WTF did you do to your bike?

[Fix]

Fork brace was the best thing I did to my bike so far. Totally transformed the steering.

[jetmechmarty]

Fork brace was the best thing I did to my bike so far. Totally transformed the steering.

They need it. Custom springs and emulators will improve it another 10 fold!

I should add, YMMV! Not everyone will agree with me, even about the brace.

[Buckmaster79]

Ready for Spring

I pulled Kerker changed oil and filter. Put new exhaust gaskets in new throttle and clutch cables and adjusted clutch.



http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/bu...4.jpg.html?o=0

[donebysunday]

I pulled Kerker changed oil and filter. Put new exhaust gaskets in new throttle and clutch cables and adjusted clutch.
http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/bu...4.jpg.html?o=0

Purdy bike ! Would like to see more pics of it though ?

[mharrington]

A large segment of the musclecar community is disgusted with the TV show Overhaulin. The old cars simply dont look right slammed low with 21" wheels. Even the moderated discussion boards get heated. That said My 29 year old nephew was given a 1972 Honda 450 Scrambler. It was very rusted and not run since 83 but stored indoors. He and his father tore it down and painted everything flat black. Got it mostly together and then gave up. I agreed to do what I could do. The exhaust was wrapped and even the mounting provisions were wrapped. The remaining nuts bolts and brackets were all in a coffee can. The only reason he didnt "Gut" the mufflers is because I cussed him out not to. But the best part is the teenie weenie battery he chose. He wanted to omit the electric starter cuz kicking it Hipster style is kool. (Small battery runs ignition but not the starter) I love my nephew but had to contain my anger. I had bike running but now it doesnt. Hes gonna pick it up in the spring. The gas tank is painted but has a ton off goop inside he used to clean out the rust- and there still is too much flaky rust in the tank. (I used my lawnmower aux tank from the ceiling to fuel it) I had to make lost exhaust brackets and every screw and bolt I remove must be drilled and extracted. Corrosion is not his fault but the stupid small battery and all fasteners "in a bucket" piss me off. When he got the bike I told him get it running first- then do cosmetic stuff but he had to have a bobber boober rat brat bratwurst whatever bike.

[Schming]

A large segment of the musclecar community is disgusted with the TV show Overhaulin. The old cars simply dont look right slammed low with 21" wheels. Even the moderated discussion boards get heated. That said My 29 year old nephew was given a 1972 Honda 450 Scrambler. It was very rusted and not run since 83 but stored indoors. He and his father tore it down and painted everything flat black. Got it mostly together and then gave up. I agreed to do what I could do. The exhaust was wrapped and even the mounting provisions were wrapped. The remaining nuts bolts and brackets were all in a coffee can. The only reason he didnt "Gut" the mufflers is because I cussed him out not to. But the best part is the teenie weenie battery he chose. He wanted to omit the electric starter cuz kicking it Hipster style is kool. (Small battery runs ignition but not the starter) I love my nephew but had to contain my anger. I had bike running but now it doesnt. Hes gonna pick it up in the spring. The gas tank is painted but has a ton off goop inside he used to clean out the rust- and there still is too much flaky rust in the tank. (I used my lawnmower aux tank from the ceiling to fuel it) I had to make lost exhaust brackets and every screw and bolt I remove must be drilled and extracted. Corrosion is not his fault but the stupid small battery and all fasteners "in a bucket" piss me off. When he got the bike I told him get it running first- then do cosmetic stuff but he had to have a bobber boober rat brat bratwurst whatever bike.

Allzz I gotsta say is " Ya caint' fix Stoopid'

It's a generation thing, let him run with it, he'll come crawlin' back, then pound him hard.

[IanDMacDonald]

I would not necessarily say Generation thing. I'd say more personal choice, and lack of knowledge/respect for the classics. My dad's first bike was a Honda Cub 50. My first bike was a 1965 Honda Cub 50. My dad's second bike leaving Fort Lewis in Seattle after being in Vietnam ten years was a Honda CB. My second bike was a Honda CB350. My dad's third bike was a Yammy XS750E. Fast-forward many years, and Ibought one as-well. The only issue was that mine was not stock. Mine was butchered. I painted it Yellow and made it mine. Only two bikes I own I have customized: My XS750E, and my '82 GS750. Only because they were too far gone past stock.

Another thing you have to realize is that despite myself and Nate Moen and a few younger guys being the exception, many have no knowledge of the bike and the history. Many find an old, cheap bike, and want to turn it into whatever they desire. The mutilation is not an intentional slap to purists in the face, it's just ignorance of the cult following of the bike. If I saw any UJM on the street and it was cafe'd, I'd say "cool". If I saw it in stock form with no prior knowledge of bikes, I probs would not give it much of a glance. I was not born in '78. Born in '85. I grew-up with more evolved bikes. So, I can understand why someone my age and younger will cut the bike up. They really are boring bikes unless you customize them, or have them glistening in stock form. A dirty XS is not much to look at . . .

[Schming]

Ian, I was referring to the "Hipster Community" which is a generation gap from most of us on this site.

And yes, the personal choices made with lack of knowledge shows in the end results.

[Radioguylogs]

Fork Seal Mystery

Over the weekend, I replaced one of my fork seals.

I had just remarked a month ago that none of 6 fork jobs had leaked (famous last words?) Funny thing is that the oil was coming out while the bike was sitting still. I imagined the level of the oil would be below the seal, so it was not intuitive for me how the oil kept coming out.

When I drained the tube, the spurt of oil coming out surprised me, as I had never drained an air-assisted fork when it was under pressure.

But, despite the air pressure inside, I wonder how he oil came out continuously.

BTW, the seal failure occurred because the upward facing lip on top of the seal-presumable to keep out the dirt- became folded down in one spot during assembly. The fold itself did not leak. After couple of hundred miles, the top lip wore and became partially separated from the rest of the seal. It got down inside the real seal area, and made a gap for the oil to escape.

Strange experience.

[jimbyjimb]

On the original subject of modification; this isn't new. I'm sure lots of old timers thought all the hacking of Model A's, B's and C's going on in the 50's through today is sacrilege. I kind of agree, mostly.

If I wanted a modern bike I'd have bought one. The fact is, older vehicles in general have a character unmatched by modern ones. Newer vehicles are faster, smoother, safer, quieter, get better MPG generally, so on and so forth. But they aren't near as fun or interesting to ride or drive. And it's always sad to see a half-butchered XS or other some-such up on the sale block ot scrapped for parts.

I just try to keep my mouth shut on the subject most of the time as so few hack projects turn out well. The only mods I make to my XS involve improving safety/reliability or small comfort items like pegs on the crashbars and squishy grips. I like my XS for what it is, except for wishing it was a 78. But in the end, it was just a cheap bike so I see the appeal to modding them for hobbyists and fabricators. The 650's sure take a beating.

[Rasputin]

Looks good, but does it perform. Lack of any fork brace says probably not.

That bike sure looks like a member of our community. I do believe that I sold him that set of yoshi pipes. That thing will rock. If I am incorrect, oh well, but it sure looks like it.

[Schming]

Here's an interesting Eleven







Here's the link to his build: http://www.caferacer.net/forum/proje...100-build.html

[IanDMacDonald]

Dang dang. That tank is HUGE! I wonder what bike that's from?

[TomB]

Dang dang. That tank is HUGE! I wonder what bike that's from?

Strangely enough its an XS1100 tank, one of the few remaining standard parts.

[Orange4]

Here's a slightly less interesting XS11 (not mine, I swear):



A rat bike with expensive shocks and original exhaust. Huh.