Kev's Front Fork Spacers
 

By a strike of luck, Kev has obtained a few more sets of these fork spacers as his previous supplier had temporarily stopped production, I cannot reccomend these mods enough but if you don't believe me just read the 100% positive comments from other forum members who have fitted them in these threads:

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=947
http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=4362

If you want a set of these mods please send a pm to Kev a.s.a.p. as these might be the last set we can get hold of for a long time.

Ok, so I have fitted these spacers, and the difference is really noticeable. It doesn't dive anymore when I hit the front brakes. I now wonder, have any of your been on a corrugated dirtroad after fitting them? Is the ride a lot more bumpy, as the plushness would be gone?

Yes

I should describe it as being like a Morgan 4/4 I had a few years ago - if you run over a cigarette end you can tell if it was filter-tipped.

Not entirely, you get a more active feedback and remember these are bikes not overcrafts or Citroen cars ;)

If you find you are getting to much rebound for off road riding, cut 10mm off each spacer making them 20mm. I have tested 15,20,25,30,35,40,& 50mm spacers, 30mm is perfect for the road & 20mm works well for off road.

Have you ever wondered how your fork spacers are made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHxrGg6FQBQ

wow good stuff Kev!! :notworthy:

No intervention from me, all the credit goes to KLR (Kev2) he makes it look so easy.

:WellDone_OROQR1:

Got me a pair made today.
On a machine, built in 1956!
45 min for the pair tough!:drool[1]:

Tomorrow i'll gonna test them (25mm for an R)

thanks for the idea!

Joe

Well done mate, let us know what you think of the mod.

@Kev:

So, did about 170 km with the spacers today.
Yes, it's quite a difference!
Much more stabil on the straight and far more stabil in the twists and corners.
:thumbsup[1]::thumbsup[1]::thumbsup[1]:

It's a bit harder to get her into a turn, but that's a price i like to pay for the far better handling. I will get used to it before i know!

The dark side of this mod:
I'm able to corner so much faster now, that i'm about to loose the rear end, happend a couple of times today..
:pjrmoony_1JJHDG:

So, what about the " Rear Shock MOD":rofl[1]:???


thanks again for the inspiration, great Mod - easy to do and highly recommendable!

saludos,
Joe

Thanks for the feed back Joe.:supergay:

Hi Kev, many sets available still? and how much for postage to vic?

I already asked this in another post, I think this one I should of asked it in though!

Cheers mate

I have plenty in stock ready for the UK summer.

I have PM you the details.

Kev, I've just passed you an email enquire from someone who messaged me through the "contact us" form regarding the spacers.

Cheers

Thanks mate.:happy:

Highly recommended mod for the price...

Excellent suff...

big change: better brakes and corners, like a different bike
I agree Highly recommended

Thanks for the feed back, glad you are happy with the results.

I have 13 sets left if anyone is interested.

when I bought my motorcycle First year,
I've lowered the front fork 10 mm
then stop shaking at high speed and stop sliding from front at the corner entry(here very slippery asphalt),now fork spacer better performance.Now I want to buy Front fork stabilizer,
after I will share my opinion

Hello!

I have a Brazilian XT660R! I wonder what are the ideal sizes of front fork spacers for:
1. Use only on the racetrack (road)
2. Mixed use (on road and off road)
3. Offroad use

Tks!

They can be used for anything. Some people who ride the X have problems with the front end being too soft and put the spacers in so they can ride easier on the road. Others have the R and say for some off roading the forks are still too soft and the bike wallows about too much so add them to stiffen up the ride.

If you find the front suspension to soft/bouncey then i would get a set.

Dear,

Frankly, I need more consistent details, statistics!

Regards.

Can I get a pair of these please????
 

Has Kev got any of these spacers left???? I have a 2011 XTX and I ride only on road of course, tho I managed to fall off on the snow recently. The front end dives far too much under braking so I want to put a slightly thicker oil in the forks and then fit these spacers......over you you guys!! Thanks.

Got plenty in stock.

They can be bought from this link. http://www.xt660.com/site/node/135

Just sent you my order Kev cos I got sea sick last time out with the pogo stick front end hehe.Hope this is as good as the other mods and suggestions!!!!!!! Thanks ciao Simon

Brass Spacers......
 

I asked a friend to make me a set of each 20mm + 30mm, however he made them out of brass!

Other than the weight issue will that cause any other problems with the Mod? Before I get back and fit them......

Ps..... Thanks for the Idea Kev

It should be fine in Brass, I use alloy & machine the centers out to make them even lighter.

I made mine out of actal..

