Refreshing a '79 Special XS650

[5twins]

It should work as far as I know. I think your electrics are just a mess. Until you do the "needful" (clean and inspect the entire harness and all connections), I think you will continue to experience phantom and random electrical glitches.

All carb holders, even N.O.S. originals, require the tin shrouds for added support. It is particularly important if you run pod filters. Removing the airbox removes the support at the rear of the carb. The manifolds are all that support the carbs now. All I've ever run is pods because my airbox was a rusty mess when I got the bike. I've never had a manifold fail (crack or split) in a dozen or so years of running like this. But, I have always used the metal covers on the manifolds. They need the added support.

 

[motorbikerx]

Thanks and I plan to run the metal support as well as stock airbox think its stock anyway?...its got slide out foam filters inside??
Got the phone call I been waiting for from Scott the service manager at Victory/Indian Brisbane who are doing the insurance repairs on my Vegas, the rest of the parts ETA is this wed 7th and reckons Ill have it back by the end of that week.
That'd be right,... just starting to get the XS sorted and get my main ride back, looking at the positive side I can now take my time getting the XS right, within reason anyway, I have a lot of ' irons in the fire' , old car and bike wise.
XS650 Special will be an asset to keep, a trip back in time, a nice cruise without risk of speeding fines.

 

[motorbikerx]

Manifold rubbers arrived today, after I got my work done I turned my attention to the 650 and pulled air cleaners carbs and removed the dodgy parts and fitted the new ones and put it all back together.
Nice consistent idle now once warmed up...success
Time for a nightride, headlights ok too with the H4 conversion .
Ill just add that the suppliers of the non fitting BS34 manifold rubbers from ebay , following an email to them, kindly agreed to refund my $17.99 and said to keep the BS34 items.
So if I ever go to 34 slide needle carbs Im set for manifolds.
The correct parts arrived quickly from GeoffsXS and fitted nicely, they did come with a note that they were slightly defective in an area that dont affect performance and with a promise to send me perfect items when he gets them, but for now these will get me out of trouble.
All Good.

 

[motorbikerx]

Ok, the bikes covered about a 1000kms now and Ive changed oil twice in that time, my filter repair intact and very little residue in the filters and a very light dusting on the magnets.
Most oil tight 650 Ive ever owned I must say.
Went for a fairly big ride yesterday with our club on the annual "Over the hill" run....we went over many hills actually and around many bends and corners as well.
Visiting a few watering holes along the way...first stop being the Victory Hotel at Mooball....a more raggle taggle bunch of mixed bikes and bikers you have never seen!
This run and all the pix probably deserves a thread of its own.
Anyway bike ran great covering around 500 kms by the time I got home last night.
And in true XS style the headlight has fixed itself and the bike runs better and betterer the more its ridden
Made my own baffles for the megas by buying a metre of perforated 2 inch tubing , rang around all the zorst shops chasing said item and was quoted fifty bucks.
One bloke who seemed to have an interest in bikes said he could have a metre there by the next day for $20.
Got a txt late next day and rode to his exhaust shop.
Turned out I knew him and hes a member of our bike club! Farout!!!
He dropsawed it in two and I bungied the pieces to the back seat.
At the shed I removed the centre raised 2" portion of the end plates in the vice with a cut off on a grindet and mig welded the tube after trimming it to perfect lengths.
Then got two pieces of builders blanket fibreglass matting left over from a bus I insulated and filled the void inside the megas then rammed the perforated tubes down the guts and loctited the retaining allens back..
Sounds sooooo sweet

My Victory Vegas got dropped back on Thursday but thats another story, suffice to say they forgot to put the keys in the bike apologising and saying they'd express post em to me..
No fsrlin way ...not waiting months for my bike to wait further days!
Finished welding my pipes, fitted em and rode the XS in heatwave conditions into Brisbane and back just over 200 kms (120 mile) in blast furnace hot wind... worth it to get my keys as well as show off the XS at the Victory/Indian dealership.
Soon as I got back I rang the girl and we went for a five hour night ride
It was Valentines Day night so I stopped at a Thai restaurant for a feed.
Then resumed our ride.
The difference in the two bikes is mind blowing and even though I do appreciate each for the way they ride..
Well Ive put the XS up on ebay and gumtree for $4999 which I think is a fair price now shes all sorted and proven capable of eating up miles.
Riding home on the last leg of an extra run I did last night to Brunswick Heads and back I was on the freeway for a change and running at 110 kph quite nicely accompanied by the drone of my home made mufflers at 5000rpm.
Still in t shirt and leather vest the cooler nightime air was a welcome change from the heat of the day.

 

[motorbikerx]

A few more pix from the run
As you can see we have a very diverse membership.

 

[Jim]

You'll miss her Chris.... you know you will...

