I was originally talking about the side covers, but just noticed you did the same elsewhere! Awesome look! I might have to integrate that with my root beer paint color...
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I was originally talking about the side covers, but just noticed you did the same elsewhere! Awesome look! I might have to integrate that with my root beer paint color...
scott s
XS650 Guru
Pulled the wheels and forks...
Stripped off the yellowing clear coat and the old inspection stickers from the forks. Gave them a light sanding to match the tank and engine covers, then re-cleared.
Stripped off the yellowing clear coat and the old inspection stickers from the forks. Gave them a light sanding to match the tank and engine covers, then re-cleared.
scott s
XS650 Guru
I picked up this fork brace at Barber for $10 a couple of years ago. Used a spare front fender (the one on the bike is just too nice to cut), and about an hour later I had this.
Similar to the ~$150-180 fenders on ebay. My total cost: About $40.
Similar to the ~$150-180 fenders on ebay. My total cost: About $40.
scott s
XS650 Guru
I disassembled the gas cap and made sure the vent was clear and installed a new seal.
My shocks showed up today, too. I got a screaming deal on these 3-way adjustable Kawasaki ZR750 Zephyr shocks. One has some rash, but I don't care....it fits the build perfectly. They're half an inch longer than stock. The bushings are an exact match for the XS650 posts/bolts.
However, the only thing that keeps them from being a direct bolt on is that the LH shock interferes with the chain guard. The springs are much thicker down there.
The chrome guard on my bike is just too nice to cut up. Luckily, I had an old beat up one in my stash. I clearanced it to fit.
Hammered out a couple of the worst dents and gave it a quick scrub and a spray with semi-gloss black. I love the look of the shocks and all the black/grey/satin stuff all pulls together.
My shocks showed up today, too. I got a screaming deal on these 3-way adjustable Kawasaki ZR750 Zephyr shocks. One has some rash, but I don't care....it fits the build perfectly. They're half an inch longer than stock. The bushings are an exact match for the XS650 posts/bolts.
However, the only thing that keeps them from being a direct bolt on is that the LH shock interferes with the chain guard. The springs are much thicker down there.
The chrome guard on my bike is just too nice to cut up. Luckily, I had an old beat up one in my stash. I clearanced it to fit.
Hammered out a couple of the worst dents and gave it a quick scrub and a spray with semi-gloss black. I love the look of the shocks and all the black/grey/satin stuff all pulls together.
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stfu
XS650 Enthusiast
I like the look of the new shocks, going to have to do some research on them.
scott s
XS650 Guru
I updated the wheel thread, but here's a pic of what they look like on the bike.....sorta.
Still have some spacers and stuff to figure out and fab up.
Still have some spacers and stuff to figure out and fab up.
scott s
XS650 Guru
I decided to throw in the towel on the Pentagram wheels. While it could have been done, it was just more than I was willing to deal with. This hobby is supposed to be fun, and it just wasn't fun anymore trying to figure out the spacers, etc.
I had each of those wheels on and off at least 20 times. And it's a two man job with all the spacers and such. After having the tires swapped over to the stock wheels, I had the bike back on the ground, brakes bled and adjusted (new EBC shoes in the rear and replaced the front hard line that I kinked while trying to fit the Pentagrams) in about two hours.
As a bonus, we decided to put the 2+ year old battery on the trickle charger and see if we could get it to run.
Poured in some gas and checked for leaks....none anywhere! Kicked it over 4 or 5 times without even a cough. It was then that I realized I didn't have the key on.
Key on....ONE KICK! She started first kick and settled into a nice, high idle. Gotta love a Pamco!
We did the dead cylinder method and adjusted/synced the carbs. I forgot to check the timing with my light while it was running. I'll do that next time.
No leaks, no smoke, no oil drips, no funny noises. The only problem is that at full lock the throttle cables are binding/catching somewhere and causing the RPM's to go up. I'll pull the tank soon and re-route the cables.
After we tuned the carbs, I swapped on the 2-1 exhaust.
