What did you do to your bike today?

[Schming]

Schming
I mounted my dyna coils in a very similiar manner a couple months ago. I really wanted them to mount in the stock locations. Not sure if you had to remove the horn, but I did. Probably not smart, but I have hated horns since I used to always hit it when I cancelled the turn signals on my VTX.

Yesterday I adjusted valves on both my F and SF, kinda. Was able to get shims from the local Kawi dealer for $3.50 a piece! When he grabbed his book for pricing I was thinking "damn, guess I'm ordering online and waiting a week". But to my surprise $3.50! So I only needed four for the F, and by the time I had the SF checked they had closed. I was able to get 7 adjusted on the SF with shims from the F and a parts bike. So just need to add one shim tomarro night.

Decided to polish the valve cover while it was off. After 45min of wet sanding I decided to paint it. I polished the timing cover last summer and it took 5 straight hours. 400 grit, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, rubbing compound, polish. Didn't feel like spending 12 hours on all the contours of the valve cover. Going to paint it Gold. Should look good with the emerald/ gold tank and side covers and gold carb diaphram covers.

conquest87tsi, Truth be told I haven't thought about the horns yet as I'm concentrating my efforts on mounting the hard bags, trunk and wrap around backrest.
But I'm glad You mentioned them 'cause I couldn't remember where I stashed these:



Took me a half hour to find them in a box I had marked Pacifico Fairing parts.
After the fairing and oil cooler are fitted I'll see where I can mount the Fiamm's.
A buffer is really necessary when polishing. It saves a lot of time.
When I polished my Cam Cover I screwed it down to a wooden work table and put the buffing wheel in my 4" grinder, just gotta watch the speed (on-off-on-off) and don't linger in one spot too long as the metal will "burn" leaving sorta like a blurry mark in the mirror finish. If the metal gets hot let it cool, go shine sumthin' else, have a cup of your favorite herbal tea or whatever rocks ATM

[CatatonicBug]

Tires

I decided to try my hand at replacing my own tires this weekend. To make the balancing easier, I also got the Counteract Balancing Beads. To add to the change, I went with Whitewalls just to see if I like the look. I think I do!

It took me a good 5 hours to get the job done, because the tires would NOT come off the wheels! All the videos I watched online that showed how made it look so easy, and the tires always jumped off the wheels, but I struggled for HOURS on the rear wheel! I don't think it was worth the $40 I saved...

I guess now I just need to ride a bit to determine if the beads were worth it.

Went from this:



To this:

[CaptonZap]

Now that looks like a serious all weather ride!
Where did you get the gauntlets, and what are they made of? That is slick, if they are waterproof. Are they hard to put on and take off? Are they lined with anything?
What a concept!
CZ

[BA80]

.................................................. .............................

[CatatonicBug]

Now that looks like a serious all weather ride!
Where did you get the gauntlets, and what are they made of? That is slick, if they are waterproof. Are they hard to put on and take off? Are they lined with anything?
What a concept!
CZ

They're Vetter Hippo Hands. There are 2 different kinds - this type, with the soft sides, and a style with a stiff band along the outside edge. Bob Jones has that style on Blackie on the cover of XS11 Heaven. They are really heavy vinyl, lined with a faux wool that almost feels like a real sheep. They attach with snaps around the mirror posts, a small velcro strip and a wrap-around velcro strap that secures it to the bars. I don't know how waterproof they are, as I have never used them in a downpour, but they are just as waterproof as a vinyl seatcover with no stitching, and REALLY warm. I wear my mesh summer gloves all winter, so far, down to 5ºF. They take some getting used to, since you can't take your hands off the bars easily (no waving in the wintertime), but they sure to make riding in the cold a LOT nicer!

Vetter stopped making them before the XS1100 was ever made, and he never copywrited the name, so you will find modern versions available, but I don't think any of them compare to the original. Keep an eye out on ebay. I wash them in the washing machine once a year, just to keep them fresh and to fluff the lining.

