I owned a 2000 XT350M and liked it pretty well off the showroom floor. I did a couple of suspension mods to make it even better for what I preferred. Front: I installed the front fork, top and bottom triple clamps, front wheel, axle, and front brake system from a 1986 Yamaha IT200S. The reason was I wanted to install stiffer fork springs into the stock XT forks, but because the XT350 uses the small 36mm diameter tubes, I could not find any springs with the correct specs. So, plan B was to graft on the 43mm forks, wheel, and front brake from that IT200S. Since 43mm forks were extremely common and had plenty of spring rates to choose from, I was able to easily select and install the correct springs for the bike, and a side benefit was the IT200S front brake was firmer at the lever with more braking power. The IT200S wheel even was able to fit the XT speedometer cable drive gear and operate the XT speedometer/odometer. Rear: This was relatively short and sweet. I picked up the phone and called Works Performance and had them build me a rear shock for the XT. It was a quality unit with the typical adjustable spring preload, rebound damping adjustment, and remote reservoir. Installation was easy since it was designed for the bike. The result of these mods made my XT350M go from feeling like a good dual-purpose bike to a great dual-purpose bike. Combine that I kept knobby tires on it, and I would ride that XT anywhere else I would ride my full-on dirt-only bikes. Well worth the time and money.
looking forward to to the video. removed the frontend off my 426 to see f would fit my xt and just gave up mite like to retry seeing it is can be done.
Hey everyone, this was a very quick video. When I do the full bike teardown I will pull apart the triple tree and show you how that mod works. There is a spacer sleeve that I had to fabricate for the top triple tree. That takes up the very small gap 1/16" approx. between the diameter of the stock YZ250 steering stem, and the diameter of the XT350 steering stem. I will also do a quick video on the flat slide carb setup, and the dual from rimlock setup. Appreciate all the support 😁
@@guglielmo822 not the rear xt600 shock. I have a rear swing arm from my yz250 and the rear shock. I want to swap both included the rear wheel. That will give me a way better rear shock, better swing arm, and also a rear disc brake. I’m hoping to make a video on that mod this winter to doc if
@@todorow22 very proper dirt bike then. Mine is mostly stock, I had issue where the chain slider original all cracked and worn sucked up by the chain when breaking apart. Proper mess, I've had to walk her home a few times. Still love it. Haven't done any indepth mods like you, however it's nice to see what is possible.
@@guglielmo822 Ya I hate that stupid rubber chain slider. Mine is cracking so its only a matter of time till it gets sucked into the drive sprocket too LOL
Man, what an amazing build! We just got an 89 XT350 that needed a little love to get road worthy. Definitely going to look into that hydraulic clutch set up. Keep up the great build. Happy to be a new subscriber!! 👍
Just picked up a 92 xt350. I love your build and would like to take mine in a similar direction. Would you be willing to do a write up for me? Parts you used, sources, odd stuff you ran into in the build process?
Sure I just got a new Go Pro camera, and just recorded some content but I can do a follow up video where I go through the bike as if it is a write up of all the mods. I will try to record that tomorrow and have it posted in a weeks time :)
Very Interested in doing this mod myself. I like my 350 but I wish the front forks were better. This may be the way to go for me. Also very interested to see how the flat slides work out
Hey Patrick! I really appreciate the support on my channel. Agreed on the stock XT350 forks. I am also mid way through upgrading the rear swing arm and shock as well as those flat slides. If you want to keep updated join this FB group. I post ongoing updates here, eventually a video will be posted on YT. facebook.com/groups/yamahaxt350/
I have a very similar setup. I used cr125 forks, and yz125 triples. I machined a number of spacers, and heat shrunk an aluminum spacer to the top of the stem and turned it down to size. I did a 7 inch round led headlight with no shroud. For rear suspension, I used a yamaha raptor 700r se rear shock I cut the reservoir off and routed a stainless steel hose for the reservoir to go under the left rear side panel. This shock was only $125 from Yamaha parts dealers for some time. Which is crazy cheap for 3 way adjustable damping. Heads-up display is awesome, love driving bmw's with that. I've been pretty satisfied with my trail tech vapor though, and I get a temp readout from the spark plug with warning light, which is the best overall engine heat indicator. The tt350 flywheel is a great mod, for like $20 on ebay. Loose about a pound of flywheel. Doesn't stall any easier, but noticable improvement in response and power. The polisport freeflow fender would look good with your white and it gives you a bit more engine cooling air. Fits on any bike, very rigid (no wobble on the highway that can start tank slappers), and they are dirt cheap, $25. I wedged wooden dowels and some rubber in my renthal handlebars and it made a significant improvement on vibration. Zero blur in the mirrors. I have my stock carbs running pretty darn good, if you want some jetting advice. Flat slides sound good, but I don't think there's much more to gain for me. Averaging 70 mpg is amazing. I know of no other bike as multi capable. MX track, Freeway, fire road. It does it all.
