What have you done to your XS today?

[Pat D]

That's a 1973-1975 RD250/350 front fender, exactly the same as your gauges. Makes me wonder if maybe your whole front end is RD. I wonder if that fender fits a TX/XS650. Would be great info if it does. I have that fender, and I'll be receiving 74-76 TX/XS650 forks next month, so maybe I'll test it.

Could be, I mentioned at some point over the years that the bike came with the small RD headlight, which drove me nuts for a while (the mounting ears really didn't fit it correctly). The fender doesn't fit "exactly" my forks, the holes on the fork brackets don't quite line up, I'm using washers to clamp it in place.

Speaking of RD 250/350 parts, I gotta find a tach. I was out riding and basking in just how good the bike is looking and how well it is running, satisfaction oozing from my pores, and one of the faceplate screws fell out. The other was well on its way. So, I painstakingly disassembled the bezel, fixed the screws, and was replacing the glass with the delicacy and precision of a surgeon when I cracked it. This one's gonna cost me. But again, thanks to your sharp eye I won't buy the wrong one!

 

[onkelheri]

https://www.xs650.de/forum/viewtopic.php?p=126073#p126073

 

[Jim]

Could be, I mentioned at some point over the years that the bike came with the small RD headlight, which drove me nuts for a while (the mounting ears really didn't fit it correctly). The fender doesn't fit "exactly" my forks, the holes on the fork brackets don't quite line up, I'm using washers to clamp it in place.

Speaking of RD 250/350 parts, I gotta find a tach. I was out riding and basking in just how good the bike is looking and how well it is running, satisfaction oozing from my pores, and one of the faceplate screws fell out. The other was well on its way. So, I painstakingly disassembled the bezel, fixed the screws, and was replacing the glass with the delicacy and precision of a surgeon when I cracked it. This one's gonna cost me. But again, thanks to your sharp eye I won't buy the wrong one!

XS650.... not RD350. Spins with a drill. Send me a PM if you're interested.

 

[Dunc]

Today’s job done.

 

[Pat D]

XS650.... not RD350. Spins with a drill. Send me a PM if you're interested.

View attachment 371272

Much appreciated, but my understanding is they are "slightly" different diameter- my entire gauge cluster is RD, that's why the TX repop faceplate I bought wouldn't fit. So, my green "N" light is at the 6 o clock position on the RD tach, and, of course, for the bling, the RD tach has a stainless ring that can be polished to a mirror finish. I found a RD tach on Ebay, it looks good, and that's all that matters- my ear is as good as the factory tach!

 

[angus67]

Over last few days I pulled out of my shed my ‘71. Took clutch cover off, freed up the clutch, pulled the sump plate, replaced and greased the clutch cable, replaced the vr115 that burned up 6 years ago, that’s how long it’s been sitting.
Fired up second kick.

 

[Bob Wegman]

Could be, I mentioned at some point over the years that the bike came with the small RD headlight, which drove me nuts for a while (the mounting ears really didn't fit it correctly). The fender doesn't fit "exactly" my forks, the holes on the fork brackets don't quite line up, I'm using washers to clamp it in place.

Speaking of RD 250/350 parts, I gotta find a tach. I was out riding and basking in just how good the bike is looking and how well it is running, satisfaction oozing from my pores, and one of the faceplate screws fell out. The other was well on its way. So, I painstakingly disassembled the bezel, fixed the screws, and was replacing the glass with the delicacy and precision of a surgeon when I cracked it. This one's gonna cost me. But again, thanks to your sharp eye I won't buy the wrong one!

I have a 650 tach glass if you want it.

 

[ehud42]

Meep!Meep!
The OG horn on my XS500 is 3/4 missing. The aftermarket replacement installed by a previous owner sounds like it was ripped from a LittleTykes toy car.
I removed all that and installed a new horn from XS650Direct. Sounds much better now.
(and I finally figured out how to consistently kick start it from cold!)

#smallThings

 

[Jan_P]

Upstart for the season
Not staring .then running on one cylinder the Right
Petcock opened on the motor turning
Petrol ran trough the left carburetor onto the ground

Tried to tap on the outside did not solve it
Drained the float bowl via the screw om the outside
And bike started smoked white smoke left side as if the engine was shot
But more reliable start registered it at the authorities
To the gas station full tank and pump the tires
Gradually ran better and no white smoke.

Rev counter not working so I took out another wire but it was to short did not fit
Put in a small blue plastic stick to se if anything was turning at the motor end
And it did
Connected the wire that can have the inside taken out -- after lubrication and wiping of some red stuff ... rust
There is some movement now at the rev Counter Pointer

Se what happens if I need to take the right side off investigate
Maybe one more Year

 

[Melnic]

Rode out to a Classic Motorcycle day and entered my bike in the show.
Its 2 awards per make and then there are a couple other categories for the pre 1960 bikes.
Not many Yamahas. My XS650 placed 2nd
On the way there, I could not downshift while coasting to a light about 10 miles from home. Took off slowly in 3rd.
On the way back it gave me a fit shifting to 1st at a light from neutral but got it down after a few tries.
I will say my friction zone is pretty far in on the clutch pull. Maybe I just need to adjust my clutch cable?
I do an aluminum clutch push rod and typically its not that hard to find neutral.

 

[Wagner73]

Rode out to a Classic Motorcycle day and entered my bike in the show.
Its 2 awards per make and then there are a couple other categories for the pre 1960 bikes.
Not many Yamahas. My XS650 placed 2nd

And there you go! Good on ya!

 

[gunk]

Rode out to a Classic Motorcycle day and entered my bike in the show.
Its 2 awards per make and then there are a couple other categories for the pre 1960 bikes.
Not many Yamahas. My XS650 placed 2nd
On the way there, I could not downshift while coasting to a light about 10 miles from home. Took off slowly in 3rd.
On the way back it gave me a fit shifting to 1st at a light from neutral but got it down after a few tries.
I will say my friction zone is pretty far in on the clutch pull. Maybe I just need to adjust my clutch cable?
I do an aluminum clutch push rod and typically its not that hard to find neutral.

View attachment 371408View attachment 371409

WELL DONE . sure hope the cable adjustment solves your elusive Neutral.

 

[bosco659]

Out from a 7 month hibernation. Now what did I do with those mirrors?

 

[onkelheri]

Very nice customize!

 

[Jan_P]

More Problems
Went for a bike and car meet
Stopped Downshifting 3-2-1
Had some tools .It is Not the clutch
And when trying to find neutral had ignition key on for the green neutral control lamp
Main fuse blew .That I have seen last season
Have a bypass circuit for Boyer Bransden --- Only ---- Inserted the fuse and connected and drove home on the battery
puuu hhh ... feel free tell about the shifting . If it is known ..what it can be. Not happened before

 

[onkelheri]

an angry Cupperworm ...

 

[gggGary]

Up next 4 Madness

 

[zrx1100]

View attachment 371696
Up next 4 Madness

Do you still have a 17 upfront?

 

[gggGary]

Do you still have a 17 upfront?

yup. this'll be the third aluminum sprocket. I think a stretched chain since changed ate #2

 

[zrx1100]

yup. this'll be the third aluminum sprocket. I think a stretched chain since changed ate #2
View attachment 371698

I am contemplating a 33 or 32. Maybe a 32 since the bike has more power. Don’t you have a 750 kit in the madness?