Review of some parts purchases from MikesXS

So far I am OK with the Mikes stuff I have . I get mine from 650 Direct ( same stuff just in Canada ) . You have to take some of the stuff with a grain of salt , these are knockoffs that are made in Tiwan afterall. Actually , I am surprized the stuff is as good as it is . I love my 2 into 1 exhaust and the shorty muffler. I am building my bike around that . I have no real complaints about quality, price or service. And I usually complain alot .
 
As long as you asked...

I have spent quite a lot at MikesXS thru my rebuild. Some of the parts have been completely acceptable and other parts are freakishly cheap. The most memorable 'cheap' part were the chrome drive chain rear axle adjusters. They dumped out of their baggie ...along came enough brown powder to make hot cocoa..and I was stunned in disbelief that they came pre-rusted in the bag. Add to that the threads are cut about 12 degrees off line which puts the tension bolt at an unacceptable angle.

I am using them for now and will take them off when my original stock adjusters return from being rechromed.

All-in-all you get enough good parts to keep ordering from MikesXS. I do need to place another order for parts I cannot find anywhere else.

MikesXs...if you are listening...if you can do anything about it...kick it up a notch and just describe the honest quality of each part. We will still buy them if we need them.
 
I haven't had to do much to my '81 Special II, since thankfully it has been garaged it's whole life and hardly ridden (9500 miles on the odometer when I rode her home) but a lot of the rubber parts have corroded anyway. The PO rebuilt the front brake caliper with a MikesXS kit about a year ago and put 500 miles on it, and then I put another 100 miles behind me before it started leaking like a sieve. Turns out the O-ring was all messed up, like it was badly cast or something (I have no idea how they are made, but the rubber was all wavy.) I ordered another kit from Mikes and the part looked better, and now the brake is well sealed... so we'll see how long it lasts. Might have been something the PO did, but since the thread was here I thought I'd mention it. Ride safe.
 
I purchased Mikes Commando system for 74-79 standards. The order arrived damaged with one of the mufflers needed replacement. MikesXS replaced the one muffler after a couple of weeks. For the last several weeks I have been attempting to make a bracket to install the mufflers on my 77 but I could not figure out why they did not appear to be identical until I compared them side by side. One muffler has the welded mounting plate 1 1/2 inches different than the other.
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Coils, points, petcocks, cables, air filters, gen. brushes, euro bars, halogen light conversion, chain and sprockets for my 71 all good, and received in a few days. No complaints here. :thumbsup:
 
im really frustrated with mikesxs
some parts have been fine while others are piece of crap
and they always put the blame on the consumer

there needs to be some accountability
im actually going to be reporting them to BBB as my cam was destroyed by the elephant feet valve adjuster screw they sell which they knew to be problematic

whatever you do, do not buy the elephant foot valve adjuster screws from mikes xs
they will fall apart and destroy your motor

check out my two posts on it:
http://www.xs650.com/forum/showpost.php?p=252247&postcount=424

continued here:
http://www.xs650.com/forum/showpost.php?p=252815&postcount=425
 
38mm carb boots: Ok
530 X-ring chain & two sprockets: OK.
Throttle sleeve & cables: OK.
Stainless & OEM brake hoses, OK so far.

All from XS650 Direct (Canada)

For some odd reason stuff seems cheaper on the Canadian site.
I added an oil cooler - paper filter adapter & sump screen this winter and have yet to fire the ol' beast up.

All in all, I am satisfied.
 
Folks
Has anyone had fitment problems (alignment) with Mikes front RH 73-84 caliper
On my 80SG (cast wheel -offset disc) the caliper cannot be fitted when the wheel spacers /speedo drive is fitted - ie; bias to the right- I end up with about a 4mm gap between the leg and the spacer- have sanded off the small raised lugs at the mounts but this is insufficient- but dont really want to attack the fork mount points ;any help appreciated please
 
rayth said:
Folks
Has anyone had fitment problems (alignment) with Mikes front RH 73-84 caliper
On my 80SG (cast wheel -offset disc) the caliper cannot be fitted when the wheel spacers /speedo drive is fitted - ie; bias to the right- I end up with about a 4mm gap between the leg and the spacer- have sanded off the small raised lugs at the mounts but this is insufficient- but dont really want to attack the fork mount points ;any help appreciated please
Click to expand...

No such thing as a 73-84 caliper for original XS650,s

73-76, Calipers for 34mm fork bikes and 77-83, Calipers for 35mm fork bikes

Photos of your situation and parts would help for cross-referencing


A link to a thread about the substandard coating on Mikes Black Rims
 
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I've spent more money than I care to discuss on parts from Mike's. The only real issue I've had was on a set of clubman bars. I got them and the quality was horrendous, they had the worst welds I've ever seen, they were speckled with weld 2 inches in every direction from both welds and the chrome looked like shit. I contacted Mike's and they said they would take them back but I had to pay return shipping as well as a 20% restocking fee. I ended up trading them for a set of drag bars instead.
 
I bought a pma, and the casting was poor. I had to re-drill the mounting holes to fit the bike, and shim one side so it would lay flat. also, the regulator did not come with the bolts to mount it on the mounting plate they supplied. Oh the mounting plate did not fit where the suggested spot was. I had to grind down the mounting plate to make it work.
 
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Clarko said:
I've spent more money than I care to discuss on parts from Mike's. The only real issue I've had was on a set of clubman bars. I got them and the quality was horrendous, they had the worst welds I've ever seen, they were speckled with weld 2 inches in every direction from both welds and the chrome looked like shit. I contacted Mike's and they said they would take them back but I had to pay return shipping as well as a 20% restocking fee. I ended up trading them for a set of drag bars instead.
Click to expand...

It seems to me since the bars were not as advertised quality and they agreed to take them back, I believe they should pay for return shipping with NO restock fees. I work for Tucker Rocky as a rep and when something like this happens you gotta take care of your customer and then let the vender know so it can be corrected. Customer service should be on the top of there list.

Bryan
 
Discounted valve seat cutter toolset - carbide cutters are sharp, haven't checked concentricity, diamond 45 deg too coarse for my liking.
Guide install tool - Ok
Camchain tool #112 - chips on threads, cleaned up fine, rest Ok
Camchain BF05t-102 - looks Ok
#115 stem seals - Ok
#675 ex pipe gaskets - Ok
#0006 $32 front camchain guide - been warned about threads and separating rubber, gotta do something here...
Shipping - 10 days, free
 
Personaly I have been treated fairly by old Mike's, but I have read horror stories here on the site. I try to use MMM when I can. Mike's would go broke if they had to pay return postage and no stocking fees.
 
Yes, the new owners have certainly "improved" things as they promised. About the only change I've seen was an immediate across the board price increase on practically everything they sell. The only thing improving here is the thickness of their wallets, lol. Most of the products have remained the same, they just cost more.
 
I must say that I did dirt xs650direct for not standing behind their product but as soon as I did, they refunded my money for the 16 inch spokes that didn't work for me. It's not the first time they refunded my money. You just got to let them know you drop a lot of money there and I think they get it. I 'm satisfied with them.
 
How about mikes seals and gasket kits?

Planning a fall rebuild, seals, gaskets, lap the valves and new rings or pistons and rings..depending. Would like a rephase , but dont think I'll be able too.......baring a miracle.
 
I've had decent luck with their gaskets and seals. The seal kits say they are OEM. I just put in a new final drive seal and shift shaft seal around New Years. The old ones were super leaky. The new ones seem to be working well so far.
 

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