The XL600 thread - Page 467

RFVC600R · 02-26-2013, 03:51 AM

Okay I need to change gearing for offroad.

I have been getting better at riding since changed my fork seals and put in heavier fork oil (I think it was 15w idk) and I've been getting way more trail time in and riding by myself. I've been confident the last two weeks and been climbing hills like a mad man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vodpzXj0dw Skip to 4:15 to see what I've been practicing on, going up of course. It's scary as hell the first time you do it, kind like, dropping in on a skateboard. and theres about 10 trails of varying difficulty all in this one spot. you start out in soft sand, and by the time you shift into third you run into some whoops right before the actual climb, so you have to blitz them WOT just to get up the hill. I get about 1/3 up the hill and the engine starts to sound strained so I try to down shift to second before that happens and then launch the rest of the way up the hill in second gear in really high revs. I think I might be stressing the engine out more than I need to be

but it's just too damn fun.

Also, when I'm riding the really tight single track in the mountains, I'm constantly jumping from 1st to 2nd 3rd over and over again. 1st is too much revs and wheel spin and 2nd and 3rd gears are too weak to huck over a hill.

I'm about to buy a 13t front sprocket to swap in when I do serious dirt riding. but I want some thoughts first. btw I'm running stock gearing

ElMartillo · 02-26-2013, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royal120

Hi all, Does anyone have or know where i can get a right side panel for a XL600R 1983. I have looked all over!!! I live in the United Kingdom so not easy to get your hands on.....

A good friend of mine who lives in the UK may be able to help, and is a good guy to know in any case.

He's got an online motorcycle parts business:

www.ZenOverland.com

Good luck!

davek181 · 02-26-2013, 12:39 PM

[QUOTE]I'm about to buy a 13t front sprocket to swap in when I do serious dirt riding. but I want some thoughts first. btw I'm running stock gearing

I used to do a 13T when I did serious trail riding, then switch to a 16T for road riding. Now I have installed a NX 5th gear which is higher yet, so i am thinking I could use a 14T for trail capabilities and still have a 5th gear nearly as high as stock to boot.

RFVC600R · 02-26-2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davek181

I used to do a 13T when I did serious trail riding, then switch to a 16T for road riding. Now I have installed a NX 5th gear which is higher yet, so i am thinking I could use a 14T for trail capabilities and still have a 5th gear nearly as high as stock to boot.

Imma do it then. The ideal thing would be to buy a spare rear rim and put an aggressive knobby on it with a 49 tooth sprocket to go with the 13t

joexr · 02-26-2013, 02:43 PM

If you go too far with the gearing you will make first gear useless.

RFVC600R · 02-26-2013, 04:42 PM

I'm trying to get more use out of 2nd and 3rd gear in the tight stuff. I just bought a 13t sunstar sprocket on ebay for $13 shipped

Carter Pewterschmidt · 02-26-2013, 08:38 PM

I'm trying to get a set of fork springs from Race Tech but apparently they don't have any info on the XL600R front fork. I'm wondering if anyone has a stock spring just rolling around that could get some measurement off of it. Otherwise no big deal, I'll just have to wait until I tear my front end down.

brucifer · 02-27-2013, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carter Pewterschmidt

I'm trying to get a set of fork springs from Race Tech but apparently they don't have any info on the XL600R front fork. I'm wondering if anyone has a stock spring just rolling around that could get some measurement off of it. Otherwise no big deal, I'll just have to wait until I tear my front end down.

I have the stock ones from my hybrid bike in storage. I could pull one apart this weekend and measure it for you.

MAXNX · 02-27-2013, 06:24 PM

Hey all, just bought an xl600r and have been doing a ton of research on refining the suspension.

Here is what I have come up with, please chime in with corrections/help

XR600 forks pre 93 so I can still use stock wheel bearings-speedo drive etc. 15mm axle, but 91 and 92 are best?

Get XRL triples- does xrl stem work in xl neck?

XR600 rear shock of same vintage- rebuild-re spring

Stock swing arm to retain cush drive

How much will this raise the height of the bike? I kind of like the stock height, but an inch or 2 wouldn't be bad.

davek181 · 02-27-2013, 07:45 PM

You can use later 17mm axle forks if you change the bearings to 6003's. You will need the larger speedo drive and bearing spacer too. Not hard or expensive to do. I put XR400 forks on mine and converted the stock XL wheel to 17mm.

Stretchah · 02-28-2013, 12:41 AM

FYI, I'd heard that the XR600 rear shock raised ride height, but, the one I bought recently to level out with my forks is the same length as the XL one.

MAXNX · 02-28-2013, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davek181

You can use later 17mm axle forks if you change the bearings to 6003's. You will need the larger speedo drive and bearing spacer too. Not hard or expensive to do. I put XR400 forks on mine and converted the stock XL wheel to 17mm.

What did you use for a rear shock?

How much did the xr400 forks change the ride height if any?

Thanks

davek181 · 02-28-2013, 07:27 AM

I didn't measure before and after height change, but I figure it was an inch at least. I put an 88 XR shock on the rear and longer swingarm and wheel from an XR too. The XR shock is about 1/2 inch longer , I just measured my old one against my spare XR shock (14 1/2 and 15 respectively). The XR 400 forks are roughly 36 inches from axle center line to the top of the tube, and my XL forks measure 35 1/4 inches. I am running the 400 forks 4 notches down which brings the length from axle center to the top of the fork crown about 35 1/2 inches. My static seat height is roughly 36 1/2 inches now. I know it is taller by feel, and the fact that I had to get a longer (XR) kickstand.

I hope this helps your planning, if you need any more measurements let me know.

P.S. I am running .45 kg front springs 7.5 weight oil, and 11.5 kg rear, 5 weight oil 175 lbs. nitrogen. I bulk out at 200 lbs. most days.

