5twins

The end of the stock headpipe is a machined metal part. It extents into the headpipe from the sealing flange about the same distance as...

I don't find the lock tabs that ugly, and besides, they blend in so you hardly see them. The TX500 rear wheel I adapted for my 650, been...

If you have leaks, the new chrome on those pipes will blue up badly and almost immediately. Even with no leaks, it's probably going to...

I wouldn't do it. I've personally encountered very stuck sprocket bolts, even had a few break off trying to remove them. They are a fine...

If the clutch pull is really hard after that shop installs your new cable, it's most likely because they didn't oil it. New cables come...

I'll bet those are going to be pretty loud, lol.

Got mine and they look good. All "Made in Japan" BP7ES plugs, no BPR resistor plugs in the lot. I checked the ones I ordered from...

The best and easiest way to check and/or adjust the cam chain tension is to do so while the bike sits there idling. You want to see the...

No, it's not that complicated, but it is quite a lot of work because the motor needs to be removed to get at it. You should be OK riding...

Yes, you need something on that fork, either a fender or a brace (both is best). When you grab that single front disc brake, it puts...

Well, maybe, lol. Mine started doing that many years ago and it was one of the things that pushed me into going into the topend. What I...

That's very possible. BS34 carbs with UNI filters and different, more open mufflers should need bigger jets.

At the moment, best price on a new chain is from YamahaXS650.com. Buying it directly from Yamaha used to be the best deal, but they...

I change my own, always have and always will. And nowadays, I'm glad I do, it's gotten so expensive, lol. We took the rear wheel from my...

That's pretty much normal wear on that rear tensioner blade. I never replace them. They don't fall apart like the front one does. I...

Checked tracking again and mine are "out for delivery" so I should have them sometime today. I'll report back when I get them.

The factory suggested setting for the mix screws on your '78-'79 carb set is 2.25 turns out, but they often need a bit more, like 2.5 to...

Yes, you can grease the whole rod. It's just plain steel so any moisture that got in there could cause it to rust. So, just smear it...

Yes, the added holes in my baffle plates made it louder, but also very raspy. I didn't like it. I'd look into some real Commandos from...

Well, if you're already up on the jets, you should be good. I thought you might still have the stock jetting. I didn't find the need for...

Those dilled mufflers will probably affect the carbs and jetting. I know they did on my '83. I thought it was all stock but upon closer...

The dwell angle on these bikes is about 90° (93°± 5°). That's how long the points "dwell" in the closed position, allowing the coil to...

Yes, it has to do with how air is delivered to the pilot jet and what it flows. The BS30/96 type pilots (like yours), sized in the 40s...

No, I've never tried it, but I don't really feel the need. Once properly jetted and set up, these CV carbs respond quite well in my...

Yes, your pilots are a size larger than stock ......

You don't want the idle speed much above 1200 because the ignition can start advancing. When that happens, the engine speed increases...

For a front, I always run a 100. A 110 may be too wide.

On the later models, normally the tail light is wired right into the ignition switch and comes on with the key. The engine doesn't need...

Mine shipped from Sugar Land (via FedEx) and are now in Kentucky. Supposed to be here Thursday.

Tony, did you get the plugs you ordered yet and if so, are they indeed the BP7ES plugs, not the BPR7ES (resistor version)?

According to the parts diagram, it's an M6 x 35mm long. You can often find a screw or bolt's size and length by looking at the middle...

I think I found them, or at least something very similar ...

Where are those gaiters from? They look pretty nice.

You can repair that one. Most of us just "patch" them up with JBWeld. The screen makes a good backing for it and the repair is very...

You can use a Honda MP08 coil. They're a dime a dozen on eBay. I got a 3-pack from a Gold Wing 6 for about $24. Here's a thread on them...

Yes, it's my understanding that Mike started this place after selling MikesXS. I'm thinking maybe he had a lot of stuff left and wanted...

I sure hope these are BP7ES plugs and not the BPR7ES (resistor) ones. Some places are substituting the resistor ones for the plain ones...

Yes, I change both of those gaskets when I first get the bike, after that, hardly ever. To clean the old gaskets out, I use plain old...

Honestly, that's a gasket I hardly ever replace. It lasts and lasts. I do install a new one when I first get the bike but after that...

Even with the electronic ignition, I think you still only want one instance of resistance in each plug wire. So yes, change the cap or...

..... or you could switch to fork gaiters, even cheaper and better protection for the seals and fork tubes ......

Yes, that should be fine. I've used a 1.5mm thick o-ring in the past but it was a bit big. It filled the whole width of the o-ring...

Just one small thing - the wires on your brushes are routed incorrectly, they should wrap around the outside of the brush. You can see...

The pilot jets are original and are a "no hole" type of VM22/210. Yamaha must have contracted with Mikuni to have them made without the...

Going by the size and shape of those plug caps, I'd say they're the resistor type. You can confirm by measuring through them with a...

The first 650 Special came out in '78. Yamaha continued to make the Standard model along with it in '78 and '79. In 1980, the Standard...

This is the perfect example of why we don't recommend the rebuild kits. Many times the jet sizes are wrong too, lol. The replacement...

It may also be putting out AC not DC current.

To make those "on the fly" idle speed adjustments easier, I've started pressing knurled "caps" onto the screw heads ..... The top...