New guy, first bike.

[Tat2demon]

The first of many boxes just showed up and my most exciting. TC Bros forward controls! A lot more coming in the next few days.

[Tat2demon]

Been a busy week since my stuff started showing up. Wouldn't have done it without help from everyone.

While waiting for the new clutch springs I pulled the clutch basket, cleaned and sanded all the friction and steel plates. With the cleaning and new springs the clutch feels brand new. Took a little work to get the plates from sticking after I got it all put back together.

All the valves were shimmed. I bought a Motion Pro tool for the valves and that ended up in the garbage in a hurry. Even after grinding it down it wouldn't stay on the bucket. Waste of $15.

Replaced fork seals for the first time ever. Very messy job but now that I know how to do it Im sure I can get it all done in about an hour next time with a lot less mess. I had a hell of a time getting the rod out. Ended up using the bolt and a couple nuts method with a 20 inch socket extension.

I ended up having to buy new handlebars for my grips when I noticed the old ones had steel plugs welded in the ends. Went with Bikemaster Daytona bars. They're a little bit lower than I thought they would be. I was hoping for something in between my old ones and these.

Along with the new bars went new chrome Kuryakyn Iso grips, a Trident mirror on the clutch side and a throttle boss.

New boots for the throttle and clutch cables. The old ones were still in decent shape but when I came across them I figured "what the hell".

Exhaust Gaskets.

TC Bros forward controls, linkage and spare shifter and brake levers that I could hack up and bend so I didn't ruin the really good ones that came with the bike.

I got a set of Galfer SS brake lines. They seem ok but the banjos aren't oriented exactly right. Took a little bit of work to get them lined up. I didn't realize I was going to need new handlebars until after the lines showed up so the top line doesn't really fit. I'm going to see if a hydraulic shop here in town can cut it shorter and put a new banjo on. If not it will still work for now. Its just pointed in a strange direction. I also got a new boot for the master cylinder banjo. I'm leaving that off until I get the line changed.

I put in a new headlight. Im waiting on the HID kit to show up from China. Looks like it landed in Chicago today so hopefully Ill have it Monday or Tuesday.

The upholsterer is going to get home from vacation on the 10th.Going to bring him my seat as soon as he is back. He said it will take about a week to get it done. Its going to be done in regular black and carbon fiber vinyl with gel pad and memory foam.

I also got a 79 special fender that Ill be putting on when I have the money for the new smaller brake light and blinkers.

I got the last bits buttoned back up yesterday, and today re-tuned the carbs and went for a short ride. Was running nice and smooth. It was only 34 today. Hopefully Ill be able to get out and open her up good tomorrow.

[sparkfly88]

My bike came with a drag bar on it. Really been debating on a datona bar.

Can you put a photo up of it please.

[Tat2demon]

I'll grab one tomorrow for ya.

[slow mo]

Finally got one with me on it. Didn't realize how small the bike looks.

welcome to xs11.calm,,, do these jeans make my ,,well never mind you get the point ride safe ,,slow mo!!

[Rasputin]

I got a set of Galfer SS brake lines. They seem ok but the banjos aren't oriented exactly right. Took a little bit of work to get them lined up.

The Galfer line are made so you can adjust the banjoe ends. Put a pen or something similar in each end (banjoe hole) and pull. As you pull, the ends will rotate whichever direction you put force into. One of the easiest and coolest ways to adjust a brake line end. I do not know of any other makers that have this simple feature.

[Tat2demon]

Ah no kiddin. Very nice. Is that something in the bolt or in the weave?

[MaximPhil]

Hi Tat2demon,
Your seat mod sounds very comfortable. Just a heads up if you have not read it on here already.
The Gel foam retains a lot of HEAT so do not park that black seat in the sun
or you will be roasting chestnuts
Phil

[Tat2demon]

Yeah he told me about that. That's why were doing a layering thing on it. As I understand it, it will be a small layer of regular foam, then the memory foam then the gel. Or it was regular, gel then memory. Either way he said you have to cover the gel with something because of heat.

[Rasputin]

Ah no kiddin. Very nice. Is that something in the bolt or in the weave?

I believe that it is in the banjoe itself. Mine came with instructions on how to set them. I do not know if every line they sell has that end but the kit I bought for my 79SF came that way.

[Rasputin]

This is another thing to consider when buying S/S brake lines as you can always change routing and clocking of the banjoe ends to fit other type handle bars etc. I do not know if it can be done more than once, or if once full pressure has been applied that it will no longer work. It sure does take the hassle out of clocking the lines though!

[Tat2demon]

Sorry it took so long. Weather has been pretty crappy here the last few days.

[sparkfly88]

Nice bike for sure!!

Thanks for the angled photos.

I don't think the daytona bars would be much of a change other than height, to compared my drag bar currently on it.

Looks like I'd still have to lean foward a bit?

I'm installing the same grips on my buddies 650 honda for him while he's in the Army, how do you like em?

[Tat2demon]

Yeah its a bit of a forward lean. Helps my back.

Love the grips. Havent ridden for more than a few minutes since I put them on but will get a good test this weekend.

[Tat2demon]

I repaired my fuel gauge a couple weeks back and yesterday I finally got around to testing it. The bimetal strip broke and I was able to repair it with some epoxy. Its working fine but Im not sure how accurate it is.

I figured since I now had one cleaned up and pretty I would do the speedo too. Then I thought about how nice it would be to have non-faded needles so yesterday I tore both completely apart, cleaned and repainted inside and out.

Before-




After-




While uploading the pics I realized I had just turned ofer 26k miles!



After doing the gauges I decided to try taking my side cover lock off. I hadnt been able to open it since last fall. After digging in it with a screwdriver for over an hour I finally got the side cover off. Pulled off the lock and opened it up to find the tip of the original side cover broken off and stuck behind the slide. After cleaning it out and greasing the insides it opens nice as can be.

My seat will be done tomorrow afternoon so more pics then!