Give us the numbers - 2008 oil burners??

[saddletramp]

Lots of posts about the oil consumption problem but I do not see where we have tried to quantify the number of 2008 bikes with the problem versus the bikes without. This is my first chance to put up a poll so be patient. What I am looking for is to find out how many of you have bikes that consume 1 quart of oil or more per, let's say, 1000 miles (arbitrary number on my part). Evidently there is a poblem with the 08"s but I am trying to determine the extent of the problem. Say Yes if your bike consumes minimum of 1 quart and No if you do not have the problem.

[Xtreme]

How about a quart in 400 miles.

[saddletramp]

That counts. Did you vote?

[Xtreme]

yes

[gnostic203]

This is at least the 3rd poll like this. They start out with half a dozen saying the burn and like 20 saying they don't. Then people start making assumptions about the mass of bikes but the numbers of burners reported increase slowly.

If you ask me a large number of bikes do not burn oil that belong to the regular posters on this site. However many guys have "stopped by" the site to talk about theirs burning so its not likely we will get any accurate numbers here. Sorry, just my

[The Kurgan]

Originally Posted by gnostic203

This is at least the 3rd poll like this. They start out with half a dozen saying the burn and like 20 saying they don't. Then people start making assumptions about the mass of bikes but the numbers of burners reported increase slowly.

If you ask me a large number of bikes do not burn oil that belong to the regular posters on this site. However many guys have "stopped by" the site to talk about theirs burning so its not likely we will get any accurate numbers here. Sorry, just my

There's a very vocal minority of burner owners on here. Most don't have oil consumption problems for sure. Those that do deserve to vent, but I worry about the image this gives to the new KLR650.

[MeanStreaker]

Originally Posted by The Kurgan

... but I worry about the image this gives to the new KLR650.

I don't want to hijack the poll and wanted to avoid adding any negativity for the last few weeks, but the quote above made me want to chime in and confirm that I am sure the image is being tainted.

I've been lurking for months. I first came here to learn about the doohickey after deciding with cash in hand to buy an '08 as soon as the snow melted. After reading for awhile, even though only a minority of bikes seem to burn oil, I have decided to at least hold off for a year or at most buy a different DS bike.

I would hate to have my decision to not buy be based on fear of a (maybe) small chance of getting a burner..... but here I am.

And I have contacted Kawasaki to tell them that I won't be buying soon.

[gnostic203]

Originally Posted by The Kurgan

There's a very vocal minority of burner owners on here. Most don't have oil consumption problems for sure. Those that do deserve to vent, but I worry about the image this gives to the new KLR650.

Hey Kurgan how goes it tonight?

I'm only making an observation here but the word "minority" is quickly becoming inaccuarate as more and more people are discovering their bikes to burn after some additional ride time.

There just isn't a logical way that the defect can only plague certain bikes, its just too prominent.

[Thump_it]

Originally Posted by MeanStreaker

I don't want to hijack the poll and wanted to avoid adding any negativity for the last few weeks, but the quote above made me want to chime in and confirm that I am sure the image is being tainted.

I've been lurking for months. I first came here to learn about the doohickey after deciding with cash in hand to buy an '08 as soon as the snow melted. After reading for awhile, even though only a minority of bikes seem to burn oil, I have decided to at least hold off for a year or at most buy a different DS bike.

I would hate to have my decision to not buy be based on fear of a (maybe) small chance of getting a burner..... but here I am.

And I have contacted Kawasaki to tell them that I won't be buying soon.

As i've said before that's the only language they will understand, once they have your money they won't listen, so i have to say good for you

[Thump_it]

Originally Posted by gnostic203

Hey Kurgan how goes it tonight?

I'm only making an observation here but the word "minority" is quickly becoming inaccuarate as more and more people are discovering their bikes to burn after some additional ride time.

There just isn't a logical way that the defect can only plague certain bikes, its just too prominent.

there very much is a way that it can only effect some units and not others. The way modern manufacturing is done these days it is common for companies to use several suppliers for the same part, if the problem is out of round cylinders one supplier could be putting out a perfectly suitable piece while the other is not. Don't think for a minute that Kawasaki is manufacturing every part on the KLR even if they were, quality control issues could still be a problem since many companies that produce their own parts do so in more than one facility

[KLR Klown]

I voted and I'm good with no oil burning and I just rode the living $#@% out of my KLR. Met up on another local forum with a guy posting for someone to ride with. He has a 650 Ninja and has racing experience on it. We went south out of town on some cool twisties. I had my KLR at almost 6k+ RPM's consistently for more than 200 total miles with top speeds (indicated) at over 97 Mph running in fourth at 70+ MPH on the corners (peg grinding) to keep up with him on twisties (I say Keep up meaning I could still make out the dot of his existence on the horizon) Seriously I have alot of new respect for this bikes capabilities and how well it performed from what i just put it through and i was cornering close to the same speeds as him. He was very impressed with my bike saying he's had to wait at the junctions in the rode longer for his other sports bike friends than he had to wait for me. My oil is eaxactly to the drop in the same spot on my sight glass as it has always been. I love my KLR that was so out of charecter for me but really what a thrill!

[Tagati]

Originally Posted by The Kurgan

, but I worry about the image this gives to the new KLR650.

I am sure it is getting a very bad and undeserved image

[ooweel]

Originally Posted by MeanStreaker

I don't want to hijack the poll and wanted to avoid adding any negativity for the last few weeks, but the quote above made me want to chime in and confirm that I am sure the image is being tainted.

I've been lurking for months. I first came here to learn about the doohickey after deciding with cash in hand to buy an '08 as soon as the snow melted. After reading for awhile, even though only a minority of bikes seem to burn oil, I have decided to at least hold off for a year or at most buy a different DS bike.

I would hate to have my decision to not buy be based on fear of a (maybe) small chance of getting a burner..... but here I am.

And I have contacted Kawasaki to tell them that I won't be buying soon.

Your willing to wait a year to buy another DS? Well then, we will all have to ride without you for a year until you do! Gonna miss ya!

[RockyMTNRider]

We've been through the poll thing before. We have quite a few guys with burners here and a lot of guys who say theirs isn't. The problem lies in the fact that some people don't use their bikes at highway speeds so don't even know if it's a burner yet but will post that it isn't. It's also amazing how many guys we've had go from "never burn a drop" to "alright it's a burner".

I agree with Gnostic that any 08 will burn if it's used for a 5500 RPM runner. I'm sorry if some of you don't agree with this and feel free to go on the attack but that's my opinion.

Unfortunately this poll won't show us anything new.

[Tagati]

For me its a bit of a non issue. If I sit on 5500 rpm in top gear in this heat Im tearing the hell out of my D606's.