Transforming my XJ into a dual sport?

[madmax-im]

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?

[motoman]

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'....

[xs11lover]

?

Oh, stop that. It would be like making a airplane from a tank.

[bikerphil]

Ben, the XJ is too heavy I would think.

[WMarshy]

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_7fRq_19s&feature=related

[Elevener]

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.

[BA80]

Oh, stop that. It would be like making a airplane from a tank.

My thoughts exactly.

[madmax-im]

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

[xs11lover]

Hey if you want to, more power to ya. I'd bet my son would want it.

[DGXSER]

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.

[madmax-im]

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.

[crazy steve]

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

[madmax-im]

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

[xs11lover]

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.

[madmax-im]

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?