Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
haha thanks.
XS400 Project
- Thread starter Goldberg2363
- Start date
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
The final stretch is finally here. Parts came today and things went rather smoothly. I got my crankcase breather filter, licenses plate lights are all wired up and the plate is on but the whole thing needs to be reworked and made more streamlined but i'm sick of riding up and down the drive my dads building is on I'm ready for the road. I pulled the forks and put the dust boots on and while tightening down the last upper tree bolt it snapped. Although probably a good thing that it broke now rather then while riding i had to drive all over to find the right length bolt probably spent more on gas then on 2 new bolts for the upper trees since they cost $1 and i probably drove at least 20 miles. On the bright side I'm done all thats left is getting the seat which was ready to pick up today but my girlfriend came home from out of town for 2 weeks so she had to take priority. Should be on the road by 10am saturday if all goes as planned for now here are some pictures. Oh and one more thing i was really bummed to have to put the mirrors on. Although necessary they look awful hopefully i'll get used to them.
This is just a suggestion. Since you can weld, I--personally--would make the license plate mount as close to the bike frame as possible. From an aesthetics standpoint, I like them tucked in nice and tight so they aren't hanging about in the wind. It would be easy to make a T-shaped bracket to pull the plate in a bit. Just my thoughts...
--Chris
--Chris
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
chrisf said:
Yah i totally agree. I was reading about your thoughts on that on your website and i really need to. Just been so motivated to get it on the road that i'm putting that off for a bit till i figure out a good solution.
Anyway last night i went and picked up the seat and put the tail light on which required some cutting and re soldering of the wires since i forgot to check it the pig tail i put on would fit though the housing. The seat turned out amazing i have never felt such quality leather i was scared to touch it for a while. I then got up a hour early for work this morning and went to my dads shop since it less then a half mile from my work and i threw on the seat and pulled off the center stand and took off for work and got in a bit of riding after work until the 10% chance of rain turned into a 50% chance and it lightly rained for a few hours but by the time got back from dinner it was over and i got a bit more in. Sadly i was waiting to get home to take some good photos with my camera so i didnt bother taking any with my phone and i forgot so i dont have any right now i'll have to take some tomorrow. Overall its running pretty good. Still has a pretty bad dead spot at almost full throttle at bid to high rpm's not sure if thats a main jet thing or a needle height thing. The only other thing was it felt like the clutch was slipping but i re adjusted it and i think its fine now. Anyway i'll leave it at that i'll get some pictures tomorrow while out riding sadly i also have to start moving tomorrow but i might put it off till sunday and monday since i think i'm not working and i really want to get some good riding in.
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
Finally got a few spare min to post some pictures. Excuse the filthy state i really need to put the chain guard on to keep the shit off the seat. Anyway enjoy.
Looks great, the seat is really nice!
I like it a lot better without the centerstand too.
A couple more ideas: get the fenderbrace from the factory front fender and maybe paint it before re-installing it. It will finish off the front end and help gain a little fork rigidity.
Crank the preload on the rear or maybe get some shocks that are a tad longer, I think she would look better with her ass up a bit... If you keep the factory shocks, maybe ditch the top cover thingies? I did it on mine and it was a really easy job.
I like it a lot better without the centerstand too.
A couple more ideas: get the fenderbrace from the factory front fender and maybe paint it before re-installing it. It will finish off the front end and help gain a little fork rigidity.
Crank the preload on the rear or maybe get some shocks that are a tad longer, I think she would look better with her ass up a bit... If you keep the factory shocks, maybe ditch the top cover thingies? I did it on mine and it was a really easy job.
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
dbarale said:
I agree. Sadly the preload is all the way up and the shocks don't come apart in any way. I'm hoping to get some progressive shocks soon. I was going to get taller ones for more clearance but after looking at the specs on them the taller ones don't have any better bottomed out length but as long as its not worse i might go up from 12.5'' to 13''. Again sadly the front fender is one piece. So far i have not felt any problems with the front end but would like to get a fork brace or i might just bob the front fender and trow it back on.
Got some good riding in. Bike is running pretty good besides the clutch problem that I'm ignoring and just staying off the throttle till i have some spare time to adjust it again but i think i'm just going to have to get a new one. No idea what happened i put a new one in last summer when i got the bike and it was fine even when i was just riding up and down the drive where my dads shop is. Pretty frustrating thats for sure. Only other problem i've been having is the back tire is such a tight fit i had it fine last year but this time around i'm having a hell of a time getting it to not rub on either the chain or the brake arm. Not having a center stand to put the bike on does not help at all i have to get someone to hold the bike upright while i adjust the chain tensioners. I need to suck it up and buy a motorcycle jack or a swingarm stand but really i need to get both.
The good news are that the rear shocks do come apart. I did it to mine and if you look there:http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=5929.msg68136#msg68136 you'll see before and after pictures.
Basically you have to remove all preload then compress the spring. You can then remove the top eye and disassemble the shock. Not a bad job, I did mine on a bench with a couple screwdrivers and no special tools.
Regarding the front fender you may have to drill out a couple weld spots but you should be able to separate the inner brace. I'm going from memory, so if it's something you really want to do let me know and I'll go take a look.
Basically you have to remove all preload then compress the spring. You can then remove the top eye and disassemble the shock. Not a bad job, I did mine on a bench with a couple screwdrivers and no special tools.
Regarding the front fender you may have to drill out a couple weld spots but you should be able to separate the inner brace. I'm going from memory, so if it's something you really want to do let me know and I'll go take a look.
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
i'll have to give the shock cover a try some time soon and look into the front fender. i've been wanting to try and make something from carbon fiber thats not huge or complicated since i'm planning on making the seat for my next bike out of it then last night it hit me a fork brace. I need learn a lot of things first but it seems like a pretty simple project and a good use of carbon fiber. If anyone has any good resources for working with carbon fiber it would be appreciated.
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
Bike has been running pretty good. Think i finally got the clutch slipping problem solved i re adjusted it today and it was fine all day as far as i can tell but i still might replace the friction plates. I wonder if when the carbs overflowed and the crank case got filled with gas it started deteriorating the friction plates. Any way shot a quick video of me riding today. Its not great i'm going to try and get a better one soon. Enjoy!
goodfornothing
Spicey!
Ahhh looks like a blast! Can't wait to finish my project!
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
Thanks guys. Got a good hour ride in today and took some nice turns. The bike handles good at speeds over 30 or 40 and great at 60 but anything less like when going around a sharp turn slow or pulling out onto a street it feels like the back end is all over the place. The best way to describe it is it feels like its drifting. I'm hoping new rear shocks will solve that problem. Any one out there have any idea what could be causing that problem? my only thoughts are its a dampening issue or more likely i have the preload set too high. Sadly if i turn it down any less and i hit the seat on big bumps. Probably need to get 13 inch shocks and hopefully that half inch extra will give me room to set the preload right and keep from hitting the seat although looking at the specs on progressive suspension shocks 13 inch has a smaller compressed height then 12.5 so I'm not sure what to make of that yet. Hopefully some more research will solve this problem.
goodfornothing
Spicey!
How bit is your rear tire?
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
130/90 on a 16 inch wheel
Goldberg2363
Been Around the Block
It was fine when i put the bike back together but i should check that again some time soon and see if thats it. When the problem first started i got bronze swingarm bushings and it made it better for a little bit and then once i put the bike back together it was fine for a bit i'll have to check that this week some time.
