Adventure riding short rides and BS thread

[SFMCjohn]

some progress:



getting the most recent KLR stripped down ...





$1k worth of parts/machining back from Engine Dynamics.

so, some interesting info back from Mike. the head that came off my 2017 BARF Baja KLR, which I’d done the top-end just before that ride, had oversized valves which he said are bent!

crazy thing was I maybe got close to 10k miles out of it before I had to take it out of service again due to excessive oil consumption.

that the head had over-sized valves was news to me. I’d purchased the bike used, and had put on a head that I had lying around the garage that had been to EDCo in 2014. guess I’d put big valves in back then and had forgotten about it.

figure the valve-clearance cut outs in the top of the 2017 piston must have been barely inadequate, and the piston was just kissing the valves enough to bend them, but not so much as to be catastrophic. weird.

guessing the oil consumption was through the seals of the bent valves ...?

in any event, we couldn’t source new oversized valves from Schnitz anymore, so part of the $1k was to have EDCo machine replacement oversized valves from blanks. (I’d sent the head that had come off the 2017 bike off to EDCo last month, and that’s what will go on the bike in the pic, above.)

so, the plan is to spend Feb/March in the garage getting the 2017 Baja bike and the 2019-2020 Baja bike (in the pic) running and reasonably oil-tight again, in time for April StonyBARF.

golly, I hate working on bikes ...

[matty]

Schnitz has their own stroller!

Good luck with the assembly.

Originally Posted by SFMCjohn

guess I’d put big valves in back then and had forgotten about it.

That seems to be happening more to me lately, I'll do something, forget about it and then be surprised when I discover that it done. Of course it goes the other way too, where I think I've done something and I haven't, that's usually met with a disappointed sigh.

[SFMCjohn]

Originally Posted by matty

Schnitz has their own stroller!

Good luck with the assembly.




That seems to be happening more to me lately, I'll do something, forget about it and then be surprised when I discover that it done. Of course it goes the other way too, where I think I've done something and I haven't, that's usually met with a disappointed sigh.

the joys of late middle-age, for me anyway.

like the “assembly” view, sort of takes me out of my procrastination death spiral.

Schnitty’s stroller is awesome. a neighbor when we had the place in Berkeley left it on the porch for him.

[N4teTheGreat]

Originally Posted by SFMCjohn

golly, I hate working on bikes ...

I find I hate getting started but then don't mind the process and get to enjoy a moment of "I did that" when it's all complete. That said, I dread starting work on the DRZ a lot less than I do the Ducati, less to be mystified by and mistakes are cheaper on an old thumper.

[ThumperX]

Enjoying your garage adventure John

[wheel_muse]

Tackling it head on! Funny what you'll find when you pop the top. KLR konsciousness being raised right here on these pages

[SFMCjohn]

Originally Posted by N4teTheGreat

I find I hate getting started but then don't mind the process and get to enjoy a moment of "I did that" when it's all complete. That said, I dread starting work on the DRZ a lot less than I do the Ducati, less to be mystified by and mistakes are cheaper on an old thumper.

when I start feeling sorry for myself, I’ll just imagine it’s a Ducati I could have to be working on! that’ll make me feel better, quick ...

Originally Posted by ThumperX

Enjoying your garage adventure John

looking forward to trying to find you on Elk Ridge Road, soon!

Originally Posted by wheel_muse

Tackling it head on! Funny what you'll find when you pop the top. KLR konsciousness being raised right here on these pages

moar progress today, slow and unsteady.



will try to pull the old barrel and old piston, tomorrow, and see if I can start putting on some of the fresh parts ...

one step closer to StonyBARF, the Weaverville Hoho Midsummer Magic Rally and the Cedarville End of Pavement Rally ...

[Rudeojr]

Originally Posted by WoodsChick

Cool idea, Zak! Dig the photos of Tassajara!

So in keeping with the theme, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you all that my bike is the best one because, um...it's red. And it's pretty! And it has a name that's hard to spell...that always add to the mystique, of course

is that a 630 SM?

[Rudeojr]

my heart hurts to see the barrel.

[SFMCjohn]

Originally Posted by Rudeojr

my heart hurts to see the barrel.

yes, that barrel has to go ... yet moar progress and quality time with the pup in the garage today:



struggle with pulling the cylinder for over an hour ...



but with some penetrating oil, lots of tapping, rotating the engine to move the piston up and down, and patience, it finally popped free ...



old piston, exposed ...



and ... there we go. done taking things apart.



the old parts ... the cylinder I owe to Kalle and will go to him, the old head will go on the shelf with my other spares, and then off to Engine Dynamics at some point someday ...

the old piston will go on the shelf in my little apartment in Lower Haight along with my collection of other old KLR and ‘73 Tiger pistons.

starting to put on the refurbished parts turned out to be too
ambitious today for me and the old dog. ugh.

[elemetal]

Great pics John, good to see you can now change the ratchet to the "on" position!

BTW your little pooch is so darn cute it's hard to believe. How does it look so chill yet ready to tackle any adventure (if given the right carrier). Love me some little dogs...

[SFMCjohn]

yes, he's been a cool pup ... was absolutely horrified when my wife said she was adopting a dog from Muttville, imagining something that would yap the rest of my life. turns out Schnitty basically does not bark. He'll break my heart someday ...

here to post this about the best ADV bike, evar:


youtu.be/eIj_tEPzycs

get myself motivated to get back into the garage this weekend ... vague plans to try to get to DV in March. need a running bike for that plan.

[N4teTheGreat]

Mmmmm Death Valley in the spring. Having been only once now, the hook took a set and I'm excited to get back for more time in the desert, get that bike running and have fun!