Topic: XL600, good resources?

[grcamna2]

Not yet, just got it running today. Tempted to ride it tomorrow since it looks like the rain will continue, but hesitant given the mediocre top end and I've got maybe a mile on it so far. I'll probably get some miles on it around the neighborhood and the sand pit around the corner before I commute with it again.

Bummer is my XL350 had a loss of compression and no longer runs. I was commuting on that whenever it rained, but now I gotta tear that engine apart too. Another early dual carb RFVC with even more limited parts availability than the 600... Repop XL350 rods are readily available with the small pin but nobody makes pistons. Repop XR350 pistons with the larger pin are readily available but you can't get rods for them. No idea if it's top or bottom end but I suspect that 350 will turn into a full tear down and rebuild like the XL600.

My buddy send me for sale listings of cool old bikes and cars regularly. I used to see them as cool old cars I might snatch up if I liked. Now I even them as projects I don't have time for. Even the nice looking ones, or especially the nice looking ones, will need major work. Too many irons in the fire.

Could be you might see a good,used XR650L engine for sale for small $;try swapping that into your 600 

[Dunk]

Funny back when I got this bike I had considered an XR650L since they are so similar. After more research the XR650L is 10 HP less and weighs nearly 40 lbs more than the XL... EPA nonsense for the lower HP, can be fixed. The weight is mostly for the starter and larger battery. I prefer more HP and less weight, so went with an old XL.

XR650L swap can be done, for those who want electric start and don't mind the extra weight. In an early bike it requires a top end swap to a dual carb XR/XL head to clear the shock. Dual carbs flow better on the top end and have better low RPM throttle response since they are a progressive linkage like a Holley double pumper. Boggles the mind why they changed to single carb.

[grcamna2]

Funny back when I got this bike I had considered an XR650L since they are so similar. After more research the XR650L is 10 HP less and weighs nearly 40 lbs more than the XL... EPA nonsense for the lower HP, can be fixed. The weight is mostly for the starter and larger battery. I prefer more HP and less weight, so went with an old XL.

XR650L swap can be done, for those who want electric start and don't mind the extra weight. In an early bike it requires a top end swap to a dual carb XR/XL head to clear the shock. Dual carbs flow better on the top end and have better low RPM throttle response since they are a progressive linkage like a Holley double pumper. Boggles the mind why they changed to single carb.

Now that you mention that,I would certainly stay with the XL/XR600 parts