CAN ANYONE MAKE THESE BIKES TAKE A CORNER?

Pods make IT faster, better suspension makes YOU faster.

YZF600r forks. And trees, with the clip-ons, or if you like reg bars, get a upper tree off of a FZ6. The rear suspension can't get much better than newer, more adjustable shocks unless you go crazy and build some really expensive rear suspension based off of a newer bike.

 

All jokes aside, thank you all for your input. Im looking forward to my future with this old girl...hehe

 

high five to you sir

 

I just hope no one takes the results of that poll seriously. "Not a scientific poll" is an understatement!

 

If they do, then chances are, they dont have the ability to even make the bike run on pods, let alone be able to tell if the bike cornered any differently haha

 

i have put 14 mm spacers, and 300 ml of 10w fork oil in mine and handles a lot better. might be worth playing around with the quantities of oil to get what you like best though.

 

Just a good set of after market rear shocks koni, Hagon, Marzocchi progressive fork springs ,different fork oil levels, and use 10p coins as spacers, all so good sticky rubber.

Al

 

I have no trouble cornering with my XJ650

 

I can see those who say this bike don't ride on rails! and being pissed, but they're probably the same people who are pissed their hybrid doesn't drive like a sports car.....

I think it handle's fine, though I'd like to know more about fork upgrades and options as that's soon to be next on my list of things to do....

Course.. I could just go with pods evidently.... Thank you all for the banter.. it's made me laugh just getting to the end of the page.

 

wtf does pods have to do with handling??!

 

Well from wot I've been reading, the reason's that pods are being mentioned in the handling question, would be the following

 

ok well the flux capacitor makes sense, I mean it is science.

But the rest of it just seems like crazy talk

 

Let's not forget that looking cool makes a difference in the handling as well.
My little brother used to improve the speed on his bicycles by riding with a pencil behind his left ear.
Now it's PODS.

 

Wait, a pencil??? was there some logic to this?

 

Isn't it obvious???! It helps him cut through the air for better aerodynamics. Its like those fighter jets that have the large needle on the nose of the aircraft. Genius!!! He should have patented it

 

Lets not forget if you are runing PODS you have to have your mouth slightly agape with the jaw towards the apex of the corner and the tip of your tongue just passed your lips.

 

I personally think the XJ's handle very good, provided they are mechanically sound. I had a 81 XJ650 that I replaced 2 sets of foot pegs on from grinding them off on the pavement on the back roads around Mt Cheaha. Of course this was 18 years ago, and I am not nearly as aggressive a rider as I once was. That being said, a lot of the opinions of how well a bike will handle is largely dependent on how well the rider can handle the bike.

When the airbox is removed and replaced with Pods, the void left by the airbox creates a mini parachute, thus creating drag and altering the areodynamics

 

All joking aside; this is the answer. New, QUALITY rear shocks; rebuilt front forks with new springs; steering head and swing arm bearings/bushings attended to; a good set of tires; and the bike will handle quite well.

 

I know they handle well enough, but im not trying to make it into a sport bike. I only want it to handle better so I can avoid accidents and have more control of the bike in general. Trust me, my riding style is not limp wristed, I know how to lay a bike over, but its not always about that. What about when that Prius pulls out in front of you because they were watching their battery charge?

I think Im going to take the advice, do progressive springs with new oil and new quality shocks, also rebuilding the carbs, idles like poop and breaks up at neutral throttle. Oh ya, and its getting some custom exhaust work...welding up a 4-1 manifold by recycling the stocker and running a single muffler out the side....anyone want a vetter sting fairing? Black.

 

ok, over here in blighty i have an xj900f, 4bb . i have just.....
Replaced the rear shocks with hagon shocks.
Replaced the fork springs with hagon progressive springs.
Used 10w oil, filled to 90mm from the top of the fork leg with the fork springs removed and the forks collapsed. Repeat the last bit twice, its important.
handling is the best i have known on these bikes, i have three, all blue/white.
I have done the spacers, i found 14mm to be the best, but progreesive springs are far far better if you have the cash.

 

My 81 xj650H has a 82 650 Seca front end with progressive springs and rear shocks. I also put in tapered roller steering bearings. I have no problem doing as good as all the rest of the sport bikes out there on the twisties. On the sweepers the liter bikes can out power me, but not out corner me.

On the sweepers I do get a minor wobble that I can handle but I am afraid that I might stress the swing arm if I don't look at it.

Maybe some wheel and swing arm bearings might be needed.

My XJ is quite fun and I do get it up to 130-135 on the straights and have done 40mph on a flat, 90 degree 15MPH turn that I might have taken well at 50 maybe even 60. I do 25mph corners at 40+, 35mph at 50+ and 45mph at 90

So yes the XJ can corner, but it is really up to the rider.

