John Wesley

John Wesley’s XS Bobber

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Having gotten fed up with the forks on the 08 and having a big dual sport ride coming up with plenty of rocks. So I had to get the bike ready for it. I called Holycaveman up for some advice and to see if he had what I was looking for. He did and offered me a package deal so I could have a bolt on cartridge fork. Thats just what I needed and so Bingo I got it installed today. I am like them very much. that take the hit and keep on going. Really nocompairsion to the old ones and with 11.8" of travel I can play with the Big Dogs. Highly recomended and now that caveman has a kit offered, it's as easy as a phone call. No more hunting parts down and sourcing a machinist to work with you. I just sent a spare set of tripple clamps to him and he sent me back every thing I need to bolt his forks on. They came with new bushings and seals, set up with fresh oil. The brakes had new pads in the caliper and the wheel had new bearings. I didn't have to worry about anything.

I use the klr as a touring machine and as a dual sport. I normally rack up about 20,000 miles cris crossing the crountry on it. The 08 model was a sure winner on the street, but try as I might I could not get comfortable with it on the trails. So I will show you guys some of the evolution of my 2008 klr.I already have the 685 kit in it and a happy trail kit. Body protection and luggage. I think the 685 is the way to go for hauling extra loads around. It will let you lug the engine more with out strain and pull higher gearing for the touring trips. My favorite sprocket set up on the old bike was a 16/45 road and a 14/45 for the trials. It seems to be best for the type of riding that I do. One thing that I learned on the old bike is that if you want the best suspension out there then you should call rick at cogent dynamics. So with that knowledge I got a moab shock for the 08





This shock is the toughest out there. I have tried other and have blow all of them with in a year. Not so with the moab, pluse he'll work with you till your happy with the performance

It has been a long time since I last posted. I have been busy with travels to Ireland and the many bike events around. As I type this I am closing in on the Changing of the Colors CMA rally. It will be our biggest Colors thus far and we are expecting over 3,500 people. I haven't done much to the bobber, but have been busy getting My KLR to what it should have been from the begining.

work

not much going on lately. I have been working on the CMA National West. Lots to do there with siminars and working the new products that we will have there. Riding jacket pants and all kind of riding gear.

Next up is I have been working on a 08' klr getting it ready for the Big Dog ride. The worlds highest, toughest, and meanest Adventure touring event. It is invitation only and this year is the 20th anniversary. I had the old bike in prime off-road set-up, but this new bike isn't tansforming so easy. I haven't given up yet I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Lets just hope they work

Got another bike. I have been enjoying it latley. Great bad weather bike

been busy latly with a trip to africa and sickness runing around the faimly. Here a few pics from the last few months

I had another chance to ride with my mom and dad. This time it is off to daytona for bike week. They are both on BMW GS motorcycles and seem to really enjoy them. On this ride I barrowed Dad's Bandit as it makes a better interstate bike than the KLR. We took this opertunity to test out some prototype gear that CMA is developing. What better people to design riding gear than those who use it? With us we are caring the Exetreme touring jacket, air mesh, and leather jackets. We also have the matching pants and a sortment of gloves to test.

Tuning th bike with out a muffler has been a pain and I lost some power to boot. So I decided that I needed a muffler to get the performance back. here's the result of 2 hrs in the shop

the wife and I went to Hot Springs for some alone time. No Kids just the two of us killin' time. It was nice for a change. You can not kill time with me without going to a motocycle shop. So here's the one pic from the trip.

Got a red seat and springs at the swap meet. I dig the looks

me and a few of my CMA brothers. Don't worry about Richard he just had a little work done on his shoulder. He's a big boy and will be fine :)

the show was a hit. CMA was there and did a great job.

I was even able to find a few parts :)

On the ride back to Bill's My alternator went out on me. So I decided to use the opertunity to get a few picks while I wait for help.

The weather has changed the plans. The ladies from the office arrived just in time for dinner




Since I had an extra day I decided to go and check out G&L again. This time they were open. What and awesome shop.

The Owner , Richard, took time out to spend with me as I looked over the many bikes he is building. When I need work done he is diffently the Guy I'm going with.

Didn't sleep to good last night, was up from 1:30am on. I ate something that must not have wanted to be eaten. So by 5am the wheels were rolling down the road and making tracks. Colorado had more snow than the previous states and it was -2 F so yea it was cold.

I rolled into Colorado Springs haoping to catch G&L at the shop but must have just missed them. I'll give it a shot Thursday. Enjoy the pics

I left for Colorado this morning. I was expecting to get about 700 miles in, but old man weather saw fit to delay me. About 50 miles east of Oklahoma City the freezing rain started to cause problems. I noticed cars off in the ditches and some on their hoods. There was one every mile for a little ways and then all of sudden they were everywhere. I was wondering what all the carnage was about we a truck pulled into my lane running about 20 mph. I hit the brakes but I was on a patch of black ICE. The dually kicked sideways and I let off the brakes and then back on them. I followed this pattern until I slowed to the same speed he was and just inches from punting him to the curb. "Man" that got the ole heart pumping and show me how all of those cars got into the predicaments. A few miles afterward, the traffic slowed to about 3 mph. I just left her in Granny gear and purred along. I lost a few hours of time running like this and didn't get above 50 till after Oklahoma City.

I've holed up in a little town call Clayton, NM. The Holiday Motel is a small clean room with great people at the front desk. Best service I have ever gotten from a joint like this. I will be back. The temp outside is a chilly 7 degree F and to cold for this country boy. Tomorrow I head for Road Gear for a meeting to discuss our future with them, as they are build some nice riding gear for CMA. If all goes well I will miss my exit for Pueblo and end up in Colorado Springs at G&L's shop and see what they are up to. If so, I post up some pics for ya

If you're at the Denver Swap meet and think you see my bike check the head stock for the proper logo

I am heading out tomorrow on the way to a swap meet. Hopefully I can find the parts needed to move forward on the bike build. I will stop part way there and meet up with Road Gear to discuss some riding gear.

a few more pics. 50cc chop

stunt wars was great this year. I will be uploading pics as I sort through them. here's a few to kick it off.

a few pics of the faimly on Christmas morning.