Thunder Bay to BC (Canada) and back 75XS

[SherpaT]

Not sure if this is the right place to post rides but I can move/delete it if need be. I’m on day 2 of my ride which is planned to be about 5-6000 km. Bike has been a project for a couple years now. Bought it for 300$ originally and rebuilt it on a budget. It’s basically stock with 79 carbs, uni pods and exhaust. Running a banshee swap Pma with the points still. I upgraded the master cylinder and that’s about it besides building racks for my luggage. Ah I’m also on 17-32 gearing. Here’s my build thread http://www.xs650.com/threads/1975-x...east-thats-what-i-tell-the-better-half.53493/

Day 1 was a short ride around 350 km and stayed with friends in Fort Frances On. right across the river from Minnesota. Today I continue west And will be Motorcycle camping for the first time somewhere in Manitoba.

Only issue I had day 1 was my breather tube off the head wasn’t long enough And was misting the back of the engine. Picking up a longer hose today and may just direct it at the chain to keep it lubed! Anyways here’s some pics from the road.

 

[Mailman]

Wow! This is going to be an epic ride! Thanks for bring us along, I’m really looking forward to seeing your updates. Have a safe and fun adventure. Best of luck to you!

 

[Jim]

I'll follow along. Good luck.

 

[griennehornette]

Awesome SherpaT! Howdy from southern Ontario. Love your setup.

I'm assuming the dog in the water photo does not ride on your tank. Just because it seems like something worth mentioning, if that was the case. I remember an Aussie guy (if I remember correctly) years ago, who had a dog which sat on the tank of his XS650. Wore goggles, and had a sheepskin for traction.

Regardless of canine companions, I admire this cool trek you're taking on. All the best on the road!

Chris

 

[SherpaT]

No dog haha she’s not particularly fond of motorcycles. I’m about an hour and a half into day two on the side of the road waiting for the JB weld to cure on a pinhole in my gas tank... Haven’t even gotten out of Ontario yet! I knew it would be an adventure...

 

[Superjet]

Oh dang it! Good luck following. JC

 

[gggGary]

This may be epic!
Oops MM used epic, hmm
Legendary!

 

[DaveO]

3000 miles on a $300 project. Impetuous! Homeric! Following.

 

[Mikey]

A 75 will get you anywhere and usually get you back Enjoy

 

[SherpaT]

So I’ve got a whole story to post up with lots of stuff but today i made it to Medicine Hat Ab. having issues... the bikes been hard to start hot starts perfectly cold and when hot needs lots of cranking and throttle. I had the right side carb get backfired off the flange and the boot is torn. The boots were new last year but probably of poor quality. I think it may have to do with not having an air box to support the carbs anymore. I have tried wiring up the carbs to take some weight and I've bought ether and sprayed Looking for leaks earlier in the trip. And had none. I shut it off today after 1.5 hours of 70mph 4000rpm and it refused to start. I took the plugs out ran it over put them in and it started. I made it to my destination and was in a parking lot and the carb kicked itself out again. Let it cool a bit tried the plugs out trick nothing and then bump started it down a hill it fired and I limped it to the campground. I’m looking at it and glueing the boot now. Using ultra grey - Fingers crossed. I’m hoping this is the root cause. The intake valve clearance is good I can jam a 006 I’m there but it’s tight so it should be close to 004. The old girl had a real hard day 450miles at 70mph and 35c elevator at Cadillac Saskatchewan

 

[bosco659]

Great trip planned, safe journey. Hopefully you will solve your starting issues. I kept splitting my carb adaptors too and eventually bought a set of aluminum flanges that bolt to the head and carbs mount with rubber hoses. Haven’t installed it yet but the hoses look bulletproof. Carbs will sit on a bit of an angle and hope that doesn’t cause issues.
If you need parts along the way, hopefully forum members will help you get them. I’m in Ontario but if I can help you with anything lmk.

 

[YamadudeXS650C]

Best of luck !!
You are courageous !
Love the grain elevator !

