New 86 xt600 owner
 

Just picked up a 1986 xt600 for $450. Missing lights and gauges but good runner.

First I plan to go over the electric system. Then add all light back on. But at same time I plane to modify it to use the 95-02 plastics,tank and seat. As I plan to install a larger aftermarket 5+ gallon tank. While doing that I will send the carbs to be rebuilt.

My plan is a reliable. Go anywhere bug out bike capable of 80+. And at least 250 miles.

Any helpful ideas welcome!

So far...bike leaked oil really bad.....stator cover was cracked and welded in past. Pulled it and found it was fine but had no gasket. Added gasket cleaned up and replaced. Found out oil leak was from crack in block from impact that damaged side cover. Cleaned and repaired crack. No more leaks. Replaced right side cover gasket aswell.

Handle bars bent. Ordered new ones.

Parts ordered so far. All are OEM where possible...
Ignition switch.
Oil
Oil filter
Clutch and brake levers.
Gasket set.


Basically get it running right and back you factory then do upgrades

A picture would tell a lot on how the bike has been treated, c'mon, dont be shy, we surely seen worse :)



From the 5 gallon tank thing and going 80mph sounds that you are going to put that thing through it's paces a bit. Nice, but with a bike that sounds like it had a rough history (how many miles without seeing the gauges?) i would do a full engine dismantle and check even before seeing how well it runs. For instance, gearboxes are not the strongest point in these bikes and you dont really want to get caught out in middle of nowhere.



Leave $$$ too for a steering/swingarm bearings, full front suspension rebuild and an after market shock, stock rear is not really rebuildable.


just my 2 cents of course...

What country you located in ? Can help with recommendations or possible parts sources . The newer plastics and tank is quite different and will need a lot of work to mount on the older frame .

Cant get pics to upload. But more info..

Just pulled clutch cover, same as stator, no gasket. Decompression cable broke. Waiting on new gaskets then will fix. Also just ordered new cable.

I am located in spring city tn.

Also anybody have pics of the stock swing arm? Was told it was replaced with aftermarket

I did pick up a speedo and headlight assembly with wiring and everything off of a 93 xt250. Lines up fine but will it work on the 600? Other then shape of the headlight itself the only difference I saw was that the speedo says 80 where as the xt600 speedo whent to 100.

Anybody know if it will work?

Here are the pics I do have

And the pics from the Facebook ad

your bike has the stock swingarm, so already 1st lie by seller :)


nice bike, even if a bit rough, surely needs quite a bit of TLC.



if you just want to make it a "runner" & ride around till it breaks, then sure, just some gaskets, cables, oil and a filter will do.


If you plan to rely on it for serious trips, take it apart completely, note all the stuff you need to order and get it all in one go.



Sure you can add an Acerbis big tank made for that model.
But for for the rest, I agree with JJ, stick to stock body parts unless you want to start welding new ears and tabs in the frame

If you can find me a Acerbis tank plz do because I cant. I'm happy with a used tank. I haven't been able to find one so I planned to replace everything

As far as the swingarm.....guy only had it for like a month. Got it in trade for fixing a tractor. But owell.

i think that finding one in US would be quite mission imposible. 600s sold like ten times more in europe. would try italian, german, french ebay.



post "wanted" in adventure forums, HUBB has a section too






side panels would be easier to find and seat can be upholstered




google translate is your friend

Lol. I just sent an email to a Ebay ad in France for a harness

A European harness will be different than US harness . They'll have a few wires for different things , it'll be for E-start of which yours isn't , won't be usable unless you swap in a 3tb motor and all electrics for the starter , 3tb CDI/TCI(I did this on one of mine, lots of work) . For a little bigger tank Clark does still make a 4.0 gal for the '80's XT600's, I recently bought a black one . A little more than stock at least . With the oil tank in frame on the newer models ,fitting one of those tanks will take quite a bit of fabbing . You'll never find an Acerbis tank here in the US , more likely to see a bigfoot .

The XT250 speedometer will work , the 600 can go faster than the 80mph though thus why theirs have a higher numbering .