Acerbis Front Fender Review

Some say the KLR’s front fender, may be a bit too large. Others say it looks just fine. I was part of the second group until my first highway ride in a strong crosswind. The wind caught that big fender and I had to fight the bike to stay on my side of the road. Soon after, I decided the stock fender had to go.

There are several options from different manufacturers. I chose the Acerbis Supermoto fender. I replaced black with black so matching colors was not a concern., but these fenders are available in many colors. But, you can't go wrong with basic black.

Swapping the fenders is easy enough. Simply remove four 8mm screws and the stock fender comes off. Don't forget to disconnect the speedo cable and remove it from the fender bracket. The new fender will need new screw holes drilled. Take careful measurements to be sure the hole spacing and alignment is correct. Then drill the holes in the new fender and mount it.

The smaller fender gives a different look to the bike, but I like it just fine.  The new fender's smaller size catches a lot less wind, which was exactly what I wanted. Now. when riding in strong wind, the KLR is much more manageable. It was a good change for the bike and I am happy with it.

Cheap Handguards - You Get What You Pay For

One of the first mods I made on my KLR was to replace the plastic stock "wind guards" with a set of legitimate handguards. That was the plan. The problem was that I played it cheap and bought universal fit, handguards and got what I paid for.

I ordered these from Western Power Sports and no longer remember the specific brand name. That's unimportant since these are sold under several different brand names from various retailers. You can find them all over eBay for under $30.

Installing them was a real pain as it is with anything that is "universal" fit. The short story is they would not fit properly. No matter how they were positioned, they interfered with the brake and clutch levers. After several hours of bending and hammering on them with a rubber mallet, I finally added spacers and longer screws on the handlebar clamps.

Left side showing where cable guide used to be.

This repositioned the guards so they did not block the brake or clutch levers movement. On the left side handlebar, I used a Dremel tool to cut off the metal loop cable guide. Next, I used the Dremel to grind off the remaining "nubs." Because, naturally, that was the exact spot where the handlebar clamp went. At last, with the spacers and longer screws I finished on the left side.

When everything was finally done, I was pretty unhappy and regretted not buying a better product. The handguards have been on the bike for several years and have worked fine. But I hold a grudge against them for the hours of work needed to get them installed. If you are thinking about buying a set like these, seriously think about something else. 

Sena SMH10R Low Profile Bluetooth Headset and Intercom

A lot of people ask about the best Bluetooth headsets. I have been riding with the Sena SMH10R Low Profile headsets for over a year and am very happy with them. They are small and low profile on the helmet, plus they are affordable. One of their best features are the large front, center, and rear buttons that are easy to use while wearing gloves. Once you get used to using the controls, it is easy to increase/decrease volume, skip songs on the playlist or switch between functions.

The Bluetooth allows to you call hands-free on your cell phone, listen to stereo music, get instructions from a GPS device and have intercom conversations with your passenger or other motorcycle riders. Other Bluetooth functions allow multiple connections with up to 4 additional riders. 

The large plus and minus buttons control volume and allow you to repeat or skip forward and backward on your favorite playlist.There is a center button as well that works in combination with the others to move through various menus for setup. These radios have several other options.

The speakers have good sound and unless your helmet is very noisy, you can jam to your favorite songs at highway speed. If you prefer earbuds, the speakers unplug from the wire harness and you can plug in the Sena earbuds which are sold separately.  The radios come with a boom mic and a wire mic. I use the wire mic that Velcros to the helmet padding and is much less intrusive inside the helmet. 

The SMH10R will fit various types of helmets and include a standard mounting clamp. Sena offers different types of clamps as an additional accessory (sold separately), to allow various installations and user preferences. I mounted these with heavy-duty Velcro strips and it has worked fine.

As a safety feature, these radios also have integrated voice prompts to operate functions like GPS, volume controls, mobile phone calls and more without needing to take your hands off of the handle bars. There are also multi-language voice prompts for English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish although I have never used them. These are not newest or the most expensive Sena headsets on the market, but they do a great job for me and recommend them. 

Wolfman Wolf Tail Bag

I have ridden with the Wolfman Wolf Tail bag for over a year and it has held up perfectly. This medium size bag holds a lot of stuff in its full 30 liter capacity. The Wolf bag has plenty of room for day rides and long distance adventures.

Keep your smaller gear organized in the three "crescent" zippered pockets. This is one on each side and a third on the rear of the main compartment. There is plenty of room in the main compartment for larger items.

The huge main compartment has room for a first aid kit, tool kit, snacks, and a couple of water bottles. This compartment also has a zippered gusset that expands this compartment to hold even more. 

On the front is a large mesh pocket. This pocket is handy for temporarily holding things, but the mesh and lack of a zipper limit the pocket's usefulness. The Wolf Tail bag is not waterproof, so pack accordingly.

