Build Thread...Special to Cafe Bike

hehehehe.

Gary nailed the other reason to name them: it makes it easier to keep track if you have several bikes (and many do...).

anyhow - it’s my party and I’ll cry if I frickin’ want to.

 

Okey dokey sports fan: I finally took a mental health day (off work) yesterday and got into the DCW for some time on my bikes. As you may know, I am preparing all three of my XS650s for the big CVMG Annual Rally in Paris Ontario in June and each has its own set of issues:

1) Lucille is a 1976 XS650C and just needs some engine case polishing and while I’d sure like to get her tins painted, I am not sure that is realistic given what else is on my plate.

2) Black Betty is a 1978 XS650E and Jim is presently painting her tins for me ( ) and she will be getting a new RHS muffler (THANK YOU Gary ) and the usual head re-torque, timing chain, valve lash and points care and a new set of tires and tubes plus the front brake is sticky.

Which brings me to....

3) Demi - the 1981 XS650SH and the subject of this thread. This slightly crusty old gal is getting the full meal deal and yesterday I tucked into her in grand style. I figured out the tank mounting arrangements and am working on the seat as well. Once those are sorted out, I am shipping the tins and seat to Jim along with the paint and he is going to work his magic on them. Meanwhile I will keep going on everything else starting with polishing the rear hub and brake plate and then spoking up the new 18” wheel and getting new tires front and rear. It’s gonna be tight....

I may have to change the name of this thread to the Three Chicks Build...

Here are some photos...

 

Hi JC - nope, she's is just fine thanks.

One of my CVMG buddies is polishing her RH engine case cover for me and I had just changed the oil when he offered, so I leaned her over to get the cover off without having to drain it. He has already done my valve adjuster covers and the RH side oil filter cover - what a super friend.

It isn't the cost, quite honestly, I am just so busy these days that I can't miss any opportunity to move these old gals forward quickly.

Cheers,

Pete

 

Well, I finally got back out into the DCW and continuing on the theme of the Three Chicks Build, I made progress on all three of my gals:

Betty (1978 XS650E): got new tires and tubes and a nice shiny new muffler from Baraboo plus I freed up her sticky front calliper, straightened her rear turn signals, fixed a faulty tail light bulb, installed a new set of rear brake shoes and mounted a beautiful set of Euro bars on her (these were a gift from a fellow Essex-Kent Chapter CVMG member).



Demi (1981 XS650SH > Café bike) I am working on the rear wheel (switch from a 16” to an 18” steel 48 spoke rim) and she has temporarily donated her LH engine case cover to Lucille whose case cover is being polished by a friend. It was good to get that cover off as I REALLY need to clean in there. She’s looking pretty crusty in there for sure and I will also change her rear brake shoes and rear wheel bearings as well before spoking up the new rim and mounting a new pair of tires and tubes.


Lucille (1976 XS650C) is now fully operational and ready to ride to the CVMG Sunday Breakfast tomorrow morning.


Slowly, but surely, were getting there.

 

yup. I’m not a fussy person about strict originality, but I’d like to keep Lucille and Betty as good examples of mid- and late- Standards with sensible modifications to enhance reliability and safety and so Demi is my bike for modifications. She will get the 18” rear wheel, dual disks, of course the XS750 tank and cafe seat and she will keep the fork brace, plus a couple of other little surprises this spring - and perhaps someday a 750 kit (I know a chap who has one or two of them).

yeah, I like messing around with Demi......

Hehehehe.