Lets recap the last post, so i have nearly mastered the art of river crossing only to be certified true and tested when i least expect (ego) that things might go wrong. The last 9 crossings were very good, one of the crossing did not go well.
As confidently as i might say, the KLR can swim. I knocked one of the boulders underwater and my front tyres slipped to the right , only to get me off balance and was holding up the bikes weight with my right foot. the sand gave way to my footing and i had no choice but to down the bike in the middle of the river, which is about 2 feet of water. Slowly letting the bike slump to its side and cutting off the engine with the kill switch. Note that the Exhaust, air filter and the T-Mod bypass was all on my right side of the bike.I don't want the engine to be gulping water so turning off the engine would be the best way to do it.
i watched the bike for a quick second before picking it up, letting all the water drip down before starting up the bike... voila!!... the engine started with water spurting out from the exhaust for a few second and it was purring like a kitten and rode it across up to the other side of the river.
I let it run for a whole 5 minutes, praying that the engine will not stall. It didn't.
I don't know if i want to be proud or panic or stupid, but the fact that i just galoshed my bike in the river seems pretty normal. The bike can take it and i have seen many KLR cross deeper rivers than this. Apparently, the engine can be submerged and run under water for about 5 seconds before gulping water as the air box has a chamber big enough for this. I wouldn't want to experiment that on my bike.
Basic maintenance on the bike is needed.= after a river crossing.
Few pointer i got if there was such a case where you have to cross a river.
1. remember the lube spray?.. you will be needing to spray on the chains, bolts , nuts, carburetor, electrical stuff, sensors.
2. after letting the bike sit upright to drain all the water out, check the hoses that runs throughout the engine especially the T-Mod hoses.
3. Make sure that you open up the airbox and let the air filter dry fully. Keep on spraying parts where you can see water droplets on the engine.
4. Check spark plug well for water. Do not open up the spark plug as water will seep in to the engine block. Let it dry fully. Use a dry cloth to dry it up.
5. start back the engine and let the engines tempreture boil of the water. Caution, steam may develop and its hot.
6. Remove the 4 bolts located underneath the exhaust, and start engine, debris and water will flow out it he 4 holes. Careful as exhaust temp is very hot. You will need effort to remove those bolts, make sure the bike is warmed up first.
7. Get your local mechanic's number handy.
8. An unorthodox method is to turn the bike upside down and let it stay there for a few hours to drain. This has been done by one of the KLR world forumer.
9. Dont belive everything you hear or read in the internet. Some are good and some are just downright nasty. Saying this, i will have a disclaimer claiming that i will not be responsible if anything goes wrong to your bike or to yourself as it is just my suggestions based on experience and experience alone.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
River Crossing 101
For the month of February 2011, i have been enjoying my ride with the KLR 650 going places every weekend.
One of the trip involves 2 river crossing and a dirt trail to a beautiful and friendly campsite in Ulu Tamu, Batang Kali. We, me and my wife, decided to organize a 1 day camping trip for our friends and close ones. So the whole gang, compromising of 17 people, two 4x4 cars, two MPVs, one Kelisa and One KLR 650.
I had to ride there earlier to book the campsite as we were afraid that our favorite spot was taken as it was a long weekend. I took the Batu caves>UluYam> Kg. Sg.Sendat > Ulu Tamu road. The ride there was fun and twisty, but you don't want to ride fast as the scenery was beautiful as the road is beside a lake, before hitting an uphill road to Ulu Yam. There were plenty of cars hauling their families for a river picnic as we pass Ulu Tamu/Sg.Tua river.
Stopped at the nearest town before turning right to Ulu Tamu and the first thought of a river crossing sends shivers down my spine. I have seen countless river crossing videos in Youtube and it seems like a fairly simple cross.
But before we go there, lets look at some mods or stuff that you need to prepare before a river crossing.
1. Proper attire - I had my full face, my Speed&Strength jacket, My Boots( illegal to wear slippers while riding) and my Blue surf shorts.
2. Lube - well lubed chain, and other hinges especially the under carriage. Carry a small Lube spray and lube the parts after a river crossing. Water can inhibit rust.
3. T-mod on carb - KLR 650 comes with Keihin CV Carb and one of the safety feature is the breather hose. If the hose is blocked by water or mud, the carburetor will commence a shutdown and the engine will shut down, bad bad... you might be stranded in the middle of the river while crossing. This also happens when you ride in heavy rain. the breather will run from your carburetor, all the way down to the foot pegs.The intent of this mod is to provide an alternative vent path for the carburetor in the likely/unlikely event of a water crossing or operation in heavy rain.
See - http://klrworld.com/forums/index.php/topic,195.0.html
Now back on the river crossing. I was first to arrive there and i was the only one there. Nobody here except me and my bike and the river is just up ahead. Here we go!
i released some air from the tyres to get better traction. check.
i changed my boots to slippers. Check.
Looked around to see if anyone is watching. ( don't want to look stupid as i mumble by myself that everything will be ok). Check.
