XT550

[Timo]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the old XT550. Here in Canada it was only in production for 2-3 years around 1983. My understanding is that it is closer to the XT600 then to the XT500 (dual shocks, 2 valve, single cam, 6 volt electrics and such). They are a monoshock with a fairly wimpy fork and drum brakes. A friend has one cheap, and I am thinking of building a light and cheap bike for South America. any thoughts?

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[jbw]

I've got a 83 XT550, had it for the last 9 years, Ive used it for trailing and touring around France, it's now done 58000 miles and never let me down, when I bought it it had 26000 on it, I rebored it and fitted a new camchain and thats all I've done in 32000 miles, apart from regular oil and filter changes.
I've fitted a disc f/end, acerbis 20l tank, a small rack and a screen. jbw

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[gbarr119]

Do a search on Yahoo, a lot of good info. I just picked on up on ebay for a couple hundred dollars, needing restoring. I have a couple 600's now. They are almost identical, from what I can tell.

[Jonathan Riggs]

Hey, I live in Wisconsin. Have you heard of the "Enduraid" dual sport rally? See this page; http://www.geocities.com/enduraidrally/
and tell me what you think. Maybe you could come this year?

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JR

[Timo]

Thanks for the info. I have done a few Google searches, and mostly came up with dead sites or sites in German (I love those translations!), but some good info. I have not been able to locat a source for the larger tank, which is pretty much a neccesity for any touring. Any suggestions on where to get a larger tank? Will the tanks for the the 600's fit?
The front end seems to be the most odvious week point, I am planning to graft on a disk brake front if I purchase the bike. Anyone have suggestions about what fork combos might bolt on easy? thanks for the help!

[giorgioXT]

Any Teneré or XT600 front end will mount w/o problems - I have also a XT400 , converted to 550 with Teneré fork and rim , Since the fork is longer and with more travel than the original, you need to keep the monoshock with high precharge (to level the rear) or slip the forks into the triple clamps.

Acerbis should still have a 20 litres tank for the XT550 , maybe not in catalog, but probabily still in stock.

[bruken]

The XT 550 is an excellent no frills rugged tourer. I did 40 000 mile on mine over three years on African tours. The only weakness I ever found was the primary gear woodrift key is susceptible to wear and the gear change leaver tends to strip the splines of the shaft if you set it too low.