Trainer Project...

[Dragonrider]

Ran to Houston yesterday and picked up a new project...the owner didn't need to mess with it and I needed something to tinker on those TWO days of winter we're expecting here in Texas...any day now...really! (we're expecting 80 degrees today--gotta love those Texas winters).

Anyway, a 1993 VLX. Cost? Not much. Got a few friends that may want it as a trainer...so I'll get it running reliably and cleaned up...and if none of them want it, I replace the scraped up pipes and sell it in the spring.

Yeah, so, now you know. I like bikes.

VLX Project...

[gerkenbruce]

A LIttel Dragon

Hi Daniel
Looks like a littel Dragon found ya and followed home
I know what I would do first take a look at that front tire looks soft . then I would take off the mullfers put on a set of turn outs rebuld rejet carb give it full tune up and then paint BLACK like (Well Oilled Machine ). Then give it to my lady to learn on.

Good luck
XSively
Bruce

[Dragonrider]

Hey Bruce,

Yah, the tires are low...it's been sitting since 1996. Gotta love Honda's though. Made sure the oil was still liquid, turned on the gas, hooked up the jumper cables (basically, I wanted to make sure it would turn over).

It started and ran on the first turn over.

Baby wants to run!

[xsivebiker]

Congratulations on your new bike, Dan. I believe that Bruce said it best when he stated that "a little Dragon" had followed you home.
I bet that Jewel has a low seat height AND a comfy driver's seat.
Everyone needs a winter project or two. 'Just some of us have a bit more time to spend on it! [weather wise].
During my past one week off; Christmas "vacation", I removed the four [one per carb] micro-filters/screens from inside my GL1200 carburetors. Afterwards, on New Year's Eve, she ran like a top [sunny, high of 46 F.].
I was longing to take a ride, but with the recent snow melt, the ground was so soft I was affraid that I wouldn't make it through the grass and up the incline to park her back in the wood shed!
Oh well, Spring isn't as far off as it has been, at least not for some of us "climatically-challenged" XSives!
Ride Safe,
Greg
'80 XS1100-G "Christine"
'87 GL1200-I "the Queen"
'93 KLX650-C1 "Back Road Beast" [35 inch seat height]

[xsivebiker]

P.S. - - - OFF TOPIC

Please keep my fellow coal miners who may be trapped [thinking positively] and their families in your prayers and thoughts.
Thanks,
Greg

[Dragonrider]

You got it Greg.

[Hobbit]

Prayers

I'll include the rescue workers in my prayers also.

[strom]

Congrats Danny!!!

Looks like you might be bored. But by the looks of things, this project is more or less finished. Whatever is going on with the well oiled machine? But I always ask that. It is, after all, the XS11.com

Anyway, the best of luck to you. And the miners, rescuers and families, alltho I do not really know whats going on.... on the other side of the world with problems all of our own...

LP

[Dragonrider]

Well, in West Virginia 14 miners got trapped by an explosion and cave-in. As of yet they haven't reached them or confirmed they are alive. They are frantically digging and drilling...

In the northeast, they're getting slammed with snow...Texas is burning...we had wildfires north of here wipe out a couple entire towns...several dead...these fires move at 40mph and we haven't had any rain in months...and California is drowing in too much rain.

Wierd winter. 85 degrees F here today...

Yep, this project's close to done...at a price of a real beater. Couldn't pass it up. It's a 93 deluxe...kind of rare too...cute little thing LOL!

Well Oiled Machine passed on into other hands, was sold, stolen, recovered, and then as I was making offers to get her back, shrouded in shady circumstances. She's gone. I hope she finds a good owner though.

Bored? Not me! (well, just at work). I've got two (TWO!) books to write, a comic strip to get started, classes to go to, roads to ride...but she was cute and needed a home see....

[chevy45412001]

dragon

any remote chance of making inugral Brag and Drag(on) in Aug.????would like to get my books (your books ) signed in person (hopefully getting XSact date next week).

[strom]

Yep, heard bout the miners on the radio today... only 1 made it... well, I hope he makes it. Real kaka.

And yep... really weird winter... cant remember when we had so much snow. Where are the snowless winters from a few years ago. Crap. I hate snow. Can't ride my XS and can't afford a dirt bike right now. Damn ice age!

I gotta be honest with you, the project bike alredy looks great and to tell you the truth, I kind of envy you, because it alredy puts all of the OCC bikes to shame and its the bestest project bike ever! (imagine paul jr. from OCC is reading this from cue cards) LOL

Take your time with those two books, Danny... I probbably won't order another batch till next xmas.

LP

[Dragonrider]

Hey Strom,

One of the sad parts of the miner's is that there was a premature report that they had survived...and the mining company reported information to the families that there were multiple survivors. The error was known almost immediately, but not corrected for 3 hours or so...then the media (of which I am intensly ashamed right now) were all so eager to be the first to report it that inaccurate reports are all over the place.

Plastered on the front page of our newspaper this morning: "12 of 13 trapped miners survive"

Sigh.

I'll get back with you later today on the information about shipping/etc...the postal rates change this week and I need to check with the post office on the best option for shipping (they don't seem to have global priority mail to you, which is normally what I use).

[strom]

Yep, that was nasty.

Looks like this project thread is going to be about everything else but...

LP

[xs650mike]

About the project...

Looks like someone replaced the aircleaner cover with a brushed finish one, the Deluxes have chrome finish. In Japan the VLX Shadow is called the Steed and they're sleeved down to 400ccs.

You should keep this bike. A great pick up aid, offer to teach the babe to ride and she could reciprocate by teaching you...(nudge nudge, wink wink) "Say no more..."

[Dragonrider]

Well, I got around to tinkering on the new project last night. Changed the oil and drained the old gas (THAT stuff might make a good solvent/cleaner/glue/poison/mixer, yes?)

One new battery. She starts on the first turn. Gotta love Honda's.

Serious off-idle stumble, so it looks like I'll go through the carbs this weekend.

No rust in the tank, the only thing else wrong with the bike is the turn-signals don't work (easy fix I expect). I'll change the coolant and front brake fluid this weekend while I'm doing the carbs.

Thanks to a helpful VRCC member (thanks Don!) I have some good condition stock pipes to replace the scratched ones.

I've also ordered a service manual...I've been working on bikes all my life, but it's still necessary to have the shop manual. (picture me crawling around under this dainty little thing, "Where's the #@&$^# drain plug?")

The bright side is, after dealing with Valkyries, 'wings, and XS11's for so long, I can pretty much pick this one up and turn it upside down and shake it

She's cleaning up nice. I'll post some more pictures when I get to working on her this weekend.

She's a 1993 Deluxe model...the folks on the VLX board tell me those aren't real common.

She hasn't named herself yet...but that will come...

Any suggestions on what to use on the wheels? There is some light surface rust on the chrome...doesn't look pitted and I've high hopes they'll polish up okay...