Redonk's build and learning!

[motoman]

No......need to check float level settings and set idle mixtures for a start.

[Rasputin]

Nope. When you smell it then you need to pull in the clutch and hit your kill switch and coast to a stop. Then pull your plugs and check the color. If it is at an idle then it is possible due to the enrichner setup and cold start etc. Either way plug check is your best friend if you want performance and mileage.

[redonkulos366]

i mostly smelled it when i let my brother ride and i was behind him on a different bike... and when it idles in my garage

[Prothec]

... i emailed len on pricing for his brake lines but he hasnt responded back yet.. does anyone know the price ?

Here's the link to his catalog:

http://xj4ever.com/catalog/j-6-lines.html

Search the page for XS1100, there is a section for rubber lines and a separate section for braided stainless lines.

[redonkulos366]

well its time for tire talks!!! any good recommendations
???

[redonkulos366]

Last year I bought a set of Bridgestone battleaxe bt45 for my nighthawk and they have been holding up pretty nicely I may try them on the xs

[3Phase]

well its time for tire talks!!! any good recommendations
???

For your '79F? Round, 130/90 17" bias ply tire with good tread and filled with air, you'll want the pretty much same in a 100/90 19" for the front.

Try to stay away from the Metzeler Lasertec, it's a good tire but only has a 2-ply body so it's little short on support after the tread gets worn down.

[skids]

Try to stay away from the Metzeler Lasertec, it's a good tire but only has a 2-ply body so it's little short on support after the tread gets worn down.

I know nothing about the Metzler. When asking a tire shop about ply ratings for my travel trailer, I was told that the ply rating does not indicate the No. of ply layers. There is reportedly a rating that is a ply equivalency, such that fewer actual layers with stronger cords may be rated as if there ar more ply layers. (?)

[3Phase]

redonkulos366, the tires you use are going to depend on the type of riding you are going to do with your bike. For touring you want a heavy tire with rigid sidewalls and as many cords as you can buy, for sport riding you want a light, sticky tire with very few cords so the tire is flexible and follows the road even when you're laid over and polishing the parts on the corners. I bought a set of BT45s once but that was after Bridgestone changed... something in their new tires from the originals. They were good tires but didn't last and they all have a V speed rating for 149 mph continuous. The V-rated tread is softer and won't last as long as an H that's only rated for 130. Unless it's terminal velocity after riding off a really high cliff, an XS/XJ11 can't do 130 continuous and stress an H rated tire, the V compound is total overkill and a waste of 'spendy rubber. The BT45s are pretty snazzy tires and they did just fine in the rain and in the twisties even when I was carrying a lot of weight on the bike and riding two-up, I just wish they had them in an H rating instead of V.

I know nothing about the Metzler. When asking a tire shop about ply ratings for my travel trailer, I was told that the ply rating does not indicate the No. of ply layers. There is reportedly a rating that is a ply equivalency, such that fewer actual layers with stronger cords may be rated as if there ar more ply layers. (?)

Ah! A perfectly good budding tire thread!

It can be difficult to find the actual number of belts and their materials that have to be molded into the carcass by law on every tire vs the bs^H^Hbraggadocio rating in the literature, sort of like what the lumber industry did with board dimensions, load ratings, and what you find with a tape measure. If you believe their load ratings, the timber industry has obviously discovered new trees somewhere that are much better and stronger than the old trees. Right. The Lasertec has a relatively soft tread compound and it's really flexible, that makes it a nifty tire to ride but you have to watch the weight and keep an eye on it because the center wears quickly and there's almost nothing between the first cord and the air cord. Don't do that.

[redonkulos366]

The rest of my brake rebuild kit and ss lines came today so that should keep me busy for a day or 3 .... I have a question for you all ... My rotors are fine on both bikes but the parts bike has the slotted rotors... should I be swapping them over or do the slots not really add all that much ?

[redonkulos366]

i have the front brake assembly off the bike i will start the cleaning tomorrow... what is the best way to get the piston out of the caliper ? using a compressor and shooting air into it?

[donebysunday]

i have the front brake assembly off the bike i will start the cleaning tomorrow... what is the best way to get the piston out of the caliper ? using a compressor and shooting air into it?

Must be very careful when using air, yes I've done it but left a nice crescent dent in the bench I was working on. I knew what could and did happen and had rags under the caliper to stop the puck and a well gloved hand on top, still freaked me out.
There are other ways like using the brake system pressure to move the puck out or the grease pumped into the caliper to slowly remove the the puck, I've never used either of those so can't comment.

[red bandit]

Squeeze the front brake lever repeatedly to drive the piston out. May have to refill master cylinder.

[motoman]

Synced the carbs and that didn't solve the 5k rpm power loss...

Setting for that long, the carbs HAVE to be removed, taken apart and cleaned. Trying to tune carbs at this point IS a waste of your time!

[redonkulos366]

so i have changed the oil (mid final and engine), replaced the oil filter bolt, full brake rebuild both master cylinders and all 3 calipers ss lines, rebuilt the carbs and synced, new plug wires plugs and battery, rebuilt the petcocks


i just want to make sure i didnt miss something mission critical on a bike that has been sitting for 10 years

seems like it is burning oil after about 300 miles...is that typical of a bike that has been sitting for a long time? any tips?

also the grips on this bike are horrible (way to big) anyone have a good recommendation on a set of grips?