XS Cole
XS650 Member
New to XS650.com and first post. Been working on my 79 XS650SF. Acquired this bike in late 2004 for a promise to fix it up. Purchased some parts then got busy with other things. In the last 2 months have been working on it. Most of the bike has original parts including the grips, chain, master cylinders, brakes, light bulbs, etc. The original owner burned up the clutch very soon after purchasing it. Parked it with only 962 miles on it, bought a Harley and there it sat till one day when I was working on a house next door and said what are you going to do with the 650?
New parts are a clutch with stronger springs, VM34's, pipes with Brit style mufflers, tires, signals, Progressive Suspension rear, RaceTech gold valves and Progressive Suspension springs in front, fork brace, roller bearings in the steering head, Boyer Branson ingition, petcocks, braided lines, Daytona Touring bars and 6 cans of mostly black paint. Painted the frame and engine with the engine in place. Lots of buffing compound for the chrome and aluminum. Machined some adapters for the signals, washers as needed. Have K&N pods however do not like all the intake noise. Will be making some adapters to allow the use of the stock air box.
My only issues were a charging problem which turned out to be a factory soldered connection at the positive brush terminal failed. The wire seemed to be attached, looked soldered however the wire would make intermittent contact with the terminal, re-soldered and it is working well. Second was the jetting the carburetors. Still have some fine tuning on them.
XS650.com has been of immense help in getting the bike running. The expanded charging thread, the recommendations for the carbs and tuning has been great. Thank you all for posting posting problems and resolutions. Some before and after photos below.
Next up... A 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000-C1. Sat in a field for 15 years.
New parts are a clutch with stronger springs, VM34's, pipes with Brit style mufflers, tires, signals, Progressive Suspension rear, RaceTech gold valves and Progressive Suspension springs in front, fork brace, roller bearings in the steering head, Boyer Branson ingition, petcocks, braided lines, Daytona Touring bars and 6 cans of mostly black paint. Painted the frame and engine with the engine in place. Lots of buffing compound for the chrome and aluminum. Machined some adapters for the signals, washers as needed. Have K&N pods however do not like all the intake noise. Will be making some adapters to allow the use of the stock air box.
My only issues were a charging problem which turned out to be a factory soldered connection at the positive brush terminal failed. The wire seemed to be attached, looked soldered however the wire would make intermittent contact with the terminal, re-soldered and it is working well. Second was the jetting the carburetors. Still have some fine tuning on them.
XS650.com has been of immense help in getting the bike running. The expanded charging thread, the recommendations for the carbs and tuning has been great. Thank you all for posting posting problems and resolutions. Some before and after photos below.
Next up... A 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000-C1. Sat in a field for 15 years.