I had each of those wheels on and off at least 20 times. And it's a two man job with all the spacers and such. After having the tires swapped over to the stock wheels, I had the bike back on the ground, brakes bled and adjusted (new EBC shoes in the rear and replaced the front hard line that I kinked while trying to fit the Pentagrams) in about two hours.
As a bonus, we decided to put the 2+ year old battery on the trickle charger and see if we could get it to run.
Poured in some gas and checked for leaks....none anywhere! Kicked it over 4 or 5 times without even a cough. It was then that I realized I didn't have the key on.
Key on....ONE KICK! She started first kick and settled into a nice, high idle. Gotta love a Pamco!
We did the dead cylinder method and adjusted/synced the carbs. I forgot to check the timing with my light while it was running. I'll do that next time.
No leaks, no smoke, no oil drips, no funny noises. The only problem is that at full lock the throttle cables are binding/catching somewhere and causing the RPM's to go up. I'll pull the tank soon and re-route the cables.
After we tuned the carbs, I swapped on the 2-1 exhaust.
zxpete
XS650 Member
very cleanly done. i personally think the spokes look better. great job
scott s
XS650 Guru
Thanks! I brought it home from Vulgar Cycles yesterday. Got the seat tabs welded on and a tab for the rear fender. I'll be doing the final wiring tomorrow and updating with some pics.
scott s
XS650 Guru
I trimmed up that tiny bit of fender you can see under the seat and started on the wiring. I picked up a new battery and, I hope, the correct LED flasher unit. I should be able to work on it again Monday and if everything goes as planned, I'm done!
These are red LED's and will function as tail lights, brake lights and turn signals.
Using a trailer flasher converter to make all that happen (hopefully).
These are red LED's and will function as tail lights, brake lights and turn signals.
Using a trailer flasher converter to make all that happen (hopefully).
ippytattoo
Just another grumpy old hack.
If the trailer light flasher works out well make sure to document the whats and hows. It could be valuable information for the rest of us out here.
scott s
XS650 Guru
scott s
XS650 Guru
Basically done! I need to order a new rear brake switch; this one's out of adjustment, so I just unplugged it for now. The clutch might be slipping a teeny tiny bit at upper RPM's once I get to 3rd or 4th gear, but nothing an adjustment won't fix.
I was going to tag and insure it today but....Memorial Day...doh!
I was going to tag and insure it today but....Memorial Day...doh!
arod_1
XS650 Fan
Awesome looking bike! Very cool.
Very nice!
RockingThePartyDJ
XS650 Obsessed
Great Job just enough changed to make it pretty sweet, I like it!
scott s
XS650 Guru
The bike's been running well. For a while, I had issues with a little bit of popping on decel and what felt like a slipping clutch at high RPM's. Occasionally, it felt like it would drop a cylinder. I pulled the bowl on the RH side and got a little crud out of it. Some odd looking stuff, like maybe it was deep in an internal passage and finally worked it's way out.
Checked/cleaned the jets and it's been flawless since then....knock on wood. No more popping (or greatly reduced) and it even pulls harder at the upper RPM range. I think maybe it was a fuel delivery issue and not the clutch.
I also changed some burned out bulbs in the dash and worked on the front end.
Even after installing Progressive springs, the front and was stiff and didn't have proper rebound and damping. I searched through several threads here and read about the fender brace installation procedure on MikesXS' website.
Basically, I loosened everything, carefully re-torqued everything in sequence and voila'!, I have suspension!
The only other thing I did was to install '78 style air boxes. After several hundred miles, I developed what I thought was an oil leak. But it was even dripping off the end of the chain guard. That's when it dawned on me that the breather on the '75 is routed down to act as a chain oiler. I just swapped out the air boxes tonight, but I hope that stops the "leak".
I got tired of seeing this...
So I took off this....
And hooked up these....
Next up: Replace a dead horn and continue racking up the miles!
Checked/cleaned the jets and it's been flawless since then....knock on wood. No more popping (or greatly reduced) and it even pulls harder at the upper RPM range. I think maybe it was a fuel delivery issue and not the clutch.
I also changed some burned out bulbs in the dash and worked on the front end.
Even after installing Progressive springs, the front and was stiff and didn't have proper rebound and damping. I searched through several threads here and read about the fender brace installation procedure on MikesXS' website.
