Yea it sounds like it could be high performance and maybe in 1982 it was. The 650 twin motor, that Kawasaki will put in anything but a decent adv bike, weighs less than a klr motor and makes close to twice as much power, and of course its ha EFI and 6 speeds and its only a 20 year old design.
Have you ridden a Honda CBR250rr? The MC22 fireblade. That gets up to 19,000rpm. Higher than a F1. for a learner bike that is insane.
The valve train could take a lot higher RPM, but the bottom end can't. The piston bore and stroke are about the same as in an American V8 (typical red line in the 6500-7000 range), and doesn't have the balancing advantage of a common crankpin with another piston, or additional pistons to balance the loads on the crank.
That's why it's strange, I still don't get why Kwak engineers use that overkill top end design. Honda does away with SOHC and the rocker arm can accommodate extreme cam profile.
The analog speedometer has at least 5 mph error at 60ish, maybe even near 10 mph error at the 105 mph indicated that I have occasionally seen on its meter since year one, on flat ground, even when it was bone stock.95mph? Seriously?that is 152kmh.
The fastest that I have ever seen on the meter of my Gen 1 is about 112mph indicated, down-hill with a tail-wind and a digital 7200+ RPM if I recall correctly. The analog oem tach was nearing 8000rpm, so they apparently lie also. (Also in WY, near my home.)
The valve train and basic port angles, shapes & sizes were designed for the 2 valve head of the 4 cylinder 900cc Z-1 clear back before its introduction in 1973.
You only have to ask yourself, "how often do those rocker-arm systems need to be re-adjusted on those applications & how much valve guide wear is on those systems, as compared the Z-1 / KZ / KLR DOHC shim & bucket system?"
Back to square ONE.
Believe it or not, these singles do prefer some revs (They really don't like to be lugged). The Gen3 has a pretty flat torque curve from just 2.5k RPM, but that doesn't mean they will pull hard when you're in a taller gear. For example, the motor will not like 2nd gear below 18-20 mph. It will pull it but will be lugging for a few moments. Now if you compare it to a 400 cc motor or smaller, it will feel stronger down low and in the midrange. If you've ever rolled the throttle on a small engine in a tall gear, nothing happens. The KLR will at least pull you forward!
Also, when you're getting started up a hill, or climbing a steep hill off road, in the right gear, you won't need to rev the motor. It will pull you up over those hills with authority, at low revs, as long as you're in the right gear.
As a child in grade school we were told the Metric System was what out Country was going to and we MUST learn it! I'm pushing 60 now and we still use the good old Standard system of Measurement.
I had pushed my Street Glide into that 125-130mph.... area. It got a bit interesting.... not bad though. It's over 800lbs (H-D Bagger) and big as a Barn on 2 Wheels.
Can I use this reason to beat the speeding ticket? "Ummm officer I was just compensating for my speedo error...."
Back when there were service stations you could get a receipt for a speedo correction and beat a ticket.
I tried to learn the imperial system when I was in America. It is just so different.As a child in grade school we were told the Metric System was what out Country was going to and we MUST learn it! I'm pushing 60 now and we still use the good old Standard system of Measurement.
That being said, there is one very cool thing about the Metric System! Even SLOW speeds SOUND FAST in the Metric System! I was reading this and I'm like.... WOW, oh wait.... that's only 62mph to 83mph. Yup, normal KLR speeds. Sounded good though! I thought you had a Skunkworks Project going there!
Willie
When you said Street Glide and a buck and a quarter, I thought ya' sure! My friend Wes, a H-D engineer and mechanic on H-D Bagger road racers #10 and #33 said yup...but you gotta' remove that governor thingy...
Think TTS Master Tune and $$$!
I remember that urgency to learn the metric system! Wasn't that about the same time as "the coming ice age" and "we will be out of oil by 1998" and the best one " the smog will be so bad we will all be living underground".As a child in grade school we were told the Metric System was what out Country was going to and we MUST learn it! I'm pushing 60 now and we still use the good old Standard system of Measurement.
That being said, there is one very cool thing about the Metric System! Even SLOW speeds SOUND FAST in the Metric System! I was reading this and I'm like.... WOW, oh wait.... that's only 62mph to 83mph. Yup, normal KLR speeds. Sounded good though! I thought you had a Skunkworks Project going there!
Willie
AND.... we learned to tuck under our Desk when the Nuke Drops too! Ah..... my youth!
The Baggers are a support race for the Daytona 200. I suspect they would not last 200 miles in the premier race. Last support race that I personally was on track for the Daytona 200 was in 2009, running my '72 Honda CB 750/850 SOHC in AHRMA's Formula 750..But I digress. This years premier 200 race was "Herrin's victory on the Ducati Panigale V2 was the Italian marque's second win in the 200 with Jason DiSalvo winning on a Team Latus Ducati 848 EVO."Think TTS Master Tune and $$$!
Ask Wes if he knows about TTS Master Tune & the H-D Screamin' Eagle Tuners.... OLD vs NEW style/type!
I do LOVE ME SOME King of the Baggers! H-D just WON TOO!!! #43 & #79 were #1&2 in the Daytona 200!
Willie
