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I agree with leo. Don't change a thing. How dare you devalue a mass produced bike from the 70s and 80s. Bike technology has not evolved at all. So obviously if your looking to keep it a good bike...Just leave it as is. Watch out though...all that attention you're gonna get on your stock xs650 could go to your head, and nobody likes anyone with a big head!
Nah. I don't think people have opinions on stuff like this... They just ride what they have.
Personally. I prefer a hardtail no front brake scoot. It's not about attention. Cuz seriously? In rural Alabama all the attention you get is: WOW!!!! NICE HARLEY ARE YOU A BIKER?????!! I just like the way they ride and look..... It's not for some peeps tho. Each to his own. I respect the resto guys too.
On the original question tho.... Chain and rear brake pedal are your main concerns, but you've got to have fab skills and enjoy using them to make it worth it... Cuz that's really just a start.
Synthetic oil with roller bearing cranks & old style "wet clutches" is a no-no ! Go with a decent plain mineral oil & change it every 1000 miles - or use AMSOIL synth designed for the job.
Hard tail - why not - unless you're gonna be racing the old lump around the block!
Synthetic oil with roller bearing cranks & old style "wet clutches" is a no-no ! Go with a decent plain mineral oil & change it every 1000 miles - or use AMSOIL synth designed for the job.
So how is it Amsoil is good enough but the generalized no no comes first? ALL motorcycle specific synthetics I know of meet JASO-MA requirements, which include wet clutch requirements. All claims of roller bearing scoot are bunk. Every turbine aircraft engine in the world has ball or roller bearings (or BOTH) in them and all of them use synthetic oil.
Heres what i'm curious about. From what I've researched thus far, most of the stretches are 3 or 4 inches. What makes people not want to go up to 6''? the threads i've been reading, most want to give the xs a longer look, I would think 3'' might not be enough?
The early bikes (70-73 I believe) had a shorter wheelbase/swingarm than the later models, by about 1 1/2". My `71 XS1B with 3 1/2" stretch actually equals 2" on a later model. Somewhere on this forum is a super stretch mod, too much for me.
hardtails are somewhat cool in that every one is different.ive never seen two the same.some are a real work of art. however if you have never rode one, you mite want too ride one before you do it to your bike.a lot depends on how good the roads are in your area.and how tuff you are and how much you plan to ride your bike.
i rode them in my younger days and now wished i hadnt.