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4 Mar 2008
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St Thomas Ontario
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XT600 suspension.....
Hi All,
I just purchased a new to me '85 XT600 with only 7200km's on it. I like the price, and the bike genre seems to be well liked except for the soft suspension and the small tank. A Clarke tank can fix the later issue, but what about the suspension?
I want the bike to be capable off road, not mushy. I've had a DR350P with modified suspension before, and I liked it.
I know there are a lot of suspension options for this bike, but I have a few questions:
1) Will a similar year TT600 linkage help the rear suspension? Do i need the TT shock if I change the linkage?
2) Should i instead just rebuild the stock shock and use a new spring, if so what rate? I weigh 210lbs.
3) Works shock? Other?
4) Racetech emulator for the fork?
5) Substitute a fork from another newer bike? They are cheap on ebay...anyone done this on a XT or TT?
6) Just add new oil and seals for the fork? New stiffer springs? Again, what rates? Oil viscosity?
does anyone know the differences between the tt600 and xt600 suspension? The fiches say there are......is it worth it to change over?
I want the bike to handle in such a way that it instils confidence and is not twitchy or washing out, i.e. no big negative traits. This is not a racebike, but it should be fun.
Thoughts?
ciao for now.....jimmy
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4 Mar 2008
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: South Africa
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Hi Jimmy
I can't help you with question 1,2 and 3 as I have not done any mods to the rear suspension.
For the forks I fitted Hagon springs (Start rate is 4kg/cm and end rate is 7kg/cm.) but I removed them as they where to stiff and I could feel every bump in the road. I then had some emulators made, the emulators have made a big difference when going over potholes and hitting rocks. The bike also tracks a lot better when riding on loose gravel and going through thick sand.
Hope this helps.
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4 Mar 2008
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Yamaha susp. tuning
1985 XT with 7200 km? are you sure? You mean engine rebuild, or the whole bike made in 1985 has only 7200 km? If correct probably shock should be fully working.
Anyway
1) TT linkage swap will have no predictable positive result (and is probably not possible at all)
2) Consider that these bikes are build to be used also with two passengers, so 210 lbs is not too much. You could use a stiffer spring (for the rate, you will surely find good advice from sellers like KEDO - Performance Products) but consider the risk of having a bike not usable offroad.Anyway, you should check the rear sag on your bike to understand if you need to change spring.
3) The usual hint on these bikes is to get a used shock from Ohlins, model YA2201 (the one used on Yamaha TTs600 model) that can be adapted with small modifications. Find it used for 200\250 euros, then have it rebuild (if needed) for other 100\150. The problem is that they are very rare on ebay... The shock must have eyelet top and down. TTR models (eyelet up, fork link down) can be adapted only spending other 150 euros.
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10 Mar 2008
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Portsmouth
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Hi mate, Myself and a mate did the west coast of africa on XT600E's and had to uprate the front and rear suspension as the standard was saggy as hell. I'm pretty sure we fitted hagon srings to the front which were fine, but we couldn't find anywhere that uprated the rear so in the end I took the rear spring out, sent it to a local spring maker (just a generic engineering spring maker rather than a bike guy), asked him to make one with another 30% added. A week and 40 quid later I had a 2 new springs that were absolutely spot on for the 10,000 miles of abuse that we gave them.
Its always worth thinking a laterally to some of these probs. Good luck regardless.
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14 May 2009
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cluj Napoca, Romania
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RIDER
I then had some emulators made, the emulators have made a big difference when going over potholes and hitting rocks. The bike also tracks a lot better when riding on loose gravel and going through thick sand.
Hope this helps.
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Hi,
I found myself in this situation too, I want better suspension on my XT. I read about RaceTech emulators, but I couldn't find a model for the XT 600. Where did you get your emulators from? And did you also change the springs with the Hagon progressive ones? What about oil viscosity with the emulators installed? 10W or 15W?
Did any of you use the Hagon rear shock? Does it improve performance significantly? Any info if it's worth buying it (275pounds) would help:
Hagon Monoshock
Thanks a bunch!
Adrian
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14 May 2009
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Jimmy, what mods did you do so far and what was the result?
To all: Do you know if a front fork from a different bike can be easily adapted? I am thinking of an upside down fork from an enduro bike (WR, EXC, XT, etc).
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14 May 2009
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thats a very early tt shock and probably needs a full rebuild $$$?, plus you will need to make provision for the remote resevoir on that one.
__________________
XT 630 SUPERMOTO 
GSXR750L  KMX200 
RF900 & GSX400X Impulse Projects
3.9 V8 Rangerover
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29 Jun 2016
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrluftkopf
Hi All,
I just purchased a new to me '85 XT600 with only 7200km's on it. I like the price, and the bike genre seems to be well liked except for the soft suspension and the small tank. A Clarke tank can fix the later issue, but what about the suspension?
I want the bike to be capable off road, not mushy. I've had a DR350P with modified suspension before, and I liked it.
I know there are a lot of suspension options for this bike, but I have a few questions:
1) Will a similar year TT600 linkage help the rear suspension? Do i need the TT shock if I change the linkage?
2) Should i instead just rebuild the stock shock and use a new spring, if so what rate? I weigh 210lbs.
3) Works shock? Other?
4) Racetech emulator for the fork?
5) Substitute a fork from another newer bike? They are cheap on ebay...anyone done this on a XT or TT?
6) Just add new oil and seals for the fork? New stiffer springs? Again, what rates? Oil viscosity?
does anyone know the differences between the tt600 and xt600 suspension? The fiches say there are......is it worth it to change over?
I want the bike to handle in such a way that it instils confidence and is not twitchy or washing out, i.e. no big negative traits. This is not a racebike, but it should be fun.
Thoughts?
ciao for now.....jimmy
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The YSS shock is EXCELLENT!!! I also modified the stock forks by welding 2 out of the 4 oil holes on the damper rods shut... this gives you much better dampening. Also you need to install the Progressive springs... the bike will be night and day!
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29 Jun 2016
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Middle USA
Posts: 349
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May I suggest that instead of trying to re-engineer a suspension that you give Ted Porter a call or email. He is at Ted Porter's BeemerShop - Welcome. He is a suspension expert and can supply YSS or Wilbers shocks for your XT600.
I have just ordered a new shock and new front springs for my USA model 1986 XT600. He can supply front fork springs to match the rear shock setup. This is an engineered solution. If you get the shock with compression and rebounding adjustment it all comes with a remote reservoir and complete setup instructions.
This method is NOT cheap, around 1000 US dollars but will transform the bike. As soon as I get mine setup I'll report here and other forums. I will include part numbers as well but if you go with Ted Porter, he will assist you in getting it right. He will usually call you after you have emailed him with your order request. 
Look at the testimonials page and you will see what I mean about good service.
__________________
'84 XT600 is now bored to 2nd oversize and new OEM pistons and rings installed. No more smoking.
Last edited by steveloomis; 29 Jun 2016 at 13:56.
Reason: More info
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