suspension

Alright gentleman, and ladies if they're there, I have a question for you all. Last night I looked at how I had my rear fender mounted to my bike. It's currently mounted to the swing arm with minimal clearance to the tire. Was a little concerned about this and the vibes of road travel...

Hey guys, can you identify my fork caps? I havent seen another set like these before. They have a little nipple of sorts coming out of the side, but it lets air in and out so the fork tubes arent sealed. Isnt that detrimental? Since i purchased my XS the forks have been lousy, they sag...

The bike always had a clicking noise while I've been building it, I know just realised this was the rear fender flexing with the suspension, I didn't think to much of it carried on and I thought I had my bike completed, had her all ready to go get tested. I got her out onto the street through...

Ive been looking around the forum for front end ideas and came across mention of swapping late model gsxr forks to an xs650 and that its one of tue easier swaps. If so has anyone here done the swap or have suggestions for another set of forks to use? Thanks

Hey anyone know where to get some spanner wrenches to tighten the lock nuts on the steering stem? Mikes is out and I'm having a hell of a time finding them. Dave

Hit a BIG bump on the way to work this morning and now I see my left rear shock has develeped a leak. 34 years old, nothing lasts anymore...:) Recommendations for replacements for casual road-riding? No luggage, 200 pound rider, no aggressive rding. Seeing several options at Mikes in the...

I recently finished my '80 xs650 bobber build and took the ol girl for a test ride. All was well until I applied the front brake and noticed it would jerk the handlebars a little as soon as the pads hit the rotor. Also, while making a slow speed turn, the front would shake vigorously, or the...

Hey guys, Just got my Gordon Scott front fork brace, and it is a beaut. I'm a bit puzzled on how to install the thing though. Gordon tried to explain it over email, but I don't seem to be able to picture it. He says removal of the from wheel is unnecessary. Apparently you put one fork...

I really hope that you guys can help me out, I'm just so uncomfortable on my bike that I'm not sure I can keep riding it. The thought of a few hours on the bike is just not going to happen. I'm considering ripping the bike apart this winter to try and lower the seat so that I have more coverage...

Hey guys, Just curious, is there an advantage to putting a springer front end on rather than the stock forks? Other than look (if you like the look) are there performance benefits? Dave

Hey all, On my first few rides on my hardtailed 79 2F and I feel like the handlebars feel a bit loose somehow. Is that normal? It's almost like I haven't tightened everything, but I'm pretty sure I have (very sure actually). I just upgraded my bearings to tapered rollers, maybe I didn't...

Hi am hoping for a little help I am helping my brotherinlaw with his xs1 and we have put on a new front fork, a 35mm think it was used from 77-83, problem is he still has the original wheel and we cant get the disc to line up with the caliber. He bought the new caliber fitting the 35mm fork...

Anyone know the proper seal position on the lower steering stem with the new tapered bearings? I just destroyed my new bearing trying to reverse the seal cause it didn't look right. I know it probably doesn't even matter if there is a seal there or not. Just had to get it right. (by paying twice)

Hi all. I once again need a little assistance from the forums here. I have a stripped fork drain screw (why, why, why did they make this a screw?) on one of my forks. My question is regarding any tips to get it out, when I went to loosen the screw it stripped like melted butter, well almost...

Granted, I've only owned a few motorcycles; 1969 BSA Royal Star, 1975 Suzuki T500 Titan and a 2004 Royal Enfield Bullet. All three of these bikes seemed to handle fine. The XS650 in many reviews are said to be real bad handlers,even dangerous. i don't see a lot of difference in say my 78 and the...

Hello everyone! I've been lurking around here on the forums for a while and I decided to get an xs after a good deal of research. A few weeks ago I got my first bike from a friend of a friend, a 1983 xs650 heritage special. It was running at the time, but as I soon found out, it needs some...

Hey guys! Alright so i have just bought some new fork tubes from Mikes xs and im trying to put them together... Didnt take enough notice when i pulled them all apart! So in the bottom of the new fork tubes, i know that items 3,5,6 of the attached pic need to be installed and the retained...

Sorry if this has been covered before - searching on the phone is not being helpful. I need to put the front fork axle holder back on, and can't recall which direction the high side should face??? In some manuals it's called the axle holder - but others it's a wheel spindle clamp. The 2 ends...

I'm rebuilding a 73 TX650. I had to ditch the the original fork lowers since they were cracked where the oil seal is located. These came a short spring and long spacer. I bought a second set and they came with a longer spring and short spacer. Does anyone know which is the better setup handling...

Hey guys, I've been reading over Hugh's amazing how-to from the tech section on rebuilding the front forks, which I'm about set to do. I had a question about the special tools he mentions: 1) that 17mm nut welded to a cap, why not just use the cap? Why the nut welded to it? 2) The...