No turn signals ? That is very tempting except many modern drivers perhaps don’t understand hand signals ?
Very tempting
Very tempting
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XS650 Adventure Bike?
- Thread starter Kevin Werner
- Start date
My hand signals are generally, left arm waving forward, pass me, as I pull over and slow. I ride back county roads mostly. This bike is really for class B, C and D roads at a relaxed pace.
Easy enough to mount modern bright led signals.
I didn’t see any on the blue tracker.
I’ve noticed many chopper bikes don’t have turn signals.
I’m just not quite ready to be turn signal less.
I’ve noticed many chopper bikes don’t have turn signals.
I’m just not quite ready to be turn signal less.
I do understand. My Red Bike does not yet have signals, I may work on that after the Adventure 650 is a little more sorted. I do live and ride in a lower population density area and I understand your angst. It isn't always easy to find neutral so I can signal a left turn at a 4 way.
I didn't have signals on Taffy when I got it. First few rides I felt very vulnerable in the myopic traffic. Put Moto-Gadget super bright bar ends and pin lights under the seat unit discretly. I feel far more visible now and much happier mixing it with the tin boxes.
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Out of the shed and a short ride. Feels much better with the fork rebuild/mods. Stull has that 750 pull. Exhaust port inserts seem to help.
We have a love for our XS650s. I have revealed my penchant for standard style bikes with my "Red Bike" project but this view of the Adventure bike has me enchanted...
![20240725_214916[1].jpg](https://www.xs650.com/attachments/20240725_214916-1-jpg.331705/ "20240725_214916[1].jpg")
Way too clean Kevin. Need a little dirt for the true adventure look..
Love the bike by the way.
A Norton I'm occasionally bopping around on doesn't have signals (yet) and a poor rear view mirror, even in rural Sauk county (bumpkisville) it scares me. I don't count on others paying attention but at least giving them a clue is a VERY good idea.
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Love the red one.
The Adventure bike went up on the pit stand. The sidestand was too short. The lean was precarious with taller tires and no static sag in the fork springs. An ugly 1" extension no graces the sidestand shoe. While the borrowed fluxcore welder is on-site a few other issues will be resolved. The modified peg location does not allow clean, convenient linkage for the brake pedal so I need to use a shortened OEM brake pedal lever. I will shorten the OEM arm ~ 50% I took a WAG (wild assed guess) and built a rear drum actuator arm 25% longer than stock by cutting an actuator arm and welding in a section of 11/16 Proto wrench handle (label facing out) . Flux core does not make pretty welds. Tomorrow I will do the brake pedal surgery. Could have tried the existing brake pedal but decided a Canadian Club in the rocks had priority. It was hot and humid in the garage all day. Big plus, @Wingedwheel will be delivering his calendar bike to my friend and neighbor (3 city blocks apart) tomorrow so I will get the pleasure of meeting another forum denizen. Side note, @Ben1 and I and my neighbor will likely be in western WI and have 4 Calendar bikes in one location Sept 10 -15 or so.
Pictures? Not until beta testing and a suitable duct tape wrap has been applied to hide my welds.
Pictures? Not until beta testing and a suitable duct tape wrap has been applied to hide my welds.
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Our dates are firmed up, 8 September through 14 September. Arrive Sunsday and depart Saturday. Given a rainday or two we should have several days to explore. Reserves are in for a $65/nite hotel in Westby.. All visitors are welcome for a short or long visit. This is a "seat of the pants" event with only "interesting riding" the end game.
Sounds like a lot of fun!
Last night, I had dinner with a fellow who drove a Honda 305 Dream from Mississippi to San Francisco, and back. He told me it has/had “street” tires on it. It was a group ride. Several on the old Honda. I think you can read about it or watch it if you Google “Critter Bikes.”
Y’all are going to have a great time. How could you not?
Y’all are going to have a great time. How could you not?
Depends on how loud the old man snores! But I have been known to be able to compete also!
Mikey
got muscles in his head that ain't never been used
Ear plugs can be your friend
I remember once thinking man I'm so tired that I'm snoring even before I fall asleep
Here I was snoring so loud that I had woken myself up
Switching to new meds cut the noise level down a lot
I remember once thinking man I'm so tired that I'm snoring even before I fall asleep
Here I was snoring so loud that I had woken myself up
Switching to new meds cut the noise level down a lot
The rear brake set up was hokey and inconvenient. I took an old rusty pedal arm, cut the toe section off, shortened the arm 5 inches and welded the pedal back on. This is a crude version to test and if it works I may or may not clean it up and paint it. The leverage is somewhat less than stock. I did add an inch or so the drum actuator arm to gain some leverage there. I will test it tomorrow,
![20240807_165728[1].jpg](https://www.xs650.com/attachments/20240807_165728-1-jpg.332460/ "20240807_165728[1].jpg")
Incidently, that peg placement is pretty good. When I get a wild hair up my a$$ I will have a new 0.375 plate made to lower the peg an inch or 2 and move them forward and inch or two. The plates cost only $15 from a local shop.
I mounted mine direct to the frame after some mods to lower the pegs.:
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