1973 XL175 Vitamin C Hell Ride

1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

The seat is fabricated. There is some more hammer and dolly needed to refine it to be perfectly smooth, plus a little body file.

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Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

Ellwood said:
What number you going to put on it?
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That's a good question. I haven't pared it down. Possibly 15.
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

Always something in a number...I have mine...my cafe came branded with the year of the bike...so I left it.
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

looking sweet ! you will want the bars rotated back a hair so the grips aren't pointed up like that
if yer lookin i have some good use renthals about half as high
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

xb33bsa said:
looking sweet ! you will want the bars rotated back a hair so the grips aren't pointed up like that
if yer lookin i have some good use renthals about half as high
Click to expand...
I was wondering about getting Renthals. Are they the same width?
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

Found the Vance and Hines exhaust for about $20. I had to give it a try. I'll clean it up, give it a little polish and change out the packing. As soon as the rest of the exhaust parts get here from Columbia River, I'll see if I can weld up a decent exhaust.

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Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

Still waiting for my exhaust pieces from Mandrel Bends, so time to carve some cushion for the pushin'. The stock seat is plenty spongey, so I shaved it down to what you see here. I may bring it down a little further, but this thickness isn't too far off from the stock comfort. I still wanna take it off road, so I'm gonna keep some padding for my sensitive ass.

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Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

A shiny, rebuilt front suspension and some nifty handlebars. The stock forks were pretty bent, so I switched them out. I also noticed a design difference in the seat pipe between the 73 and the one I'm replacing it with. The 73 is a straight tube, where the replacement has a taper.

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Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

Hi mate, I'm loving the XL and the 360 is looking awesome, top stuff.
I'm a newbie, just found this site searching for '73 XL175 parts and followed your posts on this re fabrication and renewal of the old girl with great interest.
I've got one I've just stripped down to frame for full resto, similar intent, create street tracker/ mild off-road, yet retaining the option to return to fully original as they are getting collectible ( at least the '73 anyways ).
Just wondering what you might suggest re rear suspension to retain that level look whilst one is on board as the old springs ( even new ) drop the arse down, it's an XL thing I guess.
This is my first trip down 'strip down & rebuild/ customise' lane, really liked your fabrication/ styling with the seat and side panel build.
Also any ideas on getting some extra 'oomph' outta that little donk?
Obviously it's never gonna be a race bike, lol, but a little extra couldn't hurt surely?!!
Ps, the refurb on the front end looks great, inspiring even, keep up the great work and any suggestions greatly appreciated. Cheers.
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

Appreciate the sentiments, Kegsy. One thing you've probably figured out already is that parts are hard to come by and the aftermarket doesn't exist. Just finding a 6v 5.25" glass headlight for less than $80 shipped is a difficult proposition. Talking with friends more experienced is what got me here. Lighting can be run off of a separate 12v regulator. The shocks are 13.5", which puts us in a market to buy shocks meant for larger bikes which will no doubt stiffen up the rear end. I may just switch out the springs or I'll go with a set of Hagons or Fox built for this bike. That will be down the road though. I tend to do all the stuff I can with labor and a few bucks first and sprinkle in larger ticket parts while I ride it. I doubt I'll do much go fast stuff with this bike outside of a sprocket change to give it more low end torque. So with that, I may go with a larger rear drive. I'm also talking with a pal that's a carb specialist who's working me on the Mikuni 32 angle, so that may happen too. Internally, it got a rebuild when I went in to change out the kick starter shaft, so no plans to go back in except for maybe a mild porting. The way I figure, this bike will never go on the highway or burn you with top speed, so I'll do what I can to make it funner on the low end.
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

hey it is looking great and the fender looks swell,a ow fender would ruin it
stay with the stock carb, 32 mikuni is WAY too big anyway
without changing out the cam you ain't gonna move much more air through it
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

28mm flatslide is what we were talking
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

Also, one thing I have noticed with this bike is the rear shocks have a two spring setup. The top, smaller spring has a smaller mil and is much softer than the lower long spring. When you sit on the bike, all of the initial compression happens in the top spring. If it's possible to get a stiffer top spring, that will solve most of the drop issue on the rear end. I'll likely look for a spring with the progressiveness wound into one spring thereby removing the two spring setup. If I can get a stiffer short spring, I'll consider that, but so far I haven't found one.

Here is a spring I have found that may work for the setup I'm looking for:

http://cycleplicity.com/products/20243-progressive_suspension_03_1331b_13_series_standard_springs.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=20243NOFITMENT&utm_campaign=GSNOFITMENT&adtype=pla&kw=&utm_term=&adpos=1o1&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAjwrNeiBRD3goG_1s-0_XMSJADuGQQcmBsiHfkkPw0WOR3KRm_-EBq2i8s0EXcIXpKrGvrd_BoCTbfw_wcB
 
Re: 1973 XL175 Orange Soda Hell Ride

you can run a spacer tube so the main spring comes in sooner
it will contact the spring seperater alignment dealy
of course you need to put the springs on correctly they are upside down now
 
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