new to the xs!

[CatatonicBug]

http://photobucket.com/1965beetle this is the bike, its got my 65' beetle project too! enjoy!

I like the bug too! I prefer stock machinery, and it's nice to see the old oil-filled air filter on your bug still! Too many folks trade out for dual carbs...

Definitely need to put the front brakes back on the bike!! BOTH of them!! If you didn't already know, the military requires any motorcyclist in the service to take a riders' course. There's a reason for that. I took one myself, and I'm glad I did. The things I learned there have saved my butt on more than one occasion in ony one season. These bikes are super powerful, and the brakes are way underpowered for the bike. Stainless brake lines are a good idea as well, to boost the braking power.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

YEA BUDDY,
I can imagine what kind of trouble I would be in without any front brakes. The world has a tendancy to just stop for no apparent freakin' reason. Having just rear brakes will just slow you down a bit before the crash!

[DiverRay]

Welcome to the madness!!
I have to agree with the others, in today's world of "texting teens" and "soccer moms" you NEED the front brakes!( don't say anything Kat!!) I've been close to eating it WITH SS lines on the fronts brakes!
The '80 carbs have "O" rings to seal the seat, and they WILL leak after a while. the rebuild kits from georgefix will fit, but use your jets IF you have already changed them out. If not, tell him you need 115 mains. That should get you very close with the mods on the bike. The Vacuum gauges will work with something to "dampen" the pulse from the carbs. As other have said, the cheap way to do it is with aquarium valves. Turn them off, then on about 1/2 turn. set all 4 gauges to the same carb so they read the same, and THEN hook them up to the four ports.
As a old ARMY Paratrooper, I DID have "fun" with the Marines from Camp LeJune(sp?). I was at Fort Bragg, NC from '74 to '75! Thanks for the service, and I hope you can now enjoy the life you deserve!!

[apg0106]

Well, im heading over to my dads house, thats where the bike is located right now. Gonna try and figure out the front brakes and get em' hooked back up! Omaha is full of "awsome" drivers. i thought it'd be cool to make a manifold and put an old 40's single carb off a ford or something on there, but theres just no room! so, stock carbs it is. Im looking for some foot pegs and controls to move them up towards the front, i've had 2 knee surgeries and the stock placement just put my knee in an akward spot. I'll keep everyone posted, and i'll let you know if i ever get this thing on her maiden voyage! :-D later guys-by the way diverRay, i dealt with a few army cats over in iraq, lol, nothin against the army, but these days, they'll take ANYONE! lol, but thanks for YOUR service too, i've never been one to talk crap on another service, we all signed up to defend something, so props to all other service members. (marines are better though...but thats just my bias opinion)

[Varnae]

M.A.R.I.N.E = Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Essential

M.A.R.I.N.E = My @ss Rides In NAVY Equipment

Many people don't realize that the Marines are a department of the Navy... the WOMENS department.

As a former squid, I'm allowed to say these things.

Thanks for your service APG!

[apg0106]

i wish i could have just ridden around in a vehicle... lol, too much damn walkin! well, its going to take me a few days for the brakes, im going to have to find all the hardware to remount them.

[apg0106]

Okay, more questions! If i am saying something, that could be searched for, i've searched already and just can't find the answer im looking for, so if you guys have a tip, to improve my chances of finding stuff and not bugging everyone, LEMME KNOW! K, when i pulled off the front wheel, the "axle" i'll call it, the threads where the king nut goes, are bent, stripped, they're screwed up, beyond repair, i can't even get them to re-thread, the end looks like was beat with a hammer without the bolts that clamp it down undone, so, ? #1. How big is that front axle? its at my dads house so i can't measure it right now. #2. is there a way to run a single disc setup in front? or are both needed? I really think the way Buell did theirs is cool, its the one where the rotor itself is the the same diameter as the rim, maybe 3" wide. I dont know, 1 or 2 rotors up front? i've never ridden this thing yet, so i dont know whats needed. Im used to 1000cc crotch rocket, i always borrowed my buddies, so i know what its like to go fast and have to stop, but that only weighed bout 450lbs. so, this things a little heavier. thanks!

[DGXSER]

As to the front axle. I am sure a replacement can be found. You may even want to put a post in the parts wanted forum for it.

As to the number of rotors, I would NOT repeat NOT run this beast without all the breaks mother Yammie gave it!! It does not stop on a dime as is, so with less braking, I would call that just short of suicide, JMHO.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there APG,

Can't help you with the axle, but as stated, either the parts wanted forum, or ebay or Andreas Weiss...member/parts dealer here!

As to the brakes, the stopping distances for a Standard with FULL brakes at 60 mph under lightly loaded/weighted conditions is ~174feet, 187 feet for fully loaded to rated weight capacity!!! That's 2/3's a football field!! And that's with ALL of the brakes, both front calipers AND the rear ! ! These bikes weigh in at ~560lbs dry weight!!

Suggest seeing the SS brake lines thread recently posted for a source for some decent priced lines that will definitely provide you the best feel and braking you can get, with your oem MC and new pads!!

Also an Ex-squid 6 yrs...but with a little Marine cred...Corpsman and field medically service trained....have my 45cal marksman medal.....Oooorah!
T.C.

[fredintoon]

XS parts swap like LEGO

- - - How big is that front axle? its at my dads house so i can't measure it right now.
is there a way to run a single disc setup in front? - - -
- - - that only weighed bout 450lbs. so, this things a little heavier.

Hi apb,
the front axle is 17mm diameter. It's the same front axle as all XS (XS650/750/850/1100 Standard & Special) series bikes have.
So's the front wheel. So's lots of other stuff which gives you more options when you are looking for used parts.
I'd be real surprised if Andreas can't find you a replacement axle.
Yes you can run a single disk up front by using a master cylinder with a piston that has half the area
but no you shouldn't because it takes both front disks and the rear one to stop that 600lb machine in a safe and timely manner.