New Member with XBR

[Herbalrick]

Hi all, I'm new on here so thought I should introduce myself.

I have recently bought a 1986 XBR500, but have not actually seen it in the flesh yet (ebay).

Anyway, I'm hoping it's not a nail and I've been toying with the idea of cafe racering it so I may be selling off a few bits and pieces as I don't want to rip appart pristine parts.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130400814894&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_500wt_1154

[Ian]

Hi there Herbalrick and welcome to TC. Looks like you got yourself a bit of a bargain methinks, but what do I know about XBRs? Im more of an SRX man myself. Seems a bit tragic ripping that bike apart to cafe it....

Regards

Ian

[Herbalrick]

Tell me about it, I had my heart set on cafe racering a bike but its a little heartless to take apart something which has survived in such good nick. I may have to keep it stock for a while.

I have been told that moving the bars to below the yoke gives a better riding position. Can any of the XBR fellas (or ladies) confirm how this affects handling?

[JOOLZ]

Go for it. Moving the bars below the top yoke is very straight forward, and gives a nice raceing tuck. Mine handles well so yours will too. Just build up your arm and shoulder muscles as it can get a little uncomfortable on longer journeys

[guest24]

Keep it standard! If it is still going after all these years it would be a shame to change it.

I note no-one has mentioned to you about landrovers yet? It is one of the club's fetishes......

[SteveC#222]

Hi Herbalrick, welcome to the TC.  Looks like you've got a nice tidy one there! even got the rear seat cover which is rare. Dropping the bars is easy enough, just check your clearance on the tank! but I would try it standard first....how good is your back?

Not that much goes wrong with XBR's generally and spares are mostly easy.  Worth checking the back brake doesn't 'pulse' when applied at low speed, this could be an oval drum lining which can be a problem to sort.

[Herbalrick]

Yeah I think I will keep it standard for now. My back is absolutely fine, but then again the bike with the most lean I've ridden till now is a 600 Diversion so I will have to wait and see how my back and wrists hold up with the XBR.

It has a fair few miles on it - 55000 but from looking at the general condition of it as such a well kept bike I'd expect the engine to have been looked after as well. 

@Hackbridge
I've only got a motorbike licence, but if you want to let me loose in a landy off road I'm fully up for it.

[guest24]

@Hackbridge
I've only got a motorbike licence, but if you want to let me loose in a landy off road I'm fully up for it.

Sorry, I buck the trend here and dont have a land rover, nor a petrol camping stove, but I have been known to cause a stir over weather girls.

[guest987]

Welcome Herbal.

Don't mention Land Rovers or the dust will be shaken from all sorts of sad Anoraks.

O and east European molluscs.

Standing by,

Rob.

[guest564]

I have a camping stove but I have an off-road prepared Vitara not a Land Rover. sadly neither the vit nor my XBR run at the moment.

[Herbalrick]

@ Rhinoman - are you Rhinoman of http://www.rhinoman.org/ ?

I was quite impressed by your race prepared XBR. When you getting it back on the road?

[JOOLZ]

Interesting link some great info there

[guest833]

Welcome-

If you need any Xbr parts- give me a shout

Just sold two xbr's - but have my bestest project to go

Cheers

John

[guest564]

@ Rhinoman - are you Rhinoman of http://www.rhinoman.org/ ?
I was quite impressed by your race prepared XBR. When you getting it back on the road?

Thats me, sorry I was meaning to reply to your message. I think the XBR doesn't make a very good road bike anymore, I've started stripping it down again with a view to putting it back on the track. I'm intending to shoehorn in an XL600LM crank to up the capacity a bit and I want to fit a better carb too. I already bought some larger diameter downpipes to run a dual silencer set up. The noise limits have come down a fair bit since I last raced it and with the stock 5sp box I need to try and keep the wide power band reasonably wide.

[002]

I've only got a motorbike licence, but if you want to let me loose in a landy off road I'm fully up for it.

Welcome Herbalrick,

NO !  You cant use my Land Lady....but will let you have the use of petrol cookers WITH supervision.
And Pat is a Sh1t cause he likes Gas Cookers......so there !   

Jethro