Recent content by 1980 xs650special

Also, I have a '74 KZ400 that I am starting to strip down, does anyone know of any good online resources for these little bikes?

Thanks peanut! I have done the slide test and it checks out free and clear. Update on the bike: I put on a new coil and non-resistor plugs and kept the resistor caps. The bike is nice and snappy now with no hesitation and pulls real smooth. I haven't gotten a chance to take it for a longer...

Hey guys, I'm back out in the shed a little bit with the nicer weather. As i've started looking into this again and looking into options for new coils and such, i've found something interesting. I still have to confirm it but I'm almost certain I have resistor caps on the bike right now along...

Thanks guys! XSLeo: You can feel free to berate me if this is a completely dumb question and a lack of understanding on my part, but I was under the impression that the coils weren't receiving any voltage until the motor was actually turned over? I'm not really clear on how the TC ignition...

Thanks guys, mrtwowheel- I hadn't thought of the gas cap angle before...when it sits out in hot weather I can hear a whining noise coming from the tank and expanding gases, I always thought that was normal but maybe not? gggGary- I had heard that these non-adjustable needles could be the...

Hey all, It has been a long while since I have posted here, but the long winter months have gotten me thinking again. I have a 1980 XS650 Special, and I have been chasing very intermittent issues with it over the past few years. Up until this point I have always thought it to be fuel related...

Anybody ever used the sync gauges offered thru mikes? Give me any revues ya got

I'm a newby at some of the engine adjustments but can anyone explain in detail how to adjust the valves on a stock '80 xs to the right tolerances?

Hey guys, my xs started doing this last season but i've learned to live with it...now i'm starting to wonder what I can do to fix it. The clutch engages fine and normal from a stop and going into 2nd gear...but going into 3rd, 4th, and 5th gear the clutch does not engage until the end of the...

So I've had my '80 xs for a little over a year now, and am all too familiar with the little oddities and frustrations of owning a vintage bike. So heres my problem... I've had it running a half a dozen times thus far this season, and out for at least one good ride, and it ran great! Then it...

XSLeo: Have you done any work to the carbs to try and rectify such a problem? Any changing of jet sizes? I'm just trying to get as much feedback as possible to see if i'll have to do much monkeying to get these to work. I know alot of bikes are different, but I'm just trying to see if there...

Well its good to hear that you had luck with the stock jets, not sure if mine will be a little different since I am running dual pipes, but we shall have to see! Too bad winter has set in and I'll have to wait to do any real tests...but hopefully I can use this time to redo a few needed parts...

I upped the pilot jet because I was having some trouble getting rid of some popping and choppiness at idle to about 1/4 throttle, someone on here suggested it and it seemed to work out pretty slick! I upped it from the standard 42.5 in my bike to a set of 45's. Took care of the popping and...

Well good to know that i'm on the right track...I wanted to make the bike a little louder but not deafeningly loud without mufflers. Again i'm pretty green to all this, but are the K N filters a pod style? I have already increased the pilot jet to improve idling. Can I expect some messing...

Alright, so i'm pretty new to the xs world. Just bought my first this past summer, and focused on just getting it to be a reasonably reliable ride on a virtually non-existent budget. Now I am starting to conceptualize some mods and am looking for some new mufflers. I like the look of the...