Dave

Carter Pewterschmidt · 02-28-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucifer

I have the stock ones from my hybrid bike in storage. I could pull one apart this weekend and measure it for you.

Don't go out of your way to do it. I can just measure mine once it's apart. I just don't like letting things lay in pieces while I wait for parts. That's when jobs tend to get botched.

davek181 · 02-28-2013, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carter Pewterschmidt

I'm trying to get a set of fork springs from Race Tech but apparently they don't have any info on the XL600R front fork. I'm wondering if anyone has a stock spring just rolling around that could get some measurement off of it. Otherwise no big deal, I'll just have to wait until I tear my front end down.

What measurements do you need? I have my old fork set leaning in the corner.

02-26-2013, 03:51 AM	#6991
RFVC600R SAND EATER! Joined: Dec 2011 Location: Twentynine Palms Oddometer: 485	Okay I need to change gearing for offroad. I have been getting better at riding since changed my fork seals and put in heavier fork oil (I think it was 15w idk) and I've been getting way more trail time in and riding by myself. I've been confident the last two weeks and been climbing hills like a mad man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vodpzXj0dw Skip to 4:15 to see what I've been practicing on, going up of course. It's scary as hell the first time you do it, kind like, dropping in on a skateboard. and theres about 10 trails of varying difficulty all in this one spot. you start out in soft sand, and by the time you shift into third you run into some whoops right before the actual climb, so you have to blitz them WOT just to get up the hill. I get about 1/3 up the hill and the engine starts to sound strained so I try to down shift to second before that happens and then launch the rest of the way up the hill in second gear in really high revs. I think I might be stressing the engine out more than I need to be but it's just too damn fun. Also, when I'm riding the really tight single track in the mountains, I'm constantly jumping from 1st to 2nd 3rd over and over again. 1st is too much revs and wheel spin and 2nd and 3rd gears are too weak to huck over a hill. I'm about to buy a 13t front sprocket to swap in when I do serious dirt riding. but I want some thoughts first. btw I'm running stock gearing __________________ '83 Honda XL600R valve seat RIDE RED!

02-26-2013, 04:42 PM	#6996
RFVC600R SAND EATER! Joined: Dec 2011 Location: Twentynine Palms Oddometer: 485	I'm trying to get more use out of 2nd and 3rd gear in the tight stuff. I just bought a 13t sunstar sprocket on ebay for $13 shipped __________________ '83 Honda XL600R valve seat RIDE RED!

02-26-2013, 08:38 PM	#6997
Carter Pewterschmidt Studly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Milwaukee Oddometer: 640	Anyone got a stock fork spring laying around? I'm trying to get a set of fork springs from Race Tech but apparently they don't have any info on the XL600R front fork. I'm wondering if anyone has a stock spring just rolling around that could get some measurement off of it. Otherwise no big deal, I'll just have to wait until I tear my front end down.

02-27-2013, 06:24 PM	#6999
MAXNX Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Sussex,WI Oddometer: 44	Suspension Clarification Hey all, just bought an xl600r and have been doing a ton of research on refining the suspension. Here is what I have come up with, please chime in with corrections/help XR600 forks pre 93 so I can still use stock wheel bearings-speedo drive etc. 15mm axle, but 91 and 92 are best? Get XRL triples- does xrl stem work in xl neck? XR600 rear shock of same vintage- rebuild-re spring Stock swing arm to retain cush drive How much will this raise the height of the bike? I kind of like the stock height, but an inch or 2 wouldn't be bad.

02-28-2013, 12:41 AM	#7001
Stretchah Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: London Oddometer: 52	FYI, I'd heard that the XR600 rear shock raised ride height, but, the one I bought recently to level out with my forks is the same length as the XL one. __________________ ____________________ 84 Harris Magnum 2 84 XL600R 85 Vespa PK135

02-26-2013, 12:39 PM	#6993
davek181 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Idaho Oddometer: 174	[QUOTE]I'm about to buy a 13t front sprocket to swap in when I do serious dirt riding. but I want some thoughts first. btw I'm running stock gearing I used to do a 13T when I did serious trail riding, then switch to a 16T for road riding. Now I have installed a NX 5th gear which is higher yet, so i am thinking I could use a 14T for trail capabilities and still have a 5th gear nearly as high as stock to boot.

02-26-2013, 02:43 PM	#6995
joexr Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Dunedin ,Florida Oddometer: 762	If you go too far with the gearing you will make first gear useless.

02-27-2013, 07:45 PM	#7000
davek181 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Idaho Oddometer: 174	You can use later 17mm axle forks if you change the bearings to 6003's. You will need the larger speedo drive and bearing spacer too. Not hard or expensive to do. I put XR400 forks on mine and converted the stock XL wheel to 17mm.

02-28-2013, 07:27 AM	#7003
davek181 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Idaho Oddometer: 174	I didn't measure before and after height change, but I figure it was an inch at least. I put an 88 XR shock on the rear and longer swingarm and wheel from an XR too. The XR shock is about 1/2 inch longer , I just measured my old one against my spare XR shock (14 1/2 and 15 respectively). The XR 400 forks are roughly 36 inches from axle center line to the top of the tube, and my XL forks measure 35 1/4 inches. I am running the 400 forks 4 notches down which brings the length from axle center to the top of the fork crown about 35 1/2 inches. My static seat height is roughly 36 1/2 inches now. I know it is taller by feel, and the fact that I had to get a longer (XR) kickstand. I hope this helps your planning, if you need any more measurements let me know. P.S. I am running .45 kg front springs 7.5 weight oil, and 11.5 kg rear, 5 weight oil 175 lbs. nitrogen. I bulk out at 200 lbs. most days. Dave

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