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The bike was running great until I dropped the side engine cover as I was R&R'ing the clutch cable (although I did not see/hear it, the cover may have tapped the rotor as it fell?). After replacing the cable, the battery won't charge. Any suggestions as to the most likely cause for the charging...

Stock 1972 XS2 (owned since '75)... Question: What would cause the engine to immediately stop when the fuse running from the battery (located just below the left side of the seat) is disconnected? Background: 30 minutes into trying to adjust the voltage regulator for 14.5+ VDC (lights dim at...

Weird problem: Intermittently, RIGHT cylinder dead (i.e., pull RIGHT spark plug lead, NO change in idle....pull LEFT spark lead, engine DIES). Intermittently, LEFT cylinder dead (i.e., pull LEFT spark plug lead, NO change in idle....pull RIGHT spark lead, engine DIES). Intermittently, BOTH...

Is there a trick to removing the front brake lever collar from inside the master cylinder housing? I'm trying to replace the front brake lever, but the lever's being held in by the collar. I've removed the lever screw, but that collar (which looks like it just sits in there and should slide out...

Hi All! It's been several years since the trusty steed's last let me down, but that day's come. Anyway, here's the problem... AFTER a rebuild of my stock 1972 XS2 carbs (rebuild kits from Mikes XS), the bike idles perfectly, but goes flat (severe hesitation) when engine speed is increased...

Is it age or something else that's causing the bike to require ~10 minutes idling with the starter jet lever (choke) ON before it's drivable with the choke OFF? When cold, the bike usually starts with one kick (or a coupla cycles of the decompression lever) with the starter jet lever (choke)...

The charging system in my '72 XS2 is once again not working (i.e., the battery drains (especially when I switch the headlight on!) and the bike dies by the side of the road with no lights, horn, etc.). Once the battery dies, if I let the bike sit for a few minutes, it'll start up again and get...

What, other than the cable (which is new and lubricated), would cause the clutch lever to be very hard to squeeze? Last weekend, while driving in the country, the clutch cable broke right where the little, cylindrical metal piece connects into the clutch hand-lever. For awhile before the...

I need to replace the OEM clutch in my '72 XS2 (never replaced the clutch before) and I'm confused as to which parts I need to order from MikesXS.com's Clutch parts page? I've searched through the archives, but I couldn't find a clear answer, so I'm hoping someone can give me a bit of...

Does anyone know of a source of a replacement for the little, black rubber cover that fits over the light bulb holder in the bottom of the tachometer? This is the small bulb that illuminates the tach dial at night (when the headlight is on). Recently, the rubber dried-out and is...

Should the green resistor(?) on the regulator plate become too hot to touch within one minute of the engine starting? The bike is a stock 1972 XS2, which I've owned since '75. Last week, a day after I'd washed the bike like I normally do, within a couple of minutes of starting the engine...