Hi, Sorry for skipping the intro thread first, but I just got my first KLR and wanted to ask everyone here about how many miles do you get before hitting reserve? Two tanks into ownership and I'm getting about 150 miles before reserve. My old 2001 Zr-7s with a slightly smaller tank did more miles with less money at the pump.

To answer some questions you might have about me and the bike first; I'm 40, been riding since I was 15, mostly street (but not a squiddy). I sold the ZR-7s to buy the KLR. I've been researching dual sport bikes for about five years so I could pick the right one for me and my style of riding and always thought KLR was the one. The KLR is a 2009 (CA model) that I bought from a guy (2nd owner) that didnt have any maintenance history on the bike since he got it from a dealer who got it as a trade in. It has an after market exhaust that is pretty old by the look of it (dirt/rusty revits under the side cover), but he had no idea if the carb was adjusted to match the exhaust change out. This is just what I think might be the problem, but I could be wrong. I just put new tires on, it starts and runs great and is really everything that I hoped it would be. I've got a tax return burning a hole in my pocket for all the farkle goodies, but after a few shake down runs I think that the reduced mileage is an issue I need to address first.

Opinions?

Thanks,
Eric

I'm big and fat and I've hit reserve at 180 miles on a couple of occasions. Running the main tank dry at 150 miles sounds kind of unusual to me.

Thanks planalp thats what I thought, just needed to hear it from another KLR owner. I'm only thinking its the carb because of the after market exhaust, but I could be wrong. I guess first thing I should do is pull the tank and check the petcock for debris, but I know thats not going to be it. I think I should have a carb adjust done, but they're not cheap and I've even heard that here in California some shops wont even do it because of the emissions regulations.


Thanks,
Eric

I averaged, over the last 11,635 miles, 43mpg. Reserve usually comes at ~220 miles.

If you are hitting reserve at 150 miles you must be getting about 25 miles to the gallon unless you have a weird main tube on the petcock. How much gas fills it up once you hit reserve?

If your reserve is normal, then something is seriously wrong in the carburetor (said Captain Obvious).

I'd get in there and find out of the previous owner did some sort of bonehead stuff with the needle, jet, or both. Might even be missing the needle jet, which is fairly common with CVK40s that are messed with by those who should not mess.

What does it run like?

T

I bet it got some huge main jet size and is drinking because of a badly set up carb. Get it back to the 145 main jet and the 22 cent mod.....or buy a KLX needle and use the 145 main. Clean out the carb with the pinesol method....search it out. Search out the how to rebuild the carb. It's easy in the big picture...seriously.

No need to take it in to a stealership.....we're here to help.

I usually get over 210 miles before hitting reserve, usually get at least 45 mpg.

245 on my last tankfull , but i was riding like a preacher some of the time

I really need to check my milage now that I've done the "22 cent mod" but I SHOULD get just over 300 miles before going on reserve which adds another 150 miles to my range now that I've done the "IMS mod"

Thanks for all the advice. I found these two links. Guess I got some readin' up to do.

Both links are to another forum (klrworld) and I'm still too new here to post to outside sites, but these are the articles:
the-carb-picture-reference-book-by-the-patman
22-smile-maker-mod-by-marty

Any quick tips on parts I should buy on my way home from work? I've taken a carb apart only twice in my life. Once on my old KZ550 just to clean the float bowls, and once one on a spare carb that came with my old VW Bug just to see what it looked like on the inside. I've never made any adjustments to screws and jets and hope I dont botch this up.

Thanks,
Eric

Eric -

We have a fair amount of stuff here in the Common Mods and Issues thread; you might find it useful.

T