Recent content by peteb

Personally I would use shim stock around the bearing. You can get it in different thicknesses. Some youtube videos will show you how to do it, will be as good as new. But you will have to water paper down any of the dimples which are protruding first.

Ah Ian, I miss our rides. Such a lekka pic of the two of you, both looking well! Looks like you've both got yourselves some nice bikes now. You have no idea how many times lately I've wished I bought your DR for Scott when you left. Just seem like such good all round bikes. Take care lad.

Just as a follow up this is what the head looked like inside. No, I didn't buy it, someone else did. Wonder what the bottom end looks like. What ultimately put me off was the seller saying he had recently opened the motor (before this problem) to replace the 3rd gear. That was warning bells.

I used one like this, think it was from an IT200 back in the day. Has 2 'positive' positions, I just had to bend the lever a bit to fit in the space and still get my fingers to it.

Quite difficult in my case to diagnose, because it only happened when the bike was warm and it was very intermittent. If your mates bike doesn't have spark when its cold you can probably measure them. If it only happens when it's hot after running for a while I would start there. Good luck, at...

Just do your homework. I bought a Tenere when they first came out. Within a couple of months I had kak. Bike would just cut out - abruptly - while it was running. Once happened in a very dangerous situation, in heavy traffic, in the fast lane, on a corner. I knew it wasn't fuel because it would...

These are fantastic little bikes, we have 2 (later models) in our garage. Probably the most underrated bikes out there, and so sad that KTM discontinued them. Just a word though, I think that's a 2008, with the black fork legs. 2009 came with silver ones. GLWTS, new owner will not be disappointed.

Shot chaps, appreciate. Owner has still not got back to me. However when I look at the yard in the background to the pics on the ad it doesn't inspire much confidence.... If he refuses to take the head off what would I be able to determine if I can borrow an endoscope and stick it down inside...

I did a search and didn't really come up with anything, so some help from the guru's please. My son is in the market for a DR650. There is one on marketplace in KZN where the owner says 'suspect it has dropped a valve, so not running at the moment'. The questions are: If it has 'dropped a valve'...

This is not exactly true. Most forks boots (the accordion type, not the 'socks') have a couple of small holes at the back of them to let air in and out as they compress and expand. Otherwise they would 'blow up' when they compress. The problem is that these can also let water in when you wash...

What (little) I know about plastic welding. I've done quite a bit repairing various side panels, etc over many years. You have to use the same plastic for the fillet. The weld won't adhere if its a different type. It works best if you can do both sides of the crack (impossible with a tank I...

My go to very expensive tool for several decades has been 35mm film negative. I keep a piece in my toolbox, and use it on a regular basis, not just when the leak starts.

If I'm not mistaken on those forks you can just remove the valves in the air bleeders and use a syringe to put more oil inside. Saves the whole palava of removing the top caps and springs. This assumes that you know how much is already in there and that both fork legs are equal. If you don't you...

It's just a spacer that goes between the top of the spring and the fork cap. Adds some preload to the spring as you screw the fork cap onto the fork tube. I would start at about 10mm. you can machine them from ally or teflon. For our plastics you can buy them in different thicknesses and mix and...

My memory of my Tenere was that the forks were VERY soft, particularly with a full tank of gas. If you don't want to put stiffer springs, then more oil to decrease the air gap, and perhaps some preload spacers. I've never been a fan of running air in the forks, to me the valves are there for...