Standard forks? - set of progressive springs [MikesXS] standard rear shocks? - set of progressive shocks or better than standard anyway, heaps of other ideas that I'm still playing with, some successful - some ? Cheers Baza
Here's the 77 XSD on it's last day with the 78E motor in it I'm putting in the 1981SH motor I have had waiting in the wings for so long. I had pulled this motor long ago, sold the rolling frame+wheels. Sold the seat and tank/side covers to another guy. The complete exhaust is currently on my buddies 78E OK, now she's "in". The 81 motor with the pamco ignition. Still to be done is; 1) Clean up/all new gromets/filters for the stock air box. 2) Install the 1" shorter rear fender from the special that I've put a bates tailight on. 3) Install the cocktail shaker mufflers (STD headers) 4) Slight wireing adjustments for the dual output coil Here she is with the 81 motor in. I have put on my extra carbs that are newly rebuilt. The rest of the accessories to bolt on throughout this upcoming week. When it's all done my buddy can have his 78 motor I've been running for the past 10+ years. He'll rebuild it and give me back what he's currently running...one of my other 77D motors. For those that have not heard this 81 with cocktail shakers run, may I remind you of these two videos. Unpacked and packed mufflers. Kinda corny, but you get the sound... Oh, what a great sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDob2DDK-g4 unpacked http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLa-exRi-0c packed This packing of 4 stroke fiberglass was not an easy task. And although the glass will eventual burn out, I doubt I'll ever get the baffles out to be able to repack! Below is my test bed/mock up machine...:eek1 Stay tuned
I haven't read it all yet (rural dialup) but this is a really good thread. That thing is just beautifull. My (late) Dad bought a '72 (same color) new and rode the wheels off it rain or shine, hot or cold. Ice was the only thing that parked his bike (usually). My Dad was a cool old motorcycle guy. We bought him a set of Jardine 2-1 headers for Christmas. He took the handlebars off and rebent them in an old oak tree. He put on bags and a windshield & rode it every day. When I was 15 we took a road trip half way across the country and back, camping the whole way and I don't think we ate in a resteraunt once. I had a Yamaha 500 at that time. I got my brothers 650 after graduating high school and rode it 1200 miles home, I toured the western states on it and it was reliable like a rock. I love those things. As my brother says " a Triumph, only reliable". They are the best looking motor ever made by the Japanese, my opinion. I'm glad they are still popular, they are the "universal donor" of moto world, people make everything imaginable out of them as this thread shows. I like em all but the scrambler types are cool. I've still got one, a vintage flat tracker I bought used in about '79. Mr. Shell REALLY made some HP out of those motors. DO
A local lad [Kookaburra], took a shine to the 'White Beast' @ 'Bards of the Bush' rally this weekend. Cheers Baza
Parts for 'Kenny' finally arrived today from MikesXS, usually takes 7 days - took 11 days this time, maybe Christmas mail? anyway, photos to follow in the next day or so of the rebuild Cheers Baza
I think I feel a project coming on..... Look what followed me home on Saturday..... ...and of course, being a real noooooobie with XS, I have an immediate question regarding this rear wheel: My son wants to build a street scrambler, and would like to have the larger rear wheel...in looking at Mikes'XS, it seems that there are no 18" rims for the Special 2 .... what are the best ways to get from this squat/bobber look to the standard-look and feel with an 18".... do people trade? should I look for a custom rim? any thoughts are oooh this is going to be FUN!!!
To the best of my knowledge a std 18 incher will bolt in place with no mods. It's either that or relace it.
OK, The swap is done and I've got 'bout 45 miles on her. Still making final adjustments. The clutch slips and I wanted to get the collective assesment/trouble shoot. Here's the facts as I know them; 1981 motor Clutch is working fine, disengaging, engaging, shifting, ect. Has proper freeplay at lever...did adjust her at rod... At about 4,500-5,000 rpm I can get a slip if I'm pushing it. I thought I felt slippage when the motor was in the test bike and I was going up+down the block. Now that she's in a registered bike and I can really run it, I'm sure it slips. Previous owner had it a long time and rode 16,000 miles. Bike has sat alot over the years. Never been rebuilt, stock stuff. PO had an oil change when he put it up for sale...it's clean, I have not touched it yet. So, I'll have to remove the right side cover, (wanted to polish it anyway). I have read that stock clutch springs loose their strength. Honestly though, I have never had a clutch problem or slippage on any of the 650 motors I've abused over the years, (much abuse!) So...I'll get her fixed up, but wondered about the trials+tribulations others have had, and what to look for. Could just be a need for new springs and addressing some glazed plates, could be the oil.
Just going through that process now, towing a trailer [150kg+] probably didn't help, I had heavy duty MikesXS springs [which I now consider stuffed!], new steel plates / new fibre plates, this combo did 45K kms before packing it in. Conditions were; 1. hot day, heavy traffic [lots of red lights going though Canberra - 20kms], 2. heavy load, trailer / two-up 3. added a different oil in a top-up [probably had additives in it!] 4. 45,000kms [mostly hard, lot of off-road enduro stuff] Now replacing with [new];- Kevlar type fibre plates, steel plates, heavy duty springs & clutch cable. heavy spring make for a heavy clutch pull so will be lengthening the actuator arm @ bottom of cluth cable on left-hand side of the motor. Cheers Baza
Baza, your scenario must put as much stress on the old 650 clutch as a rocket booster! That said... Mikes XS heavy duty springs... why are they considered toast now? have you measured their strength? I read in the 650garage not to get those, and to get the ones from 650 central. On plates, I had read that most of the fiber plates still spec out for people looking into a repair, it's the glazing. Just looking for tips and tricks to think about while I'm going to have to go in there anyway... Like the starter upgrade? My old batt didn't have enough cranking amps left in her. Just got a new one and am going to ride next. But... Have done a test start in the garage and it still tends to turn a bit slower than I'd like, and sometimes disengages.
Maybe brushes in the starter are a bit on the worn side, I have to do mine in 'Kenny' too while I've got the motor out, couldn't get new brushes last time I looked in MikesXS - out of stock, thanks for the reminder! The disengaging is probably the starter cogs & spring in behind the clutch basket, check it out while you're in there, get them from MikesXS too As for the springs, I'm just thought I'd wack new ones in & chuck the olds into the spares bin after checking their tension - good for a solo ride if needed, could always do the 'old' trick of packing washers in to get out of trouble, Yep, that extra weight sure tests an XS out, still pulls like a train though! Cheers Baza
Hi, Baza!! Go over to the Thumpers link. Go to the the Yamaha XT500 thread. There was a ride over in Holland, just for XT500 TT600s, and a XS650 motor XT500!! Check it out!! Look it the video, there the XS650 XT500 bike going great on the ride!!! ED XS 650 FAN!!:eek1:eek1
I keep looking for another 16" aluminum rear rim. I want to lace it up with the xs1 drum I found to run on the front.
The simplest way to go to an 18 inch is to get a set of RD 400 cast wheels if you don't mind the cast wheels... Woody can lace up some 18 inch hoops for you too. Choice is yours... If you go the cast route pm me since I have a set ready to go...