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I'm a long time owner and rider on my XS and I keep coming back every 6 months or so to see if this form is better. When i find everything dumped into the Garage forum with no sup forms and not general threads like say "Favorite pic of your XS" etc. I leave disappointed.
Expecting all...
Good grief over a year since i signed on and updated this thread! Had to update my signature to add 10 more countries as well!
In that time I upgraded my Kawasaki 650 to a BMW 1200GS. But the Li'll XS is still rocking!
Fresh clutch cable and upgraded to more Tracker appropriate bars...
Well if I could only have one bike, I would have moved to something bigger and modern as well. But, I'm fortunate to have another bike to "travel" with and one for dirt.
All i "need" this bike to do is make me grin. No sign of the grin fading yet!
Can't believe it's been almost a year and a half since i updated this...
I have to say this little bike still makes me grin as much as when i first finished this build. Running strong.
And this weekend a little run with a friend. Same year Special but a Cafe Build on his.
I thought i should update a bit. The Li'll XS is running strong 7xx miles so far.
And has instigated 5 vintage club rides.
Drips a little oll but starts like a champ. It shares the garage with 2 modern bikes but is usually my first pick for round town runs. :)
Little update. Had a few remaining electrical (charging) issues that a friend sorted out for me. I've put about 300 miles on it and it runs great.
Makes me grin every time i ride it and i get asked about it a lot!
Wellllll.
It's been several months now and i have to say i still find this site unnecessarily hard to use.
It would be so great if we had actual sections and stickies for key things like manuals and wiring diagrams. The way most forums are set up.
I understand that takes more...
Well a bit of slow progress but time was running out on me so i took it to a friend to do the valves and carbs.
Picked it up yesterday and road it home from the neighboring town. After all this it was my first actual ride on the bike. Good thing i LOVED it!
Just a 20 mile run...
Some messing about.
Re-routed the left exhaust through the newly opened space in the center of the frame.
I dig the way it looks!
Then spent some time on wiring. Running the handlebar wires through some "loom tubing".
No i hate doing fiberglass.
I rummaged around and found some abandoned plastic clip boards and sacrificed them for the bace of the pans. Used some left over mesh tape from a bathroom tiling project to give the bace some texture. Added some Gorilla Glue and slapped on some header paint...
Some odds 'n ends.
New plug wires, just for fun. :)
Working up the under seat "pans". Big one for the electronics and small one for the battery that will sit flat above the rear wheel.
And, more parts hoarding. ;D
You may be looking at higher grade stainless.
You'll probably have to go to your main auto part store. Here only one of the O' Reily stores had it in bulk form that they cut to length for me. You might be able to order form their web site.
If you get stumped below is the phone...
Got that exhaust for $2 a foot at O'Reilly. Just had them cut two 4 foot lengths. It twisted onto the header nice and snug.
If you want a shiny option this is what i first bought on Amazon.
I am told by my truck mechanic friend that they use it on trucks and it holds up for years.
Look ma no box!
I realized if i replaced my dead battery with a sealed one i could mount it laying down.
With the added hight from the "lift kit" i will have room to relocate all the electronics in a horizontal box under the seat. Soooo, box gone!
This will allow me to re-route...
What a great day!
My Vintage club guys got out for coffee and then, went over to bobbed750's spot to see some of his projects and get the "lift kit" installed.
The masked man in action.
Got the kit on and mounting brackets for the mufflers.
So with the 13+ shocks and...