While on this loop, I typically make a stop on the Lake at the Port Mayaca Locks which are located on the east side north of Pahokee. There are several scenic drives and/or parking areas around the Lake where you can drive up onto the dike and look at the lake. With a dual sport you can ride down to the shoreline as I do.
The following video is a brief tour of the Port Mayaca Lock:
But how did the motorcycle do?
In advance, I should note that it was a very wet day. I would estimate that about half of the trip was under a typical Florid deluge. That doesn't keep me off the road; lightning is a different story.
I'm running 50/50 dual sport tire on the front and rear. I have a Dunlop D605 on the front and a Kenda K784 Big Block on the rear. These tires did as well as I can ask of them on wet roads. Overall, the rainfall didn't interfere with either the bike's performance or handling.
Ergos for a long ride were definitely improved by the addition of the higher Tusk T-10 Handle Bar (ATV Sport Bend). In addition, the higher (8.10 kg/mm vs 5.0 kg/mm stock) rear spring rate RaceTech Shock Spring was as much an improvement out on the highway as it's been on the trails. The seat is very mushy that sort of led me to the advance conclusion that it might be comfortable, but it really wasn't; not terrible, but really more of what one would expect in a thin dual sport seat. I have one of the MadDog Seat Cushion that I might give a try. Those seat cushions are cheap (like $20) but they would provide a little more stiffness in the stock seat.
As I've discussed in several places in this blog, I am less than happy with the SuperTrapp E.A.R. Muffler. I have repacked the muffler and removed three of the eight disks in an effort to quiet it down. For purposes of packing, I used a ceramic packing material, rather than the typical fiberglass mats. When done I was right on the fence of it being okay.
On this loop, the decibel seemed to increase. I wasn't wearing ear plugs and it literally became annoying by about the halfway point. Did the decibel level actually increase or is it just my sensitivity being next to it for so long? Not sure. This is something that I need to get to a conclusion on. I just do not like loud motorcycles.
The engine ran perfectly fine. Consistent, no weird noises. This is not a top end motorcycle. I was on good paved roads all day, and my GPS trip meter reflected a top speed for the day of 77 mph. The motorcycle ran okay at 75 mph, but it was definitely working. I'm not sure that I want to take in on the Interstates.
One of my modifications was to change the gearing to the stock 15/43 (from 13/43). I'm going to think about possibly going to a 16t countershaft sprocket or some other combo to settle it down at highway speed. However, I really don't want to give up too much of that excellent bottom end that the 600 offers.
The temp gauge has the typical KLR weirdness about it, but pretty much stayed at mid-temp level and did not go into the red in city traffic. I felt no excessive heat coming off the engine.
Fuel usage was interesting. The first time that I had to go to reserve on the tank was 110 miles and I rolled into a station and put 2.3 gallons in; the tank's total capacity is 3.0 gallons. That's about 47 mpg. The next two times, it went to reserve at about 90 miles and each of those times I put about 1.8 gallons for 50 mpg. So the mpg was fairly consistent, but the reserve was off 20 miles, which I find interesting. I'll be thinking about that, because one thing about the bike is someone in it's long history coated the inside of the tank. It looks like a good job, but some of that coating may have gobbed up the petcock and/or it may be flaking away and causing blockage.
The brakes aren't getting any better. I have not yet found a rebuild kit for the front caliper, but can resort to the OE parts. The rear drum is really just plain confusing. It's just a simple drum brake...fresh shoes, burnished drum, screwed down to the max. I should be able to lock them up with a touch and they don't. Obviously, I'm not done with the brakes on this motorcycle.
Somehow the high-beam light on the dash, which I've assumed was blown, seems to now be working. The signals feel a little on the slow side, which is not a new observation. When I had it all apart I declined to stick a new relay in there (right under the tank). It's only a $10; not sure what I was thinking. I'm currently waiting on a new brake switch spring for the rear brake pedal that's on back pedal. My fault as I don't think I put that on right when I had that area apart. Cheap part though, but I had to keep that in mind.
Overall, it was a good day (wish the weather was better), I came away with confidence in the 35 year old motorcycle and a list of points that will help make a road trip on the KLR600 more pleasant both involving the motorcycle and my gear situation. I am currently thinking about riding it to the Smoky Mountain 500 ride that starts in Suches, Georgia in a couple weeks. At this point, it's not the motorcycle that's an issue; rather, there are some logistical issues about this trip and I'm really not sure that I can physically handle a 550 mile road trip without splitting it up, which is certainly a possibility. Stay tuned because that ride may very well be the next feature in this blog.
Bonus Video
Pull off at Jackass Crossing to put my rain coat on.
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