What have you done to your XS today?

[atom4488]

Front end is from 2021 GSXR750 with Cognito Moto stem & LSL top clamp/bars.
RFY shocks are some I had sitting around in the workshop. I have either Ohlins or Koni alloy body to fit when finished.
Tyres are Eurogrip Trailhound SCR 100/90-19 front & 130/70-18 rear.
I've ordered a DT400 tank from an Indian site on Ebay with good reviews, see what it looks like when it gets here.
I bought this one partially built from a guy that lost interest & was shifting interstate. I stripped it down & got into building it with the idea of selling as soon as it's done.

@Dunc, thanks for your replies. Like the front end. Good plan to replacé the RFY's with some real shocks. I found them to be way too softly sprung with minimal damping. AS I suspected, Eurogrip tires are not available in Canada, but do appear to be avialable in the US. I'd never heard of the brand. I'm using a DT400 tank on Project XS. Its got the right look, in my eyes. Hope your repro tank is good.

Keep posting please, like to see this build evolve.

 

[STARCROSSEDMOTO]

Awesome. I've seen those. Let us know how they handle/feel.

Mocked up a new speedometer bracket using C.A.D.

Cardboard Aided Design!

MKII

 

[K1w1Boy]

A good day to greet the courier driver.

 

[atom4488]

MKII

Interested to know where you found the speedometer... is it an Amazon find? Are you leaving the top triple raw with clearcoat, polishing or painting it?

I worked on mine tonight; casting flash removed and deburred, sandblasted and clearcoated with a satin finish. I am debating solid mounts for the risers. I am suspecting that the resulting vibration transfer may not be worth whatever is to be gained with solid mounts. Anyboday have recommendations based on experience?

 

[gunk]

Interested to know where you found the speedometer... is it an Amazon find? Are you leaving the top triple raw with clearcoat, polishing or painting it?

I worked on mine tonight; casting flash removed and deburred, sandblasted and clearcoated with a satin finish. I am debating solid mounts for the risers. I am suspecting that the resulting vibration transfer may not be worth whatever is to be gained with solid mounts. Anyboday have recommendations based on experience?

BASED on arthritis advancing as years accumulate I find hands going numb even with the cushioned risers. nOW CARRY 3 SETS OF GLOVES with gel padding
to dampen the vibes. Have to stop and change pairs. Helps somewhat. Solid risers would put both hands to sleep and loss of feeling after 20-30 hiway miles

 

[STARCROSSEDMOTO]

Interested to know where you found the speedometer... is it an Amazon find? Are you leaving the top triple raw with clearcoat, polishing or painting it?

I worked on mine tonight; casting flash removed and deburred, sandblasted and clearcoated with a satin finish. I am debating solid mounts for the risers. I am suspecting that the resulting vibration transfer may not be worth whatever is to be gained with solid mounts. Anyboday have recommendations based on experience?

Online. Ordered this one on ebay. I sifted through tons of reviews. I am ordering a second one/replacement one. This gauge works fine, but I ordered a speedometer tachometer combo in one unit. Just using this as a reference. Oh and clearcoat. Lots of metal brushed finishes on the final bike including the fenders.

From what I understand, most neo-classic parallel twins today are in a 270 degree firing order. (Except you kawasaki Ws) Vibration was fine on those. Having this engine rephased. Even my coworker's Harley 48 didn't rattle my teeth. But...my Pop is older now and the rattle & buzz from his old Suzuki 2-stroke is too much for him.

 

[atom4488]

Online. Ordered this one on ebay. I sifted through tons of reviews. I am ordering a second one/replacement one. This gauge works fine, but I ordered a speedometer tachometer combo in one unit. Just using this as a reference. Oh and clearcoat. Lots of metal brushed finishes on the final bike including the fenders.

From what I understand, most neo-classic parallel twins today are in a 270 degree firing order. (Except you kawasaki Ws) Vibration was fine on those. Having this engine rephased. Even my coworker's Harley 48 didn't rattle my teeth. But...my Pop is older now and the rattle & buzz from his old Suzuki 2-stroke is too much for him.

Thanks for your reply. Like the clearcoat scheme.

