79 Special II RestoCustom "Doomy"

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Update. This set is completely stock jetted. It will be the back up set. So Nice !
:cool:
The other set is to be jetted with my enlarged/cleaned main & pilot jets with Uni Pod filters.
It's going to be real fun !
-R
 

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Snook in a little garage time today with a new portable light, about time right. Anyway, been too cold to paint front end gauge mount plate, handlebar mount washers, etc along with rear wheel stuff. Been too cold to lever on a rear tire. Too cold and dark to play much. Feels like going backwards but actually behind the scene Im still moving forward.
Gauges were cleaned up, lights checked, different nice chrome gauge buckets. Front end components situated, swingarm back on finally (Nice!) and rear shocks needing very slight oversize eye grinding to clear the swingarm weld bead in the mount.
Wanted to show off the shocks at least, next time
:rolleyes:
-R
 

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Yes, Triumph shocks fit with Yamaha XS bottom bushings squeezed right in there. Top mounts required very thin Teflon impregnated Nylon. The over size bottom eye just barely interfered with a swingarm weld bead so the the bolt wouldnt quite screw in...
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The 2017 Triumph Speed Twin shocks are approx 13-3/8 in length eye center to eye center. The bushing mods I posted awhile back in this thread-
" Xs650 standard replacement shocks with OEM triumph Norton? "
 
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Huge font above lol :rolleyes: idk what happened ?
Anyway, the shocks were found and modified for my 78 Standard but this fine 79 Cafe just happened :whistle: so we'll see how the length works out.. The Special II frame configuration looks like it will be all great but they are still not quite proven.
Bouncing on a Triumph Speed Twin, the shocks feel great.
-RT
 
Kinda motorcycle tool related here. As I was out downtown walking and shopping this weekend in vintage stores with my gal, I found myself this little oil can. I drip oil in places such as throttle shaft bushings, cable ends, etc etc. So I bought it without my glasses on. Took a closer look at home to find
"Feb 18, 1896" on the bottom
:yikes:
The craftsmanship and actual finger pumping function along with the in cap cleaning needle just made my day. It will be in my top box mid drawer along with other prizes.
 

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Been doing tedious parts sorting Indoors. Stripping off the Army green paint off of many items and let me tell ya that paint was tough. Under the paint on the headlight ears I found power sanding evidence which leaves two options. Re Paint them the next tank color, (undetermined green) or source a pair of nice chrome ones? Anyway, I kinda like this Rustoleum paint color for many small parts which required painting before assembly of both the front end and rear wheel. Plugging along..
Saturday looks like a open day for XS fun
:D
 

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If you're going to replace the ears, I suggest ones from a Standard. They provide more room for cable routing because of the lower attachment point of the "ear" to the tube. Not that it matters much in your case, the way you propped your bars upright waving in the breeze like that, lol.
 
:D I'll rotate em down just a smidge. I've also discovered the "Standard" handle bar mounts actually sit lower than "Special" bar mounts too by maybe 1/4".
I'll use my standard mounts on it.Hang in there with it. The master cylinder and everything else is all apparently going to be nicely compatable. The "Special" long clutch cable routes a loop nice.
I just can't quite do a true cafe clip on low bar myself but I'll get em lower than Euro bars... maybe
-R
 
Long shocks will lift the Special frame geometry rear a bit. Front forks to be raised just about 1/4 or 3/8" in the triple clamps. This will be the sportiest XS650 I've rode yet. Intend to "go big" on rear tire diameter and maybe will just start out with the tall Shinko too. Taller than the Dunlop..
:cool:
 

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Rainy Saturday XS garage time brings good progress on the front end assembly and a new idea for the rear end too. Yesterday I did thankfully acquire a set of fenders and chrome headlight ears locally up along the Sandy River in billy icons stash :thumbsup:
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I intend to take full advantage of that post 80 rear fenders discreet hole pattern for a small sporty tail light and even more fun, turn signal mounts right there in the old fender side mount holes. Now back to the front end.
These gauges look real good now with all the cleaning, paint stripping, paint, and very careful rubber mount hardware improvements. Zoom in-
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Also, I recently saw the approx .3" difference in handlebar bottom mount height between a 78 Standard and a 79 Special.. I just had to dig into my 78 Standard and make the switch. The 79 got the low pair, the 78 got the high pair ;)
I decided to bleed the 79 master cylinder before pulling all the old lines and caliper and again that was a treat. The overall condition of the master cyl and caliper is awesome !
Spent plenty of time tweaking all the components on the handlebars. Bar End mirrors included. It feels real firm and aggressive! A forward and lower position but still quite comfortable is the plan.
This 79 Cafe is really feeling fun to experiment on and it will definately get my set of dual 5mm SR500 brake rotors and caliper set. That master cylinder is sure up to it.
Still trying to get the rear end situated too but thats all I have today.
Enjoy, RT
 

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As for the new to me ears. They need just a little careful bending at the turn signal mount. Although the height and fitment into the vertical rubber end bits is good. Even with the tapered steering stem bearings having their "final torque"
The ears seem to want to hold a narrower in width headlight?
:umm: this was unexpected. Surely the later Specials did not have narrower headlight mounts than a 79?. idk but I'll fix em up somehow.
-R
 
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