Miss November XS2 tribute

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Look what exhaust info I've stumbled on this shown 2005 Triumph head pipe system has a stock crossover pipe up under the front of the engine. Looks pretty reasonable to duplicate ?
I do believe crossover pipes do help even out the Running.
If not, even out just the Sound alone.
4 cylinder Yamahas of my past have run very strong with that 4 cyl head pipe junction all feeding twin mufflers.
-R
 
However, a purchase was made on Tuesday. And in remarkable time, especially in the present times, the new reverse cone 'universal' silencers arrived today.

Here's how the r/h looks:

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That's not finally fitted - just put it there to measure for mounting brackets.

Took an afternoon messing about to drill, saw and file a bracket that let the silencer fit where I want it. I guess 'universal' means something like doesn't actually fit anything. But can be made to with a little bit of work.

Tomorrow's job is to fit it's partner but that will take hardly anytime.

Quite pleased with the look. In fact, punts Miss November a little bit closer to that XS2 look?

Soon be able to fire the engine up and see how they sound. When the mudguard comes back, will be able to go for a ride and see how they perform. Only time will tell how well made they are.
 
Do they have 1.5" inlets? If so, that's very good and maybe they aren't the EMGO brand after all. Do you have enough clearance under the brake pedal? Looks tight. Remember, the pedal is going to move down when you step on it.
 
However, a purchase was made on Tuesday. And in remarkable time, especially in the present times, the new reverse cone 'universal' silencers arrived today.

Here's how the r/h looks:

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That's not finally fitted - just put it there to measure for mounting brackets.

Took an afternoon messing about to drill, saw and file a bracket that let the silencer fit where I want it. I guess 'universal' means something like doesn't actually fit anything. But can be made to with a little bit of work.

Tomorrow's job is to fit it's partner but that will take hardly anytime.

Quite pleased with the look. In fact, punts Miss November a little bit closer to that XS2 look?

Soon be able to fire the engine up and see how they sound. When the mudguard comes back, will be able to go for a ride and see how they perform. Only time will tell how well made they are.

Those are very nice looking Raymond! Fingers crossed!
 
Do they have 1.5" inlets? If so, that's very good and maybe they aren't the EMGO brand after all. Do you have enough clearance under the brake pedal? Looks tight. Remember, the pedal is going to move down when you step on it.

5T, the inlet is 40 mm - just over 1½. They supplied two inserts to reduce that down for narrower headers. But seems close enough with the XS headers, should tighten up with the clamp provided.

Well spotted on the brake pedal - the pipe will need to sit a bit lower. Another thing to think about is how the centre stand is going to rest - there is no bracket to protect the silencer.
 
All I've ever needed to do to pad the centerstand tang against a new muffler on these is add a short length of heater hose to the tang. Simple, cheap, and effective .....

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On my '83, I had to get a little "creative" and slot the rubber to clear the factory brace on the tang .....

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Thanks, 5T.

I got creative and used a hose clip with a length of old shoelace wrapped around it - tightening the clip secures the lace. When that gives up, I'll borrow your heater hose idea.

Both silencers now fitted. The biggest worry is the threaded stud where I've secured the l/h bracket. It wasn't used before but must be there to hold an exhaust bracket? Forward of the pillion footrest and just behind the frame. PO had left a 19 mm nylock nut on there. Pulled the nut off and found the thread is, uhm. Well, it's just about holding for now but if it gives up my choices are getting the thread fixed, which probably means removing and replacing the stud, not a job I'm equipped for. Or making a longer bracket running to the pillion footrest - less satisfactory but easier.

Here's how the saffron dream looks with her new pipework:


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Kicked the engine over to see what it sounds like. Well, it's definitely quieter than the T120 mufflers that were there. There an unfamiliar metallic note - as far as I can tell, comes from inside one of the silencers. Need to take the bike for a run to get a better idea.

And yes, that really is a beautiful late afternoon in Sunny Scotland . . .
 
Yes, that more forward threaded stud is where the original Special exhaust hung from, but it was quite short. Most aftermarket mufflers are longer and it's easier to hang them off the rearmost stud. That can present an issue with mounting the passenger peg though. The Special passenger peg is a stand-alone part. Earlier models incorporated the passenger peg into the muffler hanger bracket so that's what I switch to. I adapted XS500 brackets for use on both my '78 and '83 .....

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Yesterday, went to see the painter to enquire when the rear mudguard will be ready. Had his answer ready, just like the classic shoe repairer, end of next week.

To be fair, he's a nice lad and I know he is busy with a lot of car stuff right now.

Says he's done the black and orange, just the red and yellow stripes to do and then lacquer it up.
 
Just back from first run in two months:

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This has been a test run for the new silencers and the new shocks.

Not ideal to change things and then not go out for a long time. And it was just a very quick trip up the road - needed to get home to see a man about a fence, so we just went as far as the next village, about six or seven miles loop.

First impressions. The new shocks? Again the caveat that I haven't ridden the bike for a while and we didn't go far, but they feel more compliant and better controlled. They were just there and didn't intrude in any rude way. I suspect that as I put a few more miles on them and get used to the feel, I will add some more spring pre-load. But they felt fine.

The new silencers? Again, pleased with them. Definitely not as loud as the ones that were there before. But enough sound to let you know you're on a motorbike. Running the bike in the yard, they sounded a bit metallic, tinny even. But on the road with a bit of throttle they were mellow. Reminded me of my old Triumph which had a lovely mellow sound. Some sceptics and Norton owners say the sound is the best thing about a Triumph 650. So that is a compliment.

Can't tell you how good it felt to be out on the dear old thing again. Looking forward to going and finding some barns to photograph . . .
 
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Today, went to visit a family member in Lanark. About 120 miles round trip, so more time to think about the bike and the recent changes.

Thoughts on the bike? Well, it's obviously not a new bike. Not everything works as well or as effortlessly as on a new bike. There's a little bit of slop in the transmission - not enough to be a problem, but it means that when you're in traffic and need to change gear, to keep it smooth you need to pay a little bit of attention to keeping the revs matched. Easier if you can slow down a little bit, hold back from the car in front and try to trickle along minimizing changes, practicing careful throttle control. Easier still if you can avoid town traffic . . .

And the front brake squeals. The brake is a lot better since I fitted a new master cylinder but although there's plenty of stopping power, I would prefer more feel. Will see if I can reduce the reach at the lever, might make it easier to feel how hard I'm squeezing the lever. Also thinking about investing in EBC drilled disc and pads.

But, it feels great to be out on a country road bowling along on an old 650 twin. The new suspension, as said above, more compliant and better controlled. Wasn't pushing the speed but in a few places we were actually hustling through bendy stretches. Not scratching or going for it. For heavens sake! But hustling, just keeping a bit of momentum through the bends.

The way that always makes you grin.

And we powered up a few hills/away from roundabouts. Okay, Yamaha claimed something like 52 HP when these were new and that was probably an optimistic claim for a well-sorted factory bike. Next to nothing compared with modern sports bikes. But the engine has a nice power delivery - torque from low revs and builds pleasantly. And meanwhile you listen out for that mellow exhaust note.

All in all, certainly good enough to feel like a useful motorbike. The rewards are there for an appreciative rider.
 
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