 

[atom4488]

BASED on arthritis advancing as years accumulate I find hands going numb even with the cushioned risers. nOW CARRY 3 SETS OF GLOVES with gel padding
to dampen the vibes. Have to stop and change pairs. Helps somewhat. Solid risers would put both hands to sleep and loss of feeling after 20-30 hiway miles

Thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear of your arthritis affecting your riding. I'm somewhat in the same boat, but mine's in the shoulder. Based on my own experience with the XS vibes and comments such as yours, I think I'll stay rubber-mounted.

 

[Its been a long time]

You know when you lift the seat to check the battery and your eye is drawn to corroded battery box brackets? (Perhaps not).

Today's little job. Before -

After -

They came up really nicely.

 

[STARCROSSEDMOTO]

You know when you lift the seat to check the battery and your eye is drawn to corroded battery box brackets? (Perhaps not).

Today's little job. Before -

View attachment 377484

After -

View attachment 377485

They came up really nicely.

Wonderful. Ultrasonic cleaner or steam?

 

[Its been a long time]

Wonderful. Ultrasonic cleaner or steam?

Brass wire brush and scotch brite pads. A light clear coat to keep them shiny for a while longer.

 

[STARCROSSEDMOTO]

MKIII, last dash/bracket mock-up before I break out the sheet metal. The three dots/holes around the bottom will be idiot lights.

 

[gunk]

MKIII, last dash/bracket mock-up before I break out the sheet metal. The three dots/holes around the bottom will be idiot lights.

Looks sharp. Just thinking do you have enough clearance to locate the idiots lights in a matching radius to the O.Dia. of the speedo ?
I think you would be p;leased with the result if you made a mockup to. Please don't take my suggestion as negative. You do great work.

 

[STARCROSSEDMOTO]

Looks sharp. Just thinking do you have enough clearance to locate the idiots lights in a matching radius to the O.Dia. of the speedo ?
I think you would be p;leased with the result if you made a mockup to. Please don't take my suggestion as negative. You do great work.

No offense given; none taken.

I confess, it is very easy for me to get tunnel vision when I have an idea and begin setting out to achieve it. All that to say, " sir, I never even thought of it." But now it looks like I may be on to MKIV.

 

[atom4488]

MKIII, last dash/bracket mock-up before I break out the sheet metal. The three dots/holes around the bottom will be idiot lights.

Like what you're doing and following this closely as I will be doing something similar for Project XS. Just received the GPS speedo that I will be using as a single gauge. What will the three lights be indicating, given that normally one would have ignition, high beam, indicators and neutral indicators?

 

[atom4488]

Been working on an engine run stand for on-the-bench fire-ups before installing an engine in a frame. Pics to follow...

 

[STARCROSSEDMOTO]

Like what you're doing and following this closely as I will be doing something similar for Project XS. Just received the GPS speedo that I will be using as a single gauge. What will the three lights be indicating, given that normally one would have ignition, high beam, indicators and neutral indicators?

Thanks. Do you have a build thread? The speedometer I chose is modeled after the old Smiths clicks on the Triumph bikes, and it's GPS. Those were the big selling points for me. The gauge itself has LR indicators and high beam. The three 8mm dash lights will be Neutral, fuel, and oil. Cheers.

 

[atom4488]

Thanks. Do you have a build thread? The speedometer I chose is modeled after the old Smiths clicks on the Triumph bikes, and it's GPS. Those were the big selling points for me. The gauge itself has LR indicators and high beam. The three 8mm dash lights will be Neutral, fuel, and oil. Cheers.

Build thread is here: https://www.xs650.com/threads/project-xs.63064/page-3
I was looking for the smallest analog GPS speedo and found a 2" version. Looks good in the box, we'll see how it looks on the bike.

 

[Its been a long time]

You know when you lift the seat to check the battery and your eye is drawn to corroded battery box brackets? (Perhaps not).

Today's little job. Before -

View attachment 377484

After -

View attachment 377485

They came up really nicely.

That's much better.

 

[Its been a long time]

I have used the clear braided plastic tube on fuel for several decades now. The pieces in the picture have been on the bike maybe a year. They're already stiff and swelled, they no longer fit the 6mm fuel taps properly.

Bought some of the black E10 compatible hose, the bit in the picture is what's left over.