New BRP owner in savannah ga
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New BRP owner in savannah ga
Guest Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:56 pm
So I just graduated from college (well, august 27th) and have been starting to put together my 2 month ride. My ride is not completely planned out but I am thinking of leaving sept 15th going north through maine and into canada, than to the west coast and back through the badlands in SD and cutting down through TN back to NC. My riding partner has a wedding to be at on october 10th than we plan on doing a southern leg through tx and arizona than down into baja. I just picked up my 2000 XR650r yesterday equipped with a 4.6gal tank, pro taper bars, Baja Designs dual sport kit (replacing this with newer HID front and better working rear... this one is kind of beat up), Bark busters, New clutch and a few other little odds and ends. I have many questions but have been reading alot. I am planning on doing some short rides in this area if anyone wants to join me shoot me a pm.
I did have one question. I am having trouble with jetting, the bike runs VERY hot, is a little rough to start but ok once it warms up. I dont know what it is jetted at or who makes a good jet kit with a big bundle of parts or if I shoud just go straight for a pumper carb (since I will be seeing such a wide variety of elevation on the trip). Also, my kickstart is pretty loose, havent really checked it yet... it is just the acutal lever not the shaft, is this common?
Edit, also I have read about an HRC? Timing chain upgrde..? On a long trip with an older bike like this is it something I should look into?
Here she is
I did have one question. I am having trouble with jetting, the bike runs VERY hot, is a little rough to start but ok once it warms up. I dont know what it is jetted at or who makes a good jet kit with a big bundle of parts or if I shoud just go straight for a pumper carb (since I will be seeing such a wide variety of elevation on the trip). Also, my kickstart is pretty loose, havent really checked it yet... it is just the acutal lever not the shaft, is this common?
Edit, also I have read about an HRC? Timing chain upgrde..? On a long trip with an older bike like this is it something I should look into?
Here she is
Guest- Guest
answers in order
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:20 am
Baja Designs dual sport kit (replacing this with newer HID front and better working rear... this one is kind of beat up)
There are some otehr threads on here about this. Halogen is better for night riding and half the cost.
I did have one question. I am having trouble with jetting, the bike runs VERY hot, is a little rough to start but ok once it warms up. I dont know what it is jetted at or who makes a good jet kit with a big bundle of parts or if I shoud just go straight for a pumper carb (since I will be seeing such a wide variety of elevation on the trip).
Proper jetting is key. Hook up with Precision Concepts and get their jetting advice and carb rebuild if necessary. Do the proper mods too.
Also, my kickstart is pretty loose, havent really checked it yet... it is just the acutal lever not the shaft, is this common?
Loose in what way?
Edit, also I have read about an HRC? Timing chain upgrde..? On a long trip with an older bike like this is it something I should look into?
Let me be clear. This is one of the best questions I've ever seen asked. Failed timing gear is truly catastrophic. You are looking at a lot of cabbage for the timing chain upgrade. It's nearly $700 for the parts (not including the cam) and if you look around you can buy the entire HRC kit for $800. Piece-mealing the kit is ridiculously costly. The chain and tensioners et. al., aren't really necessary unless you are racing and or have the HRC cam. Save your money until you can do the whole HRC kit at once. Get the piston milled down for pump gas ($50). It also includes HD clutch springs. Know this though, once you are in there you'll likely find some other problems too. If the previous owner ran aftermarket air filters then you'll likely be springing for intake valves for example. I'd address the suspension before powering up the bike.
Let me know if you want to talk on the phone (PM me). I'm not the fastest typist. But I do know a little about the Team Honda bikes.
You don't need an edelbrock carb. This is a peeve of mine. Team Honda never needed one and they wadded up their bikes and restarted and still won. Lawrence Hacking didn't need one either and he rode and wrote about his riding a BRP in the Dakar, (finishing and riding back home!) He had some big get offs to. Campbell raced an XR650R in Dakar without one either. It's one of those things that people like to buy because it requires less work to dial in than the Keihin. Think of it this way. Ogilvie spent six years designing this bike as a race bike to dominate Baja and Nevada. Then Honda detuned it drastically to be in the XR lineup. You have to fix all that and return the bike to its original design state. Problem is, everyone out there tinkers with the return to race status. Everyone thinks they can gain an edge with some odd pipe from eastern Europe, or some odd cam, or pipe wrapping, or pumper carb, or rod length, or porting from a neighbor who works on lawn mower engines, or whatever. WTF? Don't reinvent the wheel. Just do what Ogilvie intended for you to do. He laid it all out for us. It will run perfect, bark like a two stroke, and start every time properly. Plus, you'll out-run all those tinkerers...
