Yep - standard bars... A little farting around with a dremel and vice-grips to remove the end-weight mounts, and also the oxford heated grips needed to be carefully cut as well.

Work well and make the bars more rigid too boot!


Cheers
Ian

Hey Ian,

Nice photos! Do you have any pics showing the frames under the soft luggage? I'm trying to make some now for soft luggage for my kle and trying to get ideas of the best options (i've got rjays touring saddlebags so similar size to what u're using). Did you make them yourslef or get someone else do them? I ask cause i'm in nsw as well.

Cheers
jake

p.s. any advice on the heated grips, i've got a set of oxford grips i'm about to mount up.

G'day mate I too am interested in seeing you pannier racks if it's not too much trouble as I'm looking to get the andy strapz paniers and some idea on the rack and mounting points would be great.
Also how have you found your tyres for wear as I've just worn out my Trailmaxs and was looking at Dunlop 606s but may look at slightly more road oreintated.
Cheers Mick

No Photo's at present, but the mounting points are pretty simple....

Get some extra long (allen head) bolts for the rack mount points closest to the back edge of the seat, and make up some spacers to allow a flush mount against the rack - this is where the rear mount point goes.

The lower mount point is behind the footpeg bracket mounts (using both bolts). My racks are built so that both side covers and seat can be removed without touching the pannier racks.

I will take some photos to illustrate the mounting points and constrauction better. A mate made them up as he is a gun with a welder as my work can be best described as "cocky-shit on steel".

Cheers
Ian

Here's a couple of recent shots of my toy with new dulop 606's:clap: so far all that's done since i bought it new in August is a Ventura rack on the rear with a Ventura bag, bought a motodry bag and modified the rack to suit as ventura bag is s#^t. Also replaced the front screen with an eaglescreen wide tourer one. Have tank bag for short trips, adjusted the rear preload to
hardest setting.....why didnt I do this when i bought it:confused1: (I'm only 75kg's but the rear is extremely soft well worth doin)

The to do list consists of bar, bar risers, barkbusters, better footpegs, side panniers and racks, exhaust and front springs and oil change. Hey it's only money:laugh: try tellin that to the Mrs!!!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...3112008059.jpghttp://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...3112008058.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...3112008016.jpghttp://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...2112008009.jpg

Home made pannier rack pictures
 

Due to special request (from Keater and others) please see below for close ups of pannier frames. I use Andyz Explorer Pannierz, and would only change the size of the hoops marginally to better suit the bags (the racks were made prior to obtaining the bags) - I may in future mesh fill the hoops for better support of the bags, but they work fine at present (2000km round trip to Pooncarie and back with no dramas)

RHS Frame

http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/IMGP2771.jpg

RHS Lower Mount must be shaped to allow for the bolt behind the footpeg mount

http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/IMGP2772.jpg


LHS Upper mount - typical of the RHS also - Longer bolts are required here 55mm allen head from memory. Spacers are required to place in the recess in the rear rack mount to allow the panner rack to mount flush with the rear rack and keep proper tension.

http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/IMGP2773.jpg

LHS Frame

http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/IMGP2774.jpg

LHS Lower mount - again this mount must be shaped differerently to clear protrusions behind footpeg mount. Note that BOTH bolts are used to retain the lower mount and to keep the angle of the footpeg mount.

http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/IMGP2775.jpg

Hope this helps all those that are interested...

Cheers
Ian

Awesome mate thanks heaps pretty basic when ya see how it's done:thumbup1: I'll start playin with it I'll buy the bags first to get sizing to suit. Cheers again, Mick

Hi there,

just have to ask - do you know the type/manufacturer of the pannier rack?

Regards,

Shaun

how does the kle perform on motorways v say an xt660

wondering how they stand up to 80mph , particularly with regard to vibrations

80mp is no problem, mine will sit comfortably on 80mph all day. Approximately 7000 rpm. :funmeteryes: (16 tooth front sprocket, 44 rear).
It is a twin so there is a slight vibration, don't expect the silky smoothness of a 4 but no problem doing long hauls (approx 240 between fills with some in reserve)

great just what i wanted to know really

i m not considering an inline 4, too heavy and a 650 is past the a2 license without restricting it

i was actually considering the kle 500 twin or an xt660r

now i m even considering a wr250r

for mostly daytripping , long weekends around ireland but also fingers crossed trips onto the continent

the possibilities of getting offroad when on the continent has me looking at the potential of the wr250r

so pics
 

got another so here are some pics

Recent Trip In Malaysia
 

Attachment 17152

Attachment 17153

Attachment 17154

Here's my 2014 KLE-650 en-route to and at the 2016 HU Meeting in Mariposa, CA.

The bike only had 1000 miles on it when I headed south from Olympia, WA, so this ride was it's first real trip since the engine break-in period.

The KLE is outfitted with a Happy Trail rack and panniers, Cyclops LED headlights, Rigid D2 driving lights and a Mastech engine guard.

Tracking map of the ride @ https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php...d57df5b5dac3ec

My KLE