Solomoriah
XS650 Addict
So today I rode my XS 12 miles over to the county seat to do some work. I was gratified upon my return to the bike to note that there was no puddle of oil underneath it... apparently, I managed to keep it oil-tight, or so I thought.
I made a 24 mile loop home, hitting one of my favorite ridge roads. The XS vibrates, no doubt about that, but it's a fun bike to ride on the curvy roads. Be even better when I get that squishy front brake fixed.
When I got home, I noticed a smell of hot oil, and thought, oh crap, what did I screw up? But the oil is seeping out around the front valve covers, apparently. Something I haven't touched as yet. Time for some more research.
As to the cam chain guide question, I have to say that I'm at a disadvantage. The engine doesn't sound bad to me, but it does make a variety of interesting noises and I've no idea if they are good or bad noises. The first time I rode my Honda CB650 at highway speeds with the wind at my back, I was sure something was wrong with the engine, it did so much tickety tickety tickety but apparently that is just how that four cylinder SOHC valvetrain sounds. It's like that with the XS650... not knowing what engine noises are okay is kind of troubling.
Yeah, I've watched videos and listened to the recorded engine noises of other XS650's, but a recording is never the same as the real thing.
I made a 24 mile loop home, hitting one of my favorite ridge roads. The XS vibrates, no doubt about that, but it's a fun bike to ride on the curvy roads. Be even better when I get that squishy front brake fixed.
When I got home, I noticed a smell of hot oil, and thought, oh crap, what did I screw up? But the oil is seeping out around the front valve covers, apparently. Something I haven't touched as yet. Time for some more research.
As to the cam chain guide question, I have to say that I'm at a disadvantage. The engine doesn't sound bad to me, but it does make a variety of interesting noises and I've no idea if they are good or bad noises. The first time I rode my Honda CB650 at highway speeds with the wind at my back, I was sure something was wrong with the engine, it did so much tickety tickety tickety but apparently that is just how that four cylinder SOHC valvetrain sounds. It's like that with the XS650... not knowing what engine noises are okay is kind of troubling.
Yeah, I've watched videos and listened to the recorded engine noises of other XS650's, but a recording is never the same as the real thing.