Dropped on a hill

[patw]

The video isn't uploaded yet, but I dropped my baby on a sandy hill, so she ran for a few seconds slightly upside down. When I started it back up it ran rough and spit out some black smoke (oil?). After giving it some gas, it cleared up and seemed to be fine.

I'm probably being paranoid but should I worry about anything? (global warming, international banking cartels, the war on off-road riding?)

[TORQUER]

check your oil and then ride

[patw]

Originally Posted by TORQUER

check your oil and then ride

Oil window still showing full. Woot!

On a side note, she's a bit of a porker when trying to lift her up on a slope. The usual trick of handlebar/passenger grab/butt in seat/walk backwards works better on a flat surface.

[TORQUER]

luckily I haven't dropped mine yet. I am very tall so I have a bit of an advantage with my long legs. They act like big ole outriggers....

[GoMotor]

The fuel in the float bowl probably ran down into the air box and cylinder and caused the black smoke. Oil would have burned white. No big deal.

[Mark R.]

Originally Posted by patw

Oil window still showing full. Woot!

On a side note, she's a bit of a porker when trying to lift her up on a slope. The usual trick of handlebar/passenger grab/butt in seat/walk backwards works better on a flat surface.

On a slope, drag the bike in whatever direction necessary to get the wheels downhill. Then lifting her will be no problem.

[patw]

Originally Posted by Mark R.

On a slope, drag the bike in whatever direction necessary to get the wheels downhill. Then lifting her will be no problem.

Good advice, I'll try that next time. I dug a little trench to have the wheels pivot into something a bit lower, but it still took 2 of us to get her up.

This is the video from the day:

KLR Cam - Dirt Fail - YouTube

[PerusTC]

I may be old and pedantic but,am I imagining things or were you slipping the clutch a lot on a KLR?Might be the camera sound quality.

[patw]

Originally Posted by PerusTC

I may be old and pedantic but,am I imagining things or were you slipping the clutch a lot on a KLR?Might be the camera sound quality.

Someone pointed out that same thing on Reddit Dualsport when I posted the vid. I do use partial clutch way too much I guess, in my defence, the only scenes I post are the ones where I feel it was challenging, or I came close to dropping. At that point, I'm almost always feathering the clutch.

Is there any good guidelines as to when/where you should do it?

[I say U he DEAD!]

Originally Posted by patw

Someone pointed out that same thing on Reddit Dualsport when I posted the vid. I do use partial clutch way too much I guess, in my defence, the only scenes I post are the ones where I feel it was challenging, or I came close to dropping. At that point, I'm almost always feathering the clutch.

Is there any good guidelines as to when/where you should do it?

yea ,dont

[PerusTC]

Originally Posted by patw

Someone pointed out that same thing on Reddit Dualsport when I posted the vid. I do use partial clutch way too much I guess, in my defence, the only scenes I post are the ones where I feel it was challenging, or I came close to dropping. At that point, I'm almost always feathering the clutch.

Is there any good guidelines as to when/where you should do it?

The KLR has a LOT of torque so......there ARE times you need to slip the clutch but good preparation and throttle management will save you cash on clutch plates and \or burnt parts in and around the basket.

[patw]

Originally Posted by PerusTC

The KLR has a LOT of torque so......there ARE times you need to slip the clutch but good preparation and throttle management will save you cash on clutch plates and \or burnt parts in and around the basket.

Is that still an issue with a wet clutch? I've heard in a car, with dry plates, slipping it will destroy the clutch plates pretty quickly.

[TORQUER]

I'm no expert, but I would think slipping a lot in a wet clutch is going to create excessive heat and cause the engine to run pretty hot. Heat is heat whether its in a wet clutch or not. I don't do a lot of off road riding yet, but I would imagine its impossible to not slip the clutch some. I didn't watch your video so I have no clue how much you were slipping. But you have to slip the clutch in some situations I am sure, but not so much when the trail is fairly flat. Ive been in a few tight spots going up a steep hill that required some slippage to keep from spinning the rear tire too much.

[PerusTC]

There are always potential probs with manual clutch's ....period.Exessive heat will cause premature oil breakdown and the fiber plates leave material in the oil that also burns turning the oil a nice black color.This denotes burnt oil etc.For example:I once was riding with 2 friends and they actually KNEW how to ride(40 years ago).We were climbing a quagmire hill and my NO power bike wasn't doing well.I decided to slip the clutch ALL the way up the hill.About half way up the clutch fried.There I was....stuck on a hill(bout 35 degree incline)crapping in my shorts.The 2 (friends)were at the top crying with laughter.I don't recommend these situations.

[Agcat]

wet clutches are cheap....burn em up and keep a new one on the shelf

[board.biker]

Originally Posted by Agcat

wet clutches are cheap....burn em up and keep a new one on the shelf

I second that. I have a lot less experience than some, but the KLR is a good beast. I've burnt a clutch on my first bike (seven ago,) and I believe it takes some heavy continuous slipping. The KLR requires some slipping on steep hill climbs, but I believe a little wheel spin mixed with a little clutch slippage mixed with a new clutch on the shelf equals a good bike and boy scout preparedness for the day the equation doesn't balance out.

P.S. Congrats on the first bike drop! I know it hurts a little inside. I got my first "real" drop on this KLR in march, but I've had a few in the past (including the second day I owned my first 08 KLR.) Its a scary moment, but the first time I dropped a bike, said my words, and hopped back on it without so much as a flinch was great. Sorry if you got some good dings, but its part of riding the greatest bike out there!

[patw]

First drop of the season, not quite first drop

I've dropped it 8-10 times while trail riding last year. So far, the only problems I had were a sticky throttle tube (mud in the tube), forks moved out of alignment in the clamps (easy fix), some scratches... can't really think of anything else.

The pre-gen seems to be seriously tough.


Edit: I think I have 3 drops in this vid. I had no idea how to handle mud

KLR Cam - October Dualsport Ride - YouTube