I think its there to minimize vibrations. I removed mine, couldnt tell a difference =)

Well, me too. I also think it could be because of the noise the brake disc can make during braking...

Tadas.. they look pretty good!
You should've changed the brake pads as well!

For now I'm kinda broke so, no braided brake lines for now lol

My wiring hacks weren't the issue.
I only cut the ballast negative to shorten it and extended the ballast positive to the headlight low beam and it stopped the problem.

When before, the ballast positive was connected directly to the battery positive, the voltage would surge from 14.3v to over 16 when I blipping (hard) the throttle and the ballast shuts down momentarily as over-voltage protection.

Now, at least I got a spare bulb! lol :P


Vando

Well, I'm glad you've sorted that out!

Yep, I did change the pads. I did that with all the bike assembly after painting it. And I've done ~200km with old discs and new pads, so the pads aren't yet fully bedded in. So I think it's okay.

I'm kinda broke too (at least in spare money for the bike), haha! I have another project, an oldtimer Russian KMZ K750 made in 1964. So that's next, but it's not fit for the enduro forum I think...

Cheers!

I love the carbon yoshimura exhaust, where did you get it? I cant find it available anywhere

Mark

From a local used parts dealer in the market. He has lots of crap, but sometimes you can find something good. The dude (old guy) didn't know what he was selling. But it was obviously not made for the XT600, because I needed to make an adapter. Don't really care what it was made for (make/model), sounds sweet and performs way better that the original. That's the most important.

Paid about 8 USD for it. I consider that a good buy, haha!

Hi folks.

I haven't done anything since fitting the new brake discs, too much to do over the summer. Now, winter is coming, it's getting colder, and I'm preparing for spiked tires to ride on ice.

Here's a couple of pictures, first one is just days (June 10th) after firing the bike again since all the stupid trouble I've gone through. Under the train bridge in Lyduvenai, highest bridge in the Baltic Countries.


Second one is today. At the lake of Brydvaisis (hopefully one of my winter ice tracks, haha!). Sorry for the quality, but I hope that scenery makes up for a crappy (phone)camera.

No serious updates for quite a while...

I've bought a set of original XT600 wheel hubs, and I'm going to make a set of SM wheels, hopefully by the next summer.

Not sure where I will get the stainless steel spokes, but I'm sure I'll find some supplier, because I've seen people lacing original hubs to 17" rims.
As for the rims, I'm most likely to get these:
supermoto Felge Felgenring RIM goldspeed 17 x 3,50 KTM SXV SMR RR excel talon | eBay 17" 3.5 front
supermoto Felge Felgenring RIM goldspeed 17 x 5,00 KTM SXV SMR RR excel talon | eBay 17" 5.0 rear (maybe 4.5 if 5.0 is too wide)

Anyway, it's not that big priority now, I have hubs, everything else can wait (at least until next summer).

I have decided to get SM wheels because: I want to have two sets of wheels, one for road and another for off-road/winter; these tires I have (Trail Wing) are crap on roads - quite slippery on turns/junctions (a few times I've felt rear wheel sliding/drifting), sh*t on mud/grass/gravel/sand; and also wide SM wheels look SOOOOOO SWEET!

I also have a wish list

Front fork transplant (WP?); to increase performance, wheel travel, and maybe bike height.
Rear shock swap; to increase performance, wheel travel, and maybe bike height. (I know it's very expensive, so most likely will have to wait...)
Trailtech Vapor speedometer assembly; to cope with SM wheels and enduro wheels.
SM front fender.
SM wheels.
Neoprene fork gaiters (maybe).
Handlebars (more rigid - thicker pipe walls).
Handguards with aluminum framing.
Bash plate.
Stainless steel headers, and maybe exhaust muffler change (this one is a bit too loud, "bangy" if you know what I mean).
Braided brake lines.
Wider footpegs.
Chain guide.
Oil cooler (maybe).
Engine rebuild including cylinder honing, high compression piston, etc. (when there will be a need for that).

Oh, there's also a horn swap I already have it, just need to repaint it where needed, and replace the pathetic existing one. New one is no miracle, but should cause some heart attacks if used at road crossing (zebra)

I know that front fork swap could mess up my SM wheel build as the axles may be different thickness, but I would get another hub and match to the fork I use. I'm not sure which one (forks or SM wheels) will be done first, so first I'm matching wheels to original forks, and then we'll see...

