The XL600 thread

[crag antler]

Nice find. Glad to see these bikes are still out there and being saved.

[MaXYaX]

Originally Posted by badweatherbiker

My new to me 83' XL600R!
Picked it up Sunday and rode it around a bit last night. Only a couple of issues but overall a great bike.

That's nice!

Finally got my sprockets and chain today, threw her back together (I had her stripped down to look for any other immediate problems and cleaning) and drove around town a bit. I like the new gearing (15-40)!

[Zombie_Stomp]

Originally Posted by MaXYaX

That's nice!

Finally got my sprockets and chain today, threw her back together (I had her stripped down to look for any other immediate problems and cleaning) and drove around town a bit. I like the new gearing (15-40)!

Practically idles at 55 now, huh? Glad you're on the road.

[racer1735]

Anyone know of a decent, used chain slider (the big one that wraps around the top and bottom of the swingarm) available someplace?

[Zombie_Stomp]

Originally Posted by racer1735

Anyone know of a decent, used chain slider (the big one that wraps around the top and bottom of the swingarm) available someplace?

Oh man, that is one of the more obscure/expensive parts for this bike! The OEM ones are $60 new from the lowest-priced supplier I know of. I looked up the part number on Babbitt's site. I was about to raise the rear suspension slightly, and I knew that the chain would be grating across metal if I did it without a chain slider. So what I did was get myself a big huge piece of nylon and filleted a slice with a hacksaw. All the other power saws I tried were way too fast and melted the nylon. Then I drilled the holes in the right places for the upper two mounts. The tricky part was trying to carve up the underside of the slider to mate to the top of the swingarm, it has a strangely shaped gusset outline to copy and I didn't really have a milling machine handy. The underside of the swingarm didn't need one as much so I went without one down there with no noticeable major wear.

[badweatherbiker]

Thanks guys!, I couldn't believe how clean and well taken care of it was. It runs great but needs rear brakes, an air filter, has a couple of leaks and one strange thing happened. It stalls when you go through water, not deep water, just enough to touch the motor. Weird?
I got a box full of parts and an official Honda service manual as well as a Clymer.
It has 11,000 miles and from what I understand, the last 2 p/o's were members here.
Look forward to putting alot more miles on her, so far I likey!
Keno

[uniter]

Does anyone here think it's possible that the piston and rings are gone even if it's not burning oil?

It's passing compression into the crankcase but was not burning oil when it was running. It now has 50 PSI cold (can't warm it up, won't run).

[JStory]

Originally Posted by Waldo308

Zombie;

The only competition I have seen you have to worry about is Turbo City. They are VERY high quality but also very pricey:

"Borrego Rack" http://www.turbocity.com/product_inf...roducts_id=731

One advantage of Turbo City is that they also provide a rack with saddlebag mounts, also pricey:
"Denali Rack" http://www.turbocity.com/product_inf...roducts_id=733

They also have headlight guards, windshields and other goodies for the XL600R. My son has the Borrego rack on his bike and he loves it. Of course, I bought it for him for his birthday so he didn't have to sacrifice the coin to obtain it!

Cool stuff. I wonder how long they've been making those racks. I had no idea any were available at all, except for one from Hepco-Becker.

[Zombie_Stomp]

Originally Posted by JStory

Cool stuff. I wonder how long they've been making those racks. I had no idea any were available at all, except for one from Hepco-Becker.

The rear rack looks like a Hondaline rack. I wonder if Hepco-Becker is making that too, or just the pannier part.

[JStory]

I think just the pannier part, but I'll let you know. I have one coming.

[God of Speed]

Originally Posted by ktmmark

Yes it is, only had it 2 days i plan on going round russia & beyond with two mates all on honda xl600s it's done 52000 miles already so plan to strip the motor to check it but love it already. the tubeless rims 28ltr tank helped me make my mind up
So as you boys like them so much how strong are the motors & whats first to go
From what i have heard they are tough buggers

maybe youd like to see this thread:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=452165

i was maybe thinking of proving that my xl can conquer the road of bones/zilov gap aswell as anything else that is thrown at it.

theyre thinking itll be in 2011 and i cant think of any bike id like to use more than my xl.

[mrfixit54016]

Guys,

I had replaced my stator last summer with a new one from Ricky Stator. It was the best thing I ever did to my bike, because it went from impossible to start, to a one kick wonder. However, I believe Zombie had this happen as well, the rubber grommet around the wires started to leak oil, and was impossible to seal up with RTV. So I contacted Ricky Stator and they said that they would replace mine with a new one if I returned the old one. Great customer service!

They did confirm two things:

1. the new stators DO have an improved grommet that seals the oil out.

2. the XL600R stators are 200W stators ( which I think many people would call high-output)

I am thinking about heated grips on my bike, and this information gives me some comfort in knowing I will have the power to do this.

I ordered another XL600R stator from them today so I can install it in my '85 XL350R that has always had a hard time starting. They appear to be an even swap.

[MaXYaX]

Originally Posted by Zombie_Stomp

Practically idles at 55 now, huh? Glad you're on the road.

Absolutely! I took her on the highway for the first time today (Lodge Freeway - M10), getting on I found that I was shifting into 5th gear at about 55mph. That's a helluva difference from before! Kept right up with traffic at about 70-75mph. I think I looked like this the whole ride in!

I think my chain is too tight though. How much slack should I have when I actually sit on the bike? Right now it tightens up when I sit on it, but has about 3/4 of an inch when on the side stand.

[MaXYaX]

I really like these racks you guys have been posting. I like how they move the turn signals towards the rear of the bike.

I REALLY like the ones with the saddlebag supports!

[badweatherbiker]

Ok, I've got a tuning question (and several others as well). I don't know what's been done to the bike but it is lean according to the plug. My question is where do I start? I'm not used to dual carbs so is it the main one that is typically lean or the secondary (high speed?) one?
Can I just turn the air/fuel screw?
The throttle is also hanging up, it is hard to turn and when you do turn it it stays where it is.
Is it common for these things to leak oil from everywhere?
When it is started from cold, there is just a small amount of blue smoke that puffs out the exhaust, is this common too? The bike has good compression.
I dig the racks too, wish I had one.
Keno