I'm back - carbs out - humor and a question

[TopCatGr58]

Did some searching,

Found this place..think they are Canadian, but they have the XS Performance brand 54mm filters!

http://www.fsmotorcycle.com/advanced...4mm+pod+filter

Should still be cheaper than K&N's, even with Canadian Shipping!
T.C.

[jetmechmarty]

Hey Cy,

I've gone back and forth with synthetic oil on my bikes with no ill effects. I use the motorcycle specific kinds. Clutch never noticed.

My airbox works fine, so it stays. I'm not too crazy about how the side covers look when they appear to be hanging in thin air.

My "octy" broke, so I got a new one. I've been riding my XS650 since 1983, and it has a vacuum petcock. I am accustomed to the auto shut-off feature.

If I was to run without the airbox, I would be inclined to support them at the rear so as not to have all that weight hanging from the rubber manifolds.

[Lbrown311]

I agree with Jet...I personally like the look of the chrome air box and have heard tuning can be meticulous with pods. I never really liked the look, however it would be way less a pain to put on and take off carbs, and run fuel lines. I can't speak from experience with using pods but my bike ran great with the stock airbox...and that was with carbs that were leaky, dirty and way outa wack. Haven't had it running yet since I've cleaned and bench sync'd cuz I have recently begun a pain in the "you know what" job of redoing the brakes which isn't going very well at the moment Back to the subject. I have heard of running pods in the air box, it supposedly makes the intake more consistent and carbs easier to tune. That way you still have support and the side covers won't be "hovering" and you have the ease of tuning still. Just a thought from a noob who has done a lot of reading.
Good luck with your mods, and let us know what you end up with.

I am contemplating SS brake lines at the moment. Just ordered the 16mm bore Front MC to replace stock with organic brake pads. Can't wait to get it all done and go RIDING!

[crazy steve]

...Just ordered the 16mm bore Front MC to replace stock with organic brake pads. Can't wait to get it all done and go RIDING!

Be aware that a 16mm bore front master cylinder is undersized compared to the stock unit (11/16" or roughly 17.5mm). This will reduce 'pull effort', but increase lever travel; if the lever bottoms out before you get full braking I can't say, but it is a possibility....

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Steve/Brown,

The 16mm Mc is still larger than the 14 they also offer for 1 caliper systems.

I got a smaller MC from a local wrecker before I knew the difference in them, and it most likely was for a single caliper system. I have SS lines, and so there's no expansion loss, and after they were bled, yes I can "pump" the lever, but it does provide plenty of fluid volume to effectively work the pair of calipers with just that single capacity MC, so I wouldn't worry about the 16mm not having enough capacity! JMHO!
T.C.

[jetmechmarty]

It's common for some of the XS650 folks to add a second brake to the front wheel. Some of them retain the original master cylinder. It has a long pull, but takes little effort. I don't remember off hand what the bore is, but smaller than 16 mm IIRC.

[jwhughes3]

I have the 16mm one from MikesXS

Be aware that a 16mm bore front master cylinder is undersized compared to the stock unit (11/16" or roughly 17.5mm). This will reduce 'pull effort', but increase lever travel; if the lever bottoms out before you get full braking I can't say, but it is a possibility....

I replaced mine on Great Ranger with a 16mm one - works fine - doesn't pull all the way back. Has a little more feel (doesn't make it grab as quick) in front.

I do have SS lines though and I think it makes a difference over rubber.

John

[fredintoon]

I can not think of one single good reason for tossing the octy!. If for nothing else than the fact it provides one more measure to keep fuel from flowing when not running. It hurts nothing to be on there and offers some protection. Takes almost nothing to maintain it. The fact that it does require more lines and it is a bit confusing to deal with is no big problem. How often do you really have to learn where the lines go or how it works. A few minutes spent researching and all could save an engine from gas in the oil. How bad can that be?
Anyone can lose their temper and toss it but why? Does it make life simpler to feel that turning off the petcocks manually is better than having the extra protection of the octy? You do what you like but I will be keeping mine on all my bikes. JMHO

Hi Ras,
the decision was made for me because my octy was long gone before I ever got the bike.
That said, once the drawing of that eight pipe wonder showed up on the list, I knew the dreaded PO was right to remove it.
The octy designer should be made to write "Simplificate and add lightness" a thousand times over.
BTW, either remembering to turn off manual taps or having a vacuum system do it for you will stop fuel from leaking when your bike is parked but it will not fix the leaking float needle that lets the bike run rich.

