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[Bbasso]

Originally Posted by fritzcoinc

The best I ever got was 45 on all dirt roads and trails. I hit low 30's on the highway and high 30's around town.

Did ya get your fork oil changed?

uhhh, I'm lazy and semi-worried I'll mess up something...

[SenorPeligro]

Originally Posted by fritzcoinc

Still looking for this in print in a Honda manual. The dip stick in my bike ( OEM stick, 96 mod. ) shows the spec. oil quantity at the top mark on the stick screwed all the way in ( oil & flt. chg. ).

My 2008 Service Manual says to check with the dipstick unscrewed. Didn't notice that before.

[McLeod]

SenorPeligro did you happen to look at Rotella dino and full synth oils?
Amsoil is what I am running in my forks, and they make awesome wheel bearing grease. I have always wondered how they stack up against Diesel oils.

The oil in the XR650L gets to 250F regularly 300F isn't that uncommon.

[fritzcoinc]

Originally Posted by SenorPeligro

AMSOIL is supposed to hold up really well under high temps.

At 150C:

Well, I did some research on this test ( http://www.swri.org/4org/D08/ChemTes...ol/default.htm). ASTM spec. is to run this test at 250 DC not 150. Thats 482 DF!!! So what does this test tell me? I'll never get my oil that hot. API GL-4 allows 13% loss for all other grades except 10W30 and 15% loss fof 10W30. Amsoil ATM is a 10W-30 oil. All the grades exceed the spec. min.
If you know, why isn't there a Shell product in this test? Except for Quaker State and Pennzoil that are owned by Shell of course.

[fritzcoinc]

Originally Posted by Bbasso

uhhh, I'm lazy and semi-worried I'll mess up something...

10-4, I know the feeling. It is an EZ job. My 96 has not needed fork seals yet. There is some play in the sliders on the tubes so bushings/fork re-build will be my next project. I'll shoot some photos of the job. But please don't hold your breath!

[Cumbacheech]

Originally Posted by mchester

Cumbacheech, Here's my Buell bodge. I think it looks pretty good. Now I just need to figure out the Buell harness, Did you happen to use that harness? Do you recall what the wires each did in that 4 pin connector? We got black, white, yellow, & orange/white... If not, I'm sure I'll figure it out.

mchester,

I did not use the Buell harness. I made my own connections. As for what the wires were I can't remember off hand but I have it written down somewhere (got it from a Buell manual). I will check and get back to you. I do remember one was for the running light of which I did not connect (no need for extra draw on the battery)

Cumbacheech

[SenorPeligro]

Originally Posted by McLeod

SenorPeligro did you happen to look at Rotella dino and full synth oils?
Amsoil is what I am running in my forks, and they make awesome wheel bearing grease. I have always wondered how they stack up against Diesel oils.

The oil in the XR650L gets to 250F regularly 300F isn't that uncommon.

I haven't. I'm not an expert in this.

Yeah mine tends to hover around 250-270 but it 300 last weekend when it was hot.

[mo' tarded]

Originally Posted by flak

I think many of these are good to consider before others

asap in general:
jets/uni filter/desmog kit/desnorkel (when doing dave's mods)
bar risers (if he's near 6' tall or more)
osram rallye 70/65w +50 H4 bulb (awesome difference at night)

asap if going riding offroad:
tires that bite, I like the scorpion pro up front, and mt21 rear (130)
bash plate
some decent handguards

eventual/optional:
aftermarket pipe, I really dig the xr's only offering
more substantial footpegs, ebay has some decent ones for like $22 shipped
14T front sprocket, I'm using oem 600r sprocket for this, bolts right up
some reflective tape for night riding, the xrl doesn't have bright or flashy lights

THanks Flak

What about the fork brace? Oil temp gauge even needed?

[flak]

Originally Posted by mo' tarded

THanks Flak

What about the fork brace? Oil temp gauge even needed?

I don't have a fork brace, but some folks swear by them - I was never convinced that it was a must have item - if my forks are flexing a bit when taking hits, I'd rather they flex a bit than the rest of the bike (and me) take the full brunt of the deflection - there's a lot of sand offroad where I live, so I'm mainly holding the bars light and letting them float around anyway, so I don't see where being extra rigid in the forks would be of great benefit to me - I haven't noticed any particular problems with the front forks, it's a pretty stable bike - I don't get any head shakes, etc. - maybe if I rode tight twisties a lot on the road or sought out bad ruts on trails for the hell of it...but as it stands I don't feel it's a necessity

oil temp gauge is kind of useful for those times when you need a warning due to some oil-related condition you can't detect while riding, but mostly you'll just see it hovering around the same point without too much variation - like most xrl's, mine hovers around 240-250 at the apex of normal operation, and can climb a bit higher in hotter, more adverse conditions where airflow is reduced (very hot and humid while barely moving) - even chugging along slowly in the woods, it seems to hover around 250 when the air isn't really hitting the motor so much - I'm running 20w50 in the hot weather, 10w40 otherwise

[RedBirdStation]

Originally Posted by tjrockit

I'm glad I'm not you in that situation. I wouldn't like it at all. But hey, LaOutbackTrail will just tell you to grow some balls.

At least it looked like somebody was taking the pic and you had help getting out.

Here is the KLR by myself and 1 1/2 hrs to get it out not long after IKE.

[fritzcoinc]

Originally Posted by FLCBRXX

At least it looked like somebody was taking the pic and you had help getting out.
Here is the KLR by myself and 1 1/2 hrs to get it out not long after IKE.

Looks like somewhere between High Island and Sabine Pass.
There was some great riding there after the storm.
Hope you replaced your wheel bearings after that.
Mine were screwed after this fresh water expidition:

[RedBirdStation]

Originally Posted by fritzcoinc

Looks like somewhere between High Island and Sabine Pass.
There was some great riding there after the storm.
Hope you replaced your wheel bearings after that.
Mine were screwed after this fresh water expidition:

You are correct Sir,

Love making that run about every other week

Yes I replaced the bearings soon after.

[the come back kid]

Originally Posted by fritzcoinc

10-4, I know the feeling. It is an EZ job. My 96 has not needed fork seals yet. There is some play in the sliders on the tubes so bushings/fork re-build will be my next project. I'll shoot some photos of the job. But please don't hold your breath!

My 08 has play in the sliders, so I went to the local honda shop and checked the brand spankin new 09 on the showroom floor. Now I feel better, they feel worn even before the bike is ever ridden. I'm not sayin yours aren't ready for a rebuild, but it's worth comparing them to a new set first.

[fritzcoinc]

Originally Posted by the come back kid

My 08 has play in the sliders, so I went to the local honda shop and checked the brand spankin new 09 on the showroom floor. Now I feel better, they feel worn even before the bike is ever ridden. I'm not sayin yours aren't ready for a rebuild, but it's worth comparing them to a new set first.

Thanks for the tip! Mine is very slight at full extension. Compressed half way I feel hardly any at all. Thanks again.

[Barron]

So I am about to put on some new tires and adjust my valvesfor the first time and I was wondering if any of you have any pointers or lessons learned or things that may seem like a good idea that are NOT that I should look out for? Is extra talc or baby powder a good idea? How much of a drag should be on the feeler gauge when I do the valves? Thanks in advance for your help.

-Barron