Advantage to running rearsets on XS650 Cafe?

xonix_digital

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Hey all,

I see everyone doing rear sets on cafe builds but I'm not sure I understand them...

Is there any advantage to running controls in the rear vs the stock location?

Thanks.
 
Hi digi,
like it said in an early motorcycle magazine:-
"A rider's cap should be worn with the peak facing forward. Those who ride with the peak facing backward either have a cap that's too big or wish to be mistaken for a racing motorcyclist."
It's the same in the case of a café'd street bike; It's all about image.
When you fit rearsets you give up the comfort of the normal riding position so folks will think you are riding the bike to the racetrack.
 
As Fred said ..................its all about image. The image is you have your head very far forward and down low behind a tiny fairing. That means your legs need to be angled toward the back of the bike, and that places your feet near the back of the bike, so rearsets work best for that position. Cafe Racer style made popular by those British lads, who would customize their bikes to look like the real racing bikes of the day, but instead would park their bikes at the pub and enjoy a pint or two.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Café_racer
 
While the above posts focus on the street bike turned cafe as an image thing (I don't disagree by the way, and I actually have one, but don't intend to race it...lol)..Rear sets are also practical. With clip-on or clubman bars, your arms are a lot more forward and lower...keeping your feet on the stock pegs (depending on your height) is not very comfortable. Comfort is subjective, but with rearsets fitted, you can lengthen your position a bit, find a more comfortable riding position and lean a lot more forward. Is it as comfortable as stock riding with stock bars, etc? No way... but then again, I have other bikes for that. :)
 
While the above posts focus on the street bike turned cafe as an image thing (I don't disagree by the way, and I actually have one, but don't intend to race it...lol)..Rear sets are also practical. With clip-on or clubman bars, your arms are a lot more forward and lower...keeping your feet on the stock pegs (depending on your height) is not very comfortable. Comfort is subjective, but with rearsets fitted, you can lengthen your position a bit, find a more comfortable riding position and lean a lot more forward. Is it as comfortable as stock riding with stock bars, etc? No way... but then again, I have other bikes for that. :)

Hi Brassneck,
while that's true for some riders, it ain't true for me.
Although diet and exercise could reduce my brewer's goitre and improve my physique there's nothing I know of that would make me 50 years younger.
If there was, I'd agree with you.
 
High speed Wobble. There is a point at high speed that most any bike will develop the dreaded High Speed Wobble. The remedy for this is leaning forward, then the wobble is gone. Rear sets enable the rider to lean forward easier, aerodynamics is not the only reason for that ridiculous riding position.

Scott
 

Reason for low speed wobble, caster effect, and high speed weave. At my weight I can get the low speed wobble going on any bike in good condition, never had the high speed weave happen, but here is the simple recovery method.

Scott
 
Summed up, If you're gonna ride a bike at these speeds, get off the road and go to a track, and stay the hell away from me. So, there really is no need for rear sets, stock or mod.

Scott
 
I've read some foolishness, but this thread hits a new low. There's only one reason for moving the pegs up and back on a street bike, and it has nothing to do with high speed stability. If you corner a stock XS650 at all aggressively, you're going to ground the pegs, particularly if you're riding one with clapped out shocks and fork springs. This is as true in low speed corners as in high speed sweepers. If you're not dragging the pegs with the stock setup, rearsets are a useless fashion statement. Most commercial rearsets put the pegs above and behind the swingarm pivot, but you don't have to go to that sort of extreme to get all the clearance you need and still have a comfortable ride. BTW, if the suspension on a stock XS650 is properly set up, the motor won't move it fast enough for speed wobbles, weave, etc.

Xonix, my advice to you is to leave the mods alone until you've learned what you want to do with the bike, rather than starting from a notion of how you want to look. Low, close bars can inflict real misery.
 
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Oh, motorcyclists must be suicidal or they don't fit the stereotype? I've gotten real tired of this lifestyle image BS lately. I'd rather not fit the stereotype. Abate turns my stomach with their no helmet push and other nonsense.

Scott
 
Feet back, arms forward works pretty good after about 80 miles an hour when the wind supports your chest.and having your feet back helps to shift your weight to the inside of corners, I got rid of the crotch rocket at about 40 years old and a back surgery. I have forgotten and bought one a time or two but they don't stay around very long. Ah, youth.
 
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