Best mods for XBR500?

[BrendanO]

This might open a can of worms, but...

What was my Dad's XBR is now mine. Dead standard, original shocks and pipes, only mod is CBX higher bars and a deer whistle on the front. 16000 miles from new, garaged. Has had fork oil changed at some point and head brgs greased at some point. Love it.

Wonder how much of a difference things like new shocks, or progressive fork springs might make? I like wee twisty roads, I weigh nothing but am tallish. I don't drive like a nutter (I'm not that good!) but would like things to feel more secure on undulating twisty roads (e.g. A93 south of Spittal of Glenshee).

Thought I'd ask. Other option is a slightly wider, more comfy seat! (have got too used to CX seat!)

[SteveC#222]

To be honest, the XBR was one of those bikes that Honda got pretty much right from the start. I've tried Hagon progressives and rear shocks and didn't really like them, they certainly didn't make that much difference. The standard suspension on the XBR is pretty good providing you're not trying to imitate Rossi, even the OME rear shocks - the bain of many a joke on a lot of 80's Jap bikes- work well and last forever!. Provided your forks/shocks are in decent nick I would stick with standard. You could try a small pre load spacer between the top of the fork springs and the fork nut if you want to stiffen the front end up a little, but otherwise I'd leave it alone ( 10W fork oil works well). Remember that the XBR has fairly slow steering - 60.5 degrees of rake - so needs to be 'set up' before you get to the corner.

If you are going to change anything I would suggest fitting a stainless braided front brake hose and a set of Bridgestone BT45 tyres.

Oh, and a chain oiler. You won't find another seat that fit's, but you can probably get them reprofiled or even get gel inserts put in for reasonable money.

[BrendanO]

Thanks Steve, that's the kind of talking-to I need! I'm absolutely not a scratcher, but sometimes like to get moving a wee bit. A running mate has just got a 650 Bros, which makes the XBR feel very low-tech indeed - not just that it's faster, it's way more planted and forgiving on bumpy bends. However, I do appreciate that the Bros is VERY trick indeed! XBR is more my style, just wondering if the gap can close a little.

[themoudie]

Aye Brendan,

My wife Kat has a Bros400 and that nips along very nicely! Front forks are not exactly subtle and have had 10w fork oil put in to sort them out and the rear suspension, again, is not that fancy. Upgrades are the complete front end from a CBR600 and a CBR900 'Fireblade' rear suspension unit!

I suspect a clean refill of 10w fork oil either to the exact volume or recommended height in each fork leg and a check of the rear suspension units for leaks and setting them up on a medium rather than hard preload setting along with good tyres at the correct pressure, will go a long way to sorting things out. Grease the steering head bearings and the swinging arm bearings, if needs be.

When riding my SRX6 twin shock, Kat says it is much easier through the corners than the Bros, but I suspect some of that is confidence, slimness of the bike and narrower tyres.

I have a friend who is happy and confident enough to bury a motorcycle into corners and with both the SRX and the Bros has happily jumped aboard, taken the bikes for a wee spin, returning with tyres scrubbed right out to the edge and a big grin! Whereas, I take the SRX well over, but hold back a wee bitty and Kat is just a bit more cautious with the Bros and it requires more input because of the tyre width.

All down to technique, confidence and where your head is. I just don't fancy putting mine between the cheeks of a horse or being the mascot on the radiator of a John Deere with a new precision seed drill or set of tattie drill ploughs on the back of it on the Dunning Glen road! You ken?!? 

Position on the road, right gear, vanishing point observation and riding on the throttle rather than outright sphincter tightening speed, I find enjoyable and with the current crop of potholes, loose gravel, broken roads, etc up here, who cares, as long as you can still ride the bike. To many at the moment, can't or never will again.

Drop us a line if your in the Perth neck of the woods.

Regards, Bill.