 

WP, we will forgive you for reviving an old thread since its in the same calender year<LOL>

I agree, 98.7% is the rider but my first question was "Take a corner well compared to what? Compared to any of my H1's or H2's, even the modded one, my turbo is fairly respectable but with shaft drive, you have to get it settled as you dive into the turn which basically requires you to already be on the gas while your still braking in front, that gets the rear happy but as many others mentioned, you'll need to stiffen the front to help keep it calm as you go from full brake to unloaded......the biggest drawback to handling on my turbo isn't the suspension....it's the piggish weight.

Just basic physics....It's a lot easier to make a 300lb bike handle well then a 575lb bike. To offset that much centrifugal force, I have to hang 2 feet off the bike on a turn..."low and inside the turn" so to speak just to compensate for the weight....so rather then do that....I just don't push it very much. It's plenty fun as a straight line bike.

jeff

 

I either fix up my bike for as an excellent twisty rider or I buy another bike. If I buy another bike I have no idea which one to look for.

I do like the older style standards, XS, XJ, KZ, CB like these.

I do have an 81 XS650 in the garage that runs, but needs a little work. My XJ does need attention but is running very good.

Any ideas out there?

My XJ650 Maxim before upgrades


My XJ650 Maxim after Seca, dual brake, front end and rear shocks



A nice XJ650

 

Hi Princess, did you change the master cylinder when you went to the dual discs?

 

The one with the Seca was ok but I got one from a XJ750 with dual brakes. Works fine

 

EXLNT! We all need to STOP and smell the roses. I had a big ol' KZ 1300, better believe I wanted to stop. This was the only scarey machine I ever owned.

 

I am sure that is a very fast bike but a little to much for the twisties though.

 

Twisties shouldnt matter if your not too afraid to actually lean

 

but to throw all that weight around in a hurry is hard, plus it helps to keep the RPMs up high

 

How much do you think these modern race bikes weigh?

I have never ridden a bike more easier to maneuver than my KZ1000p, and that thing is heavvvyy

 

I agree but those liter bikes cant do what I can in the twisties because they are good for the sweepers but not for the tight twisties

 

The XJ550s only weigh a tad over 400lbs (100lb lighter than the shafties.) Chain-driven and a six-speed, a 550 Seca with upgraded suspension handles quite nicely no matter how tight the turn, and can hang right with a modern LiterBike, especially if the owner has done an exhaust mod that he didn't properly tune for. (I love a GSXR that starts to break up and splatter just when I'm getting into the good part of the powerband. My bike pulls cleanly to ten grand.)

Sticky tires and upgraded brakes don't hurt.

 

My bike relines at 9500 but between 9,500 and 11,000+ is another power band. The R6 can not take me. I am always told that my bike is very fast.

 

I have my doubts about the R6

 

I also owned a BMW R90s which weighs in at 475lbs. I was not afraid to do some righteous canyon carvin'; I would scrape the kick stand on the left and my brake pedal on the right. Oh man do I miss that sweet ride.

 

I used to drag boot and send sparks until I learned to lean my body in a better way. Now I dont scrape or drag anything no matter how much I seem to lean.

Here is a link to the club I ride with and their bikes.

http://www.meetup.com/norcal-xxx-riders/

 

http://www.meetup.com/norcal-xxx-riders ... /60536702/

oh?

 

Now I picked up a nice 87 FX600 and loving it a lot. Only paid $450 for it

 

If anyone on an older bike can stick with the late model litre bikes regardless of whether it's sweepers or tight and twisty then the litre bike owner is riding like a p****

edit: they should also hand their licence in and go back to a Bicycle

 

Or someone's full of ...........

 

Just a shame to see an XJ outlcasted because someone didn't want to make it operate properly

 

I drag the pegs all the time, got the pictures to prove it. I have never had a problem with the bike. And that is with a 325lb rider on top. You just got to learn the limitations at any givin speed and use them to your advantage. You certainly can't do it at 75 mph, but scraping the pegs at 40 mph is just as fun.

 

razz, does your blogspot have an episode 2 ?

 

word. having owned an r1 there is no doubt in my mind which performs better

like polock put it: someones full of it

 

This was never a dispute on which performs better, or really which was better at all.

 

Actually wizard I am finished with the bike. But between working and 2 computer crashes I haven't updated it lately. I have a ton of pictures to post though. I am trying to get it up dared this sun I hope. 1st day off in two months and a lot of honey do's to do. If you want some pics of the finished bike pm me and I will send them your way.

 

then i must have misread. not the first time. apologies.

 

I will contain my impatience ;O)

 

My XJ750RL with forward controls , 5" over forks & a lowered rear end took on a Kwaka 1400 Ninja the other day ( he also owns an XJ900)
Looking at the Ninja's back tyer its well worn right up the sides.( so goes hard)

On the straights he blew the doors of me , in the twisties I was always there.

His comment at the end of the ride::
"I was always told XJ900's dont handel, I dont believe that now & thats a 750"

 

Our bikes can handle with very little moding. i dropped my front 1.5 inch and have a rear set allows me to really lean into it. After adjustments to the rear i will be at the track next week for a day and will have some fun.