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xs650 > > Welcome > > Introduce yourself to the community here > > Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!


Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!
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dustin.kerber
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Joined: Apr 10, 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Fargo, ND

PostPosted: June 2, 2006, 11:45 pm    Post subject: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!

I finally have my bike running! I went out for my first ride today and all I can say is that it is great to have a xs650! I have a 1975 xs650b and am from rural North Dakota, but am currently going to college in Fargo, ND. This is my first bike and I love it. I bought it off a family friend for $400, which is amazing, because the bike has under 7000 miles and has sat in a shop under a tarp most of its life. The one thing I will say though, is that I dont see how people can go for long trips on the xs650. Mine vibrates fiercly and after a while I just get vibrated to the point where it is almost unpleasant. I guess it has to do with it being a twin and I shouldn't worry, just a bit of an aquired taste Wink . I also have a problem with my speedometer. The 2 screws that hold on the faceplate have vibrated out. I took some whiteout and marked lines on the glass for every 10 mph from 20 to 70, so for the time being I am good. I would like to replace this though, as it vabrates loudly and looks bad, but I am having a hard time finding a new speedometer. There is no easy way to take the thing apart, so I am thinking of just using a dremel to cut a line around it, so that I can get in to fix it, then just JB weld it together. Well, I think that is all I can rant about right now. I appologise if my writing is hard to follow, but it's been a long day and I am close to sleep. Thanks for the support everyone! Glad to be a memeber!
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650rider
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Joined: Feb 09, 2005
Posts: 431

PostPosted: June 3, 2006, 12:46 am    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!

Rocking man good luck on the bike! What's your major going to be?
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mo650chopper
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Joined: Mar 13, 2005
Posts: 544
Location: Lonedell, Missouri

PostPosted: June 3, 2006, 8:39 am    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!

Welome to the site! You find Speedos on eBay, and just about any other part, or at xs650parts.com. Enjoy the ride and yes they vibrate. I keep my road trips to 500 miles or less myself.
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Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather
to skid in sideways, hand grip in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO what a ride!"
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Wulf
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Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 215
Location: Augusta, Georgia

PostPosted: June 3, 2006, 8:55 am    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!

Hey Dustin, so what was the final analysis on your electrical problem. Congrats on getting to ride.
Wulf

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If it ain't in the air, sliding sideways, or knee draggin', it ain't racing!
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dustin.kerber
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Joined: Apr 10, 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Fargo, ND

PostPosted: June 3, 2006, 9:18 am    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!

Well, my major is Computer Science at NDSU. Once I finish my BS here, I will also transfer to another college that offers an electrical engineering minor, as NDSU only has a major. Being a farm boy, I grew up with mechanics and they are what I do to relax, so I would like to keep them as far away from my work as possible.

As far as the elctrical problems went, it started out with left side not firing and right side spark so weak that it couldn't even jump the plug gap. I called a friend at the local Yamaha dealer to see about a coil, just to see how it compared to the price on mikesxs.com. Well, after hearing it would be $83 compared to $16 on mikesxs, I decided to keep my business online. Anyways, new coil for left side, new condensors, new plug wires and caps. I also tested everything else and it was all showing good, but even with the replacements I was still getting weak spark. I ended up reaplceing the points and plugs, even though I had put new ones in the middle of last summer and the ones I had in looked to still be in god shape. Well, after putting the new ones in and setting all the gaps proper, it fired up like you wouldn't believe.

I bought this bike about 5 years ago (yea, I had this bike as a 14 year old kid, but I managed to never put it on its side) and it has always been a hard starter. I would have to kick start it for 5 minutes just to get it to fire. I regularily cleaned the carbs and all too. This spring, while I was working on the electrical I figured I would rebuild the carbs, so I got a couple rebuild kits off of mikesxs. After getting spark the other day, I put my tank back on, connected all my hoses, and put a little gas in the tank. Now I was expecting to have to kick for 5 minutes to get the carbs running with gas. I kicked once. I kicked twice and much to my surprise it fired up. Not only did it fire, but it ran beautifully. Now, I have grown up with this bike as one of my closest companions, it has always been with me... and to have it back.... was just great =).

So, in short, it turned out that I has a bad set of points. I also was having some problems with my blinker just staying solid and not blinking, and my horn not sounding good. I dismantled the blinker relay and cleaned the internal contacts. It works great now. I also dismantled the horn. There are two point contacts in there that pull together to push up the diaphram. These contacts were horribly glazed, so after getting som emery cloth in there, putting it back together, and adjusting the setting nut, it sounded great. Who needs to buy what you can fix after all?
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Wulf
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Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 215
Location: Augusta, Georgia

PostPosted: June 3, 2006, 10:16 am    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!

Excellent job Dustin. There's nothing like the satisfaction of being able to fix something yourself. We've got a great bunch of guys around here to help you out with tech stuff. Don't ever sell your bike. I lost my first XS (long story), traded my second and I kick myself in the ass for both of them. I now have 2 more and will never let 'em go. Ride safe.
Wulf

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qferret
650Rider Supporter
650Rider Supporter


Joined: Sep 18, 2005
Posts: 53
Location: Minnesota

PostPosted: June 4, 2006, 10:45 am    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence

Ah...a fellow 'puter geek...

I'm currently taking online courses through Regis U in Denver. I've been worling full time in IT for 6 years and keep hitting brick walls in my career due to the lack of a degree.

Hopefully I too will soon have a ridable bike. Wink
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dustin.kerber
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Joined: Apr 10, 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Fargo, ND

PostPosted: June 2, 2009, 10:51 am    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!

Well, I am done with college and I finally have a place with a garage, so I can get back to my bikes. My xs650 has been siting about 2 years, as it needs new gaskets and piston rings (left side fouls) and I haven't had room to work on. I am hoping to be able to do the tear down on that pretty soon.

I just bought 2 new bikes in the last week. Horray paying job! I got a 75' Honda CB750 chopper and a 74' Yamaha RD200.

I bought the RD200 as my wife's first bike. She is starting to get more interested as I get more bikes for myself. Haha.

That being said, does anyone know of any good community sites, such as this one, for either of those bikes? Much appreciated.

It is good to be back!
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Retiredgentleman
650Rider Supporter
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Joined: Mar 03, 2007
Posts: 2258
Location: Calgary, Alberta 1978 XS650 SE

PostPosted: June 2, 2009, 12:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence

Tach/Speedo repairs:
xs650temp.proboards.co...hread=6285
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rhilker
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Joined: Apr 08, 2009
Posts: 168
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

PostPosted: June 2, 2009, 2:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Now that I have my bike running, let the riding commence!

Another speedo repair link:

650wiki.org/index.php/...edo_repair

I've seen whole gauge clusters on ebay for like $20.00.

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