What have you done to your XS today?

Well no expert but I'll take a stab; they were Japanese made, Redwing,
found on the web
"These shocks were produced during the 70's in Japan by a sub-brand of Kayaba mainly for flat-track and off-road use. Featuring one spring or two springs with different dampening ratios and they owe their name to the beautiful finned aluminum oil reservoir at the bottom makin' them looking like hammers."
For a while there were quite a few NOS sets being sold, that was 5-10 years ago,
https://www.ebay.com/i/303710960201?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=2&asc=20160908110712&meid=896116a011ff42068ab0a8b24e64f71d&pid=100677&rk=7&rkt=30&mehot=none&sd=184291658691&itm=303710960201&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2386202&algv=DefaultOrganic&brand=Red+Wing Pull out yer money gun!
The "head" is pretty big so there are some issues with fitment on the chain side. I have a set, but so far haven't fought the fight sufficiently to have them mounted on an XS. One of mine has a "non fatal" groove worn in the back from having been on an XS650 (when I bought it/them). It's a cool attention drawing look, perfect for a period cafe racer theme.
Similar to the old finned reservoir Marzocchi shocks.
iu
 
Hey Willis, could you give some info on that seat...........A shot of the whole seat on the bike if you don't mind..........My son wants to chop the end rail on my bike because he wants to have a flat seat............that looks to be a flat slab.............
 
It was made by Wes at Counter Balance cycles. He does very fine work. I had one of his other thin seats previous to this one that kicked up in the back. Ultimately it wasn’t the look I was after, so I sold it and ordered a new one from Wes with the request to build up the foam more for a flat seat. I can get some more detailed pics if you like.
3A49B9B0-7E32-4B00-A2F3-CCF579D3D0D5.jpeg
99F19C78-429C-42DC-BFFF-DDA1F10AF61F.jpeg F01385DF-3416-4A16-BCBD-0F5EB530C77F.jpeg
 
Well no expert but I'll take a stab; they were Japanese made, Redwing,
found on the web
"These shocks were produced during the 70's in Japan by a sub-brand of Kayaba mainly for flat-track and off-road use. Featuring one spring or two springs with different dampening ratios and they owe their name to the beautiful finned aluminum oil reservoir at the bottom makin' them looking like hammers."
For a while there were quite a few NOS sets being sold, that was 5-10 years ago,
https://www.ebay.com/i/303710960201?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=2&asc=20160908110712&meid=896116a011ff42068ab0a8b24e64f71d&pid=100677&rk=7&rkt=30&mehot=none&sd=184291658691&itm=303710960201&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2386202&algv=DefaultOrganic&brand=Red+Wing Pull out yer money gun!
The "head" is pretty big so there are some issues with fitment on the chain side. I have a set, but so far haven't fought the fight sufficiently to have them mounted on an XS. One of mine has a "non fatal" groove worn in the back from having been on an XS650 (when I bought it/them). It's a cool attention drawing look, perfect for a period cafe racer theme.
Similar to the old finned reservoir Marzocchi shocks.
iu
Thx for the info. Cool looking pieces. They’d even be nice just to hang in the wall to look at.
 
It was made by Wes at Counter Balance cycles. He does very fine work. I had one of his other thin seats previous to this one that kicked up in the back. Ultimately it wasn’t the look I was after, so I sold it and ordered a new one from Wes with the request to build up the foam more for a flat seat. I can get some more detailed pics if you like.
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I see what Gary mentioned about clearance with the chain. Very nice. Thx
 
Harbor Freight, not my usual shopping trip destination, turned up a nice surprise while searching for a taller jack to do some Ford F150 suspension work.
Found this compact rolling scissor screw transmission jack. Not only did it work well for the truck.. Its going to get a modified top plate to become a XS650 jack/stand ! This is will sure help the 78E get its rear suspension and wheels back on one of these wintery days. I think a guy could secure an XS on this and have the ability to roll or turn it a bit too.
View attachment 177894

Machine! That is the cleanest transition from Exhaust Pipe to muffler I've seen. Whats you got going on there?
 
5 twins said...They are welded together. I knew it looked too good! :laugh2:
5 T, how are you liking your bolt baffle mod to your pipes / peashooters, now that you have had time to get some rides on them? ( It's on my list of things to do along with my rear brake check, can't find the time)
 
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Lack of Muffler options.. :cussing:It is really a concern.
Thuban this set of, I was told Triumph but I bet Harley Bubs mufflers were "custom fitted " pretty well actually using Dole Pineapple cans lol. The little ones in the mixer aisle at the liquor store along with some kind of asbestos like gasket sheet. :lmao:
I dont drink any longer so my own home imaginative solutions aren't quite as frequent. But I'd do this again if I ever found Bubs mufflers for sale at the bar again.. Oh ya, I don't go to bars anymore either ..
 
View attachment 178397
Lack of Muffler options.. :cussing:It is really a concern.
Thuban this set of, I was told Triumph but I bet Harley Bubs mufflers were "custom fitted " pretty well actually using Dole Pineapple cans lol. The little ones in the mixer aisle at the liquor store along with some kind of asbestos like gasket sheet. :lmao:
I dont drink any longer so my own home imaginative solutions aren't quite as frequent. But I'd do this again if I ever found Bubs mufflers for sale at the bar again.. Oh ya, I don't go to bars anymore either ..

How do those mufflers sound? Are they much louder than stock? They look great!
 
Machine! That looks good! But I hate your post! Makes me feel like I want to laugh and holler, "Good Job" and cry for ya all at the sale time!
 
How do those mufflers sound? Are they much louder than stock? They look great!
But I hate your post! Makes me feel like I want to laugh and holler, "Good Job" and cry for ya all at the sale time!
Its All very Goood. No worries Thuban
Mailman the Bubs were So cool I didn't even realize what a rare score they were. I re packed them with FMF muffler fiberglass and they were still loud but.. they had a very deep rumbley tone that was right ! Didn't have the tinney plain Chinese sound.
 
Its All very Goood. No worries Thuban
Mailman the Bubs were So cool I didn't even realize what a rare score they were. I re packed them with FMF muffler fiberglass and they were still loud but.. they had a very deep rumbley tone that was right ! Didn't have the tinney plain Chinese sound.

I’ll bet they sound a lot like my old ‘76 Triumph. They were factory silencers, but were more throaty than our Stock Yamaha silencers.
 
I'm quite liking my Peashooters with the "crossed bolts" baffle mod. They sound pretty good, louder than stock of course, but not too loud (like they were the way they came).
 
Thanks 5 T. Paul, that cross pipe balanced and tuned the exhaust. It's supposed to help in a lot of areas especially when the mufflers may have been a little restrictive. Is it needed? I guess Yamaha thought it was.
 
It was made by Wes at Counter Balance cycles. He does very fine work. I had one of his other thin seats previous to this one that kicked up in the back. Ultimately it wasn’t the look I was after, so I sold it and ordered a new one from Wes with the request to build up the foam more for a flat seat. I can get some more detailed pics if you like.
View attachment 178279
View attachment 178280 View attachment 178281

Didn't thank you the other day..............thanks.

I wouldn't mind seeing the other pics
 
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