Newsgroup discussion on XR600R Fork Springs

Ok, I'm going to pull on the best XR600R source of knowledge I know of: other
XR owners!  After owning my XR for a few months now, and reading several
reviews of XRs and articles about suspension in Dirt Rider and Dirt Bike,
I feel I've come to the conclusion that the springs in my forks are too
soft.  Why?  When I'm in the desert and I roll off the throttle it
headshakes real bad.  When I'm riding in first or second and roll off 
the throttle it dives, not to mention whenever I hit the brakes.  My
rear sag is set at about 3.5 - 3.75 inches right now, so I don't think
that's contributing to the problem.  I suppose I have a few options.

1) Buy heavier springs.

2) Buy fork pre-load adjusting caps.

3) Send the forks away for re-spring/re-valve/etc.

Number two is obviously the cheapest and may solve my problems, has anyone
else tried these out?  Those of you that have done anything to your XR600's
forks, what did you do/have done?  I haven't been riding in the proper
conditions to evaluate bottoming, so I don't know if I need to beef up the
oil or anything like that at this time..  

And if you did #3 to any bike, what did you have done and how much did it
cost?  Thanks!

  

From: jdunham@wv.mentorg.com (Jeff Dunham)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: Forks on XR600R
Date: 13 Jun 1994 20:50:52 GMT

   My XR650L was actually very harsh and didn't dive at all when I 
first bought it.  Turns out the compression adjusters were dialed 
all the way in.   The spring rate seems about right on it, but I think
that the XR650L comes with stiffer springs than the XR600 since it 
is set up to carry a passenger.
   If I were you I would first get a good quality oil in the forks and
since you are riding high speed desert stuff -> I would set the oil
at the high end.   Then play with the compression adjustment to see
if you can get some stability out of the front end while still maintaining
a that nice plushness that the conventional cartridge fork provides.
If this doesn't work, then go for a little more pre-load on the springs.
A hunk of plastic schedule-40 pipe can be cut to any length 
you need.
  Of course I should have asked you at the beginning of all this how
much you weigh.  If you weigh over 200 pounds you will probably
need to go for some progressive springs.  And, by the way, I think 
you should set the rear sag at 4 inches for desert riding (no more and
 no less!).

Jeff 

-- 
jeff dunham                1993 XR650L
jdunham@wv.mentorg.com     1993 XR250R
(503)685-4835              1986 XR250R

From: jeffd@fc.hp.com (Jeff Deeney)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: Forks on XR600R
Date: 13 Jun 1994 22:19:23 GMT

Jeremy Hansen (jeremyh@deslab3) wrote:
: Ok, I'm going to pull on the best XR600R source of knowledge I know of: other

Strange, I've never heard of a headshake problem with the XR600. 
What year XR?  Cartridge or conventional forks?  Do you have compression
damping adjustment or not?  The answer will depend.  

How's the handling otherwise?  OK at high speed small chop?  Bottoming
often on medium to large hits? 

The best answer is to install WP forks.  Barring that, CR forks work OK
with some fiddling. 

-Jeff Deeney-  DoD#0498    NCTR    FOLMA#2     '88 XR600-Shamu 
jld@fc.hp.com       AMA#540813  COHVCO  '81 CB750F-Llamaha 
"I no longer need to punish, deceive, or compromise myself.  Unless, of
course, I want to stay employed."  -Shanti Goldstein

Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: glyle@marie.seas.ucla.edu (George Lyle (233789))
Subject: Re: Forks on XR600R
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 94 23:38:14 GMT

Had my forks and shocks reworked by XRs Only in Hesperia, CA.  Cost
$350 including new springs on both ends.  Took a week, door-door.

I'm sorry I waited so long to have this work done.  The bike is much
better in rough terrain and more comfortable to ride.  No headshake,
swallows big whoops, very seldom bottoms out.  The "wallowing" feel
of the stock damping is gone.  The bike takes unexpected hits better.

It's the best $350 you can spend.  Honda should do it before they sell
the bikes!

George Lyle, XR600, R100RT, Wherever you go... There you are!

Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
From: masys@lhc.nlm.nih.gov (Dr. Daniel R. Masys)
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 94 16:15:25 GMT

>headshakes real bad.

Yep.  Front springs too soft.  An XR trademark...

>  My
>rear sag is set at about 3.5 - 3.75 inches right now, so I don't think
>that's contributing to the problem. 

Yes it is.  By setting the rear to only 3.5-3.75 inches (instead of 4),
you are in effect pre-loading the front end--back end stays up, front
end goes down.  Making the rear a little softer (by decreasing the shock
spring preload) will have the effect of making the front seem firmer.
But it will still headshake while decelerating in choppy stuff, with the
stock springs.

> I suppose I have a few options.
>
>1) Buy heavier springs.
>
The correct answer :-).  Progressive ones would be best.  Count on about
$65 for a pair, but it will make a tremendous difference.

>2) Buy fork pre-load adjusting caps.
>
This won't help the softness problem, and ironically may increase the
headshake due to the effective shortening of the suspension travel.

>3) Send the forks away for re-spring/re-valve/etc.
>
If you're on a tight budget, try the new springs first.  You may be able
to get away without revalving (which will run about $120).  But the full
blown re-valve and re-spring to your weight and riding style by Moose,
XR's Only, Thumper Racing or any other competent suspension shop will
open whole new worlds of fun with your scooter.

