XS infidelity

[Maurice]

Picked this up for relatively cheap.

It is such a blast to ride! Had some trouble with the stock carb, but that all went away with a new VM36.

Completely different bike with this carb.

I had been looking for one for quite a bit, I think it complements the XS650 well.

 

[aldo5468]

Nice find!

 

[Maurice]

Thanks, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised, usually cheap bike means many hours rebuilding stuff. Here all I did was change the oil, clean the carb, check electrics, new plug/cap, compression, valve clearances and it fired right up. I have put some miles on it since, including a 120 mile trip the other day when temps were in the mid-60s, and it went smooth (as smooth as a big single can be). There is just some blue smoke at startup sometimes that goes away after a few seconds, but oil level seems steady. I suspect valve stem seals, compression is pretty good. I don't feel like tearing it up right now!

 

[5twins]

With the drum rear brake, I'm guessing it's an '80 or '81. That should have had the updated newer carb which usually works OK. The drum rear makes a spoke wheel conversion easier. An XS650 front swaps right in but for a direct rear swap, you'd want to find an XT (not TT) 500 rear. If the plug is running a bit dark, make sure it's a BP6ES, not a BP7ES. The ignition timing was updated in '80 and the plug recommendation changed from a 7 to a 6.

 

[Maurice]

'81, you are correct.

Do not tempt my with spoke wheels I did start looking and actually did find XT rear wheels, reasonable prices at that... Then I thought about my kids I have to put through college, and decided to close the window/delete bookmarks (mostly when finding a front XS hub was proving difficult). I thought I had made up my mind, and would be able to keep some $$, and be able to afford something other than ramen. Look what you did now...

I don't care how updated the carb was, it's going on fleabay. Damn thing has 3 diaphragms (which I replaced...), pump linkage, unobtainium bits, fixed needle, and was fouling plugs in the mid-range like crazy (I suspect worn needle jet, cf. unobtainium), despite open exhaust and air-box. Not to mention a PITA to start sometimes. VM36 straight out of the box idled like a swiss watch at something like .5 RPM, and is much more adjustable.

I am in fact running a 7 plug now and it actually looks decent, maybe a bit on the rich side. Will try a 6. Thanks

 

[59Tebo]

Betcha it'd make a cute little rigid taco chaser!