 

[SherpaT]

Great trip planned, safe journey. Hopefully you will solve your starting issues. I kept splitting my carb adaptors too and eventually bought a set of aluminum flanges that bolt to the head and carbs mount with rubber hoses. Haven’t installed it yet but the hoses look bulletproof. Carbs will sit on a bit of an angle and hope that doesn’t cause issues.
If you need parts along the way, hopefully forum members will help you get them. I’m in Ontario but if I can help you with anything lmk.

Thanks for the offer, we’re these boots for VM carbs or the BS series ? Do you have a link by chance ? I’m going to order some new ones to BC

 

[bosco659]

The ones that I bought were for my PWK’s. Don’t know if these will work for you. https://www.xs650direct.com/products-40.html

 

[lakeview]

That was a huge tire you were working on.

Hats off to your legendary endeavour!

 

[bosco659]

Updates on your journey please!

 

[MaxPete]

Hey there SherpaT - I’m just catching up on your thread. I wish you well on this fantastic trip and please be in touch if you need a hand.
Pete

 

[griennehornette]

I feel your pain SherpaT. Popped a carb just this morning, after forgotting something at home and looping back. It started fine while cold, but after coming home and trying to re-start it hot, it was grumpy and spit out the right carb. This is not an unusual occurrence. I've become fairly adept at loosening the clamps, popping the carbs back in, and tightening the clamps back up. Fortunately for me, I kept the original boots, which seem of much sturdier quality than replacements.

I guess I should say I feel *a bit* of your pain. My carb popped out in my own driveway, conveniently beside my garage (not to mention my fridge and a bathroom, if needed). Not hundreds of miles from home, with minimal tools, and a big tire for a work bench.

You, my friend, are a hero. An inspiration. I bow in a north-westerly direction, hopefully toward you.

BTW, that gearing of yours really makes a difference. I was out on the 402 highway today, going roughly 70mph (my speedo is currently broken, but I was in that neighbourhood), and I was well above 4000rpm. A bit above 5000, in fact. Think I'll do that 17/32 thing when I replace the sprockets.

Live long, and prosper. May that glue hold fast!

 

[SherpaT]

So I’m trying to post some videos up but I’ll start from the beginning as I’m having Troublr uploading them. Day 2 I left Fort Frances and headed for Emo. I wanted to get gas there however it’s quite religious there and the gas station was not open until 12 on Sunday’s. So I continued on to the junction to Nestor falls and pulled into a gas station on the Reservation. - There were 3 guys out front on Harleys with patches on their back. Intimidating but nice! Fueled up and headed north. After about an hour I pulled into a roadside store for a break. I look down and fuel is pouring onto my leg and the searing hot cylinder head! I push the bike to the side of the lot and pull the tank off and try and flip it over. The owner came out and was quite nice and brought me a bottle of water as I tried to patch the pinholes in the tank. I got it back together and saddled up and got on the road. About 20 miles later I stopped at some road construction and looked down and 2 new holes had opened up! Bah got across the bridge and pulled off on a old road. I took a deep breath and started fixing the new holes using a old loader tire as a bench, I had a coffee waiting for my JB weld to set up and then reassembled. Next I Fired it up and let the clutch out lugging it a bit and it sputtered kicking the carb out of its mount! At this point being only 5 hours from home I was pretty devastated and thought about going home. Either way I got on with it and put it together and got going. An hour and a half later I was in Kenora. I nursed it as I wasn’t sure about having a vacuum leak or not the regular 2.5 hour trip took like 5. In Kenora I gassed up and went to Canadian tire and bought some ether to check for leaks and couldn’t find any. Off I went i the #1 highway. Finally I crossed the border into Manitoba, took a pic and felt pretty good. 5 km later traffic dead stopped. I sat in the 30c weather in a massive line. Out of nowhere a fire truck came by and a guy leaned out the window at me and yelled “Turn around and take 44!” I knew what turn around meant... so I backtracked and found 44 - the old highway and folllowed that through twists and turns. Just outside Winnipeg I chased a train at 70mph which was cool and lifted my spirits! I found a campground called birds hill provincial park NE of the city and settled in for my first night on the road camping! What a day I thought the world was sending me a sign with the adversity but I think I passed the test! To be continued

 

[Superjet]

Man quite the journey Sherpa! You are getting thru it. JC