Mikey's new to him 73 650

[Mikey]

We'll call this my build thread although I work at the speed of smell on these bikes I'll post anything note worthy as I get something done

" what's that dear "
"Ya wan't me to do what "
"Oh okay write it down for me would ya and I'll get a round to it real quick"

Okay it's a 73 with under 6,000 miles on the speedo ( if the speedo is stock)
The guy I got it from purchased it used in 74 and after awhile it got sold to his brother
And after his brother died a few years ago he got it back
Plates are from 2022 and he's always kept ethanol free gas in it ( when the change to gas came with it )

It definetly has an aftermarket M/C and I'm not sure of the exaust being stock and the inside of the tank looks good
Well enough yammerin for now here's a few pics (so it did happen ) see I know the rules here

 

[GLJ]

Very nice. The exhaust looks to be stock but may not be in very good condition.
What are your plans for it?

 

[Mailman]

Congratulations Mikey! This looks like fun…I’m in!

 

[Jim]

I'm in.

 

[Jim]

I "might" have a steering dampener for ya. Remind me to look in a few days if I forget to look...

 

[Jim]

Off an XS-1. Anybody know if they're the same? I suspect they are.
Yours for the ride, Mikey... if it'll work.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Nice! You got the later tank with decals rather than badges. It was supposed to fix the leaks.

 

[Mikey]

Very nice. The exhaust looks to be stock but may not be in very good condition.
What are your plans for it?

I don't know yet
With a 75 and 77 do I really need another
I want to see what cost will be ( It'll need new tires for sure)and go from there

 

[Mikey]

Off an XS-1. Anybody know if they're the same? I suspect they are.
Yours for the ride, Mikey... if it'll work.

View attachment 344645

View attachment 344646

View attachment 344647

If your sure you want to part with it
What exactly is the purpose of it
The guy I bought it from just rode it as is

 

[Mikey]

Nice! You got the later tank with decals rather than badges. It was supposed to fix the leaks.

Back end of the tank has a little paint missing from seat wear but it looks good otherwise

 

[Jim]

Acts as a shimmy dampener... helps prevent it shakin' it's head at speed... with limited success I might add.
One thing it is good for is long straight roads with a stiff crosswind. The kind where you're constantly fightin' the bike, leanin' into the wind. Snug that thing down and it helps a lot.
I considered it indispensable when I was stationed in N Mexico. The high plains was nothing but miles and miles of straight roads... and near constant crosswinds. Never really understood the physics of it, but it does help a lot.

 

[DogBunny]

Jim' assembly is missing part #12, which holds the damper at the desired stiffness. #17 is just a thin washer, and 16 is a little rubber washer, and I think they both might be at the very bottom of the rod in Jim's pics, otherwise you can scrounge or make them

The main purpose of the damper is that it is kind of unique and looks sort of funky-cool. I've been riding without it for 4 years on the Super RustBucket (a 73 TX650), including lots of freeway driving. Every once in a long while I imagine very minor shimmying, and wonder if I should install it.

Excellent score on the bike.

 

[willis]

Great find. Should this be moved from the "Clubhouse" over to the 'Garage" forum to gain more traction?

 

[Mikey]

I couldn't pass this up
Even in Feb.
How does one move a thread just cut and paste the whole thing

 

[Mikey]

View attachment 344659
Jim' assembly is missing part #12, which holds the damper at the desired stiffness. #17 is just a thin washer, and 16 is a little rubber washer, and I think they both might be at the very bottom of the rod in Jim's pics, otherwise you can scrounge or make them

The main purpose of the damper is that it is kind of unique and looks sort of funky-cool. I've been riding without it for 4 years on the Super RustBucket (a 73 TX650), including lots of freeway driving. Every once in a long while I imagine very minor shimmying, and wonder if I should install it.

Excellent score on the bike.

Thanks for the diagram !!
How do you manage getting a clear diagram off Partzilla ?

 

[Mikey]

View attachment 344659
Jim' assembly is missing part #12, which holds the damper at the desired stiffness. #17 is just a thin washer, and 16 is a little rubber washer, and I think they both might be at the very bottom of the rod in Jim's pics, otherwise you can scrounge or make them

The main purpose of the damper is that it is kind of unique and looks sort of funky-cool. I've been riding without it for 4 years on the Super RustBucket (a 73 TX650), including lots of freeway driving. Every once in a long while I imagine very minor shimmying, and wonder if I should install it.

Excellent score on the bike.

When I start digging into this can the top nut just be loosened and slide the rod in with the various washers put in place while doing this or do I take it apart completely and go from there
New uncharted territory for me

 

[Jim]

Great find. Should this be moved from the "Clubhouse" over to the 'Garage" forum to gain more traction?

Done.

 

[DogBunny]

How do you manage getting a clear diagram off Partzilla ?

It's luck of the draw. Some of the parts fiches that Partzilla uses are clear, some are not.

I have attached a little secret of mine that 2M gave me a long time ago. It is a foreign version (in English) of a 70-72 parts manual with exceptionally clear diagrams and 99.9% correct part numbers. Of course, 73 has some differences, but is 99% the same as 72.

 

[Mailman]

I have a lot of good images regarding the steering damper in my XS2 thread. It really has nothing to do with proper tightening of the steering stem / bearings. Near as I can tell it’s just a quick way to snug up a loose front end. Plus they just look cool!
PS….disregard the grease zerk I installed in the neck and didn’t use.

https://www.xs650.com/threads/mailman’s-xs2-a-full-on-restoration.51520/page-86#post-576489

 

[JJames]

Wow. Great stuff Mikey! And thanks to DogBunny for the clear diagrams.