Recent content by bentwrench

Wait! I'm still here! Yes, the new BABY (not babe - my wife wouldn't let me have a new babe...) is keeping me busy. I picked up a 78 XS650 as a runner for the summer, but even then, I've only been out riding about 4 times. I'm also trading motorcycle mechanics for various goods and services...

Man, Lou even personally called me about this, and I'm finally online now to read about it! Next time. I'm back to being a stay at home dad, so getting away for a day of riding is more likely than it's even been. And this will give me motivation to get the gunmetal lump of mine running and...

http://www.amckayltd.com/carbguide.pdf This is my bible for these carbs. It's written for the xs650, but we have BS34s, just like the later 650s did. There's a great section on tuning in the middle. Just remember all jet sizes are wrong for us, because they're made for a bigger bike.

Try calling these guys: http://www.apexbrakes.com They're in Toronto, and custom make brake lines. Quite reasonable prices - the price list for custom lines is buried in their website.

Or go fork swap! USD forks! Search on here for "Aprilia forks" and wonder at how awesome USD forks can look. There is a ton of info on the web about fork swaps with forks from other bikes. You have to make sure you find the right donor, and sometimes there are some parts you have to make (or...

Is it really? When I changed my head gasket, I had to tension the cam chain with the bolt on the back of the engine (just under the carbs, dead centre between the barrels.) I haven't seen it on a list of maintenance items, but it is possible to do. I seem to remember it was adjusting to a...

Pictures? One thing I found is that you have to line up the timing marks with a straight edge towards the crank, not perpendicular to the ground.

Yup - that's the MAC 2 into 1. Complete with the requisite blueing that immediately happens next to the heads.

Start with a bench synch. If you look in your carbs on the engine side, you'll see three tiny holes in the top. If you've been playing with the synch screw, you may have to start from there. Using just your eyes, try to line them up as closely as possible. Then go to the manometer. Let us...

Picking up the XS650 tomorrow... pics to come...

cafenewb - your bike looks... awesome.

As for filters, any of the bike shops will carry a suitable filter. Just call ahead.

Okay, to be fair, Dave is very good at working on bikes, and I have complete respect for him. But that response was a little alarmist. The challenge isn't you, and it isn't a 30 year old bike. It's 30 years of other riders on this bike. If they really took care of it, kept it in a garage...

I've never seen a good review for an older Japanese bike on that site. Ever.

That's interesting - my black with white connects to a black with white, that then disappears into the harness. Could be a regional difference? I know there was a Germany version of the bike...