Another New Guy

[Manny_Action_Cycle]

Hi all. Brand spankin new here and am simply thrilled by what I have seen so far. A weath of great info and good chat.

Currently working on my third XS. My first two were '79s. Now riding a 80SG I found in a garage in Fon du lac. It had been sitting for at least 10 years. Have had it now for a little over 3 years.

Have been riding since I was 7. Ny first bike was a GT80 that my dad welded traing wheels onto. My Aunt and Uncle owned a Yamaha dealership in Manitowoc (Action Cycle) until a year ago when they retired. I thought I knew just about everything there ws to know about XS's untill I started lurkin around here

Glad to find a place where people appreciate the coolest bike there ever was/is!

[slow mo]

welcome MAC

what,s that insignia on your avatar? remember there are no dumb question,s! we are happy to have you as if you have been around a Yamaha shop that long maybe you have info we can use ,,ride safe ,,slow mo!

[Manny_Action_Cycle]

Avitar

Yeah, just goin with a plain jane for now Have to come up with something just a tad more original eh?

Also, is there a photo gallery on here somewhere? Don't see one so far...

(BTW, by your sig. looks like ya have a good bike )

[mack]

Dibs

Dibs on any old stock they may have lurking in the back, like dustry old exhaust pipes for a "special" etc., that are just a tripping hazard an such. Friends will do that for each other right????

[Manny_Action_Cycle]

Old Stock

Mac, I hear ya. The shop has been closed for just over a year now. They gave me lots of goodies like filters, tires and such. But the rest of the inventory is gone.

Speaking of tires: Anyone change a tire without a machine? I never have. My local Yamaha dealer wants $95 ($50 wheel off the bike) to change a tire because I didn't buy the tire from them!!!

[cywelchjr]

Find a different shop. My local independent charges me $30 to mount and balance, doesn't matter if I buy them from him or not. My local dealer charges about the same, but takes about half a day to do it, where the local independent does it in about half an hour most of the time. Plus my dealer is about 10 miles away, the local shop is about a mile, kind of a no brainer where to go. To me it's just not worth the effort, until I can get that nice shiny tire changer from HF and the MC adapter for it and mount it in my garage .

[Manny_Action_Cycle]

Cy, my thoughts exactly. Couldn't help notice you have the Vetter hard bags & Trunk. My first '79 had those and I really miss em. Anyone know where to get em? I just have lether bags now and really miss the trunk.

[Kit]

Cy, do you have the links for those?

[bikerphil]

Anyone change a tire without a machine?

All the time, and balance them. After you've done a few, it's cake. I change my buddy's tires for them too. If I mount them and install them on the bike myself, I know it's been done 100% right, don't have any worries. Welcome to the club!

[exquized1]

Welcome to the madness! Is there still a bike salvage yard there in town? My local yard keep talking about one up there.

[Manny_Action_Cycle]

BP,

Not having done it before, I'm obviously afraid of wrecking the rims. Without the machine what tools are you using? A modified crowbar or...? As for balancing....? Any info you could give me would be greatly cool.

[Manny_Action_Cycle]

Salvage Yard

Ex,

There is a salvage yard in Neenah that I have used many times. They have lots of parts but not the trunk I am looking for. I have a home in Appleton but work in Menominee, MI (da UP!). Where you at?

[CatatonicBug]

Couldn't help notice you have the Vetter hard bags & Trunk. My first '79 had those and I really miss em. Anyone know where to get em? I just have lether bags now and really miss the trunk.

The Vetter parts can be had through many places, but none new. Craigslist is the most common place, as shipping for those large pieces is really expensive. Ebay, or they pop up on this forum now and then.

Tires can be changed with tire spoons, and balancing can be done with either clamp-on or sticky weights, while balancing the tire between two sawhorses (or something similar). Some folks like the beads too, you just dump them in through the valve stem and they automatically balance the tire. Personally, I just take it to my local CycleGear and pay the $20 they charge.

[exquized1]

I live down in Dixon, Il. Just off interstate 88. There is a little yard about 30 minutes north of me (We call him Crazy George). He talks about the yard up there about every time I see him.

[Manny_Action_Cycle]

Salvage yard

Ex,

Yeah the yard in Neenah is huge. If ANYONE needs me to check out a part there, just let me know. After looking around on the net I didn't realize how lucky I am to have it here so close at hand.

http://www.cyclesalvage.net/