The official XT225 thread!

[Crazy Canadian]

Originally Posted by GlennR

Actually, you should get them to follow you into the tight, hard stuff, instead of trying to keep up with them through the easy fast stuff!!

Teach em' how "top heavy" those beasts are.

Yeah, I will give that a try just as soon as the XT can keep on front of them in the easy stuff.

[GlennR]

Originally Posted by Crazy Canadian

Yeah, I will give that a try just as soon as the XT can keep on front of them in the easy stuff.

You have a Hp disadvantage, but a height & weight advantage. They shine on the gravel roads, and the XT shines in the trails. That's why I said you need to get them to follow you into the tricky stuff.

[Crazy Canadian]

Originally Posted by GlennR

You have a Hp disadvantage, but a height & weight advantage. They shine on the gravel roads, and the XT shines in the trails. That's why I said you need to get them to follow you into the tricky stuff.

Yeah and they do... The rare times that the tricky stuff doesn't start after more then about 1/4 mile of gravel.

[gbacque]

if you are bottoming out on gravel roads then your shock is defiantly shot.

[Crazy Canadian]

Originally Posted by gbacque

if you are bottoming out on gravel roads then your shock is defiantly shot.

On the flats it is fine... It's mostly diving through the ditches onto trails and going up hill over medium rocks etc that I am bottoming out....

[gbacque]

Just giving you a hard time.

By the looks of that bottom out bumper (or whatever it's called) you need to at least re-build that shock with a stiffer spring. It's seeing way to much action. You could give Progressive a call and ask them what they have in the lines of springs. They might have that bumper too. Not sure about the rest of the components (if needed) though.

[kewlbyme]

I have made some progress toward getting my new to me 2003 XT225 pretty well sorted out. The latest big event was a through carb cleaning yesterday.

It had never run like it should and all indicators so far have been that there was massive neglect during the 3900 mile life since 2003 at a minimum, with a high chance that the bike had been under water at some point. So, per all you folks, a carb cleaning was in order.

I will let some pictures do the talking.













I didnt take pics, but the low speed $expensive$ black plastic thingie on the side was just as dirty inside, and the loop part of the small diaphragm was out of place and probably leaking air.

The difference in starting, choke/warm up time, low end power, roll on power, throttle response smoothness and every aspect of running is 100% better. I can not over state the results.

Here are the stock jets. I did not scar up the jet. Obviously, someone has been in here before and did not help things.





I think I will take the main up one notch to 127.5 and see how that colors the plug. I like the stock pipe, air filter and airbox so stock might be better.

So, after looking at Thumper Talk since they will sell onesies, can y'all confirm which type jet to order? It looks like the large round to me. What do y'all think? Or know?





In addition, I added a tool tube to the stock tool tube location.



I made sure it would hold a 33 oz fuel bottle.



So, between these 3 fuel bottles, I can easily carry the 33 oz while riding light, and can add the 2 23 oz bottles to my givi case on the tail when i pack a little more. So, short filling to 30, 20 and 20 oz, I can easily carry 70 oz of extra fuel.



So, I suggest everyone that hasn't to clean your carb, and a tool tube and fuel bottles are worthy mods, IMHO.

Thanks to everyone that posts all this good stuff for me to copy!

[dav_dman]

Originally Posted by Crazy Canadian

On the flats it is fine... It's mostly diving through the ditches onto trails and going up hill over medium rocks etc that I am bottoming out....

Joyce can fix you up , for $120. Get a
7.2 kgf/mm shock spring from Cogent Dynamics. Sets it up about an 1" higher too. She can also sell you a set of front springs to match.

Joyce Tannenbaum ~ Cogent Dynamics Customer Support
Cogent Dynamics, Inc. ~ 33 Meadow Brook Drive ~ Fletcher, NC 28732
T +1 828-628-9025 ~ F +1 828-628-0328
raceparts@motocd.com
www.motocd.com

[GlennR]

kewlbyme,
Good job on the carb.

I don't know much about the jets, but aren't there numbers stamped on them to indicate the size and the type? It looks like the large round type to me too.

[kewlbyme]

Originally Posted by GlennR

kewlbyme,
Good job on the carb.

I don't know much about the jets, but aren't there numbers stamped on them to indicate the size and the type? It looks like the large round type to me too.

Thank you, sir! As always, it was educational, productive and fun!

They are stamped with the size (stock), but I didn't see any reference to "type". When I had them out, I didn't know there were a'la carte options. I should have paid better attention prior to buttoning'er up.

[TwinDuro]

dav_dman is absolutely correct on this and not blowing smoke in the least. Talk to Joyce or Rick at Cogent Dynamics and have them send you this spring; you won't regret spending the $120 once you experience how big of a difference it makes. It will allow you to set the pre-load properly (instead of jacked to-the-max) and makes it much easier (IMHO) to get the rebound dampening set where it's most effective.

I've had the Moto CD 7.2kgf/mm spring on the back of my XT for about 2000 miles, and to say the difference is night and day would be an understatement. I weigh about 175-180 all geared up and have ridden in the rough with an additional 50lbs. of camping gear, saddlebags, rack etc. on the back... no bottoming out to speak of... it just works.

Definitely consider the .42kg springs and Race Tech cartridge emulators for the front forks as well...

The customer service from Joyce and Rick is amazing to boot!

Originally Posted by dav_dman

Joyce can fix you up , for $120. Get a
7.2 kgf/mm shock spring from Cogent Dynamics. Sets it up about an 1" higher too. She can also sell you a set of front springs to match.

Joyce Tannenbaum ~ Cogent Dynamics Customer Support
Cogent Dynamics, Inc. ~ 33 Meadow Brook Drive ~ Fletcher, NC 28732
T +1 828-628-9025 ~ F +1 828-628-0328
raceparts@motocd.com
www.motocd.com

[woofer2609]

Originally Posted by gbacque

Just giving you a hard time.

By the looks of that bottom out bumper (or whatever it's called) you need to at least re-build that shock with a stiffer spring. It's seeing way to much action. You could give Progressive a call and ask them what they have in the lines of springs. They might have that bumper too. Not sure about the rest of the components (if needed) though.

Maybe the previous owner "let the oil out" (similar to "letting the smoke out" of an electric motor) on this shock. CC, are you getting a lot of bouncing? Does it seem that the rebound adjustor clicker knob that sits below the spring make any difference to how the suspension reacts when you change the settings? If not, then this might be a cause for bottoming out. I found the rebound adjustor makes a huge difference, even on the rate of compression. Maybe a new shock and assembly is needed.

If I hit a ditch with the rebound knob at it's softest/ quickest setting, I can get it to bottom out with my 170 pounds of rider and gear.

[alonzo]

Flip through a few of the pics here. There's some real nice vintage Brit iron here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewgra...7631722986412/

-- alonzo

[TwinDuro]

It may not be a Garmin Zumo, but it is adjustable for declination The turn-by-turn directions are a bit slow though...

[ER70S-2]