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My two cents on everything in this thread... I have always heard that the Japanese adopted hardened valve seats early, and if there were a problem with 650's, it would be common knowledge on here - skip the lead additive. 8.4:1 doesn't need high octane gas. Unless you've bumped up your...

Step one: Pitch those in the trash Step two: Order VW style off Ebay. Sorry, being a bit of a smart-ass, but I have heard bad things: http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18000&highlight=elephant+foot Edit: You will have to grind some clearance for the V-dub style.

Is that an option? I'll take cheerleaders over crabs or gerbils! Do you have a bike without carbs, or some not worth saving, or are you just trying to figure out what you have? There are some common non stock swaps as well. The VM series Mikunis for example, and Lectrons are gaining...

Nice, thanks for the review. I wonder how the A123 buyout (for any who don't know, A123 builds the cells that Ballistic and several other similar batteries use) is going to affect the prices on these in the long run. It has to be a bad deal for the tax payer: we fronted the money, helped...

So you aren't spending money on the penetrating oil or the dispenser? What are you going to spend all that saved money on? 650 parts? :D

I'm no luddite, I like new technology and I wanted to like AGM's, but they just didn't hold up to my particular brand of abuse. My next battery will be using A123 LiFePo4 cells. Ballistic mybe or diy with some Ebay cells... The Shorai batteries are nice as well, but they're a bit expensive...

If I had some assembly that was a big rusted lump, or some other project where I needed a quite a bit of penetrant, I might mix up a batch. For everyday use it is just a bit 'hot' for my tastes. For those of you who like it, you might try one of those refillable spray cans - they make versions...

I first saw this quoted some time ago, but I've never seen any more than what was quoted here: nothing about what their actual testing methodology was, sample size, etc... Not to throw cold water on it, but my default setting is 'skeptic'. For what it is worth, treat acetone with the respect...

Maybe I've had bad luck, but I have nothing good to say about AGM batteries. Twice the price for no better service. Obviously others have had better results, but I've had two and neither one has lasted more than a couple years.

Here's a second vote for the BatteryMINDer. My dad picked one up for the battery in his Mule and I've put it to use a few times. Desulfators work.

Didn't take any pics, I'm bad about that. It was actually a newspaper clipping ca. 1973 that was part of a collage on the plywood stand the bike sat up on. Sounds bat-shit crazy to me too, but the guy did it!

Yeah, I was checking out that bike. I was thinking, "That's kinda cool..." until I looked at the pedestal with all the clippings and realized it wasn't just something someone had set up to look old. Jumping an XS...

Exactly. I had this thought a while ago and just haven't followed through on it yet. I imagine like most thing that getting a bunch of them done will be cheaper than getting one or two, but I don't want to go into a big full-tilt business and face the wrath of Yamaha's legal branch. I'll have...

I had this thought myself, but I was thinking 1/8" stainless - more durable once it is polished and it isn't like it would weight much. I've been seriously considering getting some made. Figure around 2.5 - 3" diameter?

Actually, Oregon is bigger than the entire UK in square miles (or km if you prefer...) lawrgj: I'm sure I saw your bike, but I'm trying to remember... On the way in I was just concentrating on getting past Harley/Ducati row (I prefer my V-twins cheap and modified!) and on the way out I had hit...

Went to The One Show today myself. I'm about an hour out of P-town and currently without a running bike, but I wouldn't mind hearing about any rides you set up in the future... My 650 won't be the first project on the road, my 920 will be - did you see that red Yamaha V twin (XV920R - chain...

I honestly don't see the appeal of anything currently in the Harley lineup (wait, can you still get an XR750 new?). I wouldn't mind owning a Sporty, but it'd have to go under the knife before I rode it around the block. Of course just up the road from me, Portland is hipster mecca and Jap...

I'm certainly not arguing that helmets don't save lives, what I'm arguing against are laws that tell us that a behavior is illegal because it is 'unsafe'. Accepting that logic puts us all in Volvos eventually. It sounds to me like your rider without the helmet would be in bad shape with a...

My vintage motocross buddy swears by those and tells me I really need to get one. Honestly, I haven't run across a bolt or screw yet that didn't succumb to my 3/8 gun. I use it on carbs! My technique for breaking free badly stuck screws is to apply pressure on the back of the gun with my off...

Missed your response until now... Glad to see you reconsider. It speaks well of you that you are able to see both sides of an issue. Having a position is fine, but when people get so invested in things that they refuse to see the other side, we have problems. Exhibit A: Washington DC - both...