Chrome chain guard definitely looks better than the stock black one on my 650D.
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What have you done to your XS today?
- Thread starter I am Carbon
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- maintenance
Winterisation started this morning. Removed the battery to bring indoors. Filled the fuel tank to the brim with stabiliser dosed fuel. Drained the carburettors.
Two pictures today to make up for not posting one yesterday
Two pictures today to make up for not posting one yesterday
Yeah, I was a little torn about whether to add the chrome guard, but once on there I like it.
Is that rim alloy, and slightly wider than the original?
Yes, it's a silver-anodized Sun rim, 3.00-18. Put 2.15-19 on the front.
wider rims and lower than stock profile tires, better front brake MC to caliper ratio are prolly the best changes you can make on an XS for street use.
Thanks, yes. I have admired the running gear & brakes on your "Madness", although I believe you went wider still on the rims.
Tires are 100/90 in front and 120/90 in rear. Front brake will be a stock rotor resurfaced and drilled, and a Brembo P4 caliper. 12.7 mm master.
Tires are 100/90 in front and 120/90 in rear. Front brake will be a stock rotor resurfaced and drilled, and a Brembo P4 caliper. 12.7 mm master.
FloppaEnjoyer8067
XS650 Enthusiast
Finally finished my rewire on my 81 XS650. I was 90% done mid-June, but then I lost motivation and my Harley kept needing work. I put in about 3 hours of work finishing up the wiring, an hour repinned my headlight connectors to be a 20 pin DT instead of a bunch of 2/3 pins, then spent another hour taping the harness, then put her back together.
Definitely worth it as my ignition no longer cuts out when I hit bumps, the headlight will now shut off when I click the starter. I removed every original relay but the starter relay, then added a “accessory”, “lighting”, and “ignition” circuit each with their own modern Bosch relays.
Next up is taking my spare engine and machining it to drop weight to turn this into my camping scrambler bike… that’s a much longer project machining parts for weight reduction though
Definitely worth it as my ignition no longer cuts out when I hit bumps, the headlight will now shut off when I click the starter. I removed every original relay but the starter relay, then added a “accessory”, “lighting”, and “ignition” circuit each with their own modern Bosch relays.
Next up is taking my spare engine and machining it to drop weight to turn this into my camping scrambler bike… that’s a much longer project machining parts for weight reduction though
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Very nice Wagner. I run a 2.15 x 19 on one of mine as well and quite like it, so much so that I'm going to build another as a spare ......
Very nice! Thanks again for your tips, etc on the cover, speedo drive, et al!
Started to remove the handlebars that have hammer rash, probably from a previous off event. Over winter, going to powder coat the top yoke and handlebar risers as they're showing their age. Then fit a set of Renthal 756 bars that I've had sitting in the garage for several years unused.
Renthal 756 bars are a bit lower, narrower and less pull back from what's fitted now. But I think they'll be comfortable enough. Will have to make sure the handlebar switches are grounded when I fit them because of the heavy black coating on the alloy.
It was a nice surprise to find the rubber isolators that the clocks mount to were looking like they've been replaced with new by the previous owner. That is a surprise since every other rubber isolator on the bike was rotten.
Saves me £20 for a set of four new isolators.
Renthal 756 bars are a bit lower, narrower and less pull back from what's fitted now. But I think they'll be comfortable enough. Will have to make sure the handlebar switches are grounded when I fit them because of the heavy black coating on the alloy.
It was a nice surprise to find the rubber isolators that the clocks mount to were looking like they've been replaced with new by the previous owner. That is a surprise since every other rubber isolator on the bike was rotten.
Saves me £20 for a set of four new isolators.
Seat Foam Exorcism
A rescued Special came with one of those seats that must have been the super ultra choice of the discerning mile eater in the '80's. Looked like an overstuffed upholstered tractor seat, on a composite base, my example had been chewed on pretty disgustingly.
With nothing to lose and wanting to try my hand at foam carving and recovering, I marked out the new profile with a sharpie and started slicing. Got a lot of the ugly off.
Now to make a pattern for a black denim cover.
SCOTTSEY
XS650 Member
Recieved two packages of parts today. Re installed right switch housing and replaced the neutral wire boot .
Next is wiring if harness
Update - Never had much problem over the years bleeding brake and clutch systems, motorcycle or car, Dot 3/4/5.1 or Dot 5. But something about this simple m/c - single line - 4 piston caliper system made it a bitch to bleed. Finally got it after using ~3 different techniques, tapping the caliper with a deadblow hammer, etc. Have never used, or had to use the reverse bleed method, but in hindsight I think that might've been the move. I blame the 4 pot caliper!
Curious how those bars will look on the bike!
Visiting a suspension shop for new rear shocks! Was quite the puzzle to figure it all out and make it work. Tried different set-ups regarding types of shocks.
The plan is made, now I gotta wait for the parts to arrive in order to build the bodies of the shocks....
The plan is made, now I gotta wait for the parts to arrive in order to build the bodies of the shocks....
Scottike
XS650 Member
Made an attachment for my 8" C-Clamp to compress the valve springs on my 650. Used stainless so I don't to deal with as much frustration with the magnet to pull the valve keepers :
I think a little superglue will hold the pads to the clamp while it's in use, we'll see.
Edit: just waiting on my gasket set to be delivered. (USPS & a prayer.)
I think a little superglue will hold the pads to the clamp while it's in use, we'll see.
Edit: just waiting on my gasket set to be delivered. (USPS & a prayer.)
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