On top, the bag has a adjustable bungee that's good for holding gloves when you are off the bike. All together, there is plenty of room for gloves, tools, water, or whatever you need to carry.

The bag attaches to the bike with bungees and hooks that allow for easy removal and installation. I usually leave the bag on the bike, but had a problem the one time I removed it. When reinstalling the bag, one of the plastic hooks snapped off.

These hooks are pretty beefy, so I was surprised and disappointed when it snapped. So, I emailed Wolfman and explained what had happened. Their customer service was great and they sent a replacement bungee & hook by priority mail, and without any hassle. Nice!

Some have asked if the bungees are strong enough for riding off road. Wolfman recommends a strap mounted bag for a rough off-road riding.  Personally, I have rode over some rough terrain, and the bungees have never caused a problem off road or at highway speed. 

Other nice to have features are a rear carry handle and a couple of D rings to attach a shoulder strap when you want to carry the bag with you. Finally, the rear and sides have reflective piping to help you stand out a bit better during night rides. 

If you need some extra hauling capacity for what ever you ride, the Wolf Tail bag is worth a look.

Grand Trunk Micro Camp Stool Review

The Grand Trunk camping stool is lightweight and collapsible making it ideal for hikers, campers, and motorcyclists. The stool is small enough to pack on your bike and big enough for a seat when needed. The seat area is 12.6 inches by 10.6 inches and sits at a height of 14.5 inches.

The nylon seat is tough enough for outdoors use and the mesh storage area under the seat is a convenient place to put glasses, a flashlight or anything else you want to keep close. The entire seat has a weight capacity of 250 pounds. 

The stool breaks down by removing the legs which are attached to the seat frame with shock cord, just like a tent. This also makes it fast and easy to set up. No tools are required to set up or break down the stool and when broken down, the entire stool goes into a storage bag. This compact package can fit in your saddlebag or backpack.

For motorcycle traveling the stool easily fits inside my Pelican 1450 case with some room to spare. It weighs just 22 ounces, making it lighter and easier to carry than a full sized folding chair on your bike.

I've used this stool on several moto-camping trips and I like that it's small, lightweight, easy to set up and take down. The four legs make it more stable and comfortable than those three legged stools. It's also less expensive than similar chairs on the market.

Most importantly, it keeps my butt out of the dirt and pine needles during my morning coffee and that makes for a good morning in the forest.

Wolfman Expedition Saddlebags

If you like the idea of soft luggage on the KLR, these Wolfman Expedition saddlebags are a good option. They are tough and will carry a lot of adventure gear or whatever you haul on your bike.

The Expedition saddlebags have been around for a while and have earned a great reputation. They are waterproof, durable and come in yellow or black. I like the yellow for greater visibility on the road.

Wolfman devised the Universal Saddlebag Straps which allow you to mount these bags on many different types of racks. I use these Precision Motorcycle Racks and they work fine. Installing the bags is quick and easy.

The first step is to lay the bags across the bike. Then adjust the main straps so the bags hang at an even height on each side of the bike.

Next, each bag attaches to the side rack using the Universal Saddlebag Straps. There are four straps for each bag, two on the front and two on the rear. Above are the front attaching points on the right side bag.

This picture shows the two rear straps for the right side bag. These small straps work great for keeping the bag secure on the rack. Adding some gear inside the bag will provide some shape and make mounting them easier.   

My rain gear is stuffed in the bottom of this bag, and there is room for a lot more. Each bag has a 19 liter capacity. If you prefer to avoid metric conversions, just remember these bags hold a lot of gear when they are carefully packed.

With the bag packed, tighten the upper and lower horizontal straps across each bag. This pulls them tight against the racks where they will remain pretty secure.

The top of the bag rolls down and is secured with a vertical strap on the front and rear. Be sure to let the air out as you roll the top down.

Finally, this "V" strap threads from the back, through a front D ring and clips on the back side again. Pull this one tight to squash down the top of the bag and you are done. 

Before starting down the road it is good practice to double check all straps and ensure everything is secure. At the first stop, give the straps a tug to ensure all is well. A couple are normally a bit loose, but after the contents of the bags shift and settle down, the straps stay very secure. 

After the ride, the Expedition bags are easily removed and stored, or leave them mounted to provide your bike some extra hauling capacity. Their only drawback is the inability to lock, so don't leave any valuable art work in them when overnight parking on the street.

Wolfman E-12 Enduro Saddlebags Review

I bought the Wolfman E-12 Saddlebags to use on day trips with my Green DRZ. These are smaller saddlebags for enduro bikes, and they fit the KLX perfectly. They are quality bags, made of heavy duty material and zippers, and liked them right away. Just what I needed for overnighters on the KLX 400.

Yet, they have migrated over to the KLR and stayed there for several months. I don't plan on removing them anytime soon. These are great bags and I am amazed at how much they can hold. They will carry several plastic shopping bags of stuff, but are small and low profile enough to stay out of the way when not needed. Between errands and weekend rides, they have found a home on the KLR.

