Finally got my XR-600
Tom Vervaeke
Hello:
Just a note to the group with thanks to all of the folks who
answered my query a month or two ago when I began my search for
a good 4 stroke dirt bike. I was looking mostly at the XR400 or
XR600 but had an open mind and also looked at KTM's, Kawi's, etc..
I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado so the dirt bike pickings here
are pretty good. Based on the info I gleamed from this and other
groups I had decided I'd go for the XR600. I'm 6' 180 and my daily
bike is a BMW R1100 GS. Your basic 550 pound dual sport bike from
hell. I use this primarily on the street and also fire roads, but
not on trails, etc.. It's too big, expensive, and hard to lift. But,
after riding this around I felt that I could handle the 286 pound dry
weight of an XR600. I'm also just a middle-of-the-road dirt rider
so most likely would not benefit from the better chassis and motor
of the XR400. I also plan on doing Baja and other desert work so
the bigger motor was preferred.
I ended up with a new/used 1996 XR600. The general manager at the
local dealership had it as his "demo" bike for about 1 year and/or
3000 miles (best guess). The dealership is selling it as "new" with
the full 6 month warranty. Price paid was $3550. New, leftover
96's here are $4195, new leftover 97's are $4495, and new 98's are
asking price of $5195 although you can get one for less than that.
I felt that the $3550 was fair as the bike is being sold as new and
I get the full warranty.
The bike has been jetted for the local elevation and an Acerbis
engine guard also was installed. Also, the bike has been "demo"
tagged in Colorado with a license plate so a small mirror and horn
have already been mounted. And, somehow, the front brake lever
has been modified so that it activates the brake light. The dealer
did the Vin verification so all the paperwork I need to get a title
and plate has been completed.
To be honest it's so snowy right now that I haven't even had a
chance to ride it yet. But, very soon I'll head down to Pueblo
to spend one day per weekend for the next 2-3 months getting
acquainted with the beast.
A few questions for the group if you would:
1. The plastic Acerbis engine guard doesn't look that robust. I'd
prefer a metal/aluminum piece. I've seen a few different designs,
any recommendations, or stay with the Acerbis?
2. I'm somewhat interested in the Baja Designs street legal dual-
sport kit for this bike. I would not mind a real electric horn
and a somewhat larger tail light. However, I don't want to mount
the turn signals at all. Will the kit work if you pick and choose
some of the components and leave others off? It adds 8 pounds more
weight but that's not too much (IMHO). Recommendations?
3. My dealer tossed in a IMS 4.0 gallon tank that the general manager
had used when he rode the bike in addition to the stock 2.6 (or is
it 2.9) gallon tank. However, several folks have recommended
getting the IMS 4.9 gallon tank. Is this the best? Looks like
around $160-190 for the 4.9 IMS.
4. Bark busters. This bike has none. I want something to protect
my hands. What works best? Manufacture and other details would
be great.
Anything else I need to get started? The bike came with the plug
at the end of the stock pipe removed. It's a little lound but not
killer. I'm not inclined to go to a aftermarket pipe unless it's
really needed. I do see a lot of Super Traps around here. Needed?
Thanks,
Tom Vervaeke
tom_ve...@hp.com
--
( ___ )------------------------------------------------( ___ )
| / | Tom Vervaeke Email: tom_ve...@hp.com | \ |
| / | Hewlett Packard Co. Phone: 719-590-2133 | \ |
| / | 1900 Garden of the Gods Road | \ |
| / | Colorado Springs, CO. 80907 | \ |
|___| |___|
|___| Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie!'... |___|
|___| till you can find a rock. |___|
(_____)------------------------------------------------(_____)
Forrest B. Allen
Tom Vervaeke wrote:
>
> A few questions for the group if you would:
>
> 1. The plastic Acerbis engine guard doesn't look that robust. I'd
> prefer a metal/aluminum piece. I've seen a few different designs,
> any recommendations, or stay with the Acerbis?
This is controversial: Get an aluminum skid plate (some say it blocks
airflow, but so would a plastic one)>
> 2. I'm somewhat interested in the Baja Designs street legal dual-
> sport kit for this bike. I would not mind a real electric horn
> and a somewhat larger tail light. However, I don't want to mount
> the turn signals at all. Will the kit work if you pick and choose
> some of the components and leave others off? It adds 8 pounds more
> weight but that's not too much (IMHO). Recommendations?
You can get a partial kit from Baja Designs: phone them with your needs
and they will
fix you up (1-800-422-5292)( or try http://www.bajadesigns.com/ on the
web).
If you're legal without turnsigs in Colo, go for it! In Calif, we
need it all,
but still cheaper than a $1400 citation in Randsburg :)
>
> 3. My dealer tossed in a IMS 4.0 gallon tank that the general manager
> had used when he rode the bike in addition to the stock 2.6 (or is
> it 2.9) gallon tank. However, several folks have recommended
> getting the IMS 4.9 gallon tank. Is this the best? Looks like
> around $160-190 for the 4.9 IMS.
Depends how far you need to go. Not sure another 0.9 gal is worth the
cost,
but you might be able to sell the 4.0 to recoup some cash.
