Customizing a XL600R into a Cafe Racer/Street tracker to ride South

[MagneticSouth]

The trip to Lightning ridge made me feel like i had enough of the desert and the desert needed to get back to the east ... I'm finally on the straight back to the ocean.









The last night of camping before i hit the coast.... I was tired, it was raining and i was running outta light, with nowhere to stop i pulled into a property and hid in between a ridge and bushes for the night.....




A full days ride with very very windy roads and a massive storm ahead i thought i should try n get some new tyres... it wasnt that easy to find.



Fresh rubber



Glen Innes

[Motojon76]

Awesome. Can't wait till you get south of the (U.S.) border.

[conchscooter]

I loved this road report. The countryside was so so but the ride! I miss my SR500 and I loved touring with that single, which was so easy to ride. When I was a kid I toured on caff racers with clip ons and aftermarket saddlebags so I was snickering at naysayers who told you it was impossible. Very well done. Great pictures.

[MagneticSouth]

So its been 3 months and im finally going back to Cali to finish off what i started a year ago...

(Thats If i can get my bike to start!?)

[WeazyBuddha]

Looking forward to the continuation of the story.

[beechum1]

Originally Posted by MagneticSouth

So its been 3 months and im finally going back to Cali to finish off what i started a year ago...

(Thats If i can get my bike to start!?)

i'm in reno until end of Sept. What's your timeline to hit TJ?

[MagneticSouth]

Originally Posted by beechum1

i'm in reno until end of Sept. What's your timeline to hit TJ?

Hey Jeremy!

TJ ETA end of September probably.

Im still in Australia things didnt quite go to plan as usual, i didnt end up flying to Vancouver and i wasn't able to sell my bikes here either.. Sydneysiders are just plain SOft - fair-weather riders. Trying to sell in the winter was a disappointing FAIL :(

Even though my budget has been cut, i just cant postpone this trip any longer, my whole life has been put on hold the past year for this... i'll just have to make do with the money I've got and regretfully limit my tequila shots .

I managed to scrape up enough work and savings to at least guarantee a central american new year and some..
I fly on the 3rd September to LA.

[beechum1]

cool, when you get a date let me know. Make it a weekend and I'll fly home and ride with you for a bit.

Originally Posted by MagneticSouth

Hey Jeremy!

TJ ETA end of September probably.

Im still in Australia things didnt quite go to plan as usual, i didnt end up flying to Vancouver and i wasn't able to sell my bikes here either.. Sydneysiders are just plain SOft - fair-weather riders. Trying to sell in the winter was a disappointing FAIL :(

Even though my budget has been cut, i just cant postpone this trip any longer, my whole life has been put on hold the past year for this... i'll just have to make do with the money I've got and regretfully limit my tequila shots .

I managed to scrape up enough work and savings to at least guarantee a central american new year and some..
I fly on the 3rd September to LA.

[Knute Dunrvnyet]

Who, what or wherever that XL660 build ends up:
DO NOT refinish that old headlight shell!

[MagneticSouth]

Originally Posted by Knute Dunrvnyet

Who, what or wherever that XL660 build ends up:
DO NOT refinish that old headlight shell!

Nice...Dont worry that headlight is perfect.

[MagneticSouth]

So after a 2hr interrogation and a thorough bag search at LAX immigration, they eventually let me in..

I havent seen the XL yet but I had a look at the pile of parts and luggage i left behind 3 months ago....hmm i really need to find myself a good pannier luggage system to work out how much of it i can carry..
I figured it might be worth shelling out the cash if i find something that comes off and on easily, lightweight, and fixable after i have my first crash in Baja sand.
i still havent had any luck for a good option that will fit, i had briefly checked out the Happy trails and pelican setup but it doesnt look like it fits the XL frame
I will do some mor research tomorrow after i get over the jet lag.

[Ford_Prefect]

I have read a lot of guys who really prefer the SOFT bags for that concern. Have you thought about just going with some wolfman bags? They are strong and water tight. Also you could think of doing this...

Originally Posted by jesusgatos

He put all of the footman loops on to give him multiple tie downs, without adding much weight to the bike at all. He says it works out really very well for him and he can pack a lot of crap on that bike.

Just a thought for you to ponder.

[MagneticSouth]

Originally Posted by Ford_Prefect

I have read a lot of guys who really prefer the SOFT bags for that concern. Have you thought about just going with some wolfman bags? They are strong and water tight. Also you could think of doing this...


He put all of the footman loops on to give him multiple tie downs, without adding much weight to the bike at all. He says it works out really very well for him and he can pack a lot of crap on that bike.

Just a thought for you to ponder.

Thanks i really like the wolfman side panniers

http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/Expedi...ddle_bags.html

and the extra fuel storage because i have the original small tank

http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/Access...untSystem.html

but I'm still considering the happy trails system with hard aluminium boxes because of the locking option
i spent a year backpacking south america and i know how quick some peoples hands can be.

http://www.happy-trail.com/Products/..._HTP3-6-1.aspx

caribou boxes are also an option

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102759

maybe i might try to have the soft panniers as sides and a hard box on top?

Im hoping i can find someone to help fit the frame which is available for the XR650L im not familiar with the differences of frame from the XL600R.

[MagneticSouth]

Originally Posted by Knute Dunrvnyet

Who, what or wherever that XL660 build ends up:
DO NOT refinish that old headlight shell!

Hey Kenute, can you tell me how you reduced the size of pics, i havent been able to work that out from the start..

[beechum1]

Originally Posted by MagneticSouth

Thanks i really like the wolfman side panniers

http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/Expedi...ddle_bags.html

and the extra fuel storage because i have the original small tank

http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/Access...untSystem.html

but I'm still considering the happy trails system with hard aluminium boxes because of the locking option
i spent a year backpacking south america and i know how quick some peoples hands can be.

http://www.happy-trail.com/Products/..._HTP3-6-1.aspx

caribou boxes are also an option

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102759

maybe i might try to have the soft panniers as sides and a hard box on top?

Im hoping i can find someone to help fit the frame which is available for the XR650L im not familiar with the differences of frame from the XL600R.

I have a set of side bags that you can have. I keep saving them for something, but I never use them. No Pics, and I don't know if i'll be home when you roll through, but the offer is there.