November 2012 "Specials only" resto, resto/mod voting and discussion.

Who should win the XSOTM "Sprecials only" contest?

  • retiredgentleman

    Votes: 17 34.7%
  • sseres

    Votes: 17 34.7%
  • XS Cole

    Votes: 3 6.1%
  • blue900

    Votes: 2 4.1%
  • downeaster

    Votes: 2 4.1%
  • royboy

    Votes: 8 16.3%

  • Total voters
    49
  • Poll closed .

gggGary

If not now, When?
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We have 6 accepted nominations for the November Specials only contest.
There are some excellent choices to be made!

The poll will close on November 30th, the winner will have their bike photo posted to the XS650 home page and be permanently added to the XSOTM picture album, not to mention the incredible bragging rights that go with such a feat.

Contestants; please feel free to post details, how you came to buy an XS650 project, and MORE pictures, links to your build thread etc.. Let me know if you would like me to use a different picture for the voting.
Viewers and voters may also make comments and ask questions, Please keep all comments positive!

The contestants;

XS Cole

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sseres

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Royboy
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Retiredgentleman

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Downeaster

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blue900

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As usual it's not going to be easy, what a great selection of bikes, way to go guys.
 
I dragged over my earlier comments, from the other XSOTM thread. Really stiff competition, so I'm just glad to be considered.

In case anyone wants more pics, this is the link to my album:

http://www.xs650.com/media/albums/1372/

"I bought the bike locally here in Calgary, and have driven it for 6 years now. When I got it, it would barely run and was using a ton of oil. With some minor maintenance, I drove it that way for one season. Head gasket was passing oil real bad, so a top-end re-build was done.

Over the years I have bought quite a few parts from Mikesxs and 650Central. I like to keep to the stock look of the bike as much as possible. However, I'm also big on safety and reliability. A modern ignition coil, a Pamco, new solid state regulator, and a new modern rectifier have been very worthwhile additions.

I was really happy to find a pristine OEM exhaust last year, as the original on the bike was beaten up rather badly.

As part of my safety way of thinking, I recently added the Brembo calipers front and rear. Those Italians know a few things about brakes.

A fun bike to ride and very easy to work on...............a real enjoyable hobby/sport."
 
@Retiredgentleman,
You have dual front rotors? Or was there a reason for mounting on the left?

@blue900
Bag protection or leak? If the former what is the material? I've managed to melt otherwise good bags.
 
@Retiredgentleman,
You have dual front rotors? Or was there a reason for mounting on the left?

@blue900
Bag protection or leak? If the former what is the material? I've managed to melt otherwise good bags.

WER.......................no, I just have the one rotor on the front. It had to do with the alinement of the rotor with the caliper. If I had kept the rotor on the original right side, I would have had to make up a spacer for the rotor. By moving the rotor over to the left side, it was an almost perfect alinement.................I did have to add one small thin shim washer to get the alinement dead on.

There was another consideration as well. I bought the calipers as a pair, since they are mostly sold as pairs. I had thought I would use the "right hand" caliper in the stock right location. However, once I received the pair, I realized the "right hand" caliper would fit very nicely on the back wheel. So, with the "right hand" caliper going on the back, that meant the "left hand " caliper would be used on the front left. It was a bonus, that the using the rotor on the front left, did not require me to make up a rotor spacer.
 
@blue900
Bag protection or leak? If the former what is the material? I've managed to melt otherwise good bags.

The exhaust was rusted so bad one day the end fell off going down the highway. I thought o-well dont need that anyway, but i changed my mind quick, the sound was super obnoxious. On the way home I stopped and found it in the weeds, it was now oval and had been run over at least once. Got it home hammered it back to mostly round. what you see is a piece of tin, with big hose clamps and self tapping screws to hold it all back together.
Melting is a danger One side on mine got to close and are melted some.
If i use them again I would like to add the frame they suggest to support them.
Or hard bags would be Ideal. I use the Big Backpack on the sissy bar right now and its working great.
 
retiredgentleman, handy tip to kow about the spaceing on the right.


blue900, shade tree innovation keeps them going. Amazing the difference a few inchs make in sound level. :)
 
Tough choises here. Royboy should have a few more votes I think, but I can't resist breaking the tie between the retired gent and sseres. I want to show some love to the super clean stocker, but the extra attitude of the sseres takes my vote. Is someone going to bring the tie back?
Tim
 
See if you guys can see SSERES'S seat in that pic, It is an amazing saddle, the top seat piece is a textured surface like a thick weave, it looks incredible!
 
This has been such a great contest to be part of! Here are a few more pics for your viewing pleasure, although all it does here is rain so I don't have any in the sun recently. If I weren't so partial to my own bike, I'd have to say Retiredgentleman's is a beaut! Mine was originally restored by the PO to stock. I've rebuilt the engine, added HHB clutch mod, and tried to keep it spiffed up.

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+1 xstim and javafinger, hard to make a choice.
Very nice examples of the later XS's.
And I've enjoyed going back to "look'em up".
Everything from drilled brake rotors to cruise control.
This thread has to be of use to those looking to individualize their ride.
Thinking of bar end mirrors you can see an example. Want to stiffen the front? Need extra leg room? How am I gonna pack for two weeks and what to do for the other 50 weeks I ride local. LED's? several examples shown. Thinking one piece SS brake line you can see how it looks.
THANKS guys for the pics & descriptions it has helped me with some what ifs.
Just a couple of days to the end so I need to quit looking and vote.
 
Somebody slap the big honkin aluminum grab bar on temporarily for a picture and my vote will go to you. Could be important in a tight race. Otherwise I will vote for Royboy because he reminds me of Trigger.
 
I say DEATH MATCH or a hotdog eating contest, but DEATH MATCH sounds awesome, maybe a game of xs chicken, first one to bail and all...
 
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