78 XS500

[Redcon]

Hey guys,

So I bought my first bike last September. Got it off some guy for $480 and couldn't believe the shape it was in. With a cold engine it started right up and idled not half bad.
I put a little maintenance into it when I got it home. Cleaned carbs, changed fluids, tested compression, plugs, etc. then got it ready to sit through the coming winter.
Then began to obsess over the thing all winter...

I've got all sorts of ideas of what I eventually want the bike to look like, but I figured I'd wait to get on the thing a couple times first. I figured I'd get to know the bike as it was (after maintenance of course)
and then slowly change things I didn't like about the ride first. Baby steps...

I guess the first replacement on the bike would be the dash. I can't stand the bulky look of the stock guages. I like the way one guage looks instead of the two I have now.

I've been searching everywhere for a gauge that has Speedometer, Tack and Indicators all in one gauge.
All I can find are either ginormous ones, like those on big cruiser bikes, or the digital ones that would be better suited on newer sports bikes.
I'm looking for one that is non-digitized and not so bulky.
Any ideas?

Oh, these threads always need a photo or two of the bike right?

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3166/img6145.jpg

 

[kingofthenuggets]

Wow ... that bike looks to be in great shape already. Let me know what parts you are planning to take off and get rid of if any. I can use them for my xs400 maybe ... that stock seat looks to be in excellent condition as well. That gauge cluster is hideous and it doesn't help that it will be staring you in the face when you ride. Will be watching this thread ... good luck.

 

[xulf13]

Nice bike indeed. This is going to be a very nice build.
As fro the gauge you're looking for, you may want to consider adding a BMW headlight which incorporates the speedometer and tachometer in the top of the bucket. I believe they are found on the R75/5's I believe Kiley (Kanticoy) did something similar, but with only a speedometer in there.

This bike will require very minimal work.

 

[Redcon]

So first thing on the plate is the air pods...

Background: The air filter in my bike is so old its flaking, has tears in it and is almost impossible to get out. I've called a handful of shops, contacted various parts places on the web and no one can find me a replacement filter that will go into the stock air box on this thing. I'm going to have to go with pods...

So I've found the K&N pods that fit my carbs and now I need to figure out how to re-jet them I believe.

I have two questions I guess...

1) How much horse power is actually lost by not re-jetting and just installing the pods, and is that the only worry?

2) How do I know the size jets I need to install?

Any advise is greatly appreciated!

 

[JRK5892]

your bike will run like crap with out jetting, it is not so much horse power you are loosing... will flat out run shitty. I have the same style motor in my TX500
depending on your pipes i know some guys run #135 in there
i however got 130, 135, 125, 140, and 145 to try them all to see what it will take to jet mine in, granted i have custom pipes and baffles and V stacks

 

[dakine_surf]

Well it depends on the carbs, but no matter what you are going to loose power with pods unless you have mikuni vm34's or a carb that likes to play nice. Re-jetting helps bring it back into tune, but you will also need new exhaust. Normally re-jetting is a educated guess... buy a bunch of different jets and start big and step down until it you got it right.

 

[Redcon]

OK, thanks guys. Looks like I got some work to do.

 

[SrgtBear]

What a find! Hopefully it won't need much work at all. I'm working with a 75' XS500B. I have the same engine as Joe's TX500. I just found a great website that might help with your Jets. On Joe's TX500 build this guy Steve mentioned he was running a TX500 with #135 jets on his bike that had pod filters and strait pipes. I'm going to start there myself. Good luck and can't wait to see what you do to it.

Here's the link. It covers tuning, spark-plug colors, etc.
http://www.pjmotorsports.com/keihin-jets.html

 

[beachcomber]

That's a real nice donor.

Re: the instruments - it sepends what "look" you're going for.

If it's 60's Brit Bike / 70's Jap bike 2 x seperate instruments are period correct. Don't have to be as is, there's lots of scope to alter the look.

But that depends on what style you're aiming for.

One thing I have noticed with the US - you're far more willing to mix and match styles - whereas here in the UK we tend to keep the era's seperate.

As I've just started on a couple of XS500 projects - one thing is bothering me - I keep reading horror stories of head problems. Favt or fiction?

 

[HazMatt]

Hey Redcon,

I just purchased the same EXACT bike. I'm having airbox issues too, mainly because I can't figure out how to replace the filters (or if that's even an option?). Anyway, I'm looking to upgrade to K&N pods, and I'm wondering if you found the magic combination of jets to keep running with the stock pipes. Or did you upgrade your pipes?

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[johnu]

Nice find! That xs500 tank is one of favs, I love the shape. Look forward to seeing progress.

 

[DreadRock]

Outstanding looking bike you have to start with ! I believe VM34s are too big VM32s seem to be best for these bikes if you have to replace them but keep stock if can . Some place on my build thread I used the stock speedo in the center with a small tach off to the side .

And yea BC its a fact !

Looking forward to this build !!!

 

[DeanJ]

Hey Redcon,

I just purchased the same EXACT bike. I'm having airbox issues too, mainly because I can't figure out how to replace the filters (or if that's even an option?).

The stock filter is a paper element with a metal frame. Remove all of the nasty paper and clean up the metal frame of the filter. You can then use the metal frame and wrap it with a XT600 foam filter element , Yamaha part number 34L-14451-00-00. Solves your issue without the headaches and nausea of trying to deal with pods on the stock carbs.

Anyway, I'm looking to upgrade to K&N pods

K&Ns are not an upgrade on these bikes when using the stock CV carbs. It is a downgrade that will never work as well as a stock air box. These bikes hate pods. also note: These bikes absolutely hate shorty pipes. So keep your stock exhaust or pay attention to length and baffles if you are needing to change the mufflers.

If you want to ignore the advice to keep the stock air box and insist on pod filters, You will have to remove the stock CV carbs and spend some cash on a set of VM32 ( or cr's, flatsides etc ) carbs and plan to spend a lot of time re-jetting and tuning. You will still need a proper exhaust or it will not run right.

by the way guys, this thread is 4 years old

 

[DreadRock]

LOL missed that all I saw was a nice XS 500 LOL wonder what happened with it

 

[DeanJ]

LOL missed that all I saw was a nice XS 500 LOL wonder what happened with it

Yea, and it was the last year with all of the Yamaha mods and the round port head ... not the prettiest XS , however seems a shame such a nice is example was to be chopped up.