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XS650 Adventure Bike?
- Thread starter Kevin Werner
- Start date
Looks better without the front fender. A LOT better.
Yes looks good, but not very much fun to clean after a dirt track ride or a bit of rain
Yes but it filled a different role then. No doubt it has an "in your face" attitude but I think I developed it into a daily rider.
Regarding suspension: Stock shocks and many aftermarket shocks have only 3" travel, giving around 4" of wheel travel. However, there are options out there with 4" shock travel, giving 5" of wheel travel. Just make sure the tyre does not hit fender or other parts at fully compressed suspension
Number 9 belongs to my son @Ben1 and is a 750. We forgot to get me some saddle time on that bike but Ben is very enamored with it. He thinks it is almost as powerful or equally so to Number 81 which is a 750 also. I loved the Blue Tracker until I got the jetting close to correct on the Red Bike. Now the Red Bike is in favor for the all around goodness it exhibits. The Blue Tracker needs the front end rebuild that the Red Bike got last winter, the forks are really clunky right now. That and higher bars may return the Blue Tracker to equal status. The Blue Tracker is a fun powerhouse but the Red Bike is quieter and better for hours long rides. We realized later that Number 9 was a calendar bike in 2022.Three! Such nice bikes, one of them is a 750, correct? They are all distinctly different, do you have a favorite? I know which one I like.
I’m following from this post. Need to read earlier post to catch up
My threads tend to drift a bit. We get a good flavor of members offering up memories, ideas and suggestions from hard earned experience. I have gathered up some bits to move forward on this little transformation. My time previously was devoted to Carmella 9 hours a day. Now I need to redirect. The original idea was an ongoing project with no time frame. Ben and I will still have Rallys to ride together. Now this Adventure Ride may come sooner. One step closer to fork work, tank and handle bars off.
Looks like you have another daily rider in the pics…lol
I just put a furniture dolly underneath it and scoot it around the block...
edit, Just saw the red outline. Grand kids scoot around the block. I buy those at garage sales for $1-$2.
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Fork disassembly start today. The Specials have a preload adjuster. These '77 forks have only a cap/plug. Inside is a 38mm preload spacer. I assume I add another 1/2" - 1" spacer on top of that for Minton mods. The fork were clunky and quick to dive under braking. ! leg had ~4.5 oz of tar, the other half that. The springs measure ~473 mm so are 9mm sagged. New OEM style or something else?
For that, you must increase the oil level. I believe I set mine 130 mm from the top. Spring removed, fork collapsed.
Big twin makes a replacement 35mm Sportster spring set, this search will find sellers. "24-0905 35mm" They work best with non adjustable (shorter) fork caps. I did some crude sag testing and came up with about 15% stiffer than the stock spring.
Trivia; fork caps for the 77-83 35mm and the 74-76 34mm are the same thread and can be interchanged as a pair.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/compa...tors-and-fork-springs.1655/page-2#post-678063
https://www.xs650.com/threads/fork-dive.55608/#post-608735
https://www.xs650.com/threads/fork-dive.55608/#post-608732
Trivia; fork caps for the 77-83 35mm and the 74-76 34mm are the same thread and can be interchanged as a pair.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/compa...tors-and-fork-springs.1655/page-2#post-678063
https://www.xs650.com/threads/fork-dive.55608/#post-608735
https://www.xs650.com/threads/fork-dive.55608/#post-608732
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Sporty springs are 100mm (4+ inches) longer? That seems like a lot of fiddling to get installed.
I've installed two pair no problem just a bit of pushing as you install the caps. Thought it made for a better fork. I'll ride period piece ole paint see if memory matches current seat feel. Those may be in Minton modded Madness also. 
Those stock special forks suck.
Those stock special forks suck.
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I was very pleased with RedBike forks after the Minton Mods, but that is in comparison to the tracker's forks which were really poor. At my riding pace, I like the RedBike very much.I've installed two pair no problem jusut a bit of pushing as you install the caps. Thought it made for a better fork. I'll ride period piece ole paint see if memory matches current seat feel. Those may be in Minton modded Madness also.
I may go with progressive rate springs from 650direct and Minton mods. Better the devil you know...I've installed two pair no problem just a bit of pushing as you install the caps. Thought it made for a better fork. I'll rideperiod pieceole paint see if memory matches current seat feel. Those may be in Minton modded Madness also.
Looking great so far @Kevin Werner. Did you source tires yet? My TX650A had Bridgestone Trailwings on it when I bought it, as did my new DR650, but I think those Shinko 244s are better. They are well regarded by the DR650 community.
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