[Lbrown311]

the decision was made for me because my octy was long gone before I ever got the bike.
That said, once the drawing of that eight pipe wonder showed up on the list, I knew the dreaded PO was right to remove it.
The octy designer should be made to write "Simplificate and add lightness" a thousand times over

I am personally way to forgetful to get rid of and hope I remember to turn of the petcock. I don't see a real problem with it tho. Easy to move out of the way with one screw. For extra insurance I have no problems with it.

I replaced mine on Great Ranger with a 16mm one - works fine - doesn't pull all the way back. Has a little more feel (doesn't make it grab as quick) in front. I do have SS lines though and I think it makes a difference over rubberI

did do a lot of research on the brakes and it sounded like the 16mm bore would work fine. I guess I didn't realize the impact it would have dropping down to a little bit smaller size. But the way it sounds, I will like the softer feel and maybe if I don't like it I will definately do the SS brake lines which should enhance performance.

[sabar10]

Removing the octy?

My octy has been gone since 1980 and have had no issues with flooding because i shut the fuel off every time the bike is gonna sit for more than an hour or it is sitting in the sun. As far as jetting and air box drilling my xs is currently set up with 160 main jets 47.5 pilots and 210 oxy mixers, the air box has been altered to the extent the lower half is no longer. Air filtration is thru a double screen gause fabricated unit that bolts on where the lower used to . Exhaust system is a kerker 4 into one that does not have a baffel but retains the end cap that has been modifyed to let the exhaust flow smoothly. One other concern is what happens when you get caught in the rain ? Well this can be a concern because engines don't like injesting water. The only other mod that has been performed is leaving the elephant trunk in place with a similar screen system. This bike did run a 10.90 quarter mile and posted consistent 11.10 times. Slight cylinder head work has been performed. (comp valve job) other bikes owned were 1984 fj1100. 1980 suzki gs 750 e and a 1977 yamaha 650 twin. 1978 750 k honda that sucked an intake valve and burnt to the ground one and only honda owned by me. Curently have 2 1979 xs11's one to ride and one for parts.

[cywelchjr]

Hi Ras,
the decision was made for me because my octy was long gone before I ever got the bike.
That said, once the drawing of that eight pipe wonder showed up on the list, I knew the dreaded PO was right to remove it.
The octy designer should be made to write "Simplificate and add lightness" a thousand times over.
BTW, either remembering to turn off manual taps or having a vacuum system do it for you will stop fuel from leaking when your bike is parked but it will not fix the leaking float needle that lets the bike run rich.

If I had a special I would probably hate the octy too, but having a standard I love my vacuum petcocks. And they are pretty simple to plumb, two fuel lines and two vacuum lines, about as simple as it can get for the system and I have a system that does turn that off, and yes, my needle valves work, I can leave it on prime and it doesn't leak.

[jetmechmarty]

I really don't understand what all the fuss is about. The "octy" is just four fuel lines and a vacuum line. It works fine. One valve instead of two.

[bikerphil]

I really don't understand what all the fuss is about. The "octy" is just four fuel lines and a vacuum line. It works fine. One valve instead of two.

Marty, until the octy has left you stranded in the middle of nowhere, you'll never understand. Most others can't deal with it when R+R their carbs until they get them right, but for me, my octy stuck closed and well, you know the rest.

[xs11lover]

I'd like to be first in line for all these parts you're replacing. They all worked fine to me. That oil was fresh too & spendy.

[11Rider]

As I mentioned several times, everything worked perfectly, I'm just customizing it to my liking. As far as the oil, it was fresh a year ago when I got it, but I also mentioned that I ended up with gas in the oil when I had to take the carbs apart because of the plugged jets and had to replace it for that reason.