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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 16 Nov 2008
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KLE500 Original Pipe
Having searched the net for anyone who has gutted an original KLE pipe, I desided to go for broke with the angle grinder and the attached pic's were the net results. Was a lot simpler that I expected and four rivits had the end piece back. Sounds like a propper bike now, rather than a scooter. Have not had a chance to go on a long ride, so will see if there are any power or economy advantages to this - she does seem to rev more freely.
Last edited by henkswart; 8 Dec 2008 at 21:29.
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  #2  
Old 18 Nov 2008
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I'm interested in how it goes. They are very restricted and wouldn't mind doin the same. let us know how you go!!!
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Old 18 Nov 2008
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I've only had a very short ride on my normal home-work-home commute of 8 km, but initial impressions are that she certainly rev's a lot easier and she does seem to pull stonger. Certainly feels like an improvement - at least she now sounds like a bike too!! I'm away for business untill Dec, but will post an impression as soon as I have had a chance to do a descent ride.
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Old 19 Nov 2008
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sounds like a good job but concerned about fuel economy and effect have of the engine life?
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Old 19 Nov 2008
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I shall post my findings on the fuel economy (or not) as soon as I have put some miles on her. It certainly does not seem that she is running lean at the moment - my feeling was that she was previously running a little rich. This is only short term, however, I will end up fitting an aftermarket exhaust as soon as the Festive Season cash splurge has abated and will possibly opt for a dyno ;-)
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Old 21 Nov 2008
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i take it you would want to run the bike like this for any long period of time?

but sounds like a good ifea and thinking of doing this myself as wont have the cash for a new exhaust system for a long time yet.

good ald wedding to plan for ya know
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Old 22 Nov 2008
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I would love to have the aftermarket fitted now instead of my modification, but this will have to do for the foreseeable 3-6 months ahead. Just can't wait to get some time to go on a descent trip to see what the economy is like now.

Good luck for the upcoming wedding!! ;-))
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Old 22 Nov 2008
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Does anyone know if it would get through an MOT with baffles removed ?
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Old 22 Nov 2008
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well i am strapped for cah so no money for kle. but if you get on well with the exhaust i may do the same as well to mine to free her up.

just got heated grips on and the fecking cable on the throttle grip seems to stop me from getting full throttle when over taking. so that needs be sorted before the exhaust

keep us posted on how it goes with the exhaust
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Old 22 Nov 2008
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I'm not from the UK, but from what I have read, I don't think the gutted pipe would pass MOT - it is significantly louder - as it should be!!! ;-))))
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Old 22 Nov 2008
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Excellent, John - will keep you updated.

Pitty about your hastle with the heated grips - they are also on my "to get" list, when the day arrives that I have spare cash :-)))
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Old 23 Nov 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by henkswart View Post
Excellent, John - will keep you updated.

Pitty about your hastle with the heated grips - they are also on my "to get" list, when the day arrives that I have spare cash :-)))
well i would say get the grips that you should get the heated sticky pads that are stuck on underneath the grips as they are lot better. 1 thing i found with grip kits is they come with universal throttle tubes and the one on mine has around 10mm of play before the throttle cable turns. might need be adjusted or is just poor quality


i think i sorted the grips now but you get what you pay for anyway, were half price of the oxford ones so get half the quality.

have to mod them now as they had cheap plastic ends on them and cant get propper hand guards on them.
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