What did you do with your XS today?

I rode it to work to show it off!!!! Finally done! Well, not quite... Have to install the chain guard and the emblems on the tank. And the lic plate light cover needs to be fixed...


null_zps66d2ff9a.jpg
 
Made some 60mm long carb inlet stacks from 53mm (2") ID PVC electrical conduit and mounted my pod filters on them. If they work as planned, the crankcase vent will be connected to them in the future.
 
Looked at her LOL. Bought the oil (20w50) to do oil change. Ordered right hand motor mount. Patiently awaiting float bowl drain screws. Hoping to get my errands done so I can read up on clutch cable and adjustment before I tackle that and oil change. Feels like cable has a lot of travel in it. My buddy who rides told me cable was shot so before checking adjustment I ordered it LOL Lessons I've learned from working on cars that I should know by now but this bike has bit me hard and I dont care what I have to do to get her road worthy and in decent shape lol
 
Went for a nice long ride cleared my mind and enjoyed her. Well worth all the hours in the basement over the winter.:smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke:

Posted via Mobile
 
Checked mailbox for floatbowl screws. No such luck. Checked tracking info they are in Georgia. Should be here by Thursday. Had a lot to do so was only able to pop off front brake resevoir to clean and pour in some break fluid to track down leak previous owner told me it had but it didnt leak anywhere. :confused: I even removed the seized up bleeder screw and nothing came out. I squeezed the lever and It feels like something may be broke. So off to read all about brakes till tomorrow when I can get back out there.
 
Last edited:
back on the jack. waiting for my box from mikesxs. bought new bulbs for a marker light thats going on the front. took the tree off. waiting for my box . look at ups tracking. waiting for my box
 
Took master cylinder off bike broke the damn brake light switch in the process. So I ordered new master cylinder as this one the seals are bad and its full of gunk. Almost same price as a rebuild kit and its new. Fiddled around with some rust and put a couple covers back on. Cleaned some dirt off chain guard and I found what was left of air filter gasket in bottom of air box with some other debris and sludge type substance. STill patiently waiting drain screws for carb. :thumbsup:
 
Part 2 lol, Removed old clutch cable installed new one. Felt worse then old one. Read the 3 paragraphs in manual for adjusting clutch. Followed exactly, still worse. Pulled cable back off compared length of old one found new one is slightly longer. :banghead: Went to my happy place and started messing with old cable. It was gummed up and not sliding very well at all. Started shooting PB blaster and WD 40 down cable and working it back and forth. It smoothed out a lot so I reinstalled old cable adjusted per the 3 paragraphs and whamo clutch feels good.:banghead: So far this was'nt my day. So I pull oil drain plug, the stock oil rushes out like water.:wtf: LOL Dirtiest oil Ive ever seen. Remove the filter and the oil screen. Cleaned up the screen. Should have changed oil and gas before anything. (next resurrection i know better) Reinstalled O-ring and new filter. Bolted everything back up. Poured in some nice new gold colored Valvoline 20w50 motorcycle oil and the bike literally sighed and said "I Love You Daddy" So day was worth it lol. Omw back from auto parts store I wondered if the handlebars had been previously moved and if the cable was shortened. Gonna check that tomorrow when I get my drain screws and my motor mount. Gonna be long day waiting on my post friend soooooon:bike:
 
Well today the motor went into the frame and hooked up a battery to the starter and cranked it over after putting a mixture of 5/20 and 15/30 oil. I do not have any of the alternator or ignition in line yet so it was just a test of the starter motor. I am glad because I have yet to figure out the kick starter install. For that I will pay some gorilla to do it later on.
I also painted my finished struts (10"), and installed a battery box. I installed a speedo cable but I guess there is an O-ring or something that holds it in place on the wheel?
I rigged up a manual choke and painted my coils red and installed them and put on new yellow performance wires and new NGK's.
Tomorrow the exhaust goes on and hopefully the Clymers I bought on Ebay will get here tomorrow to help with getting the final touches right.
I'd say in a week I will be riding, God willing and the creek don't rise.
Can I get a AMEN?
 
I wish i could make as fast of progress on my bike as you get done on yours.Although did get a couple of things accomplished today,one side of the exhaust,including muffler and extention i had to out in the pipe has been all welded up,got my new tire and the wheel taken off the bike.Tomorrow hve tthe old tire removed see how it goes maybe have the new one put on.Yesterday I cleaned and readjusted float level in the carbs.kept find all the black rubbery stuff inside my fuel bowls come to find out it was the cheap gas line I got from 1 of the major parts houses.So i used some marine grade hose and fixed it.
 
Whoo hoo UPS was just here got my air filter and float drain screws. Motor mount will be here this afternoon. I get to do some tuning if it needs it. Just making couple lists of things that I need to do today, lists just went in garbage LOL I'll be back!!:D
 
Ok so there are some positives but Iv'e rolled with the punches on this bike so far. I've kept a positive attitude and visualized success. I've searched forum, google, read manuals followed directions, threw quite a bit of money at this thing in new parts cleaners, couple tools and quite a few hours. Waited on the mail and UPS like a kid waiting for christmas. Today I got mad at the bike thats what I did. No no I didnt take a hammer or die grinder or torches to her but I did call her a dirty whore. Feeling confident that it would be running and ridable this weekend I went ahead and plated and insured her. Also got my TIP while I was there. Get this stuff out of the way so when she ready I dont have to sit and look at her in the yard I can ride!!(legally!) This part goes off without a hitch. (surprisingly enough) I got my drain screws and motor mount today. Excitedly pull my bike out. Replaced screw, turned her to prime. turned on the key she turned over and over and over fired nothin turned over., fuel filter is full to the top. This is'nt right? Tried starting it again. Battery dead.:banghead: So on the charger it goes .Check the plugs they are wet. Hour later try again. Did'nt notice it but fuel filter filled to top again. Gave up. Think floats might be wrong and also I cant remember what I set pilot at. So carbs coming off tomorrow again. Ok sorry Its so long but after writing it out Im less pissed but still feels like :banghead: and my head is starting to hurt LOL
 
Cleaned off the left plug, because she was on one cylinder. That worked. Tried to take her around a block, but once the throttel is laid on she dies around 2-2.5 rpms, thinkin new jets are in store. put button snaps on back of seat cover to rid my self of adhesive. wired up new tailight, but still have to figure how to mount it.
 
Almost lost it. Took the bike instead of the car around the corner to the bank (5 minute trip) and hit a massive oil patch covering the entire road, just looked wet. Immediately lost all traction and started shimmying side to side, can't say it was skill but I will say I was damn lucky to keep it up.

I didn't change my throttle, brake or pull the clutch, it happened too fast; I just made minor corrections as it slid left and right until I was stable and under control.

I'm a big advocate of ATGATT: all the gear all the time, but this really drove the point home for me, remember guys anything can happen anytime.

Now I gotta go scrub my tires and get back out there, Its too nice to sit at home :)
 
I'm also a believer of ATGATT. To the point that I refuse to ride with someone who isn't wearing a helmet, eye protection, jacket, gloves and boots. I don't care how hot it is, how "cool" they want to look, or what the local laws have as a minimum requirement. Either gear-up or go away, but I'm not riding with them.

Accidents happen without warning and I refuse to be a party to someone attempting suicide. There is a reason why EMT's, para-medics, and emergency room personnel call motorcycles "doner-cycles".

Glad to hear you only had a close call Zap! I've had a couple in the short time I've been riding and so far haven't gone down. It's only a matter of time. I've been told that you aren't truly a rider until you have laid a bike down and then gotten back on to ride again.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best - You will never be disappointed!
 
Back
Top