I have 4.9 gal IMS, it's a bit wide ,
but in Baja a gas tank is never too big! I think IMS makes the
best-shaped
big tank.
> 4. Bark busters. This bike has none. I want something to protect
> my hands. What works best? Manufacture and other details would
> be great.
Get Acerbis plastic handguards.
>
> Anything else I need to get started? The bike came with the plug
> at the end of the stock pipe removed. It's a little lound but not
> killer. I'm not inclined to go to a aftermarket pipe unless it's
> really needed. I do see a lot of Super Traps around here. Needed?
>
Get a Thumper Racing insert for the stock pipe...gives you good flow and
reasonably quiet, only about $60...CHEAP compared to a Supertrapp EAR.
Lots of good XR websites if you need more ideas. Ba
Forrest
XR600, XR400
David Jones
>Tom Vervaeke wrote:
>>
>> A few questions for the group if you would:
>>
<snip>
>> 4. Bark busters. This bike has none. I want something to protect
>> my hands. What works best? Manufacture and other details would
>> be great.
>
>Get Acerbis plastic handguards.
BTDT......IMO:
Only get these if you don't plan on hitting anything solid or
falling......definately do not get the clear ones. Aluminum will last
forever and so will your levers and perches. Get plastic fairings if
you want to shelter your hands further.
>>
<snip>
>Lots of good XR websites if you need more ideas. Ba
>
>Forrest
>XR600, XR400
DJ
MoToMan
Tom Vervaeke <tom_ve...@hp.com> wrote:
<sniporamma>
>
>1. The plastic Acerbis engine guard doesn't look that robust. I'd
> prefer a metal/aluminum piece. I've seen a few different designs,
> any recommendations, or stay with the Acerbis?
Moose Alum. plate has a great fit, and is very strong
>
>2. I'm somewhat interested in the Baja Designs street legal dual-
> sport kit for this bike. I would not mind a real electric horn
> and a somewhat larger tail light. However, I don't want to mount
> the turn signals at all. Will the kit work if you pick and choose
> some of the components and leave others off? It adds 8 pounds more
> weight but that's not too much (IMHO). Recommendations?
Baja actually sells the individual components they will probably put a
package together for you.
>
>3. My dealer tossed in a IMS 4.0 gallon tank that the general manager
> had used when he rode the bike in addition to the stock 2.6 (or is
> it 2.9) gallon tank. However, several folks have recommended
> getting the IMS 4.9 gallon tank. Is this the best? Looks like
> around $160-190 for the 4.9 IMS.
unless you really need the extra .9 gallons of distance it would
probably be a waste of money IMHO. and it is probably a touch fatter
than the 4g
>
>4. Bark busters. This bike has none. I want something to protect
> my hands. What works best? Manufacture and other details would
> be great.
Acerbis Rally guard work OK, I found that mine tend to spin out of the
way when the bike is dropped, resulting in a bent brake lever. the
standard Bark Busters seem to have better resistance to movement I'd
go with them.
>
>Anything else I need to get started?
Gas :-)
>The bike came with the plug
>at the end of the stock pipe removed. It's a little lound but not
>killer. I'm not inclined to go to a aftermarket pipe unless it's
>really needed. I do see a lot of Super Traps around here. Needed?
if you don't mind the noise just run it as is, if you've got touchy
environmentalists(tree huggers) then you may want to look into
something like the Thumper Racing insert (good performance yet
resonable tone)
Need a supertrapp ?? , nahh they deliver good power at the sacrifice
of your's and your riding partners hearing (well ok maybe not that
bad), I've got one on my 250 it performs well, I'd ride the bike for a
while, if you think your lacking horsepower (rev's) think about
getting one, but if your a torque lover you probably will not
appriechiate the ST as much.
>
>Thanks,
sure,
Cheers....
MoToMan
(94-XR650L, 90-XR250R)
acss...@acs.eku.edu
In article <348d0597...@news.cyberhighway.net>, SPAM-NO...@cyberhighway.net (David Jones) writes:
>>Get Acerbis plastic handguards.
>
> BTDT......IMO:
> Only get these if you don't plan on hitting anything solid or
> falling......definately do not get the clear ones. Aluminum will last
> forever and so will your levers and perches. Get plastic fairings if
> you want to shelter your hands further.
I'll second that. I was a plastic fan, but after breaking a couple
sets (1 EMGO, the other UFO)... no more. I will concede that Acerbis
*might* be better quality and a little more durable. However, all the
plastic ones seem to move around on the bars... you can't get them tight
enough. My Acerbis rally pros (aluminium with contoured plastic
fairings) should be in tomorrow.
dsc - acss...@acs.eku.edu
Fred410
>>2.
(snip)
you pick and choose some of the components and leave others off?
lound but not killer. I'm not inclined to go to a aftermarket pipe unless it's
really needed. I do see a lot of Super Traps around here. Needed?<<
Check out Baja's "catalog" (http://WWW.bajadesigns.com/index.html) before you
order a kit. You can cherry pick components (more $) but they offer Acerbis
handguards with integral turn signals. Also trick stuff like Thumper Racing's
low-flow replacement exhaust baffle.