What did you do to your bike today?

[puskrat]

Ian I am unsure what constitutes larceny.

Last night: performed manual-spec'ed cam chain tensioner adjustment. Except I did not have a light enough torque wrench to set the stopper bolt and lock nut. Oh and I got to hear a millenial's story of his idle CB 750 and the bureaucratically unacceptable way he came to posess it.

[mcmotohistory]

New LED Headlight

Just Got it installed, seems very bright. This is one of the cheap ones ($30.00) 45 watts, so we will see how it works.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IanDMacDonald]

I'm not too impressed with led technology in headlights yet.

[mcmotohistory]

well how does yours work?

[IanDMacDonald]

Nothing to brag about. $200+ for something that had to be supplemented with LED flood lights.

[mcmotohistory]

LED Lights

I'll repost after I get it out for a ride. But at least the light was only 30.00, I'm also adding 18 watt led driving lights. Plus led bulbs in the turn signals and running lights.

[IMG][/IMG]


[IMG][/IMG]

[IanDMacDonald]

Looks visible, that's for sure. When I ride at night time, and turn one or the other off (via toggle switch), I truly am disappointed by how little output I have from the headlight on a dark road. The fog lights DEFINITELY help with the sharp cutoff of the headlight. I have them mounted low on the forks.

[gene]

I figure I should just post updates on this thread. I have Blais Cycle putting aZXR1200 carb on my bike. They had to order adjustable needles. Got the needles in, but while on the Dyno the clutch slippage re-speared. They are going glass bead I believe the metal plates and put the heavy duty springs I bought a year ago on.

[gene]

Picked up my bike from Blais Cycle. They did the whole ZRX1200 carburetor setup. I had no time to do it. Bike is a beast. Even the Ron, the guy that Dyno tuned it could not believe the difference. No gain in hp, but everything else improved drastically. They all thought I was waisting money, but I saw on this board the success's. Not sure about the gas mileage yet. I put 100 miles on it today. Probably another 100 miles tomorrow.

[Bonz]

Cool! Sounds like it was a good swap out on the carbs. With no extra power being produced, what defines it as a beast now versus before? That's a sincere question. I would suspect a more consistent air/fuel mixture across the rpm range and much better response though.

I put ZX11/ZZR1200 carbs (40mm) on my ZRX1200 and improved response, gained 12 hp (138 vs 126) and 8ft/lbs of torque (84 vs 76) and 51 mpg vs 48-49 mpg with stock ZRX carbs (36mm). Beast. This is on a completely stock internal engine, with only a full header system on the bike.

I never put the ZRX carbs on to my XS because I suspected what you have just confirmed. There's not a improvement in power, and the stock response and drivability is fine for my 38-year-old bike. Plus my desire is to keep a more or less stock bike.

A good 'ol carb upgrade puts a big old smile on your face though for sure!

Look forward to hearing on mpg, response, air/fuel, drive ability, et al.

[gene]

Definitely will keep you posted Bonz. The beast part.....First thing that stood out was how strong it pulled over 4K rpm. It really caught me by surprise. I ran through the gears shifting at about 6K and it almost felt like I had flat slides on with the throttle response. Lot's of fun.

They also glass beaded the clutch plates. They were not warn, but had a glaze over them. That with adding the heavy duty springs helped as well.

I really enjoy the ride of an XS11 over my Hayabusa with a turbo.

[Bonz]

The ZRX carbs flow better, 36mm vs 34mm and are a bit more modern in design than the XS carbs. I know the difference ZX11/ZZR1200 40mm carbs make vs the 36mm stock carbs on the ZRX. But that is with a full aftermarket Muzzy exhaust system and opens it way up. Increased response and major power gains. Whereas the XS never responded much to any aftermarket system in terms of major power gains, IMO.

The ZRX stock 36mm carbs should wake up the XS in a similar way and sounds like the carbs have increased the area under the torque curve in the mid range along with the great response. From what I know, the XS really isn't able to breath any better up top so hp would stay about the same as you noted.

[sethhope]

Today my trunk came in the mail (not a few days late for the rally unfortunately).

I think she looks nice. now just to paint the bags the same gloss black...

[Wildkat]

John and I got the 79 on the road. Just have to get the insurance taken care of today and he's good to go. Yea! lol

Put taller shocks (11.5 up to 12.75) on my bike. The shorter shocks were fine until I began riding the twisties more aggressively. Looking forward to seeing the difference.

Have an awesome day!

[3Phase]

Multiple Projects

Today, I replaced the Everest tail bag that was starting to split open at the seams and the zippers


My trusty old Tourmaster TB-17 tail bag mounted up nicely




The P.O. had permanently screwed the tail bag to the rear of the bike by sandwiching the bottom between two acrylic plates, then screwing it to a pair of L-brackets fastened to the backrest/sissy bar.
I just bolted the plates together with the bag on top so it can be taken off like a normal soft bag and go inside with me when I travel


After changing the tail bag, I checked the new Tourmaster saddle bags I had to buy for Memorial Day weekend when the synthetic straps tore out of the synthetic leather saddle bags I had been using.
I got my money out of the old bags and they can be repaired so it's not a total loss

Tourmaster.com | Tourmaster Select Saddlebags



The new bags look pretty good on my XJ
[/URL]

The bags zip open and closed


Plenty of space inside and the rain cover is in a zipper compartment


Rain cover and one of the fastener straps to hold the bag to the frame


Yep, the rain cover fits




I went to the local TrueValue motorcycle parts store and picked up some brass fittings to run an oil pressure gauge and idiot light.
I'll start to hook up the new stuff tomorrow.


While I work on the oil pressure setup, I have to pull the front forks to clean them, change the fork oil and then add a pair of gaiters


The gaiters are for a Yamaha Bolt so they're current stock