Twin Lewi’s new 73 TX650

Good day,
I am a new member here on the XS650 website. Signed up a few months ago prior to purchasing my 1973 TX650. I always have appreciated the XS650 motors/ bikes.
Love to wrench and love to ride. This is my first street bike. Grew up on the dirt since I was a little one racing vintage bikes with my pops. I wanted create a thread to share this bike with everyone and ask for advice with maintenance. I saved the bike from rotting away in my sisters back yard. It sat in the weather un covered in Denver Colorado. My home town. Just moved to Australia however with my Ausi gf! Just imported the Straya! I joined a club called XS650 Club of Australia! Since I have owned it I rebuilt the forks. Polished the lowers. Cleaned the carbs because the bike would not run with the choke off. Pilot jet was terrible. I have centered the rear wheel and adjusted chain tension. Polished the mufflers. Checked all loose bolts. Found a broken exhaust clamp. Re mounted the indicators because this bike had them removed. It was on the path to cafè racer look because of my brother in law. Cool looks I guess but not practical. I am going for classic and original! Never have worked on carbies or rebuilt a fork before but al went well and came out great.
Noticed plugs are a bit off. Left plug is running rich. And the other is lean. Yes I took the carbies off and cleaned them but I have no idea how to set them or make them work correctly. Might be needle position. Or maybe just air mixture. I have a ton to learn there. Excited to be apart of the forum.
Thanks for your time,
Lewi

BEAUTIFUL TX . Nice of you to join !

Hey Lewi!
Welcome to the mad house! Nice looking bike you’ve got there, it looks like you’re off to a good start. My 77 bike came from Denver too.

Welcome Lewi - from Canada’s sunny southern coast in Windsor Ontario!

Your ‘73 TX650 is very pretty indeed!

Pete

Welcome aboard Twinlewi. Wow moved to Australia, you're an adventurous fellow!
Great bike and wise choices.
Carb synch is a bit of a learned art. Being from Denver, check the jet sizes, they may lean if it was tuned to run correctly at 5,000 feet.
Was the rear seam of that gas tank repaired?

Hi Lewi! Welcome to the party! That's a nice TX you've got there! Brilliant move saving it from oblivion. It sounds like you got to it just in time. There's quite a few Aussies on this forum, and your membership to Xs650 Club should ensure you'll run into them somewhere along the line. Stay tuned, and drop us a line from time to time with your adventures. Good luck, and best wishes.

Welcome to the site and welcome to Australian TwinLewi. Shame it was Melbourne you picked as it has the worst weather in Australia!! Cold wet. Very nice bike and keep original is the best move. Geoff's XS is a good place for some parts fast shipping at a good price for parts but stay the hell away from the Chinese crap if you can. Keep us posted and more pictures!!

Ozboy said:

Shame it was Melbourne you picked as it has the worst weather in Australia!! Cold wet.

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HEY - what is wrong with cold wet weather???
I represent that remark!

....oh....yeah...I forgot....it really does suck doesn't it.

Sh!t man - you spoiled my day.

Cold weather in Melbourne is equivalent to a heat wave in many parts of Canada.

Welcome twinlewy! Your gonna like it here,very nice bike!

Machine said:

View attachment 150024
BEAUTIFUL TX . Nice of you to join !

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Love that old logo! Reminds me of my first two smoker! 1978 YZ80

Mailman said:

Hey Lewi!
Welcome to the mad house! Nice looking bike you’ve got there, it looks like you’re off to a good start. My 77 bike came from Denver too.

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It is a beauty Mailman Bob! Happy to have it!

gggGary said:

Welcome aboard Twinlewi. Wow moved to Australia, you're an adventurous fellow!
Great bike and wise choices.
Carb synch is a bit of a learned art. Being from Denver, check the jet sizes, they may lean if it was tuned to run correctly at 5,000 feet.
Was the rear seam of that gas tank repaired?

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Thanks brother. That seam on the gas tank I am unsure of. Are you talking about towards the seat?

59Tebo said:

Hi Lewi! Welcome to the party! That's a nice TX you've got there! Brilliant move saving it from oblivion. It sounds like you got to it just in time. There's quite a few Aussies on this forum, and your membership to Xs650 Club should ensure you'll run into them somewhere along the line. Stay tuned, and drop us a line from time to time with your adventures. Good luck, and best wishes.

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Hah it was a brilliant move saving it hey! Yup unfortunately the sis had no interest in riding it, fixing it up properly. I figured it would be a good idea to SHNAGIUMMMSSSS!!!
Can’t wait to meet fellow club riders, learn some things and enjoy the bike. All the best sir!!

Ozboy said:

Welcome to the site and welcome to Australian TwinLewi. Shame it was Melbourne you picked as it has the worst weather in Australia!! Cold wet. Very nice bike and keep original is the best move. Geoff's XS is a good place for some parts fast shipping at a good price for parts but stay the hell away from the Chinese crap if you can. Keep us posted and more pictures!!

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Oh I intend on staying away from the china cookie cut shiat. Hope I can get some good parts and a good looking bike. Thanks to all!

Wulfbyte said:

Welcome twinlewy! Your gonna like it here,very nice bike!

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Thanks brotha!
Thanks for the nice words!

Thanks to everyone for the nice words and welcoming! So excited to get into this bike and the forum.
Now to talk bikes! I have been in my garage every night after work. Doing this and that.
Need to dial in the carbies. One spark plug is running rich and one is lean. (Carbs were taken off and cleaned)Left needle had a dark tip where as the right was silver all the way through. I made the mistake and didn’t take note to the size of jets. Bike runs pretty well. No back fire. Idle is good. Could be better just because after a short ride it revs hi before I shut her down. Need to study more.
Is there something I can do to start from scratch? Stock jets, idle screws all the way in and so forth?

TwinLewi said:

Is there something I can do to start from scratch?

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Oh yes, for certain! Go straight away to the "Tech" section, and start reading, and re-reading everything, whether it pertains to your immediate problems, or not. You'll find answers to questions you didn't even know to ask. Before too long, you'll know as much, or more, about your bike, than the people that designed it. There's that much information here! Just don't get overwhelmed. It takes time to absorb all of it. Cheers!

59Tebo said:

Oh yes, for certain! Go straight away to the "Tech" section, and start reading, and re-reading everything, whether it pertains to your immediate problems, or not. You'll find answers to questions you didn't even know to ask. Before too long, you'll know as much, or more, about your bike, than the people that designed it. There's that much information here! Just don't get overwhelmed. It takes time to absorb all of it. Cheers!

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I can agree to that. So much info and that is part of the experience! Chers my guy!!

Having a hard time finding a lighting diagram for my the TX. Went to tech section and found some diagrams but are for later year xs650's. Just put the stock indicators on. Bike did get a new wire harness installed from the shop my sister took it to. Have no idea what diagram he used. Can't call them because of the time zone difference. I also have yet to purchase a stock manual.
I have some help from my mate who wrenches at a moto shop. Said this is nothing scary and looks like the bike has been wired well. We just need to know what colours do what! Any links or direction would be much appreciated.