What have you done to your XS today?

[NashGTI]

It's in the specific thread I made for the seat, but I'm putting it here too because I can.

Whipped out a quicky seat cover and got to ride my bike with the new seat and paint.

 

[Mailman]

Atta Boy Nash! Bet that first ride felt great huh? Good for you!

 

[arcticXS]

Discovered worn swing arm bushings yesterday, so today I replaced the plastic bushings, sleeve and bolt with a kit from Heiden Tuning, I guess MikesXS sold those as well. 25 mm wide needle bearings, then shorter brass bushings on the outside, taking care of sideways loads. While the swing arm was off, I drilled and tapped for a central grease zerk, and also turned a POM bushing to keep the chain away from the top side of the swing arm, which is caused by my longer shocks. I also made a short, rubber mud flap to seal the gap between the front end of the rear fender, and the swing arm. Hopefully this will reduce crud on the engine and carbs. Finally, I removed the electric brake wear indicator on the rear wheel. Puh!

 

[BeetsnGreens]

Carbs rebuilt and back on. The bike is idling for the first time since I've had it.

 

[tzimmerm]

Carbs rebuilt and back on. The bike is idling for the first time since I've had it.

That is an amazing moment isnt it? I remember how accomplished and excited I felt after I kicked my chopper back to life after taking it completely apart, re-painting and assembling it, and soldering my own wiring harness.

 

[lakeview]

Pushing my Envelope

I have always been a traditionalist about frame colour, but this 77 came to me already detabbed, P O called it a "cafe", so here goes.
Finally a nice day today (no rain or wind), so after cleaning and sanding, took it out to the corner of the lawn and used a can and a half of "Dark Steel" metallic and I am pleased.
Fellow I bought it from had a lot of things completed and painted including the air boxes, trees, tins, then his wife dropped the XS750 tank on the drive and put a palm size flat spot on the front corner. I think if I am careful I can do a repair and incorporate it into a side scallop so I can save most of his paint. He also sold me a stock paint red 750 tank which may go on it, especially as he ground off the stock tank mounts.

 

[lakeview]

The Line Up

Silver tank got the ding, but would not go with my silver frame anyway.

Realized I used up all the paint and left the braced swing arm undone so it may end up black or I may spring for another rattle can ($13.99 + 13% HST here in Canuck land).
Another two days of rain forecast-at least I can leave the frame to "bake" in the van for now.

 

[Mailman]

I have always been a traditionalist about frame colour, but this 77 came to me already detabbed, P O called it a "cafe", so here goes.

Looking forward to another nice build from you.

I’ve seen some nice colored frames, I always thought some of the early BMW’s pulled them off really well.

 

[Superjet]

Looks great so far Lakeview! JC

 

[BeetsnGreens]

That is an amazing moment isnt it? I remember how accomplished and excited I felt after I kicked my chopper back to life after taking it completely apart, re-painting and assembling it, and soldering my own wiring harness.

Oh yeah! Best feeling ever. Still quite a bit of work to get her roadworthy.

 

[arcticXS]

Replaced the cable to the taillight. Soldered the new wires directly to the taillight, getting rid of the connectors and stiff old wires. Got some 3x1sqmm black cable,made for 230V movable appliances. The auto parts places had either just twin cable, or 7 in one, for trailer hitch plugs. Went to a local vintage car/bike club yesterday, and a guy had been rewiring his Laverda SF750 twin, using a Motogadget control unit. It looked extremely tidy and neat, so may be something I'll do on the XS. Should definitely make the headlight wiring mess easier to deal with,
Later today, maybe I'll dig out my 80s vintage Denfeld luggage rack and panniers as well.

 

[willis]

Today I am wrapping up a 5 day weekend so I started on my dash/gauge project. I love my ‘75 but have always disliked the bulky dash and gauge setup.
Ive been collecting some parts to convert my gauges over to the early style like the 70-74 style. I scored a couple of sets and able to piece together one nice presentable set with spare parts. Going well so far, I just need to score an ignition switch and figure out a few wiring routing issues. The pair here is my spare setup. The nice one set is stored until it’s all sorted out for final install.



Pretty happy with the results so far!!

 

[arcticXS]

Today I am wrapping up a 5 day weekend so I started on my dash/gauge project. I love my ‘75 but have always disliked the bulky dash and gauge setup.

The same setup was also used on the RD250 and 350, a lot of "dash" on a small and light bike.....

 

[Superjet]

I agree with you Willis all looks way better with that setup. JC

 

[Mailman]

Today I am wrapping up a 5 day weekend so I started on my dash/gauge project. I love my ‘75 but have always disliked the bulky dash and gauge setup.
Ive been collecting some parts to convert my gauges over to the early style like the 70-74 style. I scored a couple of sets and able to piece together one nice presentable set with spare parts. Going well so far, I just need to score an ignition switch and figure out a few wiring routing issues. The pair here is my spare setup. The nice one set is stored until it’s all sorted out for final install.

View attachment 141620 View attachment 141627
View attachment 141621 View attachment 141623 View attachment 141622 View attachment 141624 View attachment 141625
Pretty happy with the results so far!!

Yeah! I like that a lot Willis! I had a 76 xs650 and it had that same clunky dash. Mikes sells a reproduction switch for the XS1 and XS2, or have you considered moving the switch away from the dash? Like a frame mount switch up around the front frame below the gas tank , or something like that?

 

[Mailman]

Pushing my Envelope
View attachment 141592
I have always been a traditionalist about frame colour, but this 77 came to me already detabbed, P O called it a "cafe", so here goes.
Finally a nice day today (no rain or wind), so after cleaning and sanding, took it out to the corner of the lawn and used a can and a half of "Dark Steel" metallic and I am pleased.
Fellow I bought it from had a lot of things completed and painted including the air boxes, trees, tins, then his wife dropped the XS750 tank on the drive and put a palm size flat spot on the front corner. I think if I am careful I can do a repair and incorporate it into a side scallop so I can save most of his paint. He also sold me a stock paint red 750 tank which may go on it, especially as he ground off the stock tank mounts.

Lakeview,
Look what I just stumbled across, a little pre view of your frame.

 

[tzimmerm]

Gorgeous bike Willis!

 

[willis]

Yeah! I like that a lot Willis! I had a 76 xs650 and it had that same clunky dash. Mikes sells a reproduction switch for the XS1 and XS2, or have you considered moving the switch away from the dash? Like a frame mount switch up around the front frame below the gas tank , or something like that?

I want to keep it up top, I just need to get a switch and see how much room I have for wiring. My handlebar Wires run internally ant exit in the middle where the switch will be.
I’m trying to stay with original equipment, so a mikes switch will be a last resort.

 

[lakeview]

Mailman - Factory paint tins and a silver frame just doesn't do it for me; if one is stepping away from the comfortable, it's gotta be more of a leap than a stumble.

 

[arcticXS]

Noticed that the tank seam was rubbing lightly on the top of the RH carb, so made up a 6 mm rubber spacer to put under the rear tank mount, and a 6 mm long SS bushing to go on top of the internally threaded post, and a new SS M6x30 socket head cap screw to hold everything. Also wired up my new Daytona Velona tacho permanently. Nice stuff! With 96 kph (60 mph) showing on the TomTom, the tach shows exactly 4000 rpm, which sounds right with an 18" rear and 17/33 sprockets.