Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Transforming my XJ into a dual sport?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
  • #1

    Transforming my XJ into a dual sport?

    Not riding it much as a street or long distance ride. Have been really lusting for a dual sport machine capable of doing dirt roads and some trails but not the true gnarly stuff. And this would get me to ride it more... If I do any modifications they'll be bolt on/bolt off so that it can be converted back to its nearly OEM state...no sawzall here...
    But where do I start? Lose weight? whats to take off? Front fender...exhaust seat rail...there not a whole lot to remove to reduce weight...add some dual sport tires would prolly help...ground clearance should be improved...what kind of exhaust could replace the kerker?
    1980 XS650G Special-Two
    1993 Honda ST1100
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Originally posted by madmax-im View Post
    Not riding it much as a street or long distance ride. Have been really lusting for a dual sport machine capable of doing dirt roads and some trails but not the true gnarly stuff. And this would get me to ride it more... If I do any modifications they'll be bolt on/bolt off so that it can be converted back to its nearly OEM state...no sawzall here...
    But where do I start? Lose weight? whats to take off? Front fender...exhaust seat rail...there not a whole lot to remove to reduce weight...add some dual sport tires would prolly help...ground clearance should be improved...what kind of exhaust could replace the kerker?
    Gee Bn.....don't be so cheap......a good ole' KLR will suit you just fine. Or you could jump up to a WeeStrom, or go all out and get you a Tenere. U might re-consider after you wang that oil filter housing or hit a pipe and fracture a good set of pipes......just sayin'....
    81H Venturer1100 "The Bentley" (on steroids) 97 Yamaha YZ250(age reducer) 92 Honda ST1100 "Twisty"(touring rocket) Age is relative to the number of seconds counted 'airing' out an 85ft. table-top.

    Comment

    • #3
      ?

      Oh, stop that. It would be like making a airplane from a tank.
      79 XS11 Special (Lazarus)
      80 XS850 Special (Old Faithful)
      80 XS11 Standard sorta stock (Beatrice)
      79 DT 100

      Comment

      • #4
        Ben, the XJ is too heavy I would think.
        2H7 (79) owned since '89
        3H3 owned since '06

        "If it ain't broke, modify it"

        ☮

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by bikerphil View Post
          Ben, the XJ is too heavy I would think.
          Ya think!? I use to have a DR650 and I though that thing was a pig anytime I went much further than a seasonal dirt roads. I couldnt imagine a 600lb one such as the XS! I think you would end up with something like this...

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn_EGqh9iwg

          This one is worth watching twice.
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c_7f...eature=related
          Last edited by WMarshy; 06-07-2012, 07:20 PM.
          '79 XS11 F
          Stock except K&N

          '79 XS11 SF
          Stock, no title.

          '84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
          GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws

          "What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~

          Comment

          • #6
            Posted this long ago, but yeah. Get a KLR, they are cheap till the farkles start.



            BTW, I dont know whats up with the shocks.
            Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas.

            1980 XS1100G 1179 kit, Tkat brace, progressive springs & shocks, jardine spaghetti, Mikes coils, Geezer's rectifier

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by xs11lover View Post
              Oh, stop that. It would be like making a airplane from a tank.

              My thoughts exactly.
              Greg

              Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

              ― Albert Einstein

              80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

              The list changes.

              Comment

              • #8
                well I know of an individual on ADVrider forum locally that has ridden the deserts of the of the US and mexico and south america on an XJ...heavy? it isnt any worse than a big BMW1200GS...and I just want to do dirt/fire roads...not any real gnarly bumpy and or rocky stuff...and Brant..yes I am cheap. No budget for anything to buy...so I might as well use what I got. The only way i could buy anything would be to sell my ST and the XJ...maybe I should consider that too... So the world is flat and if i try to make a plane from a tank I will die??? Just gotta stir the pot...LOL maybe i should mellow out and smoke some instaed
                Last edited by madmax-im; 06-07-2012, 07:42 PM.
                1980 XS650G Special-Two
                1993 Honda ST1100

                Comment

                • #9
                  Hey if you want to, more power to ya. I'd bet my son would want it.
                  79 XS11 Special (Lazarus)
                  80 XS850 Special (Old Faithful)
                  80 XS11 Standard sorta stock (Beatrice)
                  79 DT 100

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by madmax-im View Post
                    maybe i should mellow out and smoke some instaed
                    Ben, if your plan is to make an of road bike out of an XJ, i think you have smoked WAY yo much already!!!

                    Seriously, though, by the time you invested in all the wheels and such needed to make the XJ perform decently as a dirt bike, I would think you could have bought a decent one, at least twice.
                    Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

                    When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

                    81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
                    80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


                    Previously owned
                    93 GSX600F
                    80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
                    81 XS1100 Special
                    81 CB750 C
                    80 CB750 C
                    78 XS750

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      well i think i would not need to do to much to make the XJ work on dirt roads. I see people all the time taking street bikes off road without doing any serious mods to their bikes.
                      1980 XS650G Special-Two
                      1993 Honda ST1100

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        If you put some aggressive dual-sport tires on it that would go a long ways...

                        Swapping to a 17" rear wheel would help too. Beyond that, you're talking some pretty serious mods and you'd still have a too-heavy bike
                        Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

                        '78E original owner - resto project
                        '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
                        '82 XJ rebuild project
                        '80SG restified, red SOLD
                        '79F parts...
                        '81H more parts...

                        Other current bikes:
                        '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
                        '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
                        '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
                        Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
                        Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          This isnt likely to get done is it? Rhetorical question...but it stems from my desire to ride off roads...well fire roads and graded gravel...no sand mud or rocks...so yeah looking for a purpose built d/s bike is gonna be much easier...I found a bitchin Yamaha XT600 but again I have to sell one of my bikes to get the XT...
                          this XT600 is one badasssed machine and one heckuva deal....do we have a drool smiley???
                          http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/3034130566.html
                          Last edited by madmax-im; 06-08-2012, 02:28 PM.
                          1980 XS650G Special-Two
                          1993 Honda ST1100

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            xj

                            I'll tell what I'll do just for you, I'll trade you my son's xt225 Yamaha for that nasty old xj.
                            79 XS11 Special (Lazarus)
                            80 XS850 Special (Old Faithful)
                            80 XS11 Standard sorta stock (Beatrice)
                            79 DT 100

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by xs11lover View Post
                              I'll tell what I'll do just for you, I'll trade you my son's xt225 Yamaha for that nasty old xj.
                              pics ...we need pics...and condiition? Whats yur son gonna sy?
                              1980 XS650G Special-Two
                              1993 Honda ST1100

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X