Finally got a new bike - Suzuki XF650 Freewind

[nigelp]

Well after much humming and haaing I have finally got a new bike. It is a 1997 Suzuki XF650 Freewind with 15ks. Nice wee bike, has just got a new set of trailwing tyres so will be interested to see how they go in the gravel. Will post up some pics when I have the time to take some! It appears pretty mint with one owner for all that time and only a couple of scratches on it. Took it for a blat around the port hills and a wee stretch of its legs on the motorway and goes very well.

Hope to see you all out there on the local rides now!

[far queue]

Congratulations. 1 owner and 15ks is pretty good, sounds like a good buy. See you around sometime :yes:

[merv]

Nice one, enjoy!

[XF650]

Welcome to the XF650 Club, Nigel.
While only 40 Freewinds were sold in NZ (mostly up north), there's a few owners on this forum who are happy to share any info you may require.
Enjoy your ride.

[nigelp]

Sorry, not the best pics as from my cell phone as camera battery is dead.

[Garry.W]

Well after much humming and haaing I have finally got a new bike. It is a 1997 Suzuki XF650 Freewind with 15ks. Nice wee bike, has just got a new set of trailwing tyres so will be interested to see how they go in the gravel. Will post up some pics when I have the time to take some! It appears pretty mint with one owner for all that time and only a couple of scratches on it. Took it for a blat around the port hills and a wee stretch of its legs on the motorway and goes very well.

Hope to see you all out there on the local rides now!

Good score Nigel. There's plenty of great riding around Canterbury, for which the XF is well suited for. All the best.

[Transalper]

Next step is to prep it for a fall and pack it for the Brass Monkey Adventure and Rally.

[cooneyr]

Thats a bit shiny - will have to go and get it dirty. Well done on the purchase. See you around sometime.

Cheers R

[PLUG]

good score nigel ... now to get it dirty ...

[nigelp]

Next step is to prep it for a fall and pack it for the Brass Monkey Adventure and Rally.

Anything specifically I need to do to prep it for a fall? Havent found too much info other than its a dual carb DR650 motor and different frame with more plastics to break!

As for the brass monkey...will have to see about that one! Get a few more miles under my belt before I decide!

[XF650]

As well as twin carbs, the XF motor has bigger valves than the DR. Otherwise it's the same. With your jetting & muffler mods you should be well over 40hp @ the back wheel.
Brass Monkey would be a great trip for you Nigel - it was the first overnight run I did on my Freewind & they carry the camping gear well. This year we intend going via Dansey's Pass (weather permitting) & you are welcome to join us.

[nigelp]

As well as twin carbs, the XF motor has bigger valves than the DR. Otherwise it's the same. With your jetting & muffler mods you should be well over 40hp @ the back wheel.
Brass Monkey would be a great trip for you Nigel - it was the first overnight run I did on my Freewind & they carry the extra gear well. This year we intend going via Dansey's Pass (weather permitting) & you are welcome to join us.

I kind on know the Danseys Area as was brought up in Oamaru! Will definately think about the trip, just browsing Brass Monkey website at the moment finding inspiration!

[Transalper]

PLUG, myself and some others are taking a long dirty way there and probably long way back including Mondays public holiday similar to last years adventure.

As for crash proofing...
- is that bash plate plastic of metal?
- Handguards with the alloy bar in them are important to me and my leavers.
- Do they have a crash bar setup for the Freewind? I put some on the Transalp and swear bu them too, however...the Plastics are usually tougher than you think but still scratch easily so you might at least want to consider some of that clear film to stick on to protect ya paint. The stuff isn't as cheap as it could be and can be a bit tricky to get nice especially on double curves. Good to stick that stuff on the rear side pannels too where either they might hit the deck or your saddlebags might rub.

That's the stuff i'd start with looking at on any new bike with painted plastic that i'm taking to shingle, fords and even the surprise im mud this time roads.

[oldrider]

I kind on know the Danseys Area as was brought up in Oamaru! Will definately think about the trip, just browsing Brass Monkey website at the moment finding inspiration!

What do you need "inspiration" for you have got a "Freewind" go with the flow and enjoy it! :yes:

Well done in buying the bike follow through with the invitation to go to the Brass. :first: Cheers John.

[Transalper]

Brass Monkey insperation... my 2005 trip photos and story (http://www.geocities.com/gotabmw/Brass2005index.html)... or my 2006 youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75aWrcUw-YU).

[YellowDog]

Well done NigelP. Sounds laike a very good buy. I have 35k on my Nov.1999 Freewind. Great bike!

[nigelp]

Took the bike on my first decent ride this weekend, did about 700kms going Chch to Oamaru and back. Goes very nice, and cruises very well at 110 with enough power for passing etc. Took it on a few gravel roads on my way out shooting on Saturday night and found that it tended to wander a bit on the gravel road at anything greater than 60km/h. I am guessing that it was the tyre pressure I had in it. What pressure do you guys use in the gravel? Was a good nights shooting (21 hares and 3 rabbits - few nice on the run headshots and all)! Was a bit dissappointed at the bikes lights at night, they need adjusting as they are set way too low but pretty average penetration at 120km/h anyway. Overall good weekend however a bit weary as not using to doing the miles on a bike.

[oldrider]

Took the bike on my first decent ride this weekend, did about 700kms going Chch to Oamaru and back. Goes very nice, and cruises very well at 110 with enough power for passing etc. Took it on a few gravel roads on my way out shooting on Saturday night and found that it tended to wander a bit on the gravel road at anything greater than 60km/h. I am guessing that it was the tyre pressure I had in it. What pressure do you guys use in the gravel? Was a good nights shooting (21 hares and 3 rabbits - few nice on the run headshots and all)! Was a bit dissappointed at the bikes lights at night, they need adjusting as they are set way too low but pretty average penetration at 120km/h anyway. Overall good weekend however a bit weary as not using to doing the miles on a bike.

