Just Ride.

Should this ride thread be just a.... well, thread? Or should there be a dedicated Forum topic?

  • Yes, it's own topic in the Forums

    Votes: 19 90.5%
  • Nah... threads good enough.

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .
Ha Thanks! 😄
( I was just asking DE yesterday if he had ever ridden the coastal highway Route 1 up to Canada , he told me it was rather cobby and not well maintained. )
I‘ll bet it was a beautiful day for a ride!
Perfect! Mid-70's, big puffy clouds in a bright blue sky, not a lot of traffic.
 
Awesome day for a ride!
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First real ride tonight on my XS650D that I have owned for 27 years. Longish backstory; bought the bike 27 years ago at a CVMG Rally, but never rode it. In the meantime, got married, had kids, changed jobs twice, moved, retired and so on. Finally pulled the bike out of the barn late 2020, refreshed the stuff that needed attention, including swapping two engines out before getting a good one going. No pics as it was late, cloudy and I just wasn't stopping at the scenic bits. More to follow...
 
Note: I've got the "bugs" worked out now (had some wobbling fixed with more air in tire). That 2.15 rim on the rear is technically too narrow to run the 130/80 - 140/90 dirt track tires, but it's all that is available short of spending ~$800ea -$1200ea for matching proper rims
 
Note: I've got the "bugs" worked out now (had some wobbling fixed with more air in tire). That 2.15 rim on the rear is technically too narrow to run the 130/80 - 140/90 dirt track tires, but it's all that is available short of spending ~$800ea -$1200ea for matching proper rims
I agree... that 2.15 rim is really narrow for a 130 tire. My XT350 has 3.0 rear x 17 as part of a supermoto conversion. My rear is a 130 and it is even a little wide. I certainly wouldn't want to go to a 140.
 
Today I went for a run out to a cafe with a friend to give him a chance to ride my Yamahas. It's about a 60-mile round trip taking in some nice bendy country roads in scenic surroundings. Mostly, he rode the XS

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and I rode the SR. When we got to the coffee stop it was clear the SR's silencer internals were making a bid for freedom:

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On the homeward leg the SR just got louder and louder as bits flew out the pipe until the end disc finally let go and shot past Marc's head while we were doing 75mph on a straight stretch! Silly bugger should have been in front of me - it's all his fault, quite clearly :laugh2:

Now sounding like a Manx Norton I have to decide whether to simply replace it or try to repair it somehow.

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The rivets are all that's holding the baffle doodah in place; without that it's just an open mega. Oh well, I'll just add it to the to-do list :) It was a good run out though and I think I've got the steering damper on the XS set about right now. On the down side, it's clear that at 70+ the SR is in need of a steering damper too. Ho hum.
 
Had a strangely similar experience with my SR500 in 1983. Living in St Andrews. Police came to the house one evening to say me Mum was in hospital in Fort William having had a motorbike accident. This was in them days of yore before internet, mobiles etc. Next day, went to work and told them I was taking the day off. Rode west across Scotland - Crieff, Lochearnhead, Moors of Rannoch, Glen Coe. At the hospital in Fort William, the ward sister said it was a first for her - son coming in to see Mother who had had a bike accident . . .

Instead of Good Morning, was met with Oh No! I TOLD them to tell you not to come. Mum was OK.

The SR had a conical aftermarket exhaust and on the way home, it decided to blow its guts. God it was loud! Rode home on an open megaphone for at least 150 miles My partner said she heard me coming for ages before I finally turned up at the house.

Worse even than the XS after one silencer fell off last year - https://www.xs650.com/threads/miss-november-xs2-tribute.55057/post-686903

What was that? I can't hear you.
 
Did a 2400km camping trip to France, Germany and Luxemburg. Was a real nice week, met lots of nice people. Bike did great, only some small things 😂 ....broke the exhaust twice, lost some bolts, rattled the TomTom holder to pieces.

The highway wasn't pleasant, I hope to improve the vibrations, maybe rephase? Suspension needs to be made more comfy. But overall I'm really happy I took the XS. Funny how many people come talk to you on an old bike.

And nice to test the modified bike against modern bikes. I wasn't disappointed! Specially the brake were nice.

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Did a 2400km camping trip to France, Germany and Luxemburg. Was a real nice week, met lots of nice people. Bike did great, only some small things 😂 ....broke the exhaust twice, lost some bolts, rattled the TomTom holder to pieces.

The highway wasn't pleasant, I hope to improve the vibrations, maybe rephase? Suspension needs to be made more comfy. But overall I'm really happy I took the XS. Funny how many people come talk to you on an old bike.

And nice to test the modified bike against modern bikes. I wasn't disappointed! Specially the brake were nice.

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What a great adventure, the roads look perfect for riding that old twin! Your bike is looking very nice by the way! 😃
 
The highway wasn't pleasant, I hope to improve the vibrations, maybe rephase?
If I'm riding with someone on a modern bike, I have to set the pace. I ride my XS650 at a comfortable tachometer setting. Within reason, highway cruising speed can be set by a rear sprocket choice.

Parts falling off your bike makes the journey more memorable. I expect it was great fun!
 
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