What did you do with your XS today?

... Maxim looks small beside my frankenbike...
What a beautiful day was Tue - and what a Frankenbike!

A very cool looking adventure bike Dave has made - we need a more comprehensive pictorial tour of all his fabrications - windshield, rear suspension, tank, seat, bars, gps, blue-tooth, lighting system - and HORN. Well, the horn doesn't look impressive, so a pic won't cut it, however, an audio file played through a 200 amp stereo system might do it justice - it's is just south of a train horn - what a hoot! (pun intended)

Prior to riding west to meet Dave, and after 11/11/11, I was out for an hour riding the roads around the Forks-of-the-Credit, along with a friend on his '67 Electra-Glide. He's a very good rider, and in spite of his old school tires and lame suspension (his description), I couldn't stay with him on the twisty parts. I just don't have my nerves back yet.
That's my story anyway :laugh:
 
Put a grease fitting in the swing arm. Bushing arrived, slid it in, added grease and end caps, took swing arm to bike, slid it in place, put the bolt in. Got the wheel, put it in place, looped the chain, did up all the pieces. Pipes, tank, seat, side covers back on and fired him up.
Test run soon. Slid have to install the air filters. Have to pick them up next time I am on the mainland in a couple of weeks.

Unkle Crusty*
 
Between yesterday and today I pulled the valve cover in advance of painting and cleaned it as best I could; also bought a supply of baking soda for cleaning. I'm planning on wrinkle paint for the valve cover, TCI cover, and carb hats.
 
Not exactly XS related but I just signed for an apartment that includes a garage.
I can work on the bike through winter!
 
Busy weekend.

Attended the MSF class on Wednesday and Thursday - loved the course!!

Took my MSF certificate to DMV and got my new license (Real ID version) and registered the Seca. Then took it for a couple of rides in the neighborhood. It put a smile on my face! Put smiles on a couple of the neighbors' faces too :)

Bought a motorcycle jacket.

This morning was windy and cold (for Vegas) so my ride was short. I decided to focus on some maintenance. I cleaned and lubed the chain. The brake fluid looked awful so I bled the master cylinder and now it's clean. I also gave it a quick wash.

Ready to ride tomorrow.
 
I received my fuel petcock rebuild kit in the mail (rubber o-ring, metal washer, rubber disc). Installed those parts in the petcock and so far so good (knock on wood.) Also, changed oil filter and oil. Switched to the Shell Rotella T Triple Protection. I love it! Bike started up strong in this 48 degree, wet weather and I took it for an aggressive spin until the rain forced me home. After I go through this Rotella T, I just may try out the Shell Rotella T6 synthetic. Next up, a thorough, ultrasonic clean for the carbs and new jets! :thumbsup:
 
Test run today for " Deep Purple " my 83 XS400.
Handles much better with the new swing arm bearings and shaft.
Was only a couple of degrees above freezing. Started on one cylinder, but the other one fired soon enough.
Still will not take WOT, but pulls okay if I back off just a little. Not enough room on my Island for high speed runs, but ran DP over 60 mph, and there is more speed available. So I know we can go down the freeway okay. That happens in two weeks.
Will put the air filters on before I get too serious about tuning.
It is not perfect, but good enough to get me through the winter. Tyres and brakes are okay, wheels go up and down, and the hinge in the middle has been fixed. All the wheel bearings are new. 5 Speed motor does not have too many miles on it. Steering head feels okay. Have saddle bags and rear top box off my Suzuki installed. Have dirt bike type hand guards installed, and working on wind deflectors for my legs.
And I have an XS11 if something fails.

Unkle Crusty*
 
Spent last Sunday which was ironically only sunny day to chop off passenger seat and install new lights which are Ecc approved...
Here are some photos...
vtiaz33.jpg


vbAlEDF.jpg


and here you can see how it was before...
View attachment 16219
 
PoPJRi5.jpg

Today I pulled the right side case off because the gasket has been leaking. I have a new one to replace it but I wanted to throw this photo up here first in case there's anything glaringly wrong with my clutch. I have no experience with wet clutches and barely any more with automotive dry clutches so I'm not sure what to look for. I haven't had many issues with shifting or anything except for the odd time when it doesn't want to shift into neutral once I've stopped.

I also found the little washer on the kickstart spindle in the drain pan I put down for oil drips but I don't know where it came from. It slides neatly onto the spindle but I'm not sure where it actually belongs.

(The crankcase vent cover and starter cover are off for painting.)
 
Today was mail day!
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Connectors for my arduino auto-canceller replacement.
Some super-cheap SMD LED instrument bulbs ($3 for 10).
Any my crimper finally arrived! Feels pretty good for $13.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I'll be crimping bullet connectors for my replica rear turn signals and refurbished license place light.

Might also double-check valve clearances and troubleshoot wiring issues in the headlight bucket.
 
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Hooked up the new low profile blade fuse holders. The main fuse and ignition are hooked up and working, haven't ordered the other two holders yet.
Until I get the bike running the lightsaren't a priority.
 
This

imgur album, http://imgur.com/PJt0ROL,bDL2B9r,zY6z5ie,JY9zJhS,uD7WxSA,OtSKQQD,xNoUOi2,Rzb7abx,d5G97op,WqpR3NV,Yoz71nX,yyKiG9Y,3H6K04e,QNBhVvE,0kaLesF,7RXhLLt,qRzKDvb,EePQuTE,I2nMOEW,LSQWV96,MxcJocU,Fr9PLWs,VGnVbM1,VsDcBpo,dTA7qD5,2lFYSJZ,GcyRVDi,dvczzvA,1pgpSCn,L1SDzGF,2yUKOKx,BFPBVvB,EqDripl,7bU4pCp,kd0t8aH,5uL66pL,yhfgN0a,HkC1tHC,3vOJFB0,ROaMwje,8PpzvwK,vWFIhyP,BxUV7jx,GPBRKnF


Been lurking here for a looong time, had an 82 maxim since i was 16 or so, 22 now.

Finally got around to tearing it all apart, it's absolutely FILTHY, going to pressure wash it at work, get the frame and swingarm painted, redo the frankenstein wiring harness, clean the carbs, look at replacing the xs650 gauges i'm currently running with modern aftermarket. Feedback and advice is greatly appreciated.

-Drew
 
Took an inventory of all my parts, witch took 3 1/2 hours:doh: Sorted everything so I knew what I had and did not. Some stuff I had four or five of :laugh: and some only one or none:( I guess I got carried away with selling at times. Now I need to find a few things so I can make sure I will have them when I need them. :thumbsup:
 
ifTyqCs.jpg

Today I painted my valve cover, TCI cover, and carb hats in wrinkle black. Pretty happy with the results, although you can see the weird little wen on the right exhaust quadrant where the paint resisted for some reason. Aside from that it turned out well. It's neat the way the paint just suddenly starts wrinkling up. I also reinstalled the clutch cover with a new gasket, so hopefully it will stop leaking oil out the back.
 
Reinstalled the painted and cured valve cover tonight, pulled the generator cowl off to remove the starter motor, and painted the upper triple black and the round generator cover wrinkle black. Once it's cured I'll scrape back the paint on the Yamaha logo.
 
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