Transforming my XJ into a dual sport?

[natemoen]

Swap tires so something more aggressive and see what happens.

[fredintoon]

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?

Hi Max,
gotta put her on a diet or she'll sink into the mud.
Lessee now, knobby tires, 1" longer shocks, 2" longer fork tubes, strip the bike down to bare frame, wheels & power unit.
Add plastic dirt bike gas tank & fenders, small headlight, mini-signals, solo seat, ditch the battery in favor of one of those appallingly expensive modern ones that don't weigh much.
Still gonna weigh nearer to 500lbs than 400.
WTF, if it don't ride the back lanes as well as you hoped, you can always bolt the original gear back on, eh?

[madmax-im]

Hi Max,
gotta put her on a diet or she'll sink into the mud.
Lessee now, knobby tires, 1" longer shocks, 2" longer fork tubes, strip the bike down to bare frame, wheels & power unit.
Add plastic dirt bike gas tank & fenders, small headlight, mini-signals, solo seat, ditch the battery in favor of one of those appallingly expensive modern ones that don't weigh much.
Still gonna weigh nearer to 500lbs than 400.
WTF, if it don't ride the back lanes as well as you hoped, you can always bolt the original gear back on, eh?

Thanks Fred...but No Mud...Sand..or Rocks or trails...just graded gravel or solid packed to slightly loose dirt...my advrider buddy who has ridden the deserts of N.America on his Yamama Maxim did so with nothing more than lowering his street tire's pressure and taking a stock bike across the deserts...

[madmax-im]

BTW from your detailed analysis which i am taking tounge in cheek so to say just further highlights what looks to be an insurmountable task

[madmax-im]

crap I hate when I do that...no option to nuke your mistakes...kinda sucks Ah fixed it

[xs11lover]

pics you say?

Notice the shirt, He thinks he was born in the 70's


I'm sure he'd love a xj11, I'll have to ride it for him until he's 30 tho.

[madmax-im]

Notice the shirt, He thinks he was born in the 70's


I'm sure he'd love a xj11, I'll have to ride it for him until he's 30 tho.

I like it...street legal...how is it on the street? what year? Pic is blurry of your son...cant really see whats on the shirt...but still cool...

[madmax-im]

I'd be seriously looking for a trade for a d/s machine however I want something a little larger in displacement...at least 400cc

[xs11lover]

He wouldn't give it up anyway,....trade his dirt bike for a street bike he's not go to be able to ride until he's 30???

[madmax-im]

I guess I am going to have to sell the XJ afterall if I want a new direction...I've had this bike a long time but the past 2 years it has seen less than a 1000 miles...I'm just not riding it...it should be ridden and appreciated. My modern ST1100 does all my LD riding duties...sitting on the XJ for a long ride is just not comfortable anymore.

[trbig]

I've taken my XJ offroad in much worse conditions than you are talking of doing. Get some better tires and try it. What have you got to lose?Plus... no radiator to pop. If the XJ is tuned right, the low end grunt these bikes have really helps out. They will be tough to handle in soft sand since they are so heavy and it'd be tough to get the front wheel to go where you want. Heck, the engine alone is only 40 pounds less than my son's complete DRZ 400.

If you've got any offroad experience at all, these bikes would be just fine in mild offroad stuff like the Alaskan highway and such. I think that if you still have that low-lying 4-1 exhaust, it's going to hurt you big time. Might try to rig up some sort of belly pan to protect the oil filter.

[natemoen]

Here ya go Ben, here is a rear wheel all ready for you.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/78-Yamaha-XS...387a2f&vxp=mtr