And so that my wish list would not look as big as it is, here's the "Done!" list:

Complete sandblast and paintjob.
Wiring loom change.
Throttle housing and ignition switch assembly change.
Acerbis gas tank.
Carbon fiber exhaust.
New brake discs and pads.
Carb inlet rubber change.
Xenon headlight bulb change.
Front fork seal and oil change.
Engine oil and filter change.
New battery.
And custom hand-made and polished stainless steel inserts at the back (between rear light and seat, on top of painted fender)

Regarding my "wish list": I would really appreciate any suggestions and advice. For example - what front forks would be good to get, so I would not need an engineer to make me triple clamps from scratch, and so on...

That's it for now,
Cheers!
Tadas.

17 x 4.25 rear rim is the perfect size for the XT!

The problem is - there's no 4.25 rim at this shop only 5.0 or 4.5... Or wider/narrower.

So, the wheels are "coming to me" faster than expected, haha!

Today I've bought Suzuki DRZ wheels with Takasago Excel rims, 3.5 and 4.5 inches wide. Rear wheel is in great condition, front one had been slightly hit, and probably will need specialist's attention. I will use only the rims, and maybe spokes (for the front wheel). I will sell the hubs. Paid only 130EUR for the set, and it came with inner tube and a pretty good tire (for rear). I won't use the tire, well maybe for drift training or some similar activity that rips tires to shreds... And I think I'll go tubeless.

Wheels and hubs will be painted green (bike's color), and spokes will be stainless steel.

I am also swapping the front forks with KTM EXC 520 WP up side down forks. Will need the hub from a KTM, axle, caliper, disc, and probably another set of triple clamps (with proper steering stoppers). If so, will sell the KTM triple clamps too. I haven't received the forks yet, has to be shipped from Austria, so I can only post seller's picture. 191EUR+30EUR shipping for the forks.

I will be painting front fork plastic protectors (the plastic ones at the bottom) bike's color too.

Here's some pictures to lay your eyes upon!

Cool, I hope you will do a writeup for the ktm fork fitment, with a lot of pictures

I will post as many pictures as I can, to make a sort of "how to" for others. I see a lot of "oh, I made a conversion..." and there's no info on HOW TO DO THAT. Haha!
I hope I succeed and I'm very happy with it. But we'll see!

Correction on the forks: it's from a KTM EXC 525 2003.

Cheers!

This is getting expensive really fast, haha!

Brand new front wheel axle (with used side bolts): 34USD (fixed price, -25% discount, usually 45USD) + 19USD shipping.

Front wheel hub: 112.66EUR + 20EUR shipping (won at auction).

Phew! I suppose the spokes I got with the wheels aren't stainless, but I'll have to investigate this a little further.






To do:
straighten the front rim;
sandblast both rims and hubs, paint them;
buy spokes, lace wheels, get tires, mount them;
buy new seals and bearings for hubs and assemble.

To buy:
front brake caliper (maybe not a stock KTM, maybe something a bit more extreme if possible), and new pads;
oversize brake disc and caliper mounting bracket;
electronic speedometer;
source the triple clamps and new bearings; OR: modify/make fit KTM ones. We'll see...

To do list will increase as I go, but for now: to be continued...

P.S. I was quite pissed when I saw this auction:
Ktm Exc Gabel +Federbein | eBay

but heck, you can't ever know...

Hey guys.

Received the forks and axle today. Axle is perfect, just as described.
And the forks aren't.
Seller listed them as 2003 EXC 525 forks, but these are 2000 year model, thus the axle and hub won't fit, as 2000 year model has 20mm axle and 43mm lower shock parts. 2003 model has 26mm axle and 48mm lower parts.

There's a date cast on the lower part of the fork, and it says "00" meaning 2000 and it's in a sun-like circle with 12 "sun rays" meaning months, it's on 1st "ray". There's also a print on the inner part of the plastic fork guards, with an Art. No. which ends in "01092000", so it's 2000year January 9th.

Fu**!!!