Rusty turns 72k miles...

[xs650mike]

Well 'ol trusty Rusty has turned over 72k miles, 72,637 to be exact. The price of gas has forced me to ride more. "Oh, please please please don't throw me in that briar patch!", he cried.

Took a few pics over the Thanksgiving weekend, first cleaning up the residue from stickers on the sidecovers.


Formal portrait...


My recently added driving lamps...


Priority lights turn sig couplers which make the single filament turn sigs function as running lights, brake lights and turn sigs. Red lenses are from Mike's XS...


Still no mechanical issues to date other than minor oil seepage.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Nice place to put the owners patch:-) No mechanical problems with my '80 SG @ almost 74 big ones.Original exhaust I see also,same here.Will keep riding the Energizer battery till it fails and then rebuild. Don't want another bike.

[DiverRay]

Mike,
The bike is looking good. I now have about 93K on Daily ride, the bike you saw in Los Banos a few years back.... I also have an oil leak, but it keeps running! I did have to fix a pickup coil wire this past weekend, but that's been it.
I noticed you have the shield on in the first two pics, but not in the second two. Are you still using it?

[xs650mike]

Shield

Hi Ray...National Cycle Deflector Shield with quick release hardware, on and off in seconds! Usually go without in summer months except for long distance. Shield in winter...'s warmer.

[81xsproject]

Hey Mike, did I ever tell you that I rode right past you on Cobb one day? I was giving my father in laws 650 v-star a ride and rode right past you. I turned around to try and catch you, but there was NO WAY that v-twin piece of junk with me on it was going to catch an eleven with you at the helm

[xs650mike]

Hi Jessie...

Yeah, the old XS is reasonably fast in the twisties, especially with the taller rear shocks. I can usually keep up with most of my riding company including some guys with sport bikes such as Ducati Tim.

[81xsproject]

Yeah, I have really want to get down there and do some riding on 175. I have been down there enough for the in laws that I am kind of getting to know the roads. I too want to go to a taller rear shock in combination with switching the front end to standard hardware (slightly lowered). The only thing stopping me is that I would have to get a different fork brace, I think.