

Quickest recap ever......

Wow, really glad to hear that your Uly saga finished with a happy ending. I remember seeing your Ulysses all tore apart up at AD Farrow when I stopped in there one time and have followed your updates here and on BadWeb.

I often think of selling mine because of all the reliability issues you read about on the web but have never been able to bring myself to do it because: 1 - it has been very reliable, 2 - it's paid for, 3 - it's such a fun bike to ride.

[ruppster]

Originally Posted by z@ch

For a bike they've been building since the dawn of time, Kawasucky has no excuse for that crap.

Thailand vs. Japan. Pre 08 bikes have very few problems other than than the doohicky. I know a fella that had a new 08 with no power & used oil like crazy. Turned out the bore was oval. I can run my 93 as hard as I want & it seems to never use a drop.
It's the same reason I'm skeptical of the CRF250L, but the Thai cbr250 seems to be doing ok.

[Mikef5000]

Originally Posted by ruppster

Thailand vs. Japan. Pre 08 bikes have very few problems other than than the doohicky. I know a fella that had a new 08 with no power & used oil like crazy. Turned out the bore was oval. I can run my 93 as hard as I want & it seems to never use a drop.
It's the same reason I'm skeptical of the CRF250L, but the Thai cbr250 seems to be doing ok.

My buddy's 09 doesn't have any of the issues others report; 30k miles on it now. He got lucky though, I have read of numerous with issues.

[BOB RAMSAY]

Adventure in Ohio - I know that thread.

Nutcracker Dual Sport Satuday morning - Logan Ohio.
100 miles of fun - and adventure (of sorts).

Looks like condtions could be primo. . .

Probably a sea of orange (that works for me.)

Hope to see you on the trail. . .

Adventure in Ohio -

[Mikef5000]

Oh, and since I'm now Buelless, I have some spares for those here with one:



Uly belt: broken-in with 3000 miles, looks fine.
2009 Buell Service Manual, used, not to bad.
New version (teflon coated?!) Uly clutch cable, new.
Rear brake lever and shifter/linkage (off firebolt) used, look fine.
Used front muffler strap/clamp.
Front motor isolator, used but looks fine.
Palmer adjustable windshield brackets for the Uly, black, used but look fine.

Stebel Nautalis Air Horn; used but works fine, looks used.

Make me an offer.

[Gonzo_Matt]

Originally Posted by mpenner

Got room for me? Should I load up some GPS routes? Is Mt Vernon a good place to meet up or do you go around that mess?

Sure, Sure (I have a loose route in my GPS ), I was planning on heading north of mt vernon and try to find some better roads to connect my place to Danville, maybe up into Butler and do breakfast at the Wiffletree.

Originally Posted by MeefZah

I can't ride but do you guys have a breakfast plan, because I can meet for a little bit.

No clue, given the above, do you have a suggestion.

Originally Posted by RallycarJon

I am kind of a game time decision based on the weather since I am an hour and a half from Danville. What time is the new time to meet in Danville if you are leaving your place at 9?

I'll be honest, I have no idea given the above. Maybe meet up in butler if you are coming from Akron.

The forecast keeps changing, rain is supposed tobe gone by 8 am, but back in the afternoon

[sion]

some video that indypup and buildit and 1 or 2 others may enjoy

[MeefZah]

Originally Posted by ruppster

Thailand vs. Japan. Pre 08 bikes have very few problems other than than the doohicky. I know a fella that had a new 08 with no power & used oil like crazy. Turned out the bore was oval. I can run my 93 as hard as I want & it seems to never use a drop.
It's the same reason I'm skeptical of the CRF250L, but the Thai cbr250 seems to be doing ok.

The KLR has been built in Thailand for a while, well before 2008.

[MeefZah]

Originally Posted by Gonzo_Matt

No clue, given the above, do you have a suggestion.

I guess Jon, Gorman and his lovely wife, and I are gonna meet at 830 at the Mountain Top (or Mountain View?) restaurant in Mt. Eaton, so scratch me off the Danville / Butler breakfast ride.

I suppose anyone else who might care to join us would be welcome.

[Gonzo_Matt]

Originally Posted by MeefZah

The KLR has been built in Thailand for a while, well before 2008.

I think the changeover was around 90-91

Edit: I meant 00-01.....

[ruppster]

Originally Posted by MeefZah

The KLR has been built in Thailand for a while, well before 2008.

Supposedly that's when the bulk of the problems began. I guess I read that it was when the body style changed, must have misread or had a bad source. Just did some more research and it appears 2002 was the change.
FWIW the doohickey in my 93 was broken when I upgraded it. The broken piece was in the crankcase. It does seem I've read about more oil burners in the new body style.
I'm not much of a rider (still learning to ride), but it didn't me long to feel a few shortcomings of the stock KLR, all around its decent and I'm sure a good rider would be able to take it many more places than I.

[MeefZah]

Originally Posted by ruppster

Supposedly that's when the bulk of the problems began. I guess I read that it was when the body style changed, must have misread or had a bad source. Just did some more research and it appears 2002 was the change.
FWIW the doohickey in my 93 was broken when I upgraded it. The broken piece was in the crankcase. It does seem I've read about more oil burners in the new body style.
I'm not much of a rider (still learning to ride), but it didn't me long to feel a few shortcomings of the stock KLR, all around its decent and I'm sure a good rider would be able to take it many more places than I.

Total dead horse flogging but the KLR is a great bike in theory.

Kaw's failing is that they tried to keep it so cheap that they ended up making a shitty bike. If it was $500 more, and Kaw spent that money on the needed upgrades and left their profit margin as it is, it'd be a true bargain and a world class bike.

Fix the doohickey and spring, install sealed wheel bearings, fix the breaking subframe issues, fix the breaking footpeg issues, make the chain adjusters more dirt bikey, little better suspension, better brakes. For new models add FI, a nicer digital dash (with a fucking clock). Try and shave some weight but that's really not a necessity.

They tried a little in 2008 with new plastics, headlights, beefier wheels, better brakes; but still the doohickey issue; and now the oil burning issue.

[swingset]

Don't forget buttressing the flexy frame and going with an 18" rear wheel.

What's sucky about the KLR is that some bikes that are good deserve to stay around for 15 years unchanged. The KLR has been very flawed for its entire run, with very little effort to correct it.

Just lazy on the part of Kawi, but then the Japs do that a lot. Make a great bike for 3 years, make a mediocre one for 20, no rhyme or reason.

Maybe KTM has it better...make 185 different models, one of them's bound to be good.

[Solace]

Originally Posted by BOB RAMSAY

Thanks guys for letting me ride along with y'all today. I can't quite keep the pace on the pavement down southeast way - and I thought we hit some good state routes today. I punked out and headed north early and got home with 230 miles.

Meigs County makes me think about a bike that don't 'do-it-all' - how about a Super-Motard downthere? That's a different type of adventure riding. . .

A supermoto is super fun in the tight twisties of southeast OH and northern WV. I miss mine. Might have to buy another ...

Later,
M