First impressions

[mthee]

Got time yesterday for the oil and filter change on XBR which went smoothly, employing SteveC#222 method of cracking the oil feed to the head. Put 1.7L in which registered 1/3 up the dipstick.
The first ride was great! (once I remembered I had to turn the fuel on😃) I took it gently, but soon realised she really can handle sweetly - very planted up as far as the front, which felt a bit light/vague by comparison and did cause me to pucker up to the seat (!) when I hit one sharp bump, mid-corner. It could be the lack of clip-ons, with my more upright bars not putting enough of my weight where it was designed to go? I felt more sat on her than in and was surprised how high the footpegs are set.
The best sound and smallest turning circle of any bike I've been on with fewer vibes than I was expecting.
I only had the chance to go 12 miles, but she's a definite keeper. I'll change the fork oil and front tyre next, maybe keep an eye open for a set of clip-ons. Now it's just a matter of upping my game to match what she has to offer and mastering that kick-start, so I can get her to fire first kick for when she gets parked along the seafront. Shameless posing is no respecter of age!

[SteveC#222]

So you finally got the keys!!

I haven't ridden an XBR with high bars but you could well be right - there are a pair of XBR bars on Ebay at £25 a side. I would junk that front tyre as soon as you can as thats probably a big factor in the vague front end, they usually feel pretty planted.  I use SAE 10 fork oil on mine which seems about right for me. I also put in a 1/2 inch spacer on top of the fork spring to stiffen them up slightly which seemed to work well.  Now you need to take it for a good ride ( preferably somewhere with a long tunnel so you can really hear it!)

Yes, kickstarting is the pose however the ultimate pose is kickstarting a Cossack by hand! ( don't try it on the XBR!)

Once you get the feel for it don't be afraid to rev it a bit, it'll plod around quite happily at 4000rpm but start changing gears at 6000rpm and you'll find it goes quite well ( for a 500 single).

[Moto63]

Good to hear you're out n about on the steed Matt, I popped hagon springs in the forks on my cafe racer which defo stiffened up the front end, however my bars were dropped below the top yoke and not above it as standard. Oh and by the way....happy 50th mate, which is why I'm assuming you've managed a ride out
Cheers..Michael

[mthee]

Thanks for the advice. I'll examine the fork internals, change the oil and get a spacer in whilst the wheel's out for the tyre change. If that's not sufficient, I'll try  the progressives.
Yeah, 50 now, Michael, thanks. A bit uneventful, as me and the missus have been up the hospital with our lad who needs a gallbladder op, so only got a short ride out yesterday. Been in since the 26th April as there have been complications, not least of which, an aborted endoscopy.
Anyhow, as you know, hospitals can be mind-numbingly boring, so thinking about the XBR and having access to this forum have really helped.
I'm dying to get back out on her again sometime this week and just remembered that I'd neglected to check tyre pressures - doh! (28 both ends?)

[Moto63]

Bad news about your lad Matt, hope it all goes well for him/you all. The big five oooohh my goodness. Well done fella ya made it. Yes like (I think it was Steve) said defo keep up with checking those tyre pressures, I found it made a fair bit of difference to the way the bike felt if they were out, so at 28psi front and rear it doesn't surprise me that it didn't handle quite right. Once I'd got mine set up properly it handled well and felt generally planted, it sometimes used to shake it's bars a bit but I was usually fair going at the time. Plus it can depend on what you've been used to riding?? Compared to my triumph 1050 speed triple the handling felt very slow but it's a 1980's middleweight things have clearly progressed since then. Like I say tho once fettled properly it handled well even when we (me n bro) were shifting.
Best o luck with ya next ride out n let us know how you get on. Cheers...Michael

[blew]

I have a pair of cbx 550 bars on my xbr.They don't make that much difference to be honest,and I can't feel any difference in handling.

[mthee]

Cheers for that. Did you raise the forks up? I just reread some bookmarked searches for mods which revealed many with clip ons have raised their forks in the clamps by 1/2 to 1inch. Mine has a bar on risers and forks not raised, so (unless shorter tubes were substituted) has a lot more rake which might also go towards explaining the vague feel at the front. Might be another reason to return the original clip ons, although that would mean taking the decompressor cable off the lever currently on the bar and returning it to it's original position + purchase original top yoke. Hmmm. Pint please!