Oh yeah, and you need to install Evans NPG-R.
Good luck on the ride! And welcome.
Here she is
[/quote]
There are some otehr threads on here about this. Halogen is better for night riding and half the cost.
I did have one question. I am having trouble with jetting, the bike runs VERY hot, is a little rough to start but ok once it warms up. I dont know what it is jetted at or who makes a good jet kit with a big bundle of parts or if I shoud just go straight for a pumper carb (since I will be seeing such a wide variety of elevation on the trip).
Proper jetting is key. Hook up with Precision Concepts and get their jetting advice and carb rebuild if necessary. Do the proper mods too.
Also, my kickstart is pretty loose, havent really checked it yet... it is just the acutal lever not the shaft, is this common?
Loose in what way?
Edit, also I have read about an HRC? Timing chain upgrde..? On a long trip with an older bike like this is it something I should look into?
Let me be clear. This is one of the best questions I've ever seen asked. Failed timing gear is truly catastrophic. You are looking at a lot of cabbage for the timing chain upgrade. It's nearly $700 for the parts (not including the cam) and if you look around you can buy the entire HRC kit for $800. Piece-mealing the kit is ridiculously costly. The chain and tensioners et. al., aren't really necessary unless you are racing and or have the HRC cam. Save your money until you can do the whole HRC kit at once. Get the piston milled down for pump gas ($50). It also includes HD clutch springs. Know this though, once you are in there you'll likely find some other problems too. If the previous owner ran aftermarket air filters then you'll likely be springing for intake valves for example. I'd address the suspension before powering up the bike.
Let me know if you want to talk on the phone (PM me). I'm not the fastest typist. But I do know a little about the Team Honda bikes.
You don't need an edelbrock carb. This is a peeve of mine. Team Honda never needed one and they wadded up their bikes and restarted and still won. Lawrence Hacking didn't need one either and he rode and wrote about his riding a BRP in the Dakar, (finishing and riding back home!) He had some big get offs to. Campbell raced an XR650R in Dakar without one either. It's one of those things that people like to buy because it requires less work to dial in than the Keihin. Think of it this way. Ogilvie spent six years designing this bike as a race bike to dominate Baja and Nevada. Then Honda detuned it drastically to be in the XR lineup. You have to fix all that and return the bike to its original design state. Problem is, everyone out there tinkers with the return to race status. Everyone thinks they can gain an edge with some odd pipe from eastern Europe, or some odd cam, or pipe wrapping, or pumper carb, or rod length, or porting from a neighbor who works on lawn mower engines, or whatever. WTF? Don't reinvent the wheel. Just do what Ogilvie intended for you to do. He laid it all out for us. It will run perfect, bark like a two stroke, and start every time properly. Plus, you'll out-run all those tinkerers...
Oh yeah, and you need to install Evans NPG-R.
Good luck on the ride! And welcome.
Here she is
[/quote]
Guest- Guest
Re: New BRP owner in savannah ga
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:50 am
Bump, thank you so much for the great response! Lots of good insight there. I would definately like to talk to you on the phone about the bike as this is my first BRP.
From your response, im guessing the HRC upgrade is a good one to do, but not completely necessary for a trip like mine? How fast do these bikes go through the timing chains? My bike is a well ridden 2000, should I look into replacing mine? (I havent checked the tensioner yet coming from a husky the honda is a bit new to me, but I will get on it).
I will be tearing the bike down a bit to go through and grease everything up, while its apart, anything to look for? Also, is there any way to beef up the subframe? I will be carrying a good 40-50 lbs of gear on my 2 months.
From your response, im guessing the HRC upgrade is a good one to do, but not completely necessary for a trip like mine? How fast do these bikes go through the timing chains? My bike is a well ridden 2000, should I look into replacing mine? (I havent checked the tensioner yet coming from a husky the honda is a bit new to me, but I will get on it).
I will be tearing the bike down a bit to go through and grease everything up, while its apart, anything to look for? Also, is there any way to beef up the subframe? I will be carrying a good 40-50 lbs of gear on my 2 months.
Guest- Guest
Re: New BRP owner in savannah ga
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:38 am
Hey Luke:
Congrats on completing college and the new BRP! If you get near Tucson on your epic journey, feel free to use my place to freshen up or crash out for a spell.
Hopefully someone else pipes in on jetting, but I've never had an issue with altitude. I commonly ride from 2300' to 8000' with the stock carb, with the usual mods. These are one day rides though, so I'm not relying on high altitude pump gas. Maybe it's a desert thing.....
Keep us posted on how things go!
