Let's talk mods

[Krtek]

I'm curious to find out about modifications other people have done to their XLs. It would be great if they'd post them here. Since it's my idea I'll start!

- Bigger fuel tank and shorter saddle (from an XL500 Paris-Dakar)
- Luggage rack and stainless steel panniers
- Oil cooler with thermostat
- XR camshaft
- Acerbis brush guards with built-on blinkers, bulbs switched for LEDs
- 12v socket for GPS etc.
- Uninstalled the automatic decompressor, because it sucks
- OSCO chain oiler
- sheepskin seat cover

Quite a bit, actually, now that I see it all listed...

[Rubberchicken]

Don't forget the smurf on the front mudguard.

[rsstom]

I have an 87 XL600R.
It has a White Brothers camshaft and big bore piston.
The exhaust is also White Brothers, an old E Series.
I installed a factory tachometer from a Euro PD03 XL and a pair of LM Dakar wheels.

[DaveS]

I have an 87 XL600R.
It has a White Brothers camshaft and big bore piston.
The exhaust is also White Brothers, an old E Series.
I installed a factory tachometer from a Euro PD03 XL and a pair of LM Dakar wheels.

Any pics? That sounds like a great bike.

I'm thinking of buying an XL to restore as I fancy a project to be getting on with, but something that I can use for green laning once done.

[Krtek]

I installed a factory tachometer from a Euro PD03 XL and a pair of LM Dakar wheels.

Any specific reasoning behind that? (Both of them.)

[rsstom]

Well, mostly just because they were unusual items. And I just enjoy modifying and tinkering.
Our USA XL's never had a tachometer, so I thought that would be, not necessary, but fun to watch at least!
The wheels are pure function....for those high speed runs on the old XL! OK, they're just unusual here too. But tubeless tires seem to lose air at a slower rate than tubes!





Yea, just because I can't leave anything alone! But it's fun.

[Krtek]

Our USA XL's never had a tachometer, so I thought that would be, not necessary, but fun to watch at least!

Wait. Would that be the one on the right, with the dial for rpm?
My boyfriend has a bike of the same type as yours and is about to install one, too.
Was it complicated?

Yea, just because I can't leave anything alone! But it's fun.

That's all the reason one needs for tinkering, isn't it
Dude, that's a seriously nice bike you got there.

[rsstom]

Thanks for the compliment!
If he's going to install the Honda tachometer, it's really just a matter of gathering all the parts and bolting everything up.
The only problem is: the Euro Xl's had the indicator lights (neutral, turn, hi beam) in the speedometer housing. But I didn't want to have to think in KPH. So in order to retain the lights, I had to modify the meter mounting bracket to move everything around a bit. I moved the indicator pod to below the speedometer and did away with the cover that was around the key switch.

[Krtek]

If he's going to install the Honda tachometer, it's really just a matter of gathering all the parts and bolting everything up.

Yes, he is, but he needs to have something to attach the cable to, at the other end. Drill through the cylinder head cover and all that. That's the only part that might be tricky. Didn't you have to do something like that?

The only problem is: the Euro Xl's had the indicator lights (neutral, turn, hi beam) in the speedometer housing.

True dat.
We're fitting my sweetie's bike with both the tacho and the speedo from a Euro model (like mine is), we are used to km/h. So we can keep the indicator lights.

[rsstom]

I tried to have the cover machined, but never got anywhere with that plan. Nobody really wanted to tackle it!
So I just bought a top cover on ebay Germany and bolted it on. Much easier! If you buy one, make sure the center cam journal is in good shape. They get wasted easily from low oil.
So mine was just swapping parts other than modifying the meter bracket, which wasn't really too difficult.
Post some photos for us!

Speaking of mods, do you (anybody) have a bolt-in footpeg to replace those spongy rubber mounted XL stockers?