Basically, I loosened everything, carefully re-torqued everything in sequence and voila'!, I have suspension!
The only other thing I did was to install '78 style air boxes. After several hundred miles, I developed what I thought was an oil leak. But it was even dripping off the end of the chain guard. That's when it dawned on me that the breather on the '75 is routed down to act as a chain oiler. I just swapped out the air boxes tonight, but I hope that stops the "leak".
I got tired of seeing this...
So I took off this....
And hooked up these....
Next up: Replace a dead horn and continue racking up the miles!
scott s
XS650 Guru
Interesting find today....those later air boxes are VERY restrictive! I'll be drilling some holes or cutting into them to gain some air flow. At ~4K RPM, they acted like a rev limiter.
I pulled the plugs, bowls, jets, etc., chasing the stumble.
Tried removing the filters and running with the boxes open and HOLY SH!T, what a difference. That's the hardest this bike has ever pulled. Actually ripped to 7K!
I also found some K&N drop in filters in my stash. I truly believe that with the mods to the air boxes and the K&N's, I can make this sucker SCREAM!
Here are the old '75 boxes....VERY open plenum. I can fit my hand in from either side.
Wide open here...
And nothing but a foam "silencer" in here. Straight shot to the filters.
The later boxes have a very small hole at the bottom for air to enter.
And what you can't see is that there's a weir, or wall, inside that the air has to go UP and OVER before it comes back DOWN and out this small hole. Both holes are only ~ 1 3/4".
I'll report back once I take my drill and/or Dremel tool to it!
I pulled the plugs, bowls, jets, etc., chasing the stumble.
Tried removing the filters and running with the boxes open and HOLY SH!T, what a difference. That's the hardest this bike has ever pulled. Actually ripped to 7K!
I also found some K&N drop in filters in my stash. I truly believe that with the mods to the air boxes and the K&N's, I can make this sucker SCREAM!
Here are the old '75 boxes....VERY open plenum. I can fit my hand in from either side.
Wide open here...
And nothing but a foam "silencer" in here. Straight shot to the filters.
The later boxes have a very small hole at the bottom for air to enter.
And what you can't see is that there's a weir, or wall, inside that the air has to go UP and OVER before it comes back DOWN and out this small hole. Both holes are only ~ 1 3/4".
I'll report back once I take my drill and/or Dremel tool to it!
scott s
XS650 Guru
OK, since I'm working nights this week, my Dad picked up the air boxes (and one of the '75 boxes) and modified them for me. Went to town with his Dremel, drill, file, grinder, etc.
You can see he folded down the inner wall and opened up both ends for better air flow. It's a straight through shot now.
I had forgotten that I had these K&N filters. I picked them up a long time ago for another project and ended up running pods instead. I don't like the idea of pods on this bike because it has the earlier, non-linked carbs. They're pretty wobbly and unsupported without the air boxes in place. These later boxes have the breather routed to the carbs, which I wanted, and now have a straight shot to the filter element. Almost like pods, but with support.
I took a short ride down to the sandwich shop when I got up today. So far, so good!
It runs the best it ever has, pulls up top better than ever....even than with the stock '75 boxes....and the popping on decel is completely gone now!
I'll put a few more miles on it and report back.
You can see he folded down the inner wall and opened up both ends for better air flow. It's a straight through shot now.
I had forgotten that I had these K&N filters. I picked them up a long time ago for another project and ended up running pods instead. I don't like the idea of pods on this bike because it has the earlier, non-linked carbs. They're pretty wobbly and unsupported without the air boxes in place. These later boxes have the breather routed to the carbs, which I wanted, and now have a straight shot to the filter element. Almost like pods, but with support.
I took a short ride down to the sandwich shop when I got up today. So far, so good!
It runs the best it ever has, pulls up top better than ever....even than with the stock '75 boxes....and the popping on decel is completely gone now!
I'll put a few more miles on it and report back.
scott s
XS650 Guru
Rode to Chesnee, SC for the annual Antique Bikes on Main event and got a little pin striping done by Jeremy Kemp while I was there.
