XR650L internal Fork mods & improvents?

[Rover31]

To all the air head pigs

Has anyone done any good mods to their forks, such as springs, changes in oil weight or amount? Most importantly has anyone put in things like Race-Tech valves?

Any comments positive or neg pass it around.

I do have the SRC fork brace and I would highly recomend one!

Travis

[michaeln]

To all the air head pigs

Has anyone done any good mods to their forks, such as springs, changes in oil weight or amount? Most importantly has anyone put in things like Race-Tech valves?

Any comments positive or neg pass it around.

I do have the SRC fork brace and I would highly recomend one!

Travis

I put the SRC fork brace on too, and agree with your recommendation. I also put in Eibach fork springs appropriate for my weight and refilled with 10wt oil instead of the stock 5wt. It improved the compression & rebound damping. Frankly, the forks work well enough for me now that I am not tempted to do the RaceTech stuff.

[Rover31]

How much do you weigh? this is regarding the 10 wt. oil

Are the eibachs progressive?

Travis

[FlyByWire]

I went with .49 front springs. I just made the change about 3 days ago (as well as an 11.5 rear spring). Havnt ridden it yet, but it feels great when I bounce on it in the garage.. lol ?

[michaeln]

How much do you weigh? this is regarding the 10 wt. oil

Are the eibachs progressive?

Travis

I weigh way too much. About 260 lbs.

No, the Eibachs are straight-wound springs. I didn't want progressive wound ones.

[FlyByWire]

Im right there with ya.. (280) I had to raise my bars about 3 inches over stock (Both with a new bend and risers) due to my height.

[xr650Lroostnya]

I am having my forks and shock revalved (race tech gold valves) and stiffer fork springs put in.I weigh 190lbs. I will let you know how it turns out. ?

[Rover31]

Let us know how it works, I am very interested in the results!

Hey FlybyWire which bars did you go with I was looking to do the same thing? The height would be great when ripping along at speed in the wide open. I find myself bent over when standing.

Travis

[bigmike61]

Do you just order the springs and change them out yourself or take it to a shop? And what does it cost? I am 6'2" and pushing 280. I was jumping this weekend and found out where my bike bottoms out I am pretty sure I need more spring both up front and in the rear. And if you go to a shop, where do u go?? Thanks for the info!!! ?

[michaeln]

Do you just order the springs and change them out yourself or take it to a shop? And what does it cost?

I did mine myself. It's pretty easy to do them. The hardest part was finding a tubing cutter to cut the spacers to the right length. It's also a good time to change out the fork oil... mine was black and watery. I put in 10wt to stiffen up the rebound damping some, and I'm real pleased with the way it turned out. The springs were about ninety bucks, IIRC.

I would also highly recommend the SRC fork brace.

[FOUR STOKED]

I recently did an oil change on my 94 650L. I checked the factory oil level just as a reference point and found it to be 180mm. When I referenced the manual it said 145mm. I am pretty sure they don't leak as there is never any oil residue when I take the boots off for cleaning and they hold pressure. Anyways I changed the oil to 10w and set it at 110mm although I know it is not specified at that level. The results were predictable with more feedback but also a lot more bottomming resistance. I am alot more satisfied with the current set up as I don't hear the bumpers clanking and my wrists feel a lot better too. ?

[Rover31]

Did you change your springs?

I also would wonder about the risk of blowing out your seals due to increased internal fork pressures (due to increased oil amount).

Anyone else think this?

Travis

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[FOUR STOKED]

I did not change the springs, but I do intend on experimenting with the fork oil height some more. I figured I had some margin for error since the owners manual allows for up to six pounds of air pressure inside the forks with the front wheel off ground, although I now religously bleed the forks to no pressure before I ride. I do understand your concern about fork seals though. Since I set the level 35mm higher than factory specs I will probably lower in 5mm increments toward the factory recommendations to soften it up a little while still rataining the bottoming resistance. The thing about higher rate fork springs is that with higher front ride height the turning ability diminishes some and I already feel the bike pushes through the corners bad enough.

?

[Rover31]

I already feel the bike pushes through the corners bad enough.

You hit the nail on the head. :thumbsup:This is just what I am trying to improve on. I don't think we can fix the push on the front but anything to help is what I am doing.

I found a guy who has a 97 here, he doesn't ride much and doesn't know much about bikes(bought the bike from a friend) buuuut, He has the Race Tech Gold valving done and some other stuff (680 big bore kit. In talking to him yest. he said "Oh yeah anytime you want to take mine out just come over". So the next day it is not 20 degrees and snowing I hope to give a report esp. on the susp.

Travis