[mthee]

Looks like the CBX bars would require the tubes to come up through the top clamp the same as the original bars in order for them to clip-on. Just measured my tubes as only coming 6mm above the top clamp with only 10mm more to go before the fork cap hits the underside of the handlebar. So even having raised the tubes up as far as they'll go, I'd still be raked out by comparison to the stock set up and even more so compared to those who have raised their forks further up than stock to improve the front.

[SteveC#222]

Looks like the CBX bars would require the tubes to come up through the top clamp the same as the original bars in order for them to clip-on. Just measured my tubes as only coming 6mm above the top clamp with only 10mm more to go before the fork cap hits the underside of the handlebar. So even having raised the tubes up as far as they'll go, I'd still be raked out by comparison to the stock set up and even more so compared to those who have raised their forks further up than stock.

They should go straight on.

I've just measured my forks from the top face of the top yoke to the groove just below the fork nut for the wire circlip and that is 35mm. If yours is less than that then it sounds like the forks aren't far enough through the yolks. You need to check this first.

If you start changing things on the forks only do it one step at a time. If the fork measurement is OK I'd still change that tyre first.

You can drop the forks in the yolks to sharpen up the steering but you only want to drop it by 1/2 inch.  The fork spacers I used are actually kitchen tap adaptors from Homebase! they come as part of the tap kit but I didn't need them but when I was looking for some suitable spacers in my bit's box I came across them and they are a perfect fit, couldn't have been better if I'd had them turned up.  I'm pretty sure I've got  a pair in the garage, I'll have a look tomorrow and if I have I'll send them to you.

[Propellor]

Looks like the CBX bars would require the tubes to come up through the top clamp the same as the original bars in order for them to clip-on. Just measured my tubes as only coming 6mm above the top clamp with only 10mm more to go before the fork cap hits the underside of the handlebar. So even having raised the tubes up as far as they'll go, I'd still be raked out by comparison to the stock set up and even more so compared to those who have raised their forks further up than stock to improve the front.

If you're thinking of putting preload spacers in there, won't that increase the already over raked rake ?

I've always believed in having quality rubber underneath me but recently I took a chance and paid a price. My "tumble" reminded me of the value of decent quality riding gear too (which I have). Still managed to break my thumb though.

[mthee]

Thanks for doing the measurement and your freebie offer, Steve. Never thought I'd be pleased to receive parts of a tap kit!
Here's a pic of my setup, showing only 6mm from top yoke to top of tube (not cap)

[mthee]

If you're thinking of putting preload spacers in there, won't that increase the already over raked rake ?

Having seen your earlier posts on suspension mods, can you explain this for a complete novice, like me? I thought rake was just about how far out the forks were set?

Sorry to hear about your thumb. Which tyre caused your off? Mine's a Cougar which appears to be cheap enough to be discovered in a family size box of sugar puffs!

[SteveC#222]

I think we may have found your problem coz thats not right!  That scribed line on your fork below the top yolk should be flush with the top of the yolk so the clip on fits onto it . It looks like the handlebar matey fitted won't let the stantions come all the way up through the yolk so you are sitting about 30mm higher than you should - I'll post a photo of mine a bit later

I'd still fit a better front tyre though.

[mthee]

The big five oooohh my goodness. Well done fella ya made it. Cheers...Michael

Just reread this. Ha, ha! Thanks for your good wishes. Might hear today about the op and when we can get home. 8am - 10pm everyday up here for 3 weeks now. Mind you, the missus sleeps next to him on a camp bed, so I shouldn't complain, but I had been looking forward to my new bike. Selfish, but honest!

[mthee]

I think we may have found your problem coz thats not right!  That scribed line on your fork below the top yolk should be flush with the top of the yolk so the clip on fits onto it . It looks like the handlebar matey fitted won't let the stantions come all the way up through the yolk so you are sitting about 30mm higher than you should - I'll post a photo of mine a bit later

I'd still fit a better front tyre though.

Thanks, Steve. Now I know how far off I am - 42mm, if you add in the 1/2 inch mod over stock. So I reckon on tyre change + tubes up the remaining 10mm + new oil & internals check. Then see where we're at before shelling out. It's a shame the risers weren't positioned further back towards the stem which would have allowed the tubes to come further through, clearing the bars.