HDT's Diesel KLR...release for 2010?? Hmmmm

Fall 2010...okay

Many have already become aware of the previous incarnations of the much anticipated diesel motorbike on a KLR650 platform, developed for the US Marine Corp and supposedly other NATO forces, by HDT. A consumer production version has -and is still- long awaited.



This is the military version of what looks to be built on the modern KLR chassis

And the price tag...wow. Well, I guess one would look at it not as a $17,000 KLR, but as a very capable and reliable diesel adventure bike for 17Gs.



...what's up with this one??


Links:
Article, Canadian Motorcycle Rider
Hayes Diversified Technologies
DieselBike.net

All Packed Up

Climbing equipment, 45L spectra pack and mountaineering boots.
I'll lash the piolet and trecking polls on the outside before departure.

All fingers and capable toes will be crossed for Tioga Pass!

It is looking like Sunday instead of Saturday afternoon.

Last bit of projects:

1. Windshield
2. GPS wiring troubleshooting (the wire that was rubbed to death at the "CityLights" plug-in
3. Rear turn signals
4. Paint Fairing (yellow and black)

I'm not sure when the resources for the rest of the bodywork will present itself. Patience David, patience...

KLR Seat Mod

1. Multi-layer foam, both closed and open cell, various densities.
2. Pelican 1200 Case for waterproof storage/
3. Optional pillion for 2-up riding

The Pelican case would mount by two straps.

Bent Rims

It's inevitable. Bound to happen when you ride day after day of big rocks and at moderate speed.

1. Removed the tire.
2. A cresent wrench was used systematically moving from the outside-in to try and straighten it out. Take care to preserve the bead.
3. File all burrs and deformed material.

I installed the Perrilli MT-21s to the rear, replacing a Maxxis 6006. It has probably been a little over 1,200 hard dirt miles since this change over to when I stopped riding on Sep 2nd.
...The tires are showing lots of wear. I suspect they will need to be replaced in January.

SGTMarty makes it to Silverton, CO on time!

Like many KLR and adventure riders all over, I have been following the epic journey of one SGTMarty, a recently retired Aurora Police officer who is ranging the length of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to the tip of South America on his KLR.

There are many such adventures to read along on the

world-wide-web, but SGTMarty's is just a little bit

different. There is something about his writing style and the personality that he brings to the table that captivates his audience. I like many find myself longing for the road, inspired by his antics and literary technique.

Horizon's Unlimited is hosting this years southwest gathering in Silverton, CO, and many doubted this fanatic would make his

goal of attending the meeting...

well, he made it.

SGTMarty has run out of fuel in the middle of the Yukon,
later to be saved by a pack of Harley Davidson rufians, has taken a fridged dunk in the waters of Prudhoe Bay,
braved soft gravel Alaskan roads on an overladen moto,
rode hundreds of miles on dangerously worn sprockets,
and dodged head on collisions with moose and buffalo.

And he's still only in North America!

I find myself dreaming of the day when I leave for Mexico on my own scoot, ready for the open road and whatever life presents me with.

If you too long for adventure...Check out his report here.

All photos are SGTMarty's own from his coverage of this on going adventure of a lifetime.

Wiring Harnesses for the KLR

MAn.
After a lot of reading and plenty of diagrams on how "I" would like to have it done...I have completed making the following:

- Circuit Breaker and relocation kit for the main fuse block.
- Accessory fuse block with relay switch, using mini-blade fuses at 10A, 15A, and 20amps.
- 12 Volt Outlet harness with an in-line fuse. This will connect direct to the +12v terminal.

On tomorrow's IT:

-diagram of Main headlamp bypass harness and potentially a switched aux lamp feed.

wow. I'm going to bed.

Preparing the KLR for Exploration

So the heavy mods have begun to get the KLR set up for navigation efficiency.
And all completed on a very tight "the wife is a grad student" budget.

Here are a few of the modifications completed thus far:

- The bike-rack of course
(of course)

Modification to front fairing to accept controls, rollchart,
GPS and supplemental map/note sheet.
(Navigation and function)

Front fairings painted School Bus Yellow
(To convince the Polliwog to let me continue riding)

Additional 55w round lamp above main.
(Night riding close quarters illumination)

Blue type 60/55w H4 bulb replacement of stock bulb
(better lighting and visibility to motorists)

Shortened and hand-shaped stock fender
to address highway turblence and reducification-ed of said ugly-factor

Also installed:
-Acerbis Handguards
(left stock handguard broken by a real live tonka truck off of Mountainare road

- Dualstar heavyduty gear shift lever

Today's projects:
-12v outlet
-Mount Niterider 80w HID lamps to fork underneath fairing
-Accurate trip computer
(the stock odometer isn't...and a resettable trip distance is crucial to navigation)
-PVC tube tool kit


Equipment on the way:
- MSR racing roll chart holder (navigation)
- Wolfman Expedition tank-bags, yellow (for storing mountainbike gear
and adventure specific equipment)

Not too distant future modifications:
- Subframe upgrade kit
- Off-road foot pegs
- Fabricate shock-resistant GPS and Smart Phone mounts
- Back-up light w/toggle switch at control panel
- Tire changing equipment
- Centerstand for offroad applications
- And the most expensive, making it the furthest away...
some sort of grill system to protect the guts and bike rack!

