The XL600 thread

[RFVC600R]

I love my bike. I love it so much.

I was splitting the lane at a red light, and some ass hole in a gay little ricer civic thing didn't like it. he's revving his engine like a dick calling me a bitch out the window telling me to get my slow ass dirt bike off the street.. I motioned at the light and when it turned green i just smoked him and didn't even bother looking back. slow ass dirt bike was faster than that lame car.

[lookfar]

Originally Posted by Dracus124

I love my bike. I love it so much.

I was splitting the lane at a red light, and some ass hole in a gay little ricer civic thing didn't like it. he's revving his engine like a dick calling me a bitch out the window telling me to get my slow ass dirt bike off the street.. I motioned at the light and when it turned green i just smoked him and didn't even bother looking back. slow ass dirt bike was faster than that lame car.

He must have had some trouble reading the 600 sticker

[Billtr96sn]

Originally Posted by Homerb

Hi Crobox, just FYI the Xl600r motor isn't the same as the XL600LMF or XL600RMG motor. Especially the top end. The XL600R Bore and stroke is 100mm x 75mm, the LMF and RMG bore and stroke is 97mm x 80mm. The LMF and RMG motors are actually XR600R engines fitted with an electric starter.
Sure, a lot of parts will interchange between the models, but a lot wont. Ask me how I know.
I'm currently rebuilding my XL600RMG, and have already been caught ordering XL600 parts when I actually need XR600 parts.

I suppose if the RMG/LMF wasn't sold in your part of the world, its largely irrelevant, though might be an issue if buying parts from overseas.

SORRY!! I was totally wrong, must have had a massive brain fart!!

You could still buy the parts you need and have them posted over though

[RFVC600R]

Originally Posted by lookfar

He must have had some trouble reading the 600 sticker

No sticker, just a big ugly dirt bike. I fixed the clutch lever since then, picture was taken right after my first ride.

[Homerb]

Originally Posted by Billtr96sn

SORRY!! I was totally wrong, must have had a massive brain fart!!

You could still buy the parts you need and have them posted over though

True. Though from what lve read on other forums to convert an XL600 to electric start requires a change of crankshaft, as well as left side crankcase and starter motor and stator cover. Lot of trouble and expense. Might be better off trying to find a lmf or rmg motor or bottom end at a wreckers or on ebay.

[crobox]

I'm sure this has been covered before.... and if it's been covered in depth before then we don't have to go over it in depth again... maybe someone could give a short answer of point me to the previous discussion... but:

Could one buy an XR650L bottom end (electric start) and swap on an XL600R top end (dual carbs, works with center-mount mono-shock) ?

Would the connecting rod need to be swapped?

Wouldn't that be a good way to get an electric start XL600R, with domestically sourced parts?

Now don't get me wrong... I'm not necessarily anti-kickstart. It definitely has it's cool factor. But I did own one of these XL's in my 20's (20 years ago, 20 years younger!) and there were times that it wouldn't start, and that was REALLY frustrating. I will get this bike in good shape, and if it kick-starts easily every time, then I won't worry about this anymore. But if it ends up being frustrating, well then that is why I am engaging in this thought experiment NOW, to know my options.

Thanks,
Christian

[mcma111]

Cut to the chase. Just buy a XR650l. No fuss, no muss.

[crobox]

Install rotor cover gasket DRY? Or with a little silicone?

Anyone have experience installing dry (which is what I understand Honda recommends) and regretting it?

(It's a Honda OEM gasket)

Thanks,
Christian

[crobox]

Originally Posted by mcma111

Cut to the chase. Just buy a XR650l. No fuss, no muss.

I am familiar with that logic... and it's very compelling.

On the other hand, I already HAVE an XL600, and the XR650 purchase option entails at least a $ grand or two outlay.

So, just looking at options....

[High Country Herb]

Originally Posted by crobox

More playing around in photoshop. Sorry to those who consider this blasphemy.

