Had a small (12") snapper back by the shop last week heading back to the Cypress bay behind the house. Lots of frogs and minnows for him to dine on there.
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Just Ride.
- Thread starter Jim
- Start date
First time up my favorite road this year and the first time it's hit 70. A few patches of snow at the top.
Today the weather was perfect and I crossed over Lake Champlain and did some riding in the Adirondacks. I'm always amazed at how little traffic there is there.
Got all three bikes out of the garage so I thought I’d take a couple of pics. First time out for the Moto Guzzi this year. Great bike to ride and light years ahead in overall performance over the other two, yet way behind when compared to new, higher tech designs. It still has that vintage look and feel that I enjoy. Once the Honda is gone I think the XS and MG are a good pair to keep.
We had one heck of a freakish day here in the Northwest today...mid 80's!
Couldnt resist taking out one of the bikes that had no windshield on it cause were talking t shirt weather today!
So, I took out the crustier of my two 1980 Specials out. Ironically, its probably the best running & riding 650 out of all of them...it really is a nice bike except a lil "patina" here and there.
I was pretty strongly considering selling this one because, who really needs two twins of the same year/color? I know, I know....same thing with my two 75 RD350's.
So far this Spring I've been doing pretty good....I sold a 72 XS-2 project to a fellow member on here, a 1980 Special project and a 1981 Special project all in the course of one weeks time. Thus, me considering selling one of the 1980's too.
After todays ride though, man I just dunno...such a nice rider, 63 miles just putting around the backroads of my neighborhood. Hate to see some kid chop it up.
Couldnt resist taking out one of the bikes that had no windshield on it cause were talking t shirt weather today!
So, I took out the crustier of my two 1980 Specials out. Ironically, its probably the best running & riding 650 out of all of them...it really is a nice bike except a lil "patina" here and there.
I was pretty strongly considering selling this one because, who really needs two twins of the same year/color? I know, I know....same thing with my two 75 RD350's.
So far this Spring I've been doing pretty good....I sold a 72 XS-2 project to a fellow member on here, a 1980 Special project and a 1981 Special project all in the course of one weeks time. Thus, me considering selling one of the 1980's too.
After todays ride though, man I just dunno...such a nice rider, 63 miles just putting around the backroads of my neighborhood. Hate to see some kid chop it up.
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It ain't eatin' any hay. Why NOT keep it?We had one heck of a freakish day here in the Northwest today...mid 80's!
Couldnt resist taking out one of the bikes that had no windshield on it cause were talking t shirt weather today!
So, I took out the crustier of my two 1980 Specials out. Ironically, its probably the best running & riding 650 out of all of them...it really is a nice bike except a lil "patina" here and there.
I was pretty strongly considering selling this one because, who really needs two twins of the same year/color? I know, I know....same thing with my two 75 RD350's.
So far this Spring I've been doing pretty good....I sold a 72 XS-2 project to a fellow member on here, a 1980 Special project and a 1981 Special project all in the course of one weeks time. Thus, me considering selling one of the 1980's too.
After todays ride though, man I just dunno...such a nice rider, 63 miles just putting around the backroads of my neighborhood. Hate to see some kid chop it up.
View attachment 325601
View attachment 325602
Second ride this year and the " Pushing an XS 650 " season had begun
Perfect weather Ran fine
Going home I entered a faster pace road
giving it throttle 80 % of full
say 5 miles
Coming to a Roundabout letting go of the throttler started to stumble
And Shutting down in the Roundabout
Out on an exit
Fuses OK ..got neutral light on -- Kicked with full choke
Started but ran bad mostly on left cylinder Not so far from home so the plan was to get home before dark having no tools with me.
1000 m stopp again and a second time 2000 m.
A short cut with footpath was closer to get home so I ended pushing it for a longer time
At the other side kicking again now it started -- OK lets try it ran OK as it Should
Rode home in low speed .
Parked it and have not done anything An electrical fault somewhere Shorting hot
I am guessing .Puuhhh ..hhh
Got exercise that day
Perfect weather Ran fine
Going home I entered a faster pace road
giving it throttle 80 % of full
say 5 miles
Coming to a Roundabout letting go of the throttler started to stumble
And Shutting down in the Roundabout
Out on an exit
Fuses OK ..got neutral light on -- Kicked with full choke
Started but ran bad mostly on left cylinder Not so far from home so the plan was to get home before dark having no tools with me.
1000 m stopp again and a second time 2000 m.
A short cut with footpath was closer to get home so I ended pushing it for a longer time
At the other side kicking again now it started -- OK lets try it ran OK as it Should
Rode home in low speed .
Parked it and have not done anything An electrical fault somewhere Shorting hot
I am guessing .Puuhhh ..hhh
Got exercise that day
FIRST TAFFY RIDE OF 2024
Bringing Taffy out of winter slumber a few weeks ago filled me with confidence, hopeful the bike would behave and not cause me the embarassment of mis-fires and stalls that plagued me through 2023. Head bolts torqued to Jim / 5Twins recommendations and I'm ready to go.
