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View Full Version : Trail bike set up question and looking for small part for XR



nzspokes
20th March 2012, 20:57
Where should the bars be set on a trail bike as a starting point? Should they be straight up? back a bit?

I think mine may be a bit far back as when im standing up I feel like im falling off the back of the bike. I could also be crap at riding.


Also anybody got an air valve for the fork of an 82 xr200? one of mine has been hit with something and I want to add air to it.

merv
20th March 2012, 21:11
Regarding the bars, it depends on how tall you are and what is comfortable. I'm short so tend to set my bars forward because of the relationship between bars and footpegs. Shorter legs means my arse isn't so far back and I don't want to be cramped up with the bars so set them forward. If you are tall you'd probably do the opposite.

Sorry don't have any air valves.

Ktmboy
20th March 2012, 21:11
Generally I personally set them up in line with the forks. Forks in line, with handle bars, with arms.

For MX we set them back a bit and in the really tight bush forward a tad for better steering as we stand alot more.. Seems to work OK.

nzspokes
20th March 2012, 21:15
Sounds like I have them back to much, will try inline with the forks. I feel cramped standing.

unstuck
20th March 2012, 21:17
On my dirt bikes I have the bars bent backwards a bit,just seems to work better for me. Only got air valves for XL 250,s.:yes:

nzspokes
20th March 2012, 21:36
On my dirt bikes I have the bars bent backwards a bit,just seems to work better for me. Only got air valves for XL 250,s.:yes:

Im just learning what right. Started trying wheelies over logs last weekend. Epic fail.

Im hoping the valves are not hard to get, need more on the front.

ktm84mxc
21st March 2012, 09:01
Put the bike on a box stand loosen the bars , climb aboard stand up and adjust the bars till your comfortable with a standing or seated position adjust the levers and throttle to suit. There are a vast choice of bars with various choices of widths, rise, pull back to suit any taste.
I wouldn't be putting anything above 5 psi in your forks as this can cause blown seals, chances are the springs are sagged so either get new springs or make up some spacers 15-25mm to fit above the springs, this will only stop the front end sag and not make them firmer.

george formby
21st March 2012, 10:34
Im just learning what right. Started trying wheelies over logs last weekend. Epic fail.

Im hoping the valves are not hard to get, need more on the front.

+1 on the bars being in line with the forks. Both my trailies are set up like that. Wheelies? :eek5: I'm practising too. For some reason I have totally lost the ability & the courage to hoist a bike. I'm using a wee hill with a bump in the middle, going down it's hard to loop the bike & I can get used to the feel of a decent wheelie, going up I usually chicken out...
Your tires are still here, come & get them & you can practice wheelies on an angry 2t.

nzspokes
21st March 2012, 10:39
+1 on the bars being in line with the forks. Both my trailies are set up like that. Wheelies? :eek5: I'm practising too. For some reason I have totally lost the ability & the courage to hoist a bike. I'm using a wee hill with a bump in the middle, going down it's hard to loop the bike & I can get used to the feel of a decent wheelie, going up I usually chicken out...
Your tires are still here, come & get them & you can practice wheelies on an angry 2t.

Im chasing the courier, they show them as collected.

I think i just need to ride more, got a trail ride coming up on the 1st in cambridge.

george formby
21st March 2012, 10:49
Im chasing the courier, they show them as collected.

I think i just need to ride more, got a trail ride coming up on the 1st in cambridge.

Er, the courier needs specs..

Yup, riding & more riding. On trails with logs & ruts or crossing streams I float the front. Get my weight back, compress the rear suspension a tad & pull back on the bars as I open the throttle. It's easy enough to get the front over small obstacles & avoid nose diving into things without pulling a minger. Standing up & being flexible is paramount to move your body weight about.

nzspokes
21st March 2012, 21:52
I notice newer bikes have much higher bars as in more rise, is there a reason for this?

nzspokes
21st March 2012, 21:54
Er, the courier needs specs..



Hmmm, they told me they would deliver them tomorrow. Will be interesting if the have not picked them up yet...

Utenz
22nd March 2012, 18:47
Also anybody got an air valve for the fork of an 82 xr200? one of mine has been hit with something and I want to add air to it.[/QUOTE]

I got one for ya.
DON'T ADD AIR!!! They are to release the preasure. The seals on the XR are not designed as air forks.

nzspokes
22nd March 2012, 18:49
Also anybody got an air valve for the fork of an 82 xr200? one of mine has been hit with something and I want to add air to it.

I got one for ya.
DON'T ADD AIR!!! They are to release the preasure. The seals on the XR are not designed as air forks.[/QUOTE]

According to the manual they are there to add air to help out with spring rate.

Utenz
22nd March 2012, 19:09
According to the manual they are there to add air to help out with spring rate.[/QUOTE]

You won't notice any difference. Get on the thing & ride it. Seat time rather than fettle time, no stickers!

tim.napier
25th March 2012, 08:37
Hey mate, there is an xr200 wrecker who posts on trademe alot. As for the bar position I had a number of xr's and never did I manage to get the riding position right for trail riding until I welded the bar holders on to some little stems I made out of galv pipe and had powder coated. They looked factory and raised the bars enough to get over them going up hill.

nzspokes
25th March 2012, 08:49
Hey mate, there is an xr200 wrecker who posts on trademe alot. As for the bar position I had a number of xr's and never did I manage to get the riding position right for trail riding until I welded the bar holders on to some little stems I made out of galv pipe and had powder coated. They looked factory and raised the bars enough to get over them going up hill.

There are a few bar rasiers listed on tm, so they helped then? I may get some.