@@todorow22 of course man. im a xt350 owner also and am looking to start a motovlog soon myself. if i see you post again on the xt350 fb page ill send a friend request.
I’ve had the 86 xt350s few of them. Then I discovered the tt350.. every part of the tt was better than the Xt .. take what you got and put it all on the TT frame and linkage you will have a far superior bike. Do some research on the tt vs the Xt.
I've done a bit of research I love the TT but I don't think it's street legal like the XT, and where I live you can't get it road legal even if you add the necessary signals etc. Is there any difference between the XT frames and the TT frames? I thought they were pretty similar
@@todorow22 nope huge differences in frames. Swing arms forks and in the engine as well.. and I have mine street legal. I ride it all over the country.
@hondaxl250k0 dam lucky I'm assuming your in the USA, ya Canada is pretty lame about street legal bikes, at least in my province. I'm curious is the TT frame aluminum? Or it is just dimensionally different?
@@todorow22 it’s steel. I’ve got both frames I’d post pics if I could. But it you do some research the tt is very different than the Xt. Even in handling. The Xt was a pig. Lol. The tt feels light n nimble. The suspension on the tt front and rear is light years better. And heavier. Even in the engine.. the Xt had plastic oil pump gears where the tt had metal. Tt had different valves and cams and carb jetting. Yes I’m in the states.
It would probably work if the current clutch is cable it cant be that hard a pull. The clutch lever came with the hydraulic clutch kit, but I have since switched to another brand of clutch lever to match the paint scheme. It doesnt really matter they are all relatively similar in my experience, just dont go with one meant for a really small bike, but most of those are cable anyways so once your into hydraulic levers your usually into bigger bikes anyways. I highly recommend this mod, its probably one of my favorite.
I owned a 2000 XT350M and liked it pretty well off the showroom floor.
I did a couple of suspension mods to make it even better for what I preferred.
Front: I installed the front fork, top and bottom triple clamps, front wheel, axle, and front brake system from a 1986 Yamaha IT200S.
The reason was I wanted to install stiffer fork springs into the stock XT forks, but because the XT350 uses the small 36mm diameter tubes, I could not find any springs with the correct specs.
So, plan B was to graft on the 43mm forks, wheel, and front brake from that IT200S.
Since 43mm forks were extremely common and had plenty of spring rates to choose from, I was able to easily select and install the correct springs for the bike, and a side benefit was the IT200S front brake was firmer at the lever with more braking power.
The IT200S wheel even was able to fit the XT speedometer cable drive gear and operate the XT speedometer/odometer.
Rear: This was relatively short and sweet.
I picked up the phone and called Works Performance and had them build me a rear shock for the XT.
It was a quality unit with the typical adjustable spring preload, rebound damping adjustment, and remote reservoir.
Installation was easy since it was designed for the bike.
The result of these mods made my XT350M go from feeling like a good dual-purpose bike to a great dual-purpose bike.
Combine that I kept knobby tires on it, and I would ride that XT anywhere else I would ride my full-on dirt-only bikes.
Well worth the time and money.
Very cool, do you still have it?
@@todorow22 No, only because I have made a career of buying, riding, and eventually selling bikes. It was fun while I owned it.
That's Awesome....I like the triple tree conversion.....Hope fully you get those flat side carbs to work.
I hope so too! Its not my first rodeo, experience tells me I should be okay. Carbs are a bit of a black art.
looking forward to to the video. removed the frontend off my 426 to see f would fit my xt and just gave up mite like to retry seeing it is can be done.
pretty cool bike i myself got a KTM 350 gs from 1988
Nice!
Hey everyone, this was a very quick video. When I do the full bike teardown I will pull apart the triple tree and show you how that mod works. There is a spacer sleeve that I had to fabricate for the top triple tree. That takes up the very small gap 1/16" approx. between the diameter of the stock YZ250 steering stem, and the diameter of the XT350 steering stem. I will also do a quick video on the flat slide carb setup, and the dual from rimlock setup. Appreciate all the support 😁
Ever look at the chain slider? Very nice front forks mod, do anything to the rear like using the xt600 spring?
@@guglielmo822 I haven’t but mostly because I want to switch my rear swing arm anyways, but I might look at it either way
@@guglielmo822 not the rear xt600 shock. I have a rear swing arm from my yz250 and the rear shock. I want to swap both included the rear wheel. That will give me a way better rear shock, better swing arm, and also a rear disc brake. I’m hoping to make a video on that mod this winter to doc if
@@todorow22 very proper dirt bike then. Mine is mostly stock, I had issue where the chain slider original all cracked and worn sucked up by the chain when breaking apart. Proper mess, I've had to walk her home a few times. Still love it. Haven't done any indepth mods like you, however it's nice to see what is possible.
@@guglielmo822 Ya I hate that stupid rubber chain slider. Mine is cracking so its only a matter of time till it gets sucked into the drive sprocket too LOL
Man, what an amazing build! We just got an 89 XT350 that needed a little love to get road worthy. Definitely going to look into that hydraulic clutch set up. Keep up the great build. Happy to be a new subscriber!! 👍
Right on!
