XT600/Tenere alternative shock springs

[nop]

A little bit of investigation into XT600/Tenere (1984-1990) shock springs. Taken from this document.

Working from the left is; model, year, not sure, part number, stock spring rate, rate for rider weight. So if you look at xt600z tenere at the bottom you will see the standard spring rate for an xt600/tenere is 85 N/mm (8.66Kg/mm or 485lbs/inch). This is for riders between 70 and 80 Kg (I assume that is with gear). The other models in the table use a spring with the same dimensions. Therefore, if this info is correct you could do a direct spring swap on your shock for a different rate.

According to the data below;

If you wanted a spring for an 80-85Kg rider you could take the spring from a DR800 ('88-'96).
If you wanted a spring for an 85-90Kg rider you could take the spring from a XR650 ('00).


(If the table below does not format properly, make your browser window wider)

Code: Select all

Brand/Model   Year    Part No.Std SpriStd Rate                                         Rider Weight
                                                   70-75 Kgs   75-80 Kgs   80-85 Kgs   85-90 Kgs   90-100 Kgs  100-105 Kgs 105-115 Kgs 115-125 Kgs 125+ Kgs
                                                   155-165 lbs 165-175 lbs 175-185 lbs 185-200 lbs 200-220 lbs 220-235 lbs 235-245 lbs 245-265 lbs 265+ lbs
XR 650 R      2000    HO 086  00580-31     95           95          95         100         100         105         105         115         115         120
DR 650 SE     1996-01 SU 602  00580-16     64           64          66          68          70          75          80          85          90          95
DR 750/800 Big1988-96 SU 935  00580-29     90           90          95         100         105         110         115         120         120         130
TT 600 R      1998-00 YA 626  00580-16     64           64          66          68          70          75          80          85          90          95
XT 600 Z Tener1984-90 YA 453  00580-26     85           85          85          90          95         100         100         105         105         110

    0580-     Art. nr.          Rate
    250 mm              N/mm   Kg/mm    ibs/inch
     9.8"
                -88      28     2.85       160
                         30     3.06       171
                -90      32     3.26       183
                -01      34     3.46       194
                -02      36     3.67       206
                -03      38     3.87       217
                -04      40     4.08       228
                -05      42     4.28       240
                -06      44     4.48       251
                -07      46     4.69       263
                -08      48     4.89       274
     127        -09      50     5.10       286
                -10      52     5.30       297
                -11      54     5.50       308
     135        -12      56     5.71       320
                -13      58     5.91       331
     137        -14      60     6.11       343
     132        -15      62     6.32       354
     128        -16      64     6.52       365
     112        -17      66     6.73       377
     115        -18      68     6.93       388
     120        -19      70     7.13       400
     118        -21      75     7.64       428
     122        -24      80     8.15       457
     117        -26      85     8.66       485
     121        -29      90     9.17       514
     116        -31      95     9.68       542
     114        -34     100    10.19       571
                -36     105    10.70       600
     110        -39     110    11.21       628
                -41     115    11.72       657
     106        -44     120    12.23       685
                -49     130    13.25       742
                -54     140    14.27       799
                -59     150    15.29       857
                -64     160    16.30       914
                -69     170    17.32       971
                -74     180    18.34      1028
                -79     190    19.36      1085
                -84     200    20.38      1142
                -89     210    21.40      1199

[/size]

[nop]

The only stiffer alternatives I can see in the document for the XT600e (1990-1997) are:

XTZ750 super tenere (1989-1995), std spring - 140N/mm (14.27Kg/mm, 799lbs/inch)
XR600R (1991-1998), std spring - 105N/mm (10.7Kg/mm, 600lbs/inch)

Code: Select all

Brand/Model   Year  Part No. Spring Std Rate                        Rider Weight
                                            70-75 Kg75-80 Kg80-85 Kg85-90 Kg90-100 K100-105 105-115 115-125 125+ Kgs
                                            155-165 165-175 175-185 185-200 200-220 220-235 235-245 245-265 265+ lbs
XTZ 750 Supe1989-95 YA 919  00698-54  140     140     140     150     150     160     160     170     170     180
XR 600 R    1991-98 HO 111  00698-36  105     105     105     105     110     110     115     115     120     120

[/size]

[xtzrick]

Nice find Nop

No mention of spring length though, different shocks use different length springs.
eg. The XTZ750 uses a 10" spring which is too long for a XTZ660, which uses a 8.74" spring.

Also no mention of compressed length, so if you have a long stroke shock & a spring with a lot of coils it may become "spring bound" on heavy landings.

Useful info for ordering from a spring manufacturer though.

Rick

[Fred333]

Now that´s interesting !
Thanks.
Olli

[nop]

If you look at the table above you will see all the springs I have highlited are from the same 'series'. The '580' series. If you check the document, the 580 series springs all have the same free length (9.8"/250mm). The XTZ660 is not on that list, hence it has a different length spring.

As for compressed length, the springs I have noted are all of a higher rate than the stock XT spring. This implies they would have fewer coils (assuming springs from the same series all use the same diameter of wire). I imagine as this supplier will supply you the same spring for an 85kg rider on an XT as he would a stock spring on a DR800 I would assume that they would work.

Only one way to find out, just gotta find a knackered DR800/750 shock somewhere!

[xtzrick]

Didn't notice you mentioned spring length, sorry

Got in touch with Faulkner springs as I'm thinking of a heavier spring (It's either that or diet )
Thinking of going from a 750lb to a 800 or 850lb spring, they just use thicker wire, same number of coils.

And there is only 2mm difference in compressed length on a 9", 9.5 coils spring between the 750 & 850lb springs so the wire thickness difference is only 0.2mm a rusty spring could have lost a lot of its strength.

Comparing shock stroke should give you an idea of what 2nd hand springs are compatable, bare in mind that fewer coils means more fatigue for the same stroke (very helpful Faulkners )

Rick

[nop]

I just realised I never posted details of the progressive rear springs on the market. Quickly below:

Hyperpro
shock part no shock rate (N/mm)

XT600E (90-'94) SP-YA06-SSB009 105-175
XT600(3AJ) 88> SP-YA06-SSB010 105-175
TTR600 00'> SP-YA06-SSB015 80-106

I would suspect that the other bikes listed above that have the same spring dimensions would have similar sized springs however I did not ask at the time what the spring rates for their dr800/xr650 springs were.

[marcm]

On the subject of boingy things,I may have some pics of an alternative shock in next week or so,my original 34l shock had a little encounter with shock dyno last week,highlighted how worn out/ oil degraded it was.
I'm off to golding barn on 25th April with a yz,I will do a few laps on the tenere for entertainment and get someone to get some pics.....quite likely of xt on its side or upside down...

[nop]

That is some good news!

Shock options are so limited for the xt/ten that any alternatives are good to know about.

Now, about mounting a modern piggy back shock upside down to get clearance around the airbox hoses...

[Hodgo1981]

diggin up an old thread... but did anyone keep a complete copy of the original spreadsheet.
I've tried the tricks I know for finding the document with no luck.