[Schming]

Rear Foot Rest Relocation

Received these today:



after a feeble attempt with a diamond rasp:



gonna fit these from an XVZ 1200:













I fine tuned it with the diamond rasp and a sanding buff on the Dremel















And the difference from stock, which will allow my wife a safer, more comfortable riding position:




Stay tuned

[motoman]

Now that looks like a serious all weather ride!
Where did you get the gauntlets, and what are they made of? That is slick, if they are waterproof. Are they hard to put on and take off? Are they lined with anything?
What a concept!
CZ

Actually there are FOUR different styles of these CZ. There are the 'hard-sided ones, blue Hippo label ones(long gauntlets), gold Hippo label ones(shorter gauntlets) and the 600denier ones that are short, handy rool up for easy storage on bike. They are totally waterproof, do the job better than absolutely anything else out there available. There ARE alot of aftermarket ones available, but none like the original HippoHands. Vetter's web site has the story how his brother originated the design. And aside what CBug says, they WERE available from Vetter when our XS's were made. I just couldn't afford the almost hundred bucks they were back then.......so, all these years later, I have aquired all four models that were available, one set(blue label)still new in original packaging. I DO have heated grips on the ST, and if the HippoHands are added, no need for heated grips, not even on low as they get REALLY hot with light gloves on! Inside, they ALL have a somewhat hidden pouch recess. Craig Vetter, in his design, decided on the inner pouch recesss for change at the toll roads, more common east of the MississippiRiver. You can have a closer inspection of the several pairs I have come this spring/summer if you like. Actually, since not being able to afford them back in the day(raising family and such), some 7yrs. back I bought every pair that came up on the Bay that were in excellent to new cond., no matter what the bid was it took to win them, most of which cost me the retail they were 30+yrs. ago. Summer time, mountain riding, I'll use the heavy nylon ones(still sheepwool lined)to keep my gloves dry and avoid the cold that comes after a rain shower up at those 10,000+ft. elev.

[madmax-im]

I decided to try my hand at replacing my own tires this weekend. To make the balancing easier, I also got the Counteract Balancing Beads. To add to the change, I went with Whitewalls just to see if I like the look. I think I do!

It took me a good 5 hours to get the job done, because the tires would NOT come off the wheels! All the videos I watched online that showed how made it look so easy, and the tires always jumped off the wheels, but I struggled for HOURS on the rear wheel! I don't think it was worth the $40 I saved...

I guess now I just need to ride a bit to determine if the beads were worth it.

Went from this:



To this:

Looking real good Marshall...show us your Jand M setup...I am curious ofc...! I really like those hippo hands...didnt know Vetter made such...will see you at XSEast?

[fredintoon]

. - - - Vetter's web site has the story how his brother originated the design. - - -

Hi Moto,
sometimes Vetter don't let facts interfere with a good story and "originated the design" ain't the same as "invented the idea".
I remember handlebar-mounted over-gloves being sold in Halfords in the early 1950s.
And I'd bet that the concept originated the day after the very first long distance cold weather ride. Mebbe 1902?

[CaptonZap]

You can have a closer inspection of the several pairs I have come this spring/summer if you like.

Your'e on. I have a walking needle sewing machine, and I'll bet that I can find some of that faux wool material at Hancocks Fabric.
Back in Dec, '66, I made some cardboard shields, sort of like Brush Busters, to keep my hands from freezing while crossing OK and East Texas. Never thought to make some out of the skin of the Rocky Mountain Spotted Nauga.
Better late than never, eh?
CZ

[motoman]

Your'e on. I have a walking needle sewing machine, and I'll bet that I can find some of that faux wool material at Hancocks Fabric.
Back in Dec, '66, I made some cardboard shields, sort of like Brush Busters, to keep my hands from freezing while crossing OK and East Texas. Never thought to make some out of the skin of the Rocky Mountain Spotted Nauga.
Better late than never, eh?
CZ

lol........you'll catch up when ya get time...........amazing things out there from the past..... and Fred, was referring to the 'lips' on the open end of the Hippo-Hands........a little 'catch-up' for U also.....

[DeanR]

Interesting looking whitewalls ya got there Marshall.

[natemoen]

Started it and warmed it up. Wished it wasn't all wet and sloppy with snow.

[natemoen]

Also finally pulled the battery out and wired it into my pickup for winter.

[BA80]

Pulled the carbs from the E apart to clean. So far all 4 diaphragms have holes in them, 2 idle mixture screws broken off an tips stuck in bodies, one needle was stuck in the emulsion tube and had to be busted loose and lots of gunk inside.

No wonder draketrumpet couldn't get it to run right.