What have you done to your XS today?

Amazingly quiet Robin. The timing chain had been clanking a bit - but I adjusted that out on Saturday and the noise was gone on the 25 km CVMG Sunday breakfast run.

I’d guess that the elephant’s feet adjusters are holding a good stable oil film and cushioning the impacts which permits the slightly larger clearances. My OEM shop manual for the C and D models says 0.005” and .0.010” and she is a tad bigger than that right now - but quiet.
 
I have got my 78 XS650 up and running! I kinda modified the stock intake carb holders top fit the Keihin 33s. And i installed the Pamco ignition and PMA charging with a custom exhaust all at the same time.... oops..... Yes I got it running snd all of a sudden now i don't have headlight power and I think the timing is off on the high RPMs. Whew... This has been an intense week of working on my bike.
 
6AF574F2-BE19-447C-B552-E5EA065AE680.jpeg
This morning I compromised the integrity of my helmet. I just finished a good workout at the gym and was headed to work. I was sitting in traffic at a red light at a 4 way intersection, just chillin. Until I noticed the spider that was crawling around centimeters from my face between the crack in my bubbleshield and helmet. It was probably the size of a dime, but believe me, they look MUCH bigger when they’re literally IN YOUR FUCKING FACE. I sat there in panic for an excruciating 10-15 seconds hoping it wouldnt crawl ONTO my face, and as soon as the light turned green I pulled into a parking lot and quickly unfastened my helmet, and proceeded to throw it on the ground (AKA Pavement) like a baby. Thanks a lot spiders, you fucking eight legged devils. That was a great looking 150.00 helmet, and a limited edition that I can’t get now.
 
20180921_143432.jpg

Mocking up the Wheel Chocks for the trip to VYR.
The Standard in the foreground is a stand in for Max Petes Lucille, just in case Pete wants a ride on the return.
The plywood will fit into the van and carry the bikes staggered. Tie downs will be anchored to the van and to the plywood.
 
Added 1.5 oz of oil to my front forks and man does it ever ride good now! Front end dive upon breaking has been reduced and the ride is really smooth and steady. Gotta love this clinic for suggestions. Thanks guys for all!
 
Spent 3 hours with Nitromors (paint stripper) and a scouring pad to remove all the paint form my forks on a whim, then spent an hour on the polishing mop.
I now need to work out how flat back the mirror shine because my forks are now TOO SHINY!!
 
Last edited:
highboy_coupe said:
I now need to work out how flat back the mirror shine because my forks are now TOO SHINY!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I hate it when that happens.....:rolleyes:

Meanwhile, back at the ranch: I had a nice two day trip on the ST1300 with my riding buddies down to Cornwall Ontario and then north to the ski resort of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. It was scenic and very hot (35C+ = 90 deg. F) on the first day followed by temps fully 40 deg. F cooler the next day. Oh well, if I didn’t have a sense of humour about the weather, I shouldn’t have been born a Canadian. After that trip, I had a little consulting gig in Niagara Falls and then rode home on Sat. afternoon having logged about 2200 km (around 1350 miles) between Tuesday and Saturday. Frankly, that is a pretty easy pace on the big ST with her on-board restroom, galley and lounge area...;).

On Sunday, I rode the much less luxuriously appointed Lucille :yikes: to London, ON to have a nice shiny new o-ring drive chain installed. I had a nice visit with Lakeview on the way and also with RobinC who gave me another piece of truck mud flap material for one of his patented anti-crack XS650-proof license plate solutions (see photos below). I even got to take daughter #3 out for dinner and then stayed with friends prior to arriving at the WolfeWorx shop this morning at 9:00 AM to have the new chain riveted on. Following that, I nipped the 185 km (115 miles) home to Windsor and then spent the rest of the afternoon in the office trying to clear the decks prior to the big ride to North Carolina. I gotta getta life...
95B63624-0D40-4C6E-B0F8-A6B7B72FF889.jpeg
D0D8C25B-FD65-4956-9541-AD695009017E.jpeg

The quick trip to get a new chain was prompted by my one bad experience with my first XS650 (a nice 1975 B-model) back around 1979 when I had a master link fail at highway speed. I still have no idea why it happened - I had been riding all that day (in fact for several days on a trip) and I had a girl on the back when suddenly, I heard a loud “bang” and the engine revved out. The chain puked out onto the road behind the bike but it cracked the LH engine case cover on its way out. Fortunately, there isn’t any oil in there and I was able to have the damage repaired by a talented welder, but I have always been leary of clip-style master links since then.

Anyhow - problem solved and Lucille is now noticeably smoother I’d say. I’m up to around 800 km (around 520 miles) since the rebuild and she is running sweet as pie now - all ready for the VYR event in NC.

Just two more sleeps....

Cheers,

Pete
 
Last edited:
Lucille is sure running sweet and looking good Pete. You're all set for your Great Adventure with Lakeview.

I'm somewhat confused though. Wasn't there another bad experience with that bike? Something about alternator brushes, rain, a girl and a barn?

Same girl?
 
They all seem to crack in the upper left hand corner (in my experience).

....and yes Robin - same girl and yes, there was the brushes/barn thingy....(actually, that happened twice).
....but that one involving the barn ended more happily.;)
 
Last edited:
Superjet said:
Is the rubber on the plate simply to act as an isolator of the cool vibes from these bikes? I had a plate crack on me before.
Click to expand...
Yup

MaxPete said:
They all seem to crack in the upper left hand corner (in my experience).
Click to expand...
Yup. That's been your experience as well Pete? Ain't harmonics an interesting thang?

IMG_20171113_125450.jpg


MaxPete said:
....and yes Robin - same girl and yes, there was the brushes/barn thingy....(actually, that happened twice).
....but that one involving the barn ended more happily.;)
Click to expand...

Man, twice? What'd ya do put the old brushes back in? You rascal you. No wonder you gave your daughters suitors such a hard time. ;)
 

Similar threads

W
She runs! What’s next?
Replies
14
Views
343
Wrenchmorethanride
W
Mailman
The complexity of modern valve trains and maintenance costs
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
Paleomechanic
Paleomechanic
STARCROSSEDMOTO
77-81 XS650 "JADE" Tribute Build
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
JOHNDADDY
JOHNDADDY
Bountiful
Thanks for the warm welcome!
Replies
12
Views
2K
Grumpydog
Grumpydog
GLJ
XS2 Survivor resurection.
5 6 7
Replies
120
Views
11K
GLJ
GLJ
Back
Top