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Alright, I'll throw this out there. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I've got my head off the bike due to a bolt that got sucked in and damaged a valve and the head. The head is repairable, but I found a good used head for less than a head rebuild, cleaned it up and lapped the valves- the head is...

In the beginning, bacon was good. No, it was transcendent. Smoky goodness. Firm, yet yielding meat and crispy fat, a perfect marriage of tastes and textures, in one sumptuous staple. As a breakfast meat, it had no equal. As the founding ingredient in the late summer classic, the BLT, it...

October 2012, last page

Anyone notice that Mikes XS has an XS400 section? This has to be relatively new (maybe not brand new). That's good to see! They like us, they really, really like us! http://www.mikesxs.net/products-87.html

With all due respect to my Father, whom I love, in the last couple of days, I have come close to cursing the name of every engineer ever born. Who, but an automotive sadist would place an alternator in a location where the proper service procedure for removing it involves removing two engine...

The nearly stock '79 XS400 (has lower bars) has new bar end mirrors and front turn signals (rears to follow). I wanted the bar end mirrors for 2 reasons- 1) the stock ones are too big, too plastic and keep the bike from looking like an old BSA; 2) with stock mirrors, I see a lot of my own...

...if you've ever seen a vision of the Blessed Virgin in an oil stain under your clutch rod seal... ...if you've ever sent a Hallmark card to "Mike" trying to get him to stock more 400 parts. ...if the only "300" on the back of your bike involves lowering your standards at last call...

...and found a pretty picture of my carbs for sale. I guess I better check my bike to make sure my carbs are still there. BTW- the carbs pictured are NOT for sale. "Picture for reference only". I guess. I've never even been to North Dakota. C'mon, how about at least a little shout out for...

OK, I've mentioned this issue before, but in other threads. Thought I'd give it it's own thread. After running for a while, the bike will not hold an idle. It will hold an idle when first started and after idling a while when it is warm. After I have been riding, it slows down, then dies...

Anyone here get into motorized bicycles as the gateway drug to motorcycles? When I was a late teen and early twenties, i rode a motorcycle from time to time. I got away from it, but decided (for some reason) to build a motorized bicycle a few years ago. That led to the rekindling of the 2...

I just took the original buckhorn bars off and installed superbike bars from Motorcycle Superstore. Including shipping, about $30. I love the lower bars. The look good (kind of an old BSA look, in my mind) and it feels better to lean forward a bit. Also, since my last pics, I lowered the...

I have a '79 XS400 with standard final drive- 16 tooth to 37 tooth. It seems to me that 1st gear revs up fast and is very short and that at 55 mph, the engine is close to 5500 rpm (maybe 5400) which is a little frenetic for my taste (but I can live with it if I have to). I know the engine can...

My 1979 XS400F has the standard Mikuni BS34 CV carbs. When I was draining my carbs last fall to put the XS400 up for the winter, one of the brass float drain plugs, which had been pretty rounded off when I got the bike, got even more boogered up. I would like to replace it as I am readying the...

...well, compared to most XS400 guys I feel old. Anyhoo, by way of introduction, I ride a '79 XS400F which runs pretty close to perfectly. It sat in a barn for 12 years before I resurrected it last year. I use it for occasional commuting and evening and weekend "mental health" rides. I know...