>And if you did #3 to any bike, what did you have done and how much did it
>cost?  Thanks!
>
I had a suspension rework of an XR250 done by Bumpstiks for $320; the resulting
suspension was so good that I was able to easily push the bike to its
power limits, essentially riding it with the throttle pinned most of the
time.  So then I had Bumpstiks do the same tricks to a CR250.  Funny,
I have never learned how to ride that one with the throttle pinned most
of the time... 8^)


Dan Masys
masys@nlm.nih.gov

From: jeremyh@deslab3 (Jeremy Hansen)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: Forks on XR600R
Date: 14 Jun 1994 17:44:36 GMT

Jeff Deeney (jeffd@fc.hp.com) wrote:
: Jeremy Hansen (jeremyh@deslab3) wrote:
: : Ok, I'm going to pull on the best XR600R source of knowledge I know of: other

: Strange, I've never heard of a headshake problem with the XR600. 
: What year XR?  Cartridge or conventional forks?  Do you have compression
: damping adjustment or not?  The answer will depend.  

'94 XR600R - cartridge and compression damping, no rebound of course.
For me the headshake is INTENSE.  I'm all worn out by the end of the day from
it.  Not nearly as bad on hardpack.  I have not taken my forks and steering head
apart yet, so I suppose there is a slight chance that the nut isn't tightened
down properly, but I doubt that's it.

: How's the handling otherwise?  OK at high speed small chop?  Bottoming
: often on medium to large hits? 

I would say it was good otherwise, describe what you mean by "high speed small chop"?
I believe it bottoms when I do jumps, yeah.  I'm a heavy guy (~230 lbs or so),
and the XR doesn't bottom as much as my old CR125 did, but that's no surprise
considering the weight.  I don't want to spend a lot of money because I can live
without "perfect" suspension if it means being closer to the down payment on a
house. :)

: The best answer is to install WP forks.  Barring that, CR forks work OK
: with some fiddling. 

Ack!  See above message about expense! 
  

From: jeremyh@deslab3 (Jeremy Hansen)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Re: Forks on XR600R
Date: 14 Jun 1994 17:47:04 GMT

George Lyle (233789) (glyle@marie.seas.ucla.edu) wrote:

: Had my forks and shocks reworked by XRs Only in Hesperia, CA.  Cost
: $350 including new springs on both ends.  Took a week, door-door.

: I'm sorry I waited so long to have this work done.  The bike is much
: better in rough terrain and more comfortable to ride.  No headshake,
: swallows big whoops, very seldom bottoms out.  The "wallowing" feel
: of the stock damping is gone.  The bike takes unexpected hits better.

: It's the best $350 you can spend.  Honda should do it before they sell
: the bikes!

Wow, that seems pretty reasonable.  Did you deliver your XR to them yourself?
$350 isn't much more than the cost of a steering damper (which would only get
rid of headshake).  Do they tailor the suspension to you specifically? 
(Like depends on your weight, riding style, riding area, etc?)
Thanks again!

--
  Jeremy Hansen                                
  Technology Group
  Applied Micro Circuits Corp.
 

 

From: glyle@marie.seas.ucla.edu (George Lyle (233789))
Subject: Re: Forks on XR600R
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 94 22:55:42 GMT

In article <2tkqeo$j7q@ftp.>, jeremyh@deslab3 (Jeremy Hansen) writes:
|> George Lyle (233789) (glyle@marie.seas.ucla.edu) wrote:
|> 
|> : Had my forks and shocks reworked by XRs Only in Hesperia, CA.  Cost
|> : $350 including new springs on both ends.  Took a week, door-door.
|> 
|> : I'm sorry I waited so long to have this work done.  The bike is much
|> : better in rough terrain and more comfortable to ride.  No headshake,
|> : swallows big whoops, very seldom bottoms out.  The "wallowing" feel
|> : of the stock damping is gone.  The bike takes unexpected hits better.
|> 
|> : It's the best $350 you can spend.  Honda should do it before they sell
|> : the bikes!
|> 
|> Wow, that seems pretty reasonable.  Did you deliver your XR to them yourself?
|> $350 isn't much more than the cost of a steering damper (which would only get
|> rid of headshake).  Do they tailor the suspension to you specifically? 
|> (Like depends on your weight, riding style, riding area, etc?)
|> Thanks again!
|> 
|> --
|>   Jeremy Hansen                               

I removed my forks and shock and sent them via UPS.  I described my
weight, size, riding style, and what I didn't like about the
present suspension.  I think that they'll charge you another $100 or
so if you take them the whole bike.

They shipped the units back and I installed them.  The rear spring was
already pre-set to 4" of sag.  I twiddled with the damping settings
some, but ended up back at the "as-shipped" settings in the end.

My bike doesn't headshake, but I didn't notice very much headshake
before I had the work done either.  Probably never rode it fast 
enough to headshake before I had the work done.  Something to do
with this broad yellow stripe up my back...

Keep in mind that XR's Only is in the desert where I ride and they
probably have their main expertise in setting bikes up for the kind
of riding I do.  I don't know if they would do as well in setting up
a woods bike.

I'm very happy with what they did for me.  Give them a call, they're
friendly folk and quite helpful on the phone.

George Lyle, XR600, R100RT, Wherever you go... There you are!