He machined the centers out but still very heavy!!! thanks for your reply. I'll get alloy ones made but use the brass in the until then.

Just order from the Kev man! quick postage and quality assurance guaranteed ;)

Well let me give you some feedback on what I think of these fork spacers. I had always thought that a standard bike is good, so apart from setting up the suspension on my track R1, I had never intervened with any of my road bikes. I have owned an 07 XT660X as well as an 08 and I had always accepted the quirks as part of the "character" of these bikes. Then I discovered your forum and I started to try some of the suggested mods, and my ideas started to change......
The fork mod was the latest one I tried and I was not totally convinced if I needed it or not as I never ride the XT very hard, I use it mainly as a commuter bike in the city. Well how wrong could I have been????
I had the bits fitted by a suspension expert (RS Suspension here in Roma) and he also changed the fork oil to a slightly higher or lower grade so add some stiffness.
Well the handling of the bike is totally transformed. The bike is more fun, more stable in general and MUCH more stable under braking. It has become a genuine fun bike and I now ride it MUCH harder and I get more smiles per ride!!! I can now brake hard without the front end dive, and in a corner I can now feel what the bike is doing.
100% recommended, thanks guys!!!!! Simon

Thanks for your feedback Simon. :laughing6:

Ok, ok, alright already stop going on about how good they are. I've ordered some now. And Kev thanks for the prompt email back . p.s. Lorraine is the wife not me...just thought I'd clear that up.:eusa_think:

SPACERS ARE WORTH IT - I'd have to agree as well
 

I got a set of fork spacers a while ago but only just got around to fitting them. Oh what a difference they make. For years I have bagged the XT660R as not a worthy model to replace the venerable Japanese made, air cooled, XT600EP (which I still feel does have a higher quality finish, ie no rusty spokes, low quality alloy used throughout etc).

Ever since I got XT660 I have felt that the front end was missing a little stiffness. It's now fixed. The only thing I can honestly say is that my bike does not quite ride as good as my girl friends XT660R. (Hello sweet heart, I know your eventually going to read this....)

For some reason hers:
- makes more power (it does have staintunes on it, it makes it noisy too)
- is stiffer still to ride and somewhat more agile on dirt
- pulls up metres shorter (the front & rear pads on it are different to mine but no brand name on them)

But too be honest mine has more additional bars and stands so it is probably tipping the scales somewhat heavier.

The Question is, does anyone know who previously owned a Black 08 XT660R (victorian rego traded in in Warnabool this year), did they also put KEV'S Spacers in, did they also do something to the FORK OIL or is it running different fork springs? What is the secret. I am certain it isn't tyres because the two bikes are running almost identical rubber.

The stand out features of the bike are; black 08, yamaha bash plate, custom made water pump protector and rack that looks to be made out of two separate racks (one spot of welding is a bit average), cruze crontrol, staintune pipes.

cheers

Fork spacer mod
 

Hi,

I'm new to XT660.com and have a 2009 XT660R and live in Melbourne, Victoria, Oz. I have just ordered a heap of stuff from Off-The-Road in Germany including Hyperpro progressive springs front and rear and +35mm linkages for the rear end. Will the fork spacer mod still be effective? Riding is more dirt-oriented (other bike is 2012 KTM350 EXC).

Have also ordered 2 into 1 exhaust, bashplate to suit, SWM centre stand and pivot pegs. Was looking at replacing the XT with a KTM690R, BMWF800GS or Triumph tiger 800XC, but decided that I'd stick with the XT and spend a bit of cash on it instead. For the price it's a hard thing to beat!

Also, a long shot - has anyone investigated if a WR or YZ front end will bolt on to the XT?

Appreciate your help.

Cheers,
Andrew.

I have not measured the sag on a R with Hyperpro springs, I would fit the springs & let me know how much sag you have with the new springs.

I know on my XTX with progressive springs I had to correct the sag with my spacers.

Click on the blue link below there has been a few guys who have swapped out the whole front end.

Thanks Kev, appreciate the advice. Those KTM forks look pretty trick - think I'll see how the springs go along with the spacers (can't see why they wouldn't help if I'm raising the rear end so I've ordered them) before I 'invest' any more. If lotto comes through the OTR WP frontend would be the business but they've already cleaned me out for the time being!

I have had a run of fork spacer sold this week & sold the last set last night, to all the guys that have paid over the last 2 days I have allocated them to you, I will have stock within the next 7 days.
:bienvenido:

i got em and put em on today..left hand one was a ****** to get on to push the spring down..but eventually did..the right one, pushed down and tightened, no probs..went for a blip and they do certainly make a difference in the handling..thank you