Nordie's Classic XR Thread

[NordieBoy]

Well why not?
It's easier to do this than actually work on the bikes after all.

This thread should end up detailing the life and times of my little XR babies as they grow and mature into actual dirtbikes capable of actually being ridden in anger or even mild annoyance.

The state of play so far...

24/7/2004 My first baby is born. 1979 XR250Z. Hatched whole from a shed out Cable Bay where it had been used to go after deer up in the hills.
<a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20040724%20My%20Baby%20arrives/slides/20040724-150029.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20040724%20My%20Baby%20arrives/thumbs/20040724-150029.jpg></a>

It wasn't long before the growing pains started and it got moody and tempremental.
<a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20040911%20Sprockets%20Bushes%20and%20Crashes/slides/20040911-155753.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20040911%20Sprockets%20Bushes%20and%20Crashes/thumbs/20040911-155753.jpg></a> <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20040911%20Sprockets%20Bushes%20and%20Crashes/slides/20040911-163329.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20040911%20Sprockets%20Bushes%20and%20Crashes/thumbs/20040911-163329.jpg></a>

Some hand guards and a re-built seat and we were ready(ish) for our first race... North V South Classic MX 2004.
<a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/racing/slides/20041010-04NS%20X%20Fran%20McGowan%2079%20XR250.JPG><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/racing/thumbs/20041010-04NS%20X%20Fran%20McGowan%2079%20XR250.JPG></a> Talk about being thrown in at the deep end.

A couple of laidback trail rides and an Old Thumpers meeting later and I decided I wanted to actually be able to turn corners and it was time to build a 21" front wheel to replace the very heavy 23".
This effectivley dropped the forks 2.5cm through the clamps and made it a bit twitchy but I could now hold the front wheel in the same rut as others around corners without it wanting to jump out and run wide half way around.

Meantime a 2nd oversize Pro-X piston went in and when it was being measured for boring out we found it still had the original honeing marks it had been run in so gently.

I ran it in fairly aggressivly (a'la MotoTune USA) on a classic mx fun day up St Arnaud <a href= http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/racing/slides/20051002-131709.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/racing/thumbs/20051002-131709.jpg></a> and it just got stronger through the day.

With the addition of some bigger footpegs <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20071017%20Footpegs/slides/20071019-112800.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20071017%20Footpegs/thumbs/20071019-112800.jpg></a> and a pair of Works Performance shocks <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20080802%20Cleaning/slides/20080802-134030-000013.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20080802%20Cleaning/thumbs/20080802-134030-000013.jpg></a> with springs that give a race sag of about 3mm this is her today...


What does the future hold in store?

Well...
She's too steep in the front now and I'm riding more fasterer so would like some fatter longer forks to bring the geometry back to stock and let me remove the internal spacers in the rear shocks and let them out to their full length (2.5cm longer than stock).
The swingarm is shot - too much slop there.
The engine is a little gem and is going so well I'm reluctant to open it up and drop in the 6-speed box which it desperatly needs as it doesn't have the torque of the 500 to push the bigger gaps in the gears.

I've got (or am gotting)...
'82 XR250 (almost) rolling chassis
'84 XR350 (disc front) rolling chassis
'79 XL250 (almost) rolling chassis
CB250RS 6-speed complete engine
Several 6-speed gearboxes for the XR250 motors...

The '79 XL250 chassis will be stripped back and powdercoated and built up with the forks from the '82 XR and the '79 XR running gear for classic mx.

The '82 XR250 will get the disc front end of the XR350, the CB250RS engine and an Acerbis 22L tank for cross countries and trail riding.

The remaining XR350 bits will get dumped on TM.

To be continued...

[Hinny]

Awaiting future instalments with interest as a new XR owner.

[NordieBoy]

Overdue for an update here...

The bike has been run unmodified since the last post except that the enrichener diaphram on the carb had split meaning it wouldn't pull up the hills during the 3-hour X-Country race which was annoying :no:

Temporary fix involved superglue and worked well. It was a totally different bike at the next race.

Prepping for the 6-hour X-Country involved a new diaphram and more importantly, new brake shoes and more more importantly a pair of YSS PD Valves.
I was sceptical as to the validity of spending $200 on the valves when it would still have the same geometry but as I hadn't been able to get some '81 forks in time I went for it.
Where the forks were topping and bottoming out all the time killing your arms/wrists is just front wheel stuck to the ground goodness.

The performance of the front end has leapfrogged the rear and now the Works Performance shocks are the weak link. I need to get some springs that are right for my weight as the current ones are quite a bit too hard.

