xj 550 Mo'Power?

i am lookin at turning my bike into a part time dirt tracker since where i live "street legal" is a very loose term :twisted:

i was just wondering what performance mods you guys have done to your 550's. I'm particularly interested in getting more power but any mods will be welcome. i know welseco used to make a stroker kit and i thought i heard rumor of the ability to put 600 heads on the base for the 550. anyone know if thats true? also does anyone knows where to get those short dirt tracker fenders such as the ones on this baby?

http://www.mccollector.com/_/rsrc/12352 ... racker.jpg

 

There is a reason most dirt trackers are singles or twins and not 4-cylinder bikes.

The XJ motor in a "limited traction" application would be an invitation to disaster. You need torque, not RPMs.

 

ya- i was wondering this, as well.... until i read somthing about how buell did so well with their v twin bikes, the pulses put out but an inline 4 will cause slipping, and a v twin or single delivers a different pulse, allowing better traction... i think...

 

well kenny roberts used the tz 750 to great effect and that was a 4 cylinder high revin 2 strokes with way more power than i could get out of a xj. So im willin to give it a try, iv done some off road riding with the xj as is and it's not all too bad. I live in New Mexico and our off road trails are very much like a flat track.

By no means am i any where sir kenny and he did always say they didn't pay him enough to ride that 750 but id like to give it a try. i mean heck if it's the worst dirt track bike ever then i still have a sweet street bike right? (rio rancho has very loose laws on bikes) i really just need advice in squeezin some more sauce out of that little 550.

 

kenny roberts didnt do too well on the tz 750- he couldnt get enough grip, until the last lap when the tires melted and acted like a paddle tire in the last straight away, where he blew by 3 hardlys. that bike was never allowed to dirt race again... but i like where you're going, i too was wondering where there were no 4 cyl's screaming out there... then i realized... maybe if i get the kahonas and some cash, i may try the same after college... just for laughs


as for more power- look up worlds fastest 550... he did some major work, but yes, a simple 600 jugs, head and carbs would work good...

 

thanks schooter
thats pretty much where im at. im not lookin to win a championship i just want to see what happens. i got a love for almost killin my self on ridiculous rides like that especially when racing lol

im still a fan of the conspiracy theory that the 750 was outlawed because it beat the harleys. as if anyone would ride it if it wasn't lol
you may enjoy this video. they got kenny back on it some years later
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k8hJWKIVNs