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Hi everyone, I don't understand why, but when my XS is in traffic and getting a bit hotter than she would be on the open road I have difficulty selecting neutral, especially at standstill. It is always easier to downshift to neutral while she is rolling but pulling up to the lights once she is...

Hey everybody, I have spent a bit of time giving my XS some attention as far as the electrics go. So far I have replaced the carbon brushes, cleaned the slip rings on the stator (I think that's what it's called). I have replaced the regulator and ignition coil. Re-built the ignition leads and...

Greetings everybody, I ride an '82 Heritage Special. Two days ago I upgraded the stock ignition coil to a Mike's XS ultimate coil . New leads and fresh 5k Ohm resistor caps . Currently running NGK BP7ES plugs and the bike runs great. I have also trialed a pair of NGK BPR7EIX irridium plugs...

Hello everybody, I've just rebuilt both my carbs and cannot find a specific reference to the numbers of turns out for the mixture screws of my BS34's. The Clymers manual has specifics for type 'A' 'B' 'C' 'D' and 'E' engine variants but it isn't clear which one the SJ from 1982 is, am I correct...

Well, the missing/broken odometer problem I had with my '82 heritage special is finally solved. I haven't been able to source a replacement and I was pretty sure that the metal end of the shaft inside the gauge housing was threaded. The pictures tell the rest. Note use of gaffa tape for...

OK, I am a newb, I have owned my XS (82' Yank delivered Heritage special) for almost 8 months, aside from some carb issues which the vendor sorted (both carbs ultrasonically cleaned, diaphragms checked, needles inspected). The left cylinder has always run a bit richer than the right. The vendor...

Hey everybody, I finally grew a pair and went out and bought the can of paint stripper, realising that no amount of polishing was going to budge 30 year old clear coat aged on to the engine's side covers. Worked a treat, came off like before my eyes. So far I have spent an hour or so working...

Hello good people, I haven't been on the site for some time, work is busy and winter (Australian) has set in. It has given me two ideas, 1) PMS really means 'parked motorcycle syndrome' and 2) that although I like the Japanese take on the Harley-fied American dream (82 XS Heritage...

Hey everybody, Been a while since I logged in to the site. Just wondering what the general opinion is on the merits of bronze bushes to replace those plastic bushes on the swingarm versus a bearing change over kit. Bearings are the more expensive option, just wondering if anyone has had any...

Good Morning All, I'm thinking about changing my XS650's plugs from NGK BP7ES's to the iridium versions. I was pleased with the result (although minor) when I did this to my SRX250. Question: I've read just as much as I can find on the forums here, just checking, my bike currently uses the...

Good morning gentlemen, I've been trying to set up my mirrors on an original '82 heritage special. Around the base of the stainless steel body of each mirror there is a serious split which prevents me from locking these mirrors into position. Look like a common prob, I have already backed off...

The two shots I've put up are the before and after shots taken while I had a closer look at an oil leak that has become more pronounced during hot (38 degrees C) weather. I don't have a manual yet, so I'm asking two probably stupid questions. 1) Is this a cam end seal? 2) Is this a hard part to...

Hate it or love it, Aussie ingenuity and a few cable ties have done it again. Before the hate flows, please remember that this is a temporary fix until I can afford new boots for these gauges on my bike.

OK, I know this thing isn't called a trip counter knob but the one on the side of my speedometer on my '82 XS650 was missing when I purchased the bike. Are these things hard to come by? Without a fuel gauge, the trip counter would be nice for longer trips on backroads. Anyone got one on a speedo...

Good morning everybody, went for a ride last night out to my brother's place. When I got there we set about swapping out a vacum line from the left hand intake boot. PO had bodgied it up and used what we thought was two pieces of vac line joined by what we thought was some sort of 'joiner'. It...

Good morning all, Had a weird engine/carby event happen yesterday, warmed the bike up for a few minutes (3 or so) choke out. Once she was purring smoothly I took off on a short errand. Got to my destination (about 2 k's down the road) and parked her at the shops. When I returned to ride her...

Hey everybody, I've only been riding for two years (on the road) and so far I've avoided putting the bike down. I know it'll happen, just a matter of time and probability. I'd be interested in hearing anyone's 'first crash' stories, just to learn from other's mistakes, pick up a few things to...

Just a quick question, I've read another thread where pamcopete demonstrated a home built air filter made from one half of a briggs and stratton filter. 1) Has anyone else tried this? Do they work well? Same thread mentioned that K&N filters do not work well on the 34M carbs, has anyone had...

Hey all who read this, I'm starting to notice this slapping sound coming from the right front area. As I accelerate the slapping noise gets more pronounced, it fades a bit as the bike gets to running temp. Now I know that I have set myself up for a few jokes about the mysterious 'slapping' sound...

Alrighty then, finally got delivery of my '82 heritage special. She's awesome (pictures to follow soon). However, the battery is acting like it's not far from death. What would the experienced voices in this forum suggest as a replacement? Cheers.