 

[motorbikerx]

You'll miss her Chris.... you know you will...

Oh I know mate, I know.
My kitty($)was way down when the opportunity to buy came up , and as Im a motorbike-aholic and my Victory was off the road for at least a few months,
I needed a bike, and this old favourite came up, ..so I stuck my neck out and got it..
Then I discovered it needed more money and time poured in and I did what I had to do to get her up to scratch...
Just to my standards mind you...which are nowhere near the heights that many of you aspire to achieve.
Consequently Ive spread myself a little thin financially...and I have other vices to support too.
My unfinished Buick straight 8 hearse.
The 1971 Ford Falcon V8.
A 1966 Chrysler Valiant to finish and actually get road registered, which Ill possibly sell.
Ive sort of snookered myself a little and its my own fault, as I cant pass up a good deal, so I end up with lots of vehicles , some needing my time and money....
A lot of you will understand as some of you are possibly in similar postions due to a passion for bikes/cars bordering on insanity
Right now at this moment Im waiting for the bloke from Sunshine Batteries to bring a new battery for my Victory,
I daresay hes not far away.
And Im reasonably certain my modification spree on it is finished.
Its got all the power and handling and comfort I could possibly desire in a motorcycle.
Realistically the XS is a link to my youth , I guess, and I have no doubt that there will be another XS in my future..
And its not sold yet and unless I get my price it wont be going anywhere .

I have two trips this month too, both on tight budgets ,the first on March 9-11 with an extra day each side for travel etc.
First to Phillip Island for the annual historic car racing
http://vhrr.com/wp/phillip-island/
where I will be helping out as a volunteer flag marshall, which gets me in the track and fed for the duration.
Ive booked cheap return flights and Ill get a cheap little car rental for the time Im there and plan on sleeping in the car to save money..
Then Easter Im again volunteer Flag Marshall at Mt Panorama Bathurst for 3 days of car racing..
http://www.bathurst6hour.com.au
Im riding the Victory down and making a week of it.
Did it for the first time in late Nov for
4 days of Super Sprints and Regularity .that trip was fantastic and Im looking forward to both events

 

[timbeck]

I was just reading your post while watching the "touring car race" from Phillips Island. The track looks great. Hope you have a fun trip.
tim

 

[motormike]

71' Falcon ..?... Aussie built.. ? send photos ! ! ... V8.. 302..? We got a Mad Max police car run'n around here.. with right hand drive...lights.. just like in the movie... even a Ute ? did I spell that right.. ? like a Ford Ranchero... neat !
Old cars and old motorcycles keep us young... and broke. Our old Ford developed a suspected rod knock. (300, 6 banger) Thought I'd hire out the entre project.. remove engine, rebuild engine... install. Yikers ! Nearly $5000.oo....So I pull'd the engine.. drop'd it off.. then.. installed the engine with new water-fuel pumps..upgraded distributor..... total $1950.oo... and 9.5 hrs of my time and lunch for a buddy who help'd with the install.

 

[motorbikerx]

Yeah thought some of youse would understand, possibly suffer a similar affliction, motorholics anonymous candidates.
Ordered some stronger clutch springs last night on ebay as 2 up on our big ride at one point I went to pass a car as the rest of the pack had and I felt a little clutch slip. .so our lathing up some shims out of washers while partly fixing the clutch didnt totally..
They wont arrive till just before I leave for Phillip Island ...EBC brand from Perf Moto in Holland USA it said on ebay.
Though possibly drop ship from china the way stuff works on there.
Clutch is fine unless I really lean on it anyway..
My batteryman just rang and reckons my Victory Vegas battery will get dropped at his store in Murwillumbah around lunchtime.
In which case Ill get one more start or maybe jumpstart the Vic and ride down there and change it over there..

Pictures of my Ford you say?
Well its not the Mad Max model, its a little older...I built it all up myself from a total wreck ten years ago, its covered 26000 miles since , mostly hard miles, over 200 runs down the dragstrip with a best of 14.1@100.6 mph, which is flat out in third with a 4 speed and
3.25 diff gears....not too bad.
Doesn't get driven much and it loves a drink too...guzzline here running at $1.65 a litre right now or around $6.50 a US gallon !
When it does come out though its fun.
Heres me at the All Ford Day at Willowbank Raceway last year in the orange XY Ford.
(351C , 4V Heads, the ducks guts!)
Also my mate Max's XB Coupe and yeah he is mad! (302 Clevo runs 16s)
My GF's '74 Chrysler by Chrysler
(265 Hemi /auto , runs 17.2)
We like to race when we can.
A pic of Max XB and my XY in the staging lanes, I got him to edge up as close as possible to replicate a scene from the first movie when the Interceptor is right up the bum of the Nightriders stolen MFP Monaro HQ Coupe ( just for shits n giggles!)
My Vics run a best of 12.1@111mph
Here Im up against the Taverena Harley Pan/Shovel 80 cube weapon.
My old Gpz900r ran 12.4 @110 but it had a very tired engine .
Its all fun.

