xr500parts for xr600

[BenDiesel]

ok i found a xr 500 for parts bike. will the parts cross over to my xr 600? the 500 is a 84 my 600 is a 86. mainly looking at getting the rear shock but might be interested in the whole thing

[pearblossomal]

Some will fit but a lot won't. I've got an '86 600 shock on my '84 XR500R, reservoir dia and hose length is a little different but they interchange. Swing arm on xr500 is steel and linkage is bushings while XR600 swingarm is alum with needles in the linkage, don't think it'll interchange. A lot of the motor is the same (stator, etc.).

[BenDiesel]

how bout the forks ? and rims?

[Horri]

Everything will fit or can be made to fit..The Tank/Sidecovers/Seat are different mounts/sizes and do not fit...Just about alll the rest is good to go.

[pearblossomal]

Forks and wheels yes. Pipe no.

[BenDiesel]

well i pulled the shock off my bike and tried to put the other one in. well i found out a few things. the xr500r (red) wont fit on the lower side. the gap between the 2 forks isnt wide enough to fit over the mount

[Horri]

mmm..Thats handy to know..How much difference in mm..I can sort of see it. If it's not to much just dig out the grinder/Flle and whip a bit of the non fitting bit...You can always throw a couple of shims in it if you revert to the original 600 shock...or maybe for the more responsible get the two of them disassembled and see if the 600 internal that is the problem will fit into the 500.I know how safety minded some are.

[BenDiesel]

when i mesured them i got about .015 inch differnt. and another thing i noticed is the 500 dosent have threads on that end like the 600 (black) one dose that and the resivour is bigger on the 600 shock

[BenDiesel]

well here is a update. looks like i didn't waste that money after all.

i took my old shock down to the local shop to have the nitrogen refilled and after putting it back on my bike it still didn't absorb any shock. (ever ride like you were on a trampoline?) so i took it back off and looked hard at the 500 shock. and after some debate i figured out what was wrong. and i feel like a idoit. i realized that there was mud on the inside of the fork on the bottom and it was such a tight fit on to the lower mounting point that was keeping it from going on. so i cleaned what little mud i left on and a BFH (big ? hammer) later i had it on. it works better then my old shock but sounds like it has air in the system.

and this brings up another question. i got a pdf manual for my era xr600. and the shock it shows looks different then the shock i with the bike. the pictures shown in the manual is exactly like the 500r shock(red spring). so i wonder if the on i got with the bike is a after market one. any thoughts?