I think we might have passed you this afternoon as you were leaving Oamaru around 3 or 4pm. (we were coming in from Morven towards Oamaru)

Do you remember seeing a blue Triumph Tiger (two up) waving to you?

We took a good look at you because we thought it might have been KB's XF650 from Ashvegas, who is a friend of ours.

You looked very "new", new bike, new gear etc, nice! :yes: Cheers John.

[nigelp]

I think we might have passed you this afternoon as you were leaving Oamaru around 3 or 4pm. (we were coming in from Morven towards Oamaru)

Do you remember seeing a blue Triumph Tiger (two up) waving to you?

We took a good look at you because we thought it might have been KB's XF650 from Ashvegas, who is a friend of ours.

You looked very "new", new bike, new gear etc, nice! :yes: Cheers John.

Yeah I do remember passing a Tiger, around Glenavy or near seven mile road, there were a lot of bikes out yesterday! Was a nice day for it!

[SDU]

congrats on your new toy:rockon: I hope you found time to get it dirty while hunting. I'm sure it won't take long for you you to get use doing the distance on the bike. The Brass is a good rally & its a good trip through the Danseys which you probably know since its your old backyard.

[XF650]

I concur the headlight on the early Freewind's are shite.
If you intend to do much night riding, comments on the net are to dismantle the assembly (not easy), clean the reflector & upgrade the bulb.
Another suggestion is to fit a decent driving light, mounted via the horn bracket.

[YellowDog]

Be careful off road. It's a big bike to put down. I didn't get on well. Knocking a few pounds out of the tyres will help, but not enough. I know that other posters have put on a larger front wheel for off-road purposes.
Good luck.

[laRIKin]

Well it is good to hear that you found a new bike that you like, well done.:scooter:

PS: only just found the thread.

[windboy]

Took it on a few gravel roads on my way out shooting on Saturday night and found that it tended to wander a bit on the gravel road at anything greater than 60km/h.

Hi man,

On the gravel is very normal for the rear to wander a bit or a lot. Is the front you have to worry about.

I had a worn front trailwing and the first time I took the bike offroad found it disappointing. They call them death wings as well. I upgraded to the deathwings 301 as they were only $70 and I commute daily on my bike. To my surprise, it completely changed the bike off road (heaps more control and braking power).

Next set are going to be Michelins T63s. Have a browse on the on/off tyre forums.

Very nice bike by the way... How much it weighs? is it a 21" at the front?

later,

[vifferman]

Does a Freewind run on baked beans?

[nigelp]

Hi man,

On the gravel is very normal for the rear to wander a bit or a lot. Is the front you have to worry about.

I had a worn front trailwing and the first time I took the bike offroad found it disappointing. They call them death wings as well. I upgraded to the deathwings 301 as they were only $70 and I commute daily on my bike. To my surprise, it completely changed the bike off road (heaps more control and braking power).

Next set are going to be Michelins T63s. Have a browse on the on/off tyre forums.

Very nice bike by the way... How much it weighs? is it a 21" at the front?

later,


It has brand new TW42s on it. Will see how long they last and play around with the pressures to see if I can get it better! It weighs 167kg dry and has the 19inch front wheel. Its a few kgs less than the dakar I was looking at and the reliability of the DR650.

[nigelp]

Does a Freewind run on baked beans?

Only the rider!

[nigelp]

Just got my hand guards that I ordered when I brought it today and put them on tonight! Hopefully will mean its a bit warmer on the fingies on these cold mornings! Just waiting on the larger screen and givi pack rack for panniers then I will be all set. It is going to take 8 weeks from Italy supposedly! I guess when you buy an "uncommon" bike you can expect to wait for parts!

On another note, how do you adjust the headlights. I want to move the beam up a bit? I see a hole in the side of the front fairing but cant see any sort of adjuster????

[XF650]

Nigel
The hex screw via the hole in the left side of fairing is for horizontal adjustment.
The screw via the hole in the right side is for vertical adjustment.

For a workshop manual you can buy a PDF download from datamanuals.com
However headlight adjustment is only described in the owners handbook, not the workshop service manual.

[YellowDog]

Hi man,

On the gravel is very normal for the rear to wander a bit or a lot. Is the front you have to worry about.

I had a worn front trailwing and the first time I took the bike offroad found it disappointing. They call them death wings as well. I upgraded to the deathwings 301 as they were only $70 and I commute daily on my bike. To my surprise, it completely changed the bike off road (heaps more control and braking power).

Next set are going to be Michelins T63s. Have a browse on the on/off tyre forums.

Very nice bike by the way... How much it weighs? is it a 21" at the front?

later,
Nice one Windboy. Off-Road/Commuting tyres noted! Thanks.

[Tornado]

Well after much humming and haaing I have finally got a new bike. It is a 1997 Suzuki XF650 Freewind with 15ks. Nice wee bike, has just got a new set of trailwing tyres so will be interested to see how they go in the gravel. Will post up some pics when I have the time to take some! It appears pretty mint with one owner for all that time and only a couple of scratches on it. Took it for a blat around the port hills and a wee stretch of its legs on the motorway and goes very well.

Hope to see you all out there on the local rides now!

I too have a Freewind. Be careful to watch out for the neutral light sensor bolts backing out (neutral light goes out). I had to find one bolt that dropped into the sump and my other was 1/2 way out. Best to locktite or better wire them in.