 

[motormike]

I like the yellow beast.... all my cars are timed with an hour glass.

 

[motorbikerx]

The yellow beast!
Yeah thats Maxs XBGT Coupe same year/model as Mad Maxs Interceptor .
I met Max in the staging lanes at the drags, which is a great place to hang out with fellow motorheads and meet people .
We were admiring each others cars.
Seems Max had had a blue with his missus and gone over to his mums farm...in the shed hes got his old boyhood car hes owned all his life..
Covered, wheels off, up on blocks.
He uncovers bolts on the wheels and adds some fresh fuel and heads out to the "race your mates" night at the strip.
Thats where we meet.
Now nearly every time Im out there, which aint much these days, Max is there, with better flowing heads, different intake, bigger carb, or a new bonnet (hood) scoop.
At the All Ford Day he had gone to slicks on the back and was running high 15s.
I think his wife hates the car (jealous?)
and he still keeps it safe at mums, covered, with the wheels off.
First 2 pix we are still at the drags.

Next few we happen to be at Tuff Metal...a car show in Brisbane where Rose Tattoo are said to be playing later in the day...its a rumor at this stage but definite is that the lead singer of that great old Aussie Rock band is gonna be a guest mc at the car show.
The Harley boys escort a couple of hot rods that pick Angry up from his motel.
Im on my Victory this day so we ride along in the escort, the only Victory in a sea of bad boy Harleys.
Later in the day Im talking to Max and I see Angry keeps looking over at Maxs coupe..we drive over to where Angry is and his eyes light right up and we are all talking cars, ..Angry tells us he used to own a souped up XA coupe in his youth and has always lusted over the coupes...
Max invited Angry to take the drivers seat and be transported back in time.
For our vehicles , be they old cars or bikes, are in fact 'time machines' that transport us back to our youth.
Forever Young!
Oh yeah and we got into the bands performance later in the evening for free...
Rock n' Roll is King!

 

[motorbikerx]

Off we go on a slight tangent here...
Tuff Metal!!!
My Vegas and a very cool HD bobber.
Picking up Angry from his motel.
(Me 2nd left in group of bad boys)
Hehe!
And a selection of Tough Metal.
and Angry belting out another Hard Rock Aussie Anthem, and it was LOUD!
In a basketball auditorium the echo was fierce, the crowd rocking , most quite drunk and in party mode!
On leaving seems most of the bad boys had gone home, for outside sat my Vegas and one lone Harley both glistening chrome under floodlights .

 

[JRay77]

A few more pix from the runView attachment 113802 View attachment 113803 View attachment 113804 View attachment 113805 View attachment 113806 View attachment 113808
As you can see we have a very diverse membership.

Wish I had that where I'm at. It's bad for "clicks" here in the state of Ohio. It's hard for me to purchase a Harley being how Harley owners act here. Sucks, I love all motorcycles.

 

[motorbikerx]

Wish I had that where I'm at. It's bad for "clicks" here in the state of Ohio. It's hard for me to purchase a Harley being how Harley owners act here. Sucks, I love all motorcycles.

Easily fixed mate, get a Victory , better, cheaper, very available in USA, and still very individual and always will be.
Born to ride,
Born to be different !
Forever Two Wheels.....

 

[motormike]

In June.... we'll have over 10,000 street rods, hot rods, rat rods, restorations.... all 1964 and older. " Back to the 50's " at the state fairgrounds over in Saint Paul. They stop at 1964 to keep all the Mustangs out. I think they stop at 1964 simply because of all the pony cars afterwards from all manufactures.... they'd need another fairground. During the summer we have weekend shows... usually limited to 1973 and older... with 100's of cars....
We have a coffee spot near the back gate. sit in the shade... coffee.. scone... watch cars for a few hours. Sometimes while they wait at the traffic light. I want to run up.. ".. hey ! $%%#$ of all the %%$%%# colors in the paint book.. you pick Barf ? ".... I said.. I want too... haven't..yet.

 

[fredintoon]

Hi Guys,
if you are bitched for the correct rubber things there is a trick to machining the wrong ones if that is what is needed to fix them.
Freeze the bastards first. Dry Ice works best. Rubber cuts like wood if it is cold enough.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Wow, "Ironbar" from "Thunderdome".
That is sooo cool...

 

[motorbikerx]

Wow, "Ironbar" from "Thunderdome".
That is sooo cool...

Oh yeah! Thats right!...Id forgotton that