new guy looking to go from stock to the cafe look

View attachment 58219I have a 78...pamco ignition hhb pma...drag bars...different headlight. .lowered forks and rear..speedo only...bar end mirrors. .some rewiring. ..but everything I did isn't extreme. ..so I kept all original parts and could go back that way if necessary.o yeah..still haven't shortened speedo cable. ..that's stock length.

How did you lower the forks?, I know with the rear is shorter coils ( with stronger recoil to compensate).
 
How did you lower the forks?, I know with the rear is shorter coils ( with stronger recoil to compensate).

Hi 'driver,
let the fork tubes up through the triple trees, although they'll only go up an inch and a bit before they hit the bars.
Use clip-on bars above the top 'tree or bar setbacks if you need to go lower.
the limit then becomes when the fender hits the bottom 'tree on full bounce.
Shorter shocks will lower the back end.
An "arse up" stance quickens the steering; a tail-dragging stance slows it down.
Note that the more you lower the bike the less it will lean over before something grounds out.
 
Hi 'driver,
let the fork tubes up through the triple trees, although they'll only go up an inch and a bit before they hit the bars.
Use clip-on bars above the top 'tree or bar setbacks if you need to go lower.
the limit then becomes when the fender hits the bottom 'tree on full bounce.
Shorter shocks will lower the back end.
An "arse up" stance quickens the steering; a tail-dragging stance slows it down.
Note that the more you lower the bike the less it will lean over before something grounds out.

Thank you for the info. I am not looking to lower much. And I still want to keep a rake. I will defintely keep in mind the suspension travel of the front end.

I plan on using clubman bars for now unless I get to that point and decide that clip on bars are more ergonmical for my bodies riding stance.
 
I did the forks up thru the trees first but it was to close to my bars which made it right up on my hydraulic brake banjo...I could of got another shape fitting...but liked the hughshandbuilt drop to keep the forks functional...works great I did the 2 inch drop
 
I did the forks up thru the trees first but it was to close to my bars which made it right up on my hydraulic brake banjo...I could of got another shape fitting...but liked the hughshandbuilt drop to keep the forks functional...works great I did the 2 inch drop

I just looked that up. That looks like what I am going to need. Thank you again! I am thinking 2 in the front and 1 in the rear, should give it the look that I am going for.
 
The drag bars are comfortable too...I have brand new clubmans but when I mocked em up they didn't feel right cuz I use the stock footrests...unless you run rear sets maybe more comfortable. ..crampons or clip ons might work though
 
The drag bars are comfortable too...I have brand new clubmans but when I mocked em up they didn't feel right cuz I use the stock footrests...unless you run rear sets maybe more comfortable. ..crampons or clip ons might work though

Haha further more they shall be referred to as crampons. I was planning on moving the sets back.
 
Ok so I was able to go over and take some pictures of the bike. Its dirty but nothing a little spit shine and hard work can't fix. There's only one problem that i you d that could lots tionally set me back a bit on my time line. My uncle( who's bike it was, which I am inheriting
) left fuel in it and the tank is full of rust. It still has about 7/8 of a tank, any suggestions? I have been do I g some research on how to clear the rust. I really want to keep the tank if possible because it's the original one.
 

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Looks like an XS2...in pretty good condition. I'd consider restoring it personally. I wish someone would give me one of those...jealous!!!
 
Ditto! An unmolested 1972 XS2, 12k miles on the clock!

...A 72XS2 in good to great condition is a sort after model and is worth a penny or two, of course that is if a buyer is in the market when it is for sale...

Expect more of this.

Definitely clean it up, get it running, ride it a bit before committing to any mods.

FYI, those early forks don't allow for lowering, can't slide the forks up through the trees.
 
Looks like an XS2...in pretty good condition. I'd consider restoring it personally. I wish someone would give me one of those...jealous!!!

Thanks. Its more that I stepped up and convinced my cousin that she needed to let me have it so I could restore it to running condition and ride it like my uncle(, God rest his soul) would want to have done. My uncle never had a son so I got out in that place when I was born and we always bonded over " man things" as my cousin would say. Fishing, hunting, working on cars/ bikes.

So enough down memory lane. So is there anything specific with the XS2 that I should know about?
 
Yep, it's the second year produced. I'm not an expert on them as I've only had a '78 & '79... but I do think there are plenty of unique parts on it...Gas tank, side covers, etc are hard to come by if I recall...

There are experts on here that will likely point out the big ones.
 
Ditto! An unmolested 1972 XS2, 12k miles on the clock!



Expect more of this.

Definitely clean it up, get it running, ride it a bit before committing to any mods.

FYI, those early forks don't allow for lowering, can't slide the forks up through the trees.

Thank you. Good to know!! I might just change the rear springs and go through the frorks and rebuild them.I might leave more stock then originally thought. But anything I do take off is going to be put in bubble wrap a put in a climate controlled storage unit.

Here's the manuals. Download everything on this page:

http://www.biker.net/70-73_650_parts/xs1 parts main.html

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!

Yep, it's the second year produced. I'm not an expert on them as I've only had a '78 & '79... but I do think there are plenty of unique parts on it...Gas tank, side covers, etc are hard to come by if I recall...

There are experts on here that will likely point out the big ones.

Thank you, I am definitely excited to be starting this project.
 
Personal meaning of the machine trumps cash but you could sell that bike to a guy that wants to keep it as a "survivor" and get enough cash to buy a decent later special and a bunch of custom stuff too.

If you go ahead; the early years aren't really the best for cafe type riding. The frame brakes suspension are a bit ahem whippy. Early engines are strong running but a bit fragile compared to later engines.
72 has a one year only kinda weird front brake rotor setup with a mainly ignored service bulletin and a high parts count.
 
It is nice to see one of that age with the instruments not faded, especially the rev counter red.
 
Personal meaning of the machine trumps cash but you could sell that bike to a guy that wants to keep it as a "survivor" and get enough cash to buy a decent later special and a bunch of custom stuff too.

If you go ahead; the early years aren't really the best for cafe type riding. The frame brakes suspension are a bit ahem whippy. Early engines are strong running but a bit fragile compared to later engines.
72 has a one year only kinda weird front brake rotor setup with a mainly ignored service bulletin and a high parts count.

Part of the agreement of me getting it is that I never sell it. I know though that i can upgrade the suspension and the brakes( I can change the rotor/caliper) but what's wrong with the frame?
 
Part of the agreement of me getting it is that I never sell it. I know though that i can upgrade the suspension and the brakes( I can change the rotor/caliper) but what's wrong with the frame?

Hi 'driver,
early frames are kinda flexible is all so you don't want to be too enthusiastic flinging the bike into curves.
Later frames were gusseted, braced and reinforced up the ying-yang to stiffen them
which made the later frames seriously heavier, swapping flexy for stodgy.
 
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