XR500 (and similar) legends and lies thread

[fridayflash]

hi robyn, yep still in the bay...ive got work on and the moneys a bit better...and the weather a lot better at the mo! will consider going back for winter or in spring depending on workload here. p.s i always liked those orange xl175s!!!!!!!!!

[10bikekid]

Wow we are really going for it for KB thread (can't keep up)

[10bikekid]

Greetings chaps

Had two new XR 500s back in the day. Great bikes...great times !

I put S&W shocks on my 'A'. ( after previous experience on my 'Z')

Geez they were Cool !
2 coil springs of different rates, on each shock.
The ride was plusher...and the damping was wonderful.

Had a new red (soon to turn pink!) Don Vesco tank as well.
Alpine Stars Roger de Coster MX boots

....ahhh....those were the days.....

Great to see you fullas keeping the faith.

My experience was pretty similar except Mine were both Z's, one a brand spanker the other only a year old, put SMW's on the second one and would agree with your findings, yes plush they were.

Pretty sure I had the Alpine Stars to but wore Redbands mostly on the road and used boots for racing

ahh those were the days

[fridayflash]

yep, post #305 and counting 10bikes quite a successful thread you started

[10bikekid]

Found this pic from a couple of years ago,, '79 XR500 on sweeper onto front straight Powerbuilt Chch.
'84 XR250re front forks and disc hub with 17inch 250re rear rim laced onto it.
Actually worked really well! Scraping footpegs and wearing the sides off my boots on most corners.
Probably didn't get over 150kph, but cornered real good!

That's annoying I cant see the pics

[10bikekid]

Yea Ohlins rear shocks as all the other Bikes have as well .... Haven't finished buying yet a couple more to go LOL.

Oh I needs some Ohlins shocks, the bike can come later (where do you get yours from? )

I bought a brand new XL500 in 79 and can remember riding it home and felt it was going to wheel stand when taking off after spending 2 weeks on a CG110 loaner bike. I loved that bike around town but it would get blown around in side winds on the open road. I miss the chunky comfortable seat and lower seat height than modern mid price dual road/trail bikes don't have.

Yep wheel stands thats what they do, the flightiness I think is due to the low weight to height ratio, I found 110kph an ok speed to travel at on the XR XL's after that you needed you race face if doing any distance, was young so didn't notice to much back then though.

[Muzz67]

That's annoying I cant see the pics

Bugger. anyone else see them?

[Sensei]

what length eye to eye do ohlins quote for the xl500s shock sensei?

Length is 420mm long .... Ohlins dont make shocks just for XL/XR
These were of Husqvarna MX bike that just happend to be the right length & then sorted springs etc to suit my liking for the road .... Anything possible with abit of $$$$$

[fridayflash]

Bugger. anyone else see them?

i couldnt see the pic either mate...is it the same one in the old school cool thread?

[10bikekid]

hey 10bikes you mentioned longer shocks and a terry kit...is the terry kit still avail? taking the forks from 8" up to 8.8" travel i understand? and when you say longer shocks...do you roughly know what length the xr500 rear shocks are? i thought they were all 400 eye to eye but maybe the xr is more than that...or the xl a bit less

Length is 420mm long .... Ohlins dont make shocks just for XL/XR
These were of Husqvarna MX bike that just happend to be the right length & then sorted springs etc to suit my liking for the road .... Anything possible with abit of $$$$$

Looks like the Stock XR length is 17.5" 444.5mm, and that rings a bell, expect 420 is close to stock XL length and the S&W Strokers were probably 18" 457mm http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html/?_nkw=xr500%20shock

35 year old pic looking a bit worse for wear but S&W's are in shot

PS, look what I found in my search, phew only in America https://www.facebook.com/theroyalrac...49682285080579

[Padmei]

http://www.bikeexif.com/adventure-motorcycles

[fridayflash]

http://www.bikeexif.com/adventure-motorcycles

very good padmei, i like the tough old xr600...getting scarce to find in orig form nowadays

[fridayflash]

Looks like the Stock XR length is 17.5" 444.5mm, and that rings a bell, expect 420 is close to stock XL length and the S&W Strokers were probably 18" 457mm http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html/?_nkw=xr500%20shock

35 year old pic looking a bit worse for wear but S&W's are in shot

PS, look what I found in my search, phew only in America https://www.facebook.com/theroyalrac...49682285080579

aha, i know those shocks now, ive seen them...actually just the other day, in a photo that is. ive a mate with quite a few 500a pics, he's a new member ok kb so hopefully he'll be able to scan and post some up soon

[NordieBoy]

Mine had Works Performance shocks with triple springs per shock. Had to pull one of the springs off to give out any sag at all, and then only 5-10mm...

Always wanted to stick a PE swingarm on it...

[Muzz67]

That's annoying I cant see the pics

This time??