An XS Odyssey and props to MadMike!

[Silent]

Ahh, I love being able to add to this thread B)

With all of the recent starter issues with the FJR, and a lot of talk about electrical and charging problems over on the XS forum, I opted for the perfect cure.

If you look close, you'll see something that's been on motorcycles since the dawn of 2 wheeled adventuring. Something the technical guru's did away with in the late 70's to early 80's, a kick starter! The old XS already had an "emergency" kick starter, so I opted to convert it to a more conventional kick starter. All the internals were already in place since the XS had the factory emergency kicker.

After a trial kick, I decided to go get the keys and see if the beast would spark to life. I put the key in and turned it on, turned the choke on, flipped the kick starter out and gave a jump on it. Nothing. Jumped on it again. Nothing... wait a sec.. Whats that sound? Damn! She fired up on that second kick stone cold! I think I'm gonna like having one of the few remaining kick starts on the road B)

Until next time! :drinks:

 

[Panman]

Not the only! :lol:

And surley not as cool.

 

[Silent]

I'll give ya the fact that the Triumph is cool, but I didn't say "only kicker on the road" I said one of the few My experience with Triumph tells me the XS is more reliable too

Nice Triumph tho :drinks:

 

[madmike2]

Ray....

This project has turned out very well. Congratulations, my friend. Well done! :clapping:

 

[Panman]

I'll give ya the fact that the Triumph is cool, but I didn't say "only kicker on the road" I said one of the few My experience with Triumph tells me the XS is more reliable too
Nice Triumph tho :drinks:

Way more reliable Ray. Been going thru it way youv'e been doing as this was a old barn find. My big deal now is to take the motor out of the frame and re-gasket it and get into the dry clutch. I have been enjoying your adventure, way cool stuff

 

[Silent]

Thanks guys, it's been a labor of love B) Don't go away yet tho, I've still got a couple tricks up my sleeves h34r:

Panman: You're gonna enjoy riding that Triumph. There's something about touching every intimate part of a machine that you ride that just can't be reproduced in a factory. Very few will know that feeling these days.

 

[Panman]

Panman: You're gonna enjoy riding that Triumph. There's something about touching every intimate part of a machine that you ride that just can't be reproduced in a factory. Very few will know that feeling these days.

Ray I rode it the other day and it was fun but kind of ruff on the old body. I don't know how I rode the 72 I had in the mid seventy's around the Cascade Loop! I worry about braking the gear box when I go to stab the brakes, being a right hand shift. Kind of reminds me of when I had my Arial Sq 4 and a 650 Bonneville, the Bonnie was 1 down and 3 up the Arial was the opposite 1 up and 3 down.

Your right about the feeling bring something old to life, it's a great feeling.

 

[timk]

Silent

You're probably aware that brake upgrades are many for these bikes, as Mama Yama used exact caliper mounting dimentions for many years and models. I mounted R1`calipers on a 86 Venture. Some used the XS front master off the XS bikes when de-linking the brakes. Hope I didn't repeat, as I didn't wade thru all pages.

 

[Silent]

SilentYou're probably aware that brake upgrades are many for these bikes, as Mama Yama used exact caliper mounting dimentions for many years and models. I mounted R1`calipers on a 86 Venture. Some used the XS front master off the XS bikes when de-linking the brakes. Hope I didn't repeat, as I didn't wade thru all pages.

Unfortunately, the Specials are weird and not very interchangeable. The brakes are good enough to get me in trouble since I have new front pads installed B)

On another note, thanks to madjackdog for going out of his way and picking up a Craigslist special for me and shipping them up! The turnouts that I'd picked up earlier and installed on the XS turned out to be way louder than I'd wanted them to. So I found a set of take offs from a Hardly in San Diego. They look good on the bike, and best of all, they are quiet as the FJR now B)

Not as fancy as the turn outs, but they defiantly sound nice B) I do have a set of heat shields that go on the Dayna pipes, I'll install them at a later time. I still need to wipe the pipes down and clean them up a bit.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Sweet! :yahoo:

 

[Silent]

It's been awhile since I've updated this thread. I haven't been riding much because of personal and health issues, not to mention the weather, so I've not been on this forum much of late. I did manage to get the XS into the XS11 forum calender for 2010 tho :clapping: so I thought I'd toss a link in here if anyone is interested (and I'm sure Madmike is h34r: ). Mine made the month of March.

CLICKIE

Since that calender pic was taken I've installed rear sets, installed the muffler heat shields, and replaced the front master cylinder. The XS stops on a dime now and rides real nice. I'll have to take a few 'after' pics to post up here. But that will have to wait for another day :dribble:

 

[RadioHowie]

Ray, hats off to ya! That's better moto-**** than some damn Ducati! :thumbsup:

 

[wheatonFJR]

Ray, hats off to ya! That's better moto-**** than some damn Ducati! :thumbsup:

+1 :clapping:

:yahoo:

 

[FJRONAMISSION]

Ray........ ya did good partner, that bike looks way better!!

B

 

[Silent]

Thanks guys.

It's been a long trip getting to where she is now. As for better, well, everyone would view that a little different I'm sure. For my stable she fits the bill as a fun ride without having to worry about all the weight and girth of the FJR.

 

[Panman]

Cool, now you can say you go out with a pin up girl!

Hope you are getting better.

 

[Silent]

More moto pr0n for those that are interested

Photo Shoot pics that were sent in for the calender.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Sweet....do you have any audio files that shows what she sounds like?

(I may have missed a post or two on this thread...if you have already posted this I'm sorry)

 

[Silent]

I don't have any sound bites of the XS. I did call Mike and left a sound bite on his answering machine about 8 months ago tho

 

[James Burleigh]

What a beauty! Although I'm a little surprised you didn't give me any credit in the story of the re-build. I distinctly recall pointing to some gizmo on the bike and asking what the f**k does this do, and you saying something like, "Oh that reminds me, I have to order the flutzlehouser." Maybe it was a different part. But without my help you would not have installed it. So, uh, I'm waiting.... <_<