Off the engine for 15 to 30 minutes to let the engine cool down. Don't want anything to crack.
First gear and i was already approaching the slippery downhill path before plunging down the river. Tyre feels like it has good grip. Trick is not to let go of the throttle and give some momentum to the bike as once it hits the water, you can feel the drag pulling you slowly.
The water wasn't deep when i first surveyed, just right up to the knees standing up, deepest. And that's when you think that the river bed was like tarmac. Well, i ended up in the deeper end which the water has swallowed my whole 21 inch front tyre. Panic? Hell YEAH. but i kept the momentum going and eventually reached across.
OK, 1 river crossing done. now on to the next.
After a quick pat on the back and a little prep talk with my bike. Check the engine, tyre, carb, exhaust. All ok, up and running.
Going to the next river crossing, we would have to go on hard packed road with some fist sized rocks. Thank god i have traction.
The next river crossing is quite simple as the river bed was sandy and the water was crystal clear. not to mention as cold as ice. No problem with that. It went A Okay.
Booked the campsite, cleared the undergrowth and some rubbish that the previous campers left. and proceed to jump in the icy cold water.
So while waiting for the other guys to show up, i have roughly and have done roughly 10 river crossing in the span of an hour and a half. With the last one having me dropped the bike in the middle of the crossing when the front tyres hit a bigass rock and slipped to the right. throwing me off balance and plunging in the river, me and my bike......... But thats another story.
One of the trip involves 2 river crossing and a dirt trail to a beautiful and friendly campsite in Ulu Tamu, Batang Kali. We, me and my wife, decided to organize a 1 day camping trip for our friends and close ones. So the whole gang, compromising of 17 people, two 4x4 cars, two MPVs, one Kelisa and One KLR 650.
I had to ride there earlier to book the campsite as we were afraid that our favorite spot was taken as it was a long weekend. I took the Batu caves>UluYam> Kg. Sg.Sendat > Ulu Tamu road. The ride there was fun and twisty, but you don't want to ride fast as the scenery was beautiful as the road is beside a lake, before hitting an uphill road to Ulu Yam. There were plenty of cars hauling their families for a river picnic as we pass Ulu Tamu/Sg.Tua river.
Stopped at the nearest town before turning right to Ulu Tamu and the first thought of a river crossing sends shivers down my spine. I have seen countless river crossing videos in Youtube and it seems like a fairly simple cross.
But before we go there, lets look at some mods or stuff that you need to prepare before a river crossing.
1. Proper attire - I had my full face, my Speed&Strength jacket, My Boots( illegal to wear slippers while riding) and my Blue surf shorts.
2. Lube - well lubed chain, and other hinges especially the under carriage. Carry a small Lube spray and lube the parts after a river crossing. Water can inhibit rust.
3. T-mod on carb - KLR 650 comes with Keihin CV Carb and one of the safety feature is the breather hose. If the hose is blocked by water or mud, the carburetor will commence a shutdown and the engine will shut down, bad bad... you might be stranded in the middle of the river while crossing. This also happens when you ride in heavy rain. the breather will run from your carburetor, all the way down to the foot pegs.The intent of this mod is to provide an alternative vent path for the carburetor in the likely/unlikely event of a water crossing or operation in heavy rain.
See - http://klrworld.com/forums/index.php/topic,195.0.html
Now back on the river crossing. I was first to arrive there and i was the only one there. Nobody here except me and my bike and the river is just up ahead. Here we go!
i released some air from the tyres to get better traction. check.
i changed my boots to slippers. Check.
Looked around to see if anyone is watching. ( don't want to look stupid as i mumble by myself that everything will be ok). Check.
Off the engine for 15 to 30 minutes to let the engine cool down. Don't want anything to crack.
First gear and i was already approaching the slippery downhill path before plunging down the river. Tyre feels like it has good grip. Trick is not to let go of the throttle and give some momentum to the bike as once it hits the water, you can feel the drag pulling you slowly.
The water wasn't deep when i first surveyed, just right up to the knees standing up, deepest. And that's when you think that the river bed was like tarmac. Well, i ended up in the deeper end which the water has swallowed my whole 21 inch front tyre. Panic? Hell YEAH. but i kept the momentum going and eventually reached across.
OK, 1 river crossing done. now on to the next.
After a quick pat on the back and a little prep talk with my bike. Check the engine, tyre, carb, exhaust. All ok, up and running.
Going to the next river crossing, we would have to go on hard packed road with some fist sized rocks. Thank god i have traction.
The next river crossing is quite simple as the river bed was sandy and the water was crystal clear. not to mention as cold as ice. No problem with that. It went A Okay.
Booked the campsite, cleared the undergrowth and some rubbish that the previous campers left. and proceed to jump in the icy cold water.
So while waiting for the other guys to show up, i have roughly and have done roughly 10 river crossing in the span of an hour and a half. With the last one having me dropped the bike in the middle of the crossing when the front tyres hit a bigass rock and slipped to the right. throwing me off balance and plunging in the river, me and my bike......... But thats another story.
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