Dave
Congrats on completing college and the new BRP! If you get near Tucson on your epic journey, feel free to use my place to freshen up or crash out for a spell.
Hopefully someone else pipes in on jetting, but I've never had an issue with altitude. I commonly ride from 2300' to 8000' with the stock carb, with the usual mods. These are one day rides though, so I'm not relying on high altitude pump gas. Maybe it's a desert thing.....
Keep us posted on how things go!
Dave
Guest- Guest
Re: New BRP owner in savannah ga
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:29 am
Dave, appreciate the offer! I will definately be out that way, my friend lives in phoenix and has a paddle tire waiting for me! Going to hit up some dunes while im out there. I might have to take you up on that offer... I will be documenting this trip heavily as I am a broadcast design major, so it is what I do. If you ever make it out to Asheville I have some land to ride/fish/hunt and a spare spot for a bike and any adventure riders
Guest- Guest
Re: New BRP owner in savannah ga
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:57 am
Luke wl. wrote:Dave, appreciate the offer! I will definately be out that way, my friend lives in phoenix and has a paddle tire waiting for me! Going to hit up some dunes while im out there. I might have to take you up on that offer... I will be documenting this trip heavily as I am a broadcast design major, so it is what I do. If you ever make it out to Asheville I have some land to ride/fish/hunt and a spare spot for a bike and any adventure riders
Luke:
Cool! Remember, the BRP "does not need a paddle tire." At least that's what a lot of folks say.
I've only been riding the XR650R model for over a year, so I know nothing. Man, what a cool major. You ought to be having some fun with it on such a ride. Keep me posted, for sure. I would not mind tagging along with you guys for AZ/Baja for a little while.
Thanks for the Asheville offer. My wife has been bugging me to do a food tour of the area with her. I'm also hoping to rent a bike in NC in February and cruise the coast (south), returning inland. You just might see me.
Dave
Guest- Guest
I'll be in Asheville for xmas
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:04 pm
I have family there and am taking my chicklets there for xmas to visit. Graet spot. Good dive shop there too - strangely.
Luke wl. wrote:Dave, appreciate the offer! I will definately be out that way, my friend lives in phoenix and has a paddle tire waiting for me! Going to hit up some dunes while im out there. I might have to take you up on that offer... I will be documenting this trip heavily as I am a broadcast design major, so it is what I do. If you ever make it out to Asheville I have some land to ride/fish/hunt and a spare spot for a bike and any adventure riders
Guest- Guest
Notes in
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:11 pm
I think the swingarm pivots is the spot everyone has problems with. It may be a huge problem if it's never been done. Also put some weep holes in the very back of the swing arm. Just assume the bike was never lubed when assembled is my suggestion. Check the airbox for cracks. If you are going to be riding in a lot of gravel and small rocks glue a protector in the rear wheel well to protect the air box. I know a guy who was within 50 miles of finishing the 1000 and his new engine grenaded because a rock had pierced the airbox back there. Look for cracks in the exhaust if it's an aftermarket. Think a lot about ergonomics. A Renazco seat and a BRP 1X bar mount are minimum I think for any serious long distance riding.Luke wl. wrote:Bump, thank you so much for the great response! Lots of good insight there. I would definately like to talk to you on the phone about the bike as this is my first BRP.
PM me your phone number and a good time to call.
From your response, im guessing the HRC upgrade is a good one to do, but not completely necessary for a trip like mine? How fast do these bikes go through the timing chains? My bike is a well ridden 2000, should I look into replacing mine? (I havent checked the tensioner yet coming from a husky the honda is a bit new to me, but I will get on it).
I'll ask the Team Honda shop today. I'll go ahead and stake out 10,000 miles if the riding is hard or his speed street stuff. I actually think the high speed street stuff is the hardest riding for this bike because there is no slip in the driveline anywhere.
I will be tearing the bike down a bit to go through and grease everything up, while its apart, anything to look for? Also, is there any way to beef up the subframe? I will be carrying a good 40-50 lbs of gear on my 2 months.
Consider these guys for a proper pack: giantloopmoto.com
Fred at offroute.com is the best for GPS and mapping help.
Spots are free right now if you sign up for the service.
Better to have more fuel stops than sacrifice handling with a giant Acerbis tank. Read Hackering's book on Dakar. Many of his getoffs were because of the extreme fuel load. Use the 4.3 IMS. Robbie Bell recently rode all the way to Cabo with a 3.2. So remember you're out to enjoy this ride and placing huge weight that throws the bike seriously off center will only make riding it a PIA. If you're worried get on the Advrider site and find some guys who will help you.