I really like this color scheme. To make it even better, I would also paint the number plates (side and above the headlight) blue to tie it all together. Blue and orange go well together, as they are on opposite sides of the Color Wheel. If you haven't already done so, do a Google image search of the color wheel, and try combining opposing colors, such as blue and orange, purple and yellow, etc.

Originally posted by crobox
Could one buy an XR650L bottom end (electric start) and swap on an XL600R top end (dual carbs, works with center-mount mono-shock)?...Wouldn't that be a good way to get an electric start XL600R, with domestically sourced parts?

Now don't get me wrong... I'm not necessarily anti-kickstart. It definitely has it's cool factor. But I did own one of these XL's in my 20's (20 years ago, 20 years younger!) and there were times that it wouldn't start, and that was REALLY frustrating. I will get this bike in good shape, and if it kick-starts easily every time, then I won't worry about this anymore. But if it ends up being frustrating, well then that is why I am engaging in this thought experiment NOW, to know my options.

Thanks,
Christian

While it is possible, and has been done, I think the consensus is that buying a newer e-start model is the cheaper way to go. Personally, I like the older bike's wide seat, so I might consider the conversion. Probably cheaper to have a custom seat made for the newer bike, though.

Easy starting on the XL is all about proper tuning. If the valves are adjusted correctly (easy), and the carbs are in good shape with no leaks (not so easy), the XL starts as easy as the average 250.

[RFVC600R]

How much work is it changing fork seals? I've never done it before... and those bitches are leaking.

[mcma111]

Originally Posted by Dracus124

How much work is it changing fork seals? I've never done it before... and those bitches are leaking.

It's duck soup. I'm finished with the seals in a couple beers. Ten minutes a side tops.

[crobox]

Originally Posted by Moparmanpete

Heres a video on it that I like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b-6w8sPrdc

Thanks for that link. I also have to do mine, and for some reason thought it would be difficult. Looks easy though.

On another note...
I am pretty serious about the dual headlight mod. Mostly because 1) I think it looks awesome, and 2) I have never liked the look of the rectangular light. Dunno why, just never have.

So, I was about to go ahead and purchase the dual headlight assembly from a Yamaha FZR600 off of eBay, when I noticed something... the Mercedes 300D that a friend of mine abandoned on my land several years ago (bad tranny) had inner headlights that were the right diameter...

Here's a pic from the web (not the car at my place)



I called my friend to OK it, and then took out the headlight assemblies. The frames (or plates... they are cast aluminum) that hold the lights are pretty nice, and they have REALLY NICE adjusters for beam direction. So I stripped the lights out of the mounting pates, cut them in half, and TIG welded the "small" sides back together.





See what I mean about those adjusters? They're awesome! And also this new assembly has tons of good places to mount itself to the bike.

One issue is that the lights are the kind where you insert the bulb into the back... they are not sealed one-piece units, and the bulbs in there are single-filament (no high beam... or no low beam.. not sure really). So, I have to either look for a replacement bulb that fits in there that has multiple beams, or just get new 5.75" diameter sealed unit lights. I'm not sure of the right approach, but next time I am in town at the auto-parts store I will figure it out.

Next up... (although this won't happen for a while because I can't do it until the front end is put back together) I will fabricate from aluminum a little fairing/cowling to go around the lights. I will probably try to closely emulate the stock euro-only-dual-light version, cuz I think it looks good.

Christian

[crobox]

And also... my bike is in so many pieces all over the shop that I thought it would be fun to take a panoramic picture of it. It's too big, however, to post here... (plus I don't wanna put TOO many pictures of my build on here... just trying to be sensitive. Sometimes I think I should just start a build thread... but this seems to be where the action is)

HERE is the panorama. If you look closely you can see parts of the bike all over the place.

Christian

[crobox]

Originally Posted by Moparmanpete

Watch your wattage running two bulbs.


That is going to look bad ass though

Thanks. I talked to Mike at Ricky Stator today about the issue, he said I had 100 watts to work with on the lights, and I think that 50 watt bulbs are pretty standard in that diameter.