Just a short first ride of 20 miles to the Sea Wall and back via the local Bike Shop.
Taffy looking a little unclean at the end of the Drive (Sadly not my drive!); Sea Wall is the embankment on the left of shot.
So about 8 miles out and Taffy is running well.
View on top of the embankment looking East over the Bristol Channel towards the Severn Crossing and Bristol.
View looking South across the channel towards Portishead, Clevedon and Weston Super Mare.
The posts poking up out of the water to the right are wooden supports for Putcher Fishing:
Final view below is looking West towards Cardiff, beyond which the River Severn / Bristol Channel empties into the Irish Sea.
Veiw point indicated by red arrow.
The ride back was also enjoyable with Taffy performing well along the quiet country back roads.
A stop off at the Bike shop was fun too. Taffy is a bit loud and soon created some attention; all the Sales team from the shop came out to take photos!
A fair bit of banter with the assembled enthusiasts; all were complimentary about Taffy. The bike was moved about for photo opertunities which will be posted on the Shops Facebook site.
After that a short ride back to my Lock-up and Taffy was put to bed.
Looking forward to another ride out soon.
Bringing Taffy out of winter slumber a few weeks ago filled me with confidence, hopeful the bike would behave and not cause me the embarassment of mis-fires and stalls that plagued me through 2023. Head bolts torqued to Jim / 5Twins recommendations and I'm ready to go.
Just a short first ride of 20 miles to the Sea Wall and back via the local Bike Shop.
Taffy looking a little unclean at the end of the Drive (Sadly not my drive!); Sea Wall is the embankment on the left of shot.
So about 8 miles out and Taffy is running well.
View on top of the embankment looking East over the Bristol Channel towards the Severn Crossing and Bristol.
View looking South across the channel towards Portishead, Clevedon and Weston Super Mare.
The posts poking up out of the water to the right are wooden supports for Putcher Fishing:
Final view below is looking West towards Cardiff, beyond which the River Severn / Bristol Channel empties into the Irish Sea.
Veiw point indicated by red arrow.
The ride back was also enjoyable with Taffy performing well along the quiet country back roads.
A stop off at the Bike shop was fun too. Taffy is a bit loud and soon created some attention; all the Sales team from the shop came out to take photos!
A fair bit of banter with the assembled enthusiasts; all were complimentary about Taffy. The bike was moved about for photo opertunities which will be posted on the Shops Facebook site.
After that a short ride back to my Lock-up and Taffy was put to bed.
Looking forward to another ride out soon.
Attachments
Terrific travelogue Adam! And some great photographs too! Looks like a beautiful day for an outing!
Thanks for the tour. Glad you had a successful ride and she sure is purty.FIRST TAFFY RIDE OF 2024
Bringing Taffy out of winter slumber a few weeks ago filled me with confidence, hopeful the bike would behave and not cause me the embarassment of mis-fires and stalls that plagued me through 2023. Head bolts torqued to Jim / 5Twins recommendations and I'm ready to go.
Just a short first ride of 20 miles to the Sea Wall and back via the local Bike Shop.
View attachment 326172
Taffy looking a little unclean at the end of the Drive (Sadly not my drive!); Sea Wall is the embankment on the left of shot.
So about 8 miles out and Taffy is running well.
View attachment 326173
View on top of the embankment looking East over the Bristol Channel towards the Severn Crossing and Bristol.
View attachment 326175
View looking South across the channel towards Portishead, Clevedon and Weston Super Mare.
The posts poking up out of the water to the right are wooden supports for Putcher Fishing:
View attachment 326178
View attachment 326179
Final view below is looking West towards Cardiff, beyond which the River Severn / Bristol Channel empties into the Irish Sea.
View attachment 326180
Veiw point indicated by red arrow.
View attachment 326181
The ride back was also enjoyable with Taffy performing well along the quiet country back roads.
A stop off at the Bike shop was fun too. Taffy is a bit loud and soon created some attention; all the Sales team from the shop came out to take photos!
A fair bit of banter with the assembled enthusiasts; all were complimentary about Taffy. The bike was moved about for photo opertunities which will be posted on the Shops Facebook site.
View attachment 326182
After that a short ride back to my Lock-up and Taffy was put to bed.
Looking forward to another ride out soon.
A Couple Obsolete Irons
But the "hotrod" BBK is useful to me. What I think is an APC on display at the local armory has ethanol plant cooling towers intruding in the picture.
The short asian mufflers sound real nice, not a harsh noise at all, a Banggood half price deal from a few years ago.
Lakeview is that XS a keeper? Great styling there !
Hello Jim
The short ride (20mls) went well. And Taffy ran without a hitch.
I’m still nervous about venturing further due to a year of chasing the issues I had.
The Gonzo is still in place and runs without issue. I may reinstall the CDI unit as I now feel (know
) that ain’t the problem. It seems the brand new plugs woz my problem; who’d ‘av thunk it!I’m forever in debt to you and all that helped me over the past two years; you know who you are.
Just keeping fingers crossed
2024 will allow me to get much pleasure from Taffy.Cheers
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