Rebirth: Flagstaff Fixxed

Yeti SS conversion converted.
33 x 17 and 20t.
Fixxbed.
Reborn.
Perfected.











It feels like a whole new world.

Just riding along...aka Why full face motorcycle helmets are a good idea.

It finally happened.

Riding on Mountainaire road on the outskirts of Flagstaff, as I was preparing to turn left onto Old Munds Hwy, a larger variety diesal truck drove more than half its width into my lane and "hit me."

The left leg and foot made contact with the front wheel tires.

Can you point out the tire tracks in this picture boys and girls?









The front grill/left light toar my left side pannier clean off.





Here it is dangling by bunjee cord .

My left side view mirror was hit and shattered and the hand guard destroyed in the event of protecting my left hand.



The helmet was smashed by the very large side view mirror of the very large truck, with the face shield torn off.





After contact I yelled and shouted I don't know what, pulled of to the side of the road, cut the motor, layed the bike on its side on the soft dirt. I cut off the electric, turned off the fuel, and then sat down to remove my left boot.


Thanks Jayson for the TNF boot. The BOA lacing system blowed up yo. Appearantly it is not up to the impact of a head on collision with a real life tonka-truck.






I left the helmet for the medics.



By this time the lady who was driving the truck came out to approach me, now leaning on the top of my bag which was strapped to the top of the seat.


She was more traumatized than I was. She admitted to not seeing me and being in my lane and was nothing short of freaking out.

I encouraged her to be calm, to call an ambulance and maybe even have a seat. She was so scared, I am at the verge of tears just thinking about it.

Paramedics and the Deputy Sheriff arrived really quick and the rest was smooth from there.

No bones broken.



There is a huge lump on the top of my left foot and it is very hard to walk. The toe nail of the big toe was jammed up, so it will likely fall off in the near future..








Flagstaff Medical Center is pretty nice and the staff was great. Got an IV too; which was kinda nice with the lack of sleep and nutrition from the day before.

The left foot is swollen and I have to up-shift with the heel.

I am still riding home as long as I can shift with the left foot. See what the situation is tomorrow.

Otherwise, the Great Oz is probably going to cruz up with the truck to haul us both home.

...hmmm what thing.

Moto: Santa Barbara

This Saturday past, 560 miles of Moto.

Where?

The somewhat aimless route took me thru Lake Arrowhead
to HWY 2 with a detour into Palmdale,

then traversing the ranges and connectors to the coast,
eventually with a short lived visit into Santa Barbara.


Not Wanting to take the mountain passes on the return home,
the 101 and PCH was ultimately chosen, destined to enjoy the

windy coastal roads of Santa Monica.


The fun was stopped briefly due to another road closure, this time
on the infamous Ortega HWY, Rte74, at about 12am in the
morning.

So what did I do?

I rode the precarious 5 miles south to the sole rest stop in
Southern California and slept on a bench, only to return home to a

very disappointed and worried Sahrfrog.




Why precarious, you ask? Cause I was having a hard time staying awake.

It was great, the ride that is,

not the dozing off or especially

the disappointed Sahrfroggy.

There was an art exhibition at the Mission in Santa Barbara,
which featured amazing chalk paintings.




...


Dead end. HWY 2 is closed.

Wonder where this goes..?


The alternate off road route that would lead to Pearblossom and Palmdale.



The photo above links to a slide show of the rest of the trip.

Bicycle? What Bicycle?

I ride bicycles?

OH Yeah...

I do ride bicycles!

I had forgoten all about that since Memorial day this two-thousand and seventh year.

Guess I have been having too much fun riding the KLR.

And oh yeah, it is fun.

Crashed Already? First time on the KLR

I crashed.

Already.

I have officailly joined the ranks of those who have dropped their bikes.

Even if it was at a speed of less than 20 miles an hour...


like around

five.



Anyway, the throttle and whole clutch thing is a bit tricky right now.

Oh, it was my nieghborhood, on a turn.



Got the learners permit today.

So it was a Legal crash. That's gotta be worth something right?

Please don't tell my mom.