Just picked up a 92 xt350. I love your build and would like to take mine in a similar direction. Would you be willing to do a write up for me? Parts you used, sources, odd stuff you ran into in the build process?
Sure I just got a new Go Pro camera, and just recorded some content but I can do a follow up video where I go through the bike as if it is a write up of all the mods. I will try to record that tomorrow and have it posted in a weeks time :)
Very Interested in doing this mod myself. I like my 350 but I wish the front forks were better. This may be the way to go for me. Also very interested to see how the flat slides work out
Hey Patrick! I really appreciate the support on my channel. Agreed on the stock XT350 forks. I am also mid way through upgrading the rear swing arm and shock as well as those flat slides. If you want to keep updated join this FB group. I post ongoing updates here, eventually a video will be posted on YT. facebook.com/groups/yamahaxt350/
@@todorow22 I was wondering if that was you, ive been watching there too, Can't wait to see if come together!
I have a very similar setup. I used cr125 forks, and yz125 triples. I machined a number of spacers, and heat shrunk an aluminum spacer to the top of the stem and turned it down to size. I did a 7 inch round led headlight with no shroud.
For rear suspension, I used a yamaha raptor 700r se rear shock I cut the reservoir off and routed a stainless steel hose for the reservoir to go under the left rear side panel. This shock was only $125 from Yamaha parts dealers for some time. Which is crazy cheap for 3 way adjustable damping.
Heads-up display is awesome, love driving bmw's with that. I've been pretty satisfied with my trail tech vapor though, and I get a temp readout from the spark plug with warning light, which is the best overall engine heat indicator.
The tt350 flywheel is a great mod, for like $20 on ebay. Loose about a pound of flywheel. Doesn't stall any easier, but noticable improvement in response and power.
The polisport freeflow fender would look good with your white and it gives you a bit more engine cooling air. Fits on any bike, very rigid (no wobble on the highway that can start tank slappers), and they are dirt cheap, $25.
I wedged wooden dowels and some rubber in my renthal handlebars and it made a significant improvement on vibration. Zero blur in the mirrors.
I have my stock carbs running pretty darn good, if you want some jetting advice. Flat slides sound good, but I don't think there's much more to gain for me. Averaging 70 mpg is amazing.
I know of no other bike as multi capable. MX track, Freeway, fire road. It does it all.
great info on the clutch. any recommendations on levers and what hose did you end up using?
Liked and subscribed
Appreciate the support dude! 🤘
@@todorow22 of course man. im a xt350 owner also and am looking to start a motovlog soon myself. if i see you post again on the xt350 fb page ill send a friend request.
@@Bi-PolarBurnout link your channel when you get it up. I will spread the word!
I’ve had the 86 xt350s few of them. Then I discovered the tt350.. every part of the tt was better than the Xt .. take what you got and put it all on the TT frame and linkage you will have a far superior bike. Do some research on the tt vs the Xt.
I've done a bit of research I love the TT but I don't think it's street legal like the XT, and where I live you can't get it road legal even if you add the necessary signals etc. Is there any difference between the XT frames and the TT frames? I thought they were pretty similar
@@todorow22 nope huge differences in frames. Swing arms forks and in the engine as well.. and I have mine street legal. I ride it all over the country.
@hondaxl250k0 dam lucky I'm assuming your in the USA, ya Canada is pretty lame about street legal bikes, at least in my province. I'm curious is the TT frame aluminum? Or it is just dimensionally different?
@@todorow22 it’s steel. I’ve got both frames I’d post pics if I could. But it you do some research the tt is very different than the Xt. Even in handling. The Xt was a pig. Lol. The tt feels light n nimble. The suspension on the tt front and rear is light years better. And heavier. Even in the engine.. the Xt had plastic oil pump gears where the tt had metal. Tt had different valves and cams and carb jetting. Yes I’m in the states.
Why not use the grommet from xt 350 rim?, it has a hole for a rim look to that is covered whit a grommet
Good call never thought of that, thanks man!
Would that hydraulic clutch work on the XT 600? Kind a looks like it will. What is the hydraulic clutch lever that you used?
It would probably work if the current clutch is cable it cant be that hard a pull. The clutch lever came with the hydraulic clutch kit, but I have since switched to another brand of clutch lever to match the paint scheme. It doesnt really matter they are all relatively similar in my experience, just dont go with one meant for a really small bike, but most of those are cable anyways so once your into hydraulic levers your usually into bigger bikes anyways. I highly recommend this mod, its probably one of my favorite.
Dude where are u located? I have the same bike. Yamaha xt 350 I'm close to london ont
Im close to Tiny, ON. LOL not that far.
I have heard that the atv and dirtbike trails are amazing where u are. I'd honestly would come up and ride with yea
Yeah let me no when you swap the rear shock, then i know exactly wat i need.
Almost done with this swap. It went well, just need to mod the rear brake linkage. I'm going to be posting a new video soon on it! :)