The above picture comes from Wolfman's installation sheet and shows why the E-12 bags don't require mounting racks. They lay across the seat with two adjustable 2 inch straps and the lower mounting straps fasten wherever needed. The "Tension-O-Matic Rear Mounting" strap was a pain and I removed it from the bags. Even without this rear harness the bags stay secure and ride just fine.

The bags are not waterproof, so I simply sprayed waterproofing on them. After several short trips through "normal" rain showers, nothing in them has ever been wet. Try riding long distance through heavy downpours or crossing a deep river, and your results may vary. A dry bag would be very useful in this situation. I did not buy them for that sort of riding so that's never been a problem for me. While I bought them for the smaller bike, they work great and look good on the KLR and I would buy them again. These bags are a quality solution for extra carrying capacity.

Pelican Case Warranty Rocks!

I don't know when or how the right side latch of my Pelican 1450 case broke. One day it just would not latch down. Bummer! I was pretty disappointed, since this case has been behind me for many, many, miles and did not want to lose it over a broken latch.

The problem was easy to see and I called Pelican's customer service line. The Pelican rep was totally cool. He apologised for the broken latch, and immediately promised replacement latches. I told him only one side was broken, but he offered two latches anyway. He took down my info and few days later I had new latches - no cost to me and with free shipping!

I am really pleased with Pelican's customer service. These days few companies are so quick to take care of their customers or stand behind their products. Thanks Pelican!

Shoei Hornet DS Helmet Review

I've spent a couple of months and several hundred miles wearing the Shoei Hornet DS in town, as well as on the highway; and I love this helmet. It is honestly the best helmet that I have owned. My list of legitimate complaints is zero, and my list of small, nit-picking complaints is also zero. Pretty much what you expect of a Shoei helmet.

The Hornet DS has been around a few years and received outstanding reviews and five star ratings from almost everyone who's worn it. Instead of repeating them, I will simply say - believe the good things you have heard. The Hornet DS is well built, quiet, and comfortable with a wide field of view. Even the paint and finish are excellent.

During a stop I attached the helmet to the KLR's helmet hook, then forgot it was there. Later on, I moved the bike ahead a few feet, while the helmet rubbed against the rear tire. The helmet came away with several black scuffs across the back.  It was my fault and I was not too pleased. But, the helmet cleaned up perfectly without a mar or scratch in the finish. Today, it looks at good as new.

The Shoei costs a bit more than a lot of other helmets, but if you are looking for a new lid, I recommend it. The Hornet DS has a well deserved reputation for great quality, comfort, and safety and for me, this helmet was worth the extra money.

Click here for my Icon Variant helmet review post

Click here for my Fly Trekker helmet review post

Riding with the KLR Seat Upgrade

Two inches of fresh snow fell overnight, but by noon temps were in the upper thirties and the streets were clear. A little sunshine would have helped warm things up, but that never happened. The grey sky did not matter, I had waited long enough for the first KLR ride of 2013.

I installed the battery and seat with the Seat Concepts upgrade from my post  "Butt Sore No More." The "new" seat looked great and Sally started right up with a little choke. That putt-putt-putt sound as she warmed up, was music to my ears.

Before attaching the tail bag, I shot these pictures showing how the seat looks on the bike. My first impression was, "Wow - that is really wide." But, standing on the pegs felt the same as with the stock seat.

Setting on the seat, it was cushy, but not soft - I liked it. We took a short ride - more on that in my next post - but the cold, gusty, wind did not make for a pleasant day. Still, it was great to be back on the KLR and I liked the look and feel of the upgraded seat.    

Precision Motorcycle Racks Review

Crash bars are a good start for protecting your KLR, but the.back half of the bike remains exposed to impacts. I covered my rear with a set of utility racks from Precision Motorcycle Racks in San Diego, California and they are the good stuff.

When you order, you'll get a left side and ride side rack with installation hardware. They mount in under 15 minutes using an Allen wrench. They are welded from heavy duty stock, and are available for Gen 1 and Gen 2 bikes. The racks look good and provide solid protection. I have dumped the bike on them a couple of times and aside from a few scratches, they can take a beating. They are also great support for my Wolfman Expedition saddlebags. I like the racks and found that PMR gives great customer service.

A couple of months ago I ordered racks for another Gen 2 bike. When the box arrived, I set it aside and pretty much forgot about it for several weeks. When I finally opened the box, it contained racks for a Gen 1 bike. A lot of time had passed since I ordered them and I expected a big hassle with getting an exchange. Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised.

I emailed Lee at PMR, who took responsibility for the mix up and quickly sent the correct racks at no charge. That was awesome customer service, especially since I was not completely sure that I ordered the right set to start with! I returned the first set to PMR and was glad to find a reputable company that I could recommend to others.