starting

Hello, First of all, I am thankful for all the information I have already gotten from XS650 Forum and I plan to continue to support this site and be a good member. My name is Patrick and just got the bike I wanted 40 years. I love it. My plan is to get it reliable and keep it with historic...

In shop class this year I decided on building a motorcycle. After shopping around here in Michigan I came up with a 1973 xs650 engine. The engine has great compression and looks to be in running condition. The motor is now in the frame but I have absolutely no electrical parts. I've looked...

hey there so I’ve got an 84xs650 kickstart works awesome an runs good just diled in carbs... but the electric start turns over but won’t fire clutch an kickstand safety switches have been bypassed... battery’s at 12.7 an charging systems good any tips on where to head next would be...

Still working on getting this '75 XS650-B started. I think I read somewhere that there's an interlock in the clutch requiring that the clutch be disengaged (lever pulled in) in order to start the engine, so I've been pulling the lever when trying to start. However, I accidentally tried it today...

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum, and honestly to motorcycle maintenance in general. I recently bought a 79 xs650s, and I couldn't be happier except that it won't start currently. I know it started kind of recently and the owner before me said it had a slight oil leak. I checked the spark plugs...

Few days ago I was riding my bike home and it sort of puttered out and died. Tried several times to kick it over and nothing. Gas is new and clean, I smelt a lot of gas after kicking it so I gave it a full day to make sure it was not flooded. Came back no gas smell tried kicking but no luck...

When i bought the bike, the seller cranked it up (took a good 7-8 kicks) but it eventually started, then the next day i got it running (yet again a good 10-12 kicks that time). And ever since then i have not been able to get her started. I have tried to kick start that thing until my legs have...

Hi guys, I've picked myself up a 78 XS650 as a half-finished project, dual front disk brakes, solid alloy wheels - otherwise pretty stock. I've had a fair few bikes but this ones the first thats older than me - looking for something simpler and a world away from the other Japanese 4's I've...

A week ago buttoned up the "bitch" ( her for real name ). Kicked and kicked and kicked a whole lot more. Finally started enough to get a 5 minute ride and figure out that I MUST adjust the clutch, way too much trouble finding neutral. Today tried to start enough to warm it up good and...

Hello Everyone, Im new here. Im trying to build me a bike. It seems to run really well and it starts on the first kick without the Mikes xs air filters. Put the filters on and it floods bad in just a few kicks. The man that rebuit the carbs said he set the clips down one on the needle for use...