[guest564]

I've always run my XBR with the yokes dropped down the forks a little to speed up the steering. I ran a 1/4" spacer on top of the fork springs with 12.5W oil in the forks.
Best mods were the 600cc conversion with a mild cam and a four pot caliper on the front

[SteveC#222]

Well the Bros is a much newer design with an extra cylinder,150cc's, wider smaller wheels and stickier fatter tyres, monoshock suspension and at least 12-15 bhp more than the XBR ( their claim of 44BHP was always a bit suspect,more like high 30's in reality). That said, standing quarter times and top speeds are fairly similar, but the XBR's more basic design is always going to put it at a disadvantage. Don't be afraid to give it some revs, peak torque is at 6000rpm and it's a short stroke engine so while it will happily plod along at 4k, take it round to 6-7k in the gears and it's suprisingly quick, there is a nice little kick at 6k.  

[BrendanO]

Steve, you're right - took me a while to realise the dual character of the XBR - totally different at highish revs.

Bill - was on the Dunning road recently, and on the Cleish road (aye!!) and the road through Little Glenshee (where?) on CX this week.
Will be at Peebles Autojumble 8th May, but running a stall - say hi if you come!

H brgs and swing arm looked after, I believe, might try fork oil, and even move yokes, just out of nosiness!!

Ta again!

[guest564]

at least 12-15 bhp more than the XBR ( their claim of 44BHP was always a bit suspect,more like high 30's in reality).

XBR dyno'd at around 32-34bhp stock. I thought from memory that peak torque was around 5000rpm, the power drops off dramatically over 6800rpm.

[SteveC#222]

I wouldn't argue with 32-34HP, certainly doesn't feel like the 44 Honda claimed - the early test bikes were almost certainly 'breathed on', one of the journo's at the time wondered at the Br's ability to wheelie off the throttle in the first 2 gears!.....mine never has!  Honda quoted peak torque as 4.4kg-m@6000.rpm in the original sales brochure.

[JOOLZ]

Honda nsr250 brake and clutch levers fit the xbr and are span ajustable making it more comfortable to use. 12 weight fork oil firms up the front end damping, progressive springs ment for a vt500 fit the xbr and make the front end firmer, lower the forks in the yokes by 1/2 inch livens up the steering, replace the plastic swinging arm bearings for some bronze bushings, 14 tooth front sprocket can be fitted for a more lively acceleration, and I have found that hagon shocks take care of the rear very well and if you dont carry a pillion then cbr900rr footrests can be fitted to rear set the pegs further back and a little higher and stick in a cdi from a xl600r and that livens up the throttle response no end power wheelies are then posable just an add on, you can richen up the standard carb by putting a "thin" ! washer under the needle to raise it and richen up the bottom end by tuening the mixture screw (you may have to cut off the anti tamper tang if it is fitted) Of course you can take modifications to any level look at my cafe racer or a racing xbr

[guest288]

Wicked tips Joolz, may try some of them myself!

[guest24]

Sell it and buy an SRX. 

[Richard 003]

This might open a can of worms, but...

What was my Dad's XBR is now mine. Dead standard, original shocks and pipes, only mod is CBX higher bars and a deer whistle on the front. 16000 miles from new, garaged. Has had fork oil changed at some point and head brgs greased at some point. Love it.

Wonder how much of a difference things like new shocks, or progressive fork springs might make? I like wee twisty roads, I weigh nothing but am tallish. I don't drive like a nutter (I'm not that good!) but would like things to feel more secure on undulating twisty roads (e.g. A93 south of Spittal of Glenshee).

Thought I'd ask. Other option is a slightly wider, more comfy seat! (have got too used to CX seat!)

You have the deer whistle, that's the key thing. All you really need after that is a pair of nicely square Avon tyres and some Craven luggage.

Actually what I would recommend is a Dominator engine with a high compression piston and some of the metal removed from inside the head.

Cheers
Richard
(XBR outfit - GB650TT)

[squirrelciv]

Sell it and buy an SRX. 

What like yours and keep it under a dust sheet for years before buying a MT???  LOL LOL LOL 

[Ian]

Miaowwwww