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Post by doubleg910 on Sept 11, 2009 16:52:52 GMT -5
 Sorry guys, the first two shots did not include the seat... Oh yea, forgot to mention- NOS chrome guage covers, mirrors, chain and sprockets, re-claimed grab rail, new ign. switch...blah, blah. Thanks! Double G |
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Post by jerard on Oct 12, 2009 12:59:56 GMT -5
Hey Double----just got around to seeing your ride. Good job man.
I'm about half way done of doing alot of the same stuff to my '74.
You got me thinkin now of using the empty brake mounts and doubling up---nice. I need more cash!!!!!!!! kerry
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Post by motherf on Oct 24, 2009 23:04:02 GMT -5
See now that is sweet. Great job man, I always find it such a shame to see these great bikes all chopped and hopped. But it makes those that keep em stock that much more special  Not meant to crap on those that mod their bikes, I have seen some really sweet modded ones too, but the stock rebuilds are just my fav  |
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Post by richard on Mar 27, 2010 14:08:22 GMT -5
Nice! :-)
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Post by doubleg910 on Mar 12, 2011 12:27:32 GMT -5
Thanks to all, I am mounting up a set of Dunlop 404s...the off brand that came on the bike are almost new, so off to the swap meet for them. The rear tire is just abot a quarter inch too wide and rubs the swingarm in almost every position....I did add a swingarm brace per Mike"Mercury" Morris, but I should have more clearance than the tire offers. Hint, check out the dunlop tire printed info, it gives the exact width of various model tires. Just cause a tire says 130/90-16 on the side wall does not mean they all measure the same.
Keep the rubber side down!
Thanks
Double G
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Post by 650leo on Mar 13, 2011 18:01:16 GMT -5
Depending on what brand the "Off brand" tires are they might be a better tire than the Dunlop D404's. I've had better luck with the Kenda's. Last longer, grip better, wet or dry, Less expencive too.
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Post by Tom Graham on Mar 13, 2011 18:43:16 GMT -5
Dunlop 404 are nothing to brag about. Any number of smaller tire companies make 'better' tires for the XS, and less expensive too. Dunlop makes a 501 (?) that is a good sport tire.
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Post by richard on Mar 13, 2011 18:44:45 GMT -5
Very nice! good job :-)
I just bought an 82 in yesterday. Most of it is in a box so it's nice to see a similar one that looks really nice. it gives me a goal to shoot for :-)
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Post by doubleg910 on Mar 21, 2011 10:23:02 GMT -5
Thanks for all the compliments guys, I wish I had time to go into the minute details of how that thing was put together, and If any of you have gone to those lengths, you know the untold hours it takes.
That's why my license plate reads "EXESS". Cute huh?
I had loads of help from this forum along the way. Griz has been a patient teacher. Mercury Morris has been a Prince. Techs at All Balls have been great. Even the folks at Yamaha Corporate HQ could feel me on this project. There are still a couple old timers left there...
I was not knocking "off brand" tires, I was a tech, retail salesperson, shop owner and OE rep for years. 1500 retail sales personally and about 50,000 wholesale to dealers. Quarter billion dollars worth of business ain't too shabby. Yes "B"...
I've spooned plenty of Kendas and others on pre-owned bikes and customer bikes over the years. I only stated the one "off brand" tire on the bike was too wide ( I was too lazy to go down to the shop and check the actual brand by name when I was making the post, so simply called it "off brand. No offense intended.) and that if any of you find that problem with sizing, the Dunlop tire guide shows exact widths of their tires by model of tire type. You may find other brand guides will too.
I was only trying to state that size designation on tires is not an exact science, and don't rely on one tire being the right spec just cause the letters and numbers on the sidewall are the same. Obviously the former owner or shop that mounted the tire were not paying attention to that fact. So buyer beware. I was not promoting Dunlops over anything else.
I know other XS riders prefer different tires for different duties. I looked at the Conti Twins along with many preferences of different riders. and yes the Dunlop 501 is the direct OE replacement, I've run Michelins, Metzlers, Chen-Ching and all the rest in my days, but after $9K in parts alone on this project, I thought I'd save a few bucks and the 404 will do the job for me. I'm not pushing hard on the street and I'm not putting on a lot of miles and will tip-toe in the rain, I plan to sell the bike, so wanted to at least put a set of new Dunlop back on. Different strokes for different folks. I had my reasons and I respect yours. Rubber side down y'all.
All the best..
Cheers!
GG
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Post by XS Rod on Mar 22, 2011 9:02:55 GMT -5
Looks perfect... loads of detail... and finished... as far as finished gets us.
Real nice job, been thinking of restoring a standard after I'm done with my current build, if it came out that nice I'd be stoked!
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Post by doubleg910 on Mar 23, 2011 21:59:19 GMT -5
Now that I am in the home streach on the fine details of slow jets and a minor problem with the rear brake that Griz is helping me with, I can say I'd build another one. I would look for a year that was very common and had lots of parts available. My 79 Special II for example had a different seat pan than was common on other years, so I had to buy the 80-84 seat from Mikes XS and swap over the foam , add a little foam in the back as the 80-84 has that "flip" to it, I had to find seat cover material that was close to the same and sew in a section to cover like earlier models. I did not like the little spike fingers that snag the cover material to hold it in place, so I drilled 1/8th in. holes about every 3 inches around the lower edge of the pan, super glued Post Nuts from the outside in , folded the seat material over once and hole punched in the right locations and secured over the post nuts with a washer and screw into the post nut...
much nicer cleaner detail but just a bunch of work!
the engine was same as other later years, it had funny little butterfly bars that were supposed to be "custom" back then, and I'd go with the larger tank that is available. I do like the cast wheels and I would do the double disk again. You just need to find the right parts at a salvage yard. I think I could do a better job of drilling the disks second time around, but nothing wrong w/ what I did. For sure invest the $90 in a new wiring harness from the git-go, but check it, Mine had a few colors crossed up from what they should have been, Boyer for sure, Digital Rectifier/Reg, I'd powder coat the frame instead of paint as long as you've got it stripped anyway, brace the rear swing arm w/ 1 1/4" channel again, front brace, tapered head bearings, plain bronze in the swingarm instead of the needles,maybe go with a model that had the 18" rear wheel for better handling, I was thinking of getting rid of the starter, but w/ the 750 kit and the streetfighter cam I have way too much compression to kick that thing too many times...reminds me of early Honda Elsinore....The new mikunis were very difficult up till now, each had different slide, needle, jets, etc, but now I know the set up and it would be a lot easier. made my own cables, and it goes on. Too much time and too much money...but one thing led to another and I could not see leaving something old and possibly not up to par when I did this and the other thing new...so that's the way it goes, all or make due on some things and put together a bike you can ride without worrying about detailing it out to the max....This bike has been Kind of like a pretty girl, they reel you in and the next thing you know...diamonds!! Doh!
anyway, thanks again to everyone who contributed to this project.
Double G
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