Replace all the cables. What are they like $20 each? There's a guy on ebay parting out a brand new XR650R right now and he's in NC too.
Create a check list for checking the bike over every night. Go over every fastener including spokes. Start early and quit early. Get all setup before sundown. Be certain to verify teh working of all the crap Johnny Law likes to pull people over for.
Plan on replacing tires at a certain place. Call ahead and make arrangements. Either install the Mouuse (SP?) or install the HD tubes the Team used. Do the oil and filters 4x as often.
Get the suspension done! They are out of Ti springs but if you find one for your weight they make the ride more cush.
Install Evans NPG-R.
I posted the tool kit that Johnny Campbell carried when he raced the bike in the 100 on this site somewhere. That'd be a good place to start.
Get the proper critter peg fix immediately. Don't buy Ti pegs; get the Stainless one the Team used.
Slow down on your ride. Like Hackering, your goal is finishing.
Look at the valves, or have a pro do it. If they haven't been treated properly you'll be flying home...
Replace all your hoses and check all your wiring for any scuffing.
Check your stator and stator cover carefully.
Take some codiene or vicodin with you. You'll likely have a few getoffs and you'll have a lot more if you ride after getting bad sleep. Just fake a broken rib to your DR. :~)
Even Dakar has rest days. Plan rest days for fishing, bike maintenance, or something.
There's a couple of guys on Advrider to check. One is Chitown I think. The otehr i'll have to look up. But he rode his BRP to Alaska and back from Auburn, CA!!!
Guest- Guest
TEam Honda ...
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:56 pm
I spoke with Precision Concepts today about this and Bob Bell said he just measures the chain every time he overhauls the top end.
Guest- Guest
Paddle tire?
Guest Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:47 pm
Cool! Remember, the BRP "does not need a paddle tire." At least that's what a lot of folks say. I've only been riding the XR650R model for over a year, so I know nothing.
I have never ran the pig with a paddle and I ride in alot of sand. Been with guys that have a paddle tire and they hook up quicker and throw a huge roost. But is it needed? In my opinion no, there is pros and cons but the cons out weigh the pros. If it were solid dunes and no hard pack at all I would like a paddle, but with the mixed dunes I ride in the paddle is not needed. Just give it more gas and grab another gear. The pig will go.
I've only been riding the XR650R model for over a year, so I know nothing.I have never ran the pig with a paddle and I ride in alot of sand. Been with guys that have a paddle tire and they hook up quicker and throw a huge roost. But is it needed? In my opinion no, there is pros and cons but the cons out weigh the pros. If it were solid dunes and no hard pack at all I would like a paddle, but with the mixed dunes I ride in the paddle is not needed. Just give it more gas and grab another gear. The pig will go.
Guest- Guest
This comes up from time to time
Guest Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:05 am
If it was me, and all I rode were dunes, I would NOT have an XR650R. The bike wasn't designed for it at all. I'd be riding either a new YZ250 2-stroke, or a newish KX500 2-stroke.
I'd love to see a matchup between Hengeveld on a BRP and Danny Hamel on
a KX500. Henge is The Riderman but I think Hamel would be very tough
to beat.
In any case...
The 2-strokes are much easier to repair, rebuild, and have better power, IMHO, for solid dune riding. Where the BRP builds speed and power, the 2-strokes serve it up instantly. Bearings like the swingarm pivot are more work to get at on the BRP too. Plus the bike has some cooling issues at low speeds and heat building high RPM.
Other characteristics work against our BRP too. Like weight. All that extra weight can be nice in plowing through stuff and soaking up the little bumps on a 150 mile desert day. But dunes aren't to be plowed through.
I kinda can't imagine swinging my BRP in a long loop inside a dune bowl and feeling like it was easy.
But hey, some guys on Harleys probably ride wheelies too!
I'd love to see a matchup between Hengeveld on a BRP and Danny Hamel on
a KX500. Henge is The Riderman but I think Hamel would be very tough
to beat.
In any case...
The 2-strokes are much easier to repair, rebuild, and have better power, IMHO, for solid dune riding. Where the BRP builds speed and power, the 2-strokes serve it up instantly. Bearings like the swingarm pivot are more work to get at on the BRP too. Plus the bike has some cooling issues at low speeds and heat building high RPM.
Other characteristics work against our BRP too. Like weight. All that extra weight can be nice in plowing through stuff and soaking up the little bumps on a 150 mile desert day. But dunes aren't to be plowed through.
I kinda can't imagine swinging my BRP in a long loop inside a dune bowl and feeling like it was easy.
But hey, some guys on Harleys probably ride wheelies too!
Guest- Guest
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