Recently bought a '77 xs650, stock set-up for the most part, Beatiful bike. I'm in love... However:
Realized shortly after buying that tires were woefully underinflated. Fixed that quick, and then my problems start. A new noise, whining when decelerating under 20mph. Not tied to RPM's just wheel rotation, thought it might be cam chain.
Turns out the PO was running a 130/90 x 18 which when properly inflated rubs significantly on the Rear Brake Torque Arm. That's my noise, now the fix.
Can I just downsize the tire without changing the wheel? Specs for this bike's rear is 4.00 - H18, but I'm not sure what aspect ratio that old measurement has. Will a 130/80 work for me or do I need to get a 110/90, which is the best fit in modern measures.
If you've got any experience with this year (after 79 they ran spec 130's I think, obviously that doesn't work on mine), please let me know what your experience taught you.
Also, proper inflation totally whacked my rear drum calibration out of order. Drum is constantly ingaged, haven't had the time to check whether a simple adjustment will fix it. ALSO, around the same time my valves started knocking at startup. Can't imagine that's possibly related but I'm not an authority on the subject.
Ride on.
Realized shortly after buying that tires were woefully underinflated. Fixed that quick, and then my problems start. A new noise, whining when decelerating under 20mph. Not tied to RPM's just wheel rotation, thought it might be cam chain.
Turns out the PO was running a 130/90 x 18 which when properly inflated rubs significantly on the Rear Brake Torque Arm. That's my noise, now the fix.
Can I just downsize the tire without changing the wheel? Specs for this bike's rear is 4.00 - H18, but I'm not sure what aspect ratio that old measurement has. Will a 130/80 work for me or do I need to get a 110/90, which is the best fit in modern measures.
If you've got any experience with this year (after 79 they ran spec 130's I think, obviously that doesn't work on mine), please let me know what your experience taught you.
Also, proper inflation totally whacked my rear drum calibration out of order. Drum is constantly ingaged, haven't had the time to check whether a simple adjustment will fix it. ALSO, around the same time my valves started knocking at startup. Can't imagine that's possibly related but I'm not an authority on the subject.
Ride on.