Today I was riding for the first time new to me '07 550 in supermoto guise. I really like it so far. Engine is freshly rebuild, updates done, dual valve springs, orangeberg mod for weep hole, roller bearings etc. Starts perfect, sounds really good and healthy.
My plans are to install two cooling fans, all dc magneto mod, install external spin on oil filter with cooler to cool oil and increase oil capacity.
I will be adding a MOTORCOTE OIL ADDITIVE - it is super lube of sorts that I have very good things to say about. I will be installing knobby tires. I have question to Orangeberg, Taffy, Bushy, Dr c and others with experience ; what other recommendations I might want to consider? For example, are you oldtimers still using Dello and Rotella synthetic 15 W 40 with good results? I see Lukas oil 5 w 40 full synthetic that is good for the latest mercedes diesel engine. I am long time car, then truck mechanic and I know that recent diesel engine oils have very high quality to withstand high mechanical pressures. Camshaft lobe pressure in unit injectors especially.
There's some really good coolant, what was it called?
Can someone make a list or a thread on HOW TO BULLET PROOF PRE '09 HUSABERG?
This would be really useful, perhaps make a kit??? What are some power mods on 550? No big bore kit??? Really? Power is like chips, or pistachios more is better,what you have at first is just not satisfying. You get more and THEN you feeling great!
Is there a possibility to find or have made a long life piston? Can you bore out liner on 550? 1,2,3 mm?
Has anyone ever made a titanium frame?
My 550 feels very similar power as my sold already '08 Ktm 450 sxf with Bondi engine but now I have six speeds and it is more special, more rare, that counts for me as well. I will keep for now 525 exc it feels good as well and Ktm was my first passion, some nostalgia remains and they are supposed to be very good engine with lots of mod potential.
Hello Polska,
increasing oil capacity is worth doing i run one of my bikes with a wet ignition and oil change is just over 2 L. a cooler however has been shown not to actually lower the oil temperature since it is quite low at 70 degC most of the time (this was done by user name "weed" or popup )
the oil cant be too slippery because our clutches are too small, delo 400 is perfect for these engines, in my bikes it lasts longer than motul 300V (becasue of the clutch slip with the motul) i do add moreys oil stabiliser to increase viscosity for my conditions (deep sand and often 40deg + C) lucas oils stabiliser is better for dirtbike engines as it doesn't contain sulfur. sulfur eats the silver metal plating on the big end cages.
evans coolant I think is the one but i dont use it. i use 50/50 water and glycol.
nobody can claim buletproofness lol thats more complete BS. the wrong mains fail even with correct axial play and even in a 450.
there is one member running NTN mains with zero axial play on a 644 (82mm stroke, flexible 32mm pin)
he built it years ago and its still running
except for the mains and the valve springs, stock is very very good for most people. all the aftermarket stuff i tried was worse than OEM in many respects. in my experience avoiding unnecessary aftermarket rubbish and sticking to the parts suppliers in my signature has been the way to keep my bikes happy.
some things that might help very gernally speaking: NTN roller main bearings and kibblewhite dual valve springs
other interesting stuff here:
http://husaberg.org/mechanical/17998-bushmechanic-mongrel-628-trailbike.html
you can go to 105mm bore with an iron liner or 102 with the alloy one, IMHO the alloy is too weak even at 100mm in the 650s becasue its longer and unsupported at the front and back. in the 550 the liner is shorter so it might work ok at larger bore.
nobody has posted about doing this to a 550 but that doesn't mean it has not been done. issues are headgasket sealing and sourcing. but this has been solved. see thread "jbs700kit on 80mm welded crank"
spanner is building a very interesting engine with the 550 cases, search all his posts its very inspiring
imho the simplest "power" and longest lasting configuration of these engines is the 650 with an 80mm crank and 105mm bore, port the head and go slightly bigger valves. so you might look out for a set of 650 cases to build into a 700.
pistons are pretty much all the same life except for Pro X (avoid)
wossner is good, CP and JE are also, wiseco is ok. ELKO or mahle is the oem piston for the 628 (80mm crank 650) and at stock compression is also very very good.
a titanium or carbon frame would be very nice, i think if you did that then it would be wise to consider if you really like the stock geometry and ergonomics, i really dont like it for off road.
welcome to the site and have fun