XR 600 as a dual-sport?

[warewolf]

There's a guy on TM with some 91 parts but apparently the pre-93's had a smaller front axle.

The 1991 DR350 wheels I bought for my 2001 DR-Z250 had the same issue.

The wheel bearings had the same OD but a smaller ID to match the axle. So the replacement wheel bearings I fitted were the same as the newer spec. Easy. Also I had to get an engineering shop to ream out (on a lathe) the bearing spacer in the old wheel to the larger diameter.

So all may not be lost!

[homer]

i think you need to weigh up what you want to do with the bike ?
if you want a road legal bike to go off road and your looking at 600 plus cc then i say your nuts .
i have a dr650 and its great on shingle roads but way to big off road .
think about it !

[CRM]

Good buying even if it is a (spit) honda.

Just put some MT-21's on it and ride.

Don't like the idea of falling off down a slippery clay track and having to lift it out of the mud and start it again - it's cool but it's still a BRP - so want full knobs for the trail ride stuff.

[CRM]

i think you need to weigh up what you want to do with the bike ?
if you want a road legal bike to go off road and your looking at 600 plus cc then i say your nuts .
i have a dr650 and its great on shingle roads but way to big off road .
think about it !

That's the thing that's surprised me about the XR6 - it doesn't feel any heavier that my old DRZ400 and certainly no bigger in size - quite different to a DR650. But hey maybe you're right and I'll be sorry

[homer]

That's the thing that's surprised me about the XR6 - it doesn't feel any heavier that my old DRZ400 and certainly no bigger in size - quite different to a DR650. But hey maybe you're right and I'll be sorry

Its not the weight
Ive once been in the river bed with my dr and its the simple fact that to go forwards you have to spin rear tyre or ride clutch.
i can tell you for a fact if you want off road you want say a honda 230 or dr 200 .

[NordieBoy]

i think you need to weigh up what you want to do with the bike ?
if you want a road legal bike to go off road and your looking at 600 plus cc then i say your nuts .
i have a dr650 and its great on shingle roads but way to big off road .
think about it !

The XR600 is a lot smaller feeling and lighter with much better suspension and a proper 18" rear wheel.

Nothing wrong with a DR650 off road with appropriate tyres.

[CRM]

The 1991 DR350 wheels I bought for my 2001 DR-Z250 had the same issue.

The wheel bearings had the same OD but a smaller ID to match the axle. So the replacement wheel bearings I fitted were the same as the newer spec. Easy. Also I had to get an engineering shop to ream out (on a lathe) the bearing spacer in the old wheel to the larger diameter.

So all may not be lost!

Yeah thanks for that Colin. The guy is actually selling the whole fork assembly with the wheel including the brake cylinder and lever so wondering about just dropping out the forks and changing the whole assembly. Feasible? Could have different fork setups for road/ off-road too. Maybe???

[homer]

The XR600 is a lot smaller feeling and lighter with much better suspension and a proper 18" rear wheel.

Nothing wrong with a DR650 off road with appropriate tyres.

i do know what there like
just dont know how much off road hes looking at , you get my meaning
i have no probs with the weight of a dr 650 to me its light but for off road , real off road id stick to a 200 250 cc

[CRM]

i do know what there like
just dont know how much off road hes looking at , you get my meaning
i have no probs with the weight of a dr 650 to me its light but for off road , real off road id stick to a 200 250 cc

I know what you mean about big bikes off road - that's why I bought my Pampera - for the really tight stuff... and that's been great but what I like about the XR600 is how well it goes on the road and on the more open trails (obviously won't be trying the stuff that the Pampera thrives on). But the suspension on the XR is made for off-road so I'm looking forward to a lot of fun on it.

[homer]

I know what you mean about big bikes off road - that's why I bought my Pampera - for the really tight stuff... and that's been great but what I like about the XR600 is how well it goes on the road and on the more open trails (obviously won't be trying the stuff that the Pampera thrives on). But the suspension on the XR is made for off-road so I'm looking forward to a lot of fun on it.

oh me sees
yes you will love it for that
just have a good look a prices , my k6 dr cost me 7k delivered
ive seen some k4 models for around $5400, weigh up the kms ,wear, and price

[warewolf]

The guy is actually selling the whole fork assembly with the wheel including the brake cylinder and lever so wondering about just dropping out the forks and changing the whole assembly. Feasible? Could have different fork setups for road/ off-road too. Maybe???

It takes a bit longer to swap forks, than to swap wheels. Also, are the triple clamps the same? Steering tube? You would have to find out just how many bits could or would have to be changed at once. Depends how often you would be wanting to do this. If the price is right, grab the lot and just use the wheels.

There's probably not much advantage to having different fork setups for road/trail vs off-road. However, there is a significant advantage to having one for 21" front and one for 17" front motard. Shorter, less travel and firmer, is what you want for motard. But then, what do you do with the rear end, it won't be split-personality like the front, so the bike would be out of balance.

PS check the axle spacers and the front disc spacing etc etc. It was all the same with the swap that I did, even though the axle was 15 not 17mm, and the disc was a 4-bolter not 6.

[CRM]

oh me sees
yes you will love it for that
just have a good look a prices , my k6 dr cost me 7k delivered
ive seen some k4 models for around $5400, weigh up the kms ,wear, and price

Yeah I looked long and hard at the DR650's but then rode the XR600 and I was in love. Looking at specs confirms what I suspected - the XR is 128kg compared to 147 for DR650 and 119 for DRZ400E (the one I had). HP is 46 for the XR600, 43 for the DR650 and apparently 48 for the DRZ400 (but at 9000 rpm so who goes there?) In the real world it's the torque that makes the difference - 52Nm for the XR, 54Nm for the DR650 and only 40 for the DRZ400 but that's at 7500rpm compared with peak at 5500rpm for the XR and 4600rpm for the DR650.

So to me the usable power and the torque of the XR600 give it the edge over the DRZ400 without feeling any heavier. And the weight and better suspension give it the edge over the DR650. I've yet to take it seriously off road (need to change the tyres and the gearing) so i will report back once I've had the pleasure...

[NordieBoy]

Those numbers are at the crank.

A stock DR650 is about 36hp and 46Nm at the wheel.
One thing with the smaller engines is there's less gyro effect from the motor/piston.

An XR500 motor only weighs a few Kg more than the 250 but in motion it feels like a lot bigger bike.

[CRM]

Go for it!

Got an Acerbis long range tank here for one

Could be pretty keen on that - what sort of condition? How much does it hold? What sort of $? What colour?

Thanks - Clive

[NordieBoy]

Could be pretty keen on that - what sort of condition? How much does it hold? What sort of $? What colour?

Acerbis - RED - Good condition (I think?) - >20L (I think).

I'll get it from the lockup and take some photos and check it out.