What have you done to your XS today?

One piece. It has two tabs with recessed holes that sandwich between the uppermost front motor mount bolts, and the lower part secures with two u bolts around the frame tubes. When I first got the bike I took it off because I thought it looked ugly. Then I put it back on after my first long ride taught me I needed a place to rest my legs. Then last summer I laid the bike down on a sandy street and that guard saved My exhaust, tank, and engine. It ain’t coming off again.
 
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More cool bling is if you can find older undersize reflectors such as this pair off an old Honda I just started polishing up. Undersize reflectors on the frame tabs and also rear tail light don't really catch your eye immediately but help make the 70's vintage look happen discretely
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Sure cleanup nice. Should a took a before pic
So nice to see someone measuring in inches or parts per thousands thereof.
 
Yeah, what Beags said. Did mine in silver... but you get the idea.


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I just painted a pair for a friend, only black. Big mistake I made, being low on masking tape I thought I’d use brown parcel tape!!!!!! Don’t. What an absolute B,,,start to get off. Brown cellophane pulls off OK leaving the glue, had to use cellulose thinners and a razor scraper. One lives and learns.
 
Okay, weather has been better than expected today. Just got her all put back together- re checked the tapered steering stem bearings, got the wheel back on. This shade of gold is not quite a match to the tank and shocks, but I think it looks alright. It definitely Makes the front wheel pop. An improvement over the faded black paint for sure. I also ordered some new collapsible black mirrors. This single one looks cool but all I can see is my shoulder. If I’m lucky the rain will hold off and I can go for a quick spin later. It’s supposed to get up to 64 here today.
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Finally changed the fork seals. They were 48 years old. Does nothing last anymore? The hardest part was getting those chrome dust cover covers off. Thanks to Mailman, I got them off without wrecking them.
While things were apart I also drilled some holes in my front disc. Also changed the brake fluid.
Hey, has anyone ever had their disc's cut? Not because it's warped, but to remove the glazing. My local bike shop said they never did that for any one.
I scuffed it with a palm sander as evenly as possible, but I'd like to get all the little grooves out.

Anyone?

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Hey, has anyone ever had their disc's cut? Not because it's warped, but to remove the glazing. My local bike shop said they never did that for any one.
I scuffed it with a palm sander as evenly as possible, but I'd like to get all the little grooves out.

You’re right, no one will turn a motorcycle disc. I’ve used sand paper on a rubber block sander, I’ve used a 4” soft wheel on an angle grinder. The last one I did on my XS2 was done with a soft abrasive wheel to create a cross hatch pattern. I didn’t remove all of the grooves, but is a significant improvement.
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Okay, weather has been better than expected today. Just got her all put back together- re checked the tapered steering stem bearings, got the wheel back on. This shade of gold is not quite a match to the tank and shocks, but I think it looks alright. It definitely Makes the front wheel pop. An improvement over the faded black paint for sure. I also ordered some new collapsible black mirrors. This single one looks cool but all I can see is my shoulder. If I’m lucky the rain will hold off and I can go for a quick spin later. It’s supposed to get up to 64 here today.
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Happy to hear you are feeling better and able to get out. The disc looks good!
 
Finally changed the fork seals. They were 48 years old. Does nothing last anymore? The hardest part was getting those chrome dust cover covers off. Thanks to Mailman, I got them off without wrecking them.
While things were apart I also drilled some holes in my front disc. Also changed the brake fluid.
Hey, has anyone ever had their disc's cut? Not because it's warped, but to remove the glazing. My local bike shop said they never did that for any one.
I scuffed it with a palm sander as evenly as possible, but I'd like to get all the little grooves out.

Anyone?

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I have heard that some automotive engine rebuilding machine shops would resurface a rotor on the machine that resurfaces flywheels. However, I can't give you a name of a shop that will do it.
 
I use a spare wheel or hub bolted to my work bench so it spins, Attach the rotor and use a 240 or 320 flap disk in the angle grinder. You soon learn the angle that keeps the rotor spinning at a reasonable pace, helps keep the action even. work the whole swept face evenly don't concentrate on the grooves. The grit will eat bearings so best not to do this on bearings to be placed back in service!
 
You’re right, no one will turn a motorcycle disc. I’ve used sand paper on a rubber block sander, I’ve used a 4” soft wheel on an angle grinder. The last one I did on my XS2 was done with a soft abrasive wheel to create a cross hatch pattern. I didn’t remove all of the grooves, but is a significant improvement.
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Man that whole front end looks amazing! Love those chrome dust covers! Didn’t know those existed....It’s cold and windy here today, just been doing housework all day. Now that I’m basically all caught up on bike projects there’s not a whole lot to do. Tomorrow’s supposed to be 55 and sunny, so hopefully I’ll get some more ride time in. I picked up a small little detail That I’ve been wanting for quite a while now on a Wal Mart trip; a ring terminal quick connect for my battery minder. Now I don’t have to open my seat and use the alligator clips every time I get home. It’s the little things.
 
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