The bike ran very well at the 6-hour with the help of my co-pilot Warewolf. The brakes were not the best even with new shoes and cables. After the race we checked and they only have wear on about 1/3 of the shoe.

The last race I did was the State of Origin Classic MX in Havlock and whilst the bike went well it felt low on compression. Not pulling as well as it has and too easy to kick over.

The air filter has not been seating correctly and let a bit of dust through. Time for some new rings. I think we used TRX300 rings last time as ProX will not sell a ring kit separately for the XR :2guns:

Tune in next time for the 2010 update :laugh:

[laserracer]

Great reading keep up the good work...im having a shit of a time trying to sqeeze a xr 100 early points motor into an xr185 frame carb doesnt wanna fit so will have to make up an inlet manifold

[Hinny]

With the addition of some bigger footpegs http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20071017%20Footpegs/thumbs/20071019-112800.jpg (http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/xr250/20071017%20Footpegs/slides/20071019-112800.jpg) ...

Looks like what I need.
What do I look for and where do I look?

[NordieBoy]

Looks like what I need.
What do I look for and where do I look?

Anything for a DR 650/350/250/750/800.

I just drilled the holes in the mounts out to match the pegs.

They do a set of footpegs on ebay for the DR650 for $18us which are even bigger than the ones I'm using that cost me $70.

[Hinny]

Anything for a DR 650/350/250/750/800.

I just drilled the holes in the mounts out to match the pegs.

They do a set of footpegs on ebay for the DR650 for $18us which are even bigger than the ones I'm using that cost me $70.

That sounds like the go.
Since I've got such a big cock I have big feet, so a bigger peg will suit me better. :rolleyes:
Thanks for the info.

[secondfield]

Filthy biker...:laugh:

[Hinny]

Filthy biker...:laugh:

Well the bike's still in the garage so it's not filthy and consequently neither am I. :bleh:

[secondfield]

They do a set of footpegs on ebay for the DR650 for $18us which are even bigger than the ones I'm using that cost me $70.

Nordie! you are onto something ...

Every CR/CRF that has come out from honda since they have been making them come with shit skinny production footpegs that everyone complains about.

Even the 2010 ones are the same.

You should put these pegs on trade me, drilled out for Hondas / CRF's etc and get a nice little sideline going while helping Honda owners out of the stoneage and providing them with a less costly alternative to some of the wayyy overpriced aftermarket footpegs ...

Keep it to yourself though :msn-wink:

[warewolf]

Hmmm will have to keep an eye on this thread now. :apint:

A short write-up of the 6 hour is here: 2009 Morley 6 Hour Cross-Country (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510600)

[krad_nz]

My ol XL is looking a bit worse for wear these days.

[NordieBoy]

Better get the 2010 update in then...

Well it's been thrashed a bit...

At the 6-hour...
<img src=http://sports.nelson.geek.nz/motorsport/mybikes/racing/slides/HappyCamper.jpg>

At a couple of 3-hours, classic meets, enduro crosses...

At the Fairhall Rd Christmas Classics quite a few people got to sample the goodness...
<img src=http://sports.nelson.geek.nz/motorsport/dirt/20101212%20Fairhall%20Rd%20Xmas%20Classics/slides/20101212-105853-0060.jpg>
<img src=http://sports.nelson.geek.nz/motorsport/dirt/20101212%20Fairhall%20Rd%20Xmas%20Classics/slides/20101212-120920-0116.jpg>
<img src=http://sports.nelson.geek.nz/motorsport/dirt/20101212%20Fairhall%20Rd%20Xmas%20Classics/slides/20101212-141309-0175.jpg>
<img src=http://sports.nelson.geek.nz/motorsport/dirt/20101212%20Fairhall%20Rd%20Xmas%20Classics/slides/20101212-141310-0177.jpg>

It's still a beast...
<img src=http://sports.nelson.geek.nz/motorsport/dirt/20101212%20Fairhall%20Rd%20Xmas%20Classics/slides/20101212-144348-0214.jpg>

A low compression beast that is spitting out oil as the shot rings are allowing the gearbox to be pressurised, but a beast none the less.

[Hinny]

The hubs on my bike are shot due to running without linings on the brake shoes I'm guessing.
Any solutions you can think of?

[NordieBoy]

Hamco? (The wheel guys) may be able to help. There must be many old bikes that've had that problem.

[Hinny]

Hamco? (The wheel guys) may be able to help. ...

Cheers for that.