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Re: xs650: from granpa's donkey to caferacer: 95% done and the famous 50% to go.
Looking good!
a note on the seat upholstery where you were having problems at the corners - I've learned that "hospital corners" (think bed sheets in the hospital/military barracks) can look good when you can't get a corner to sew quite right. I don't have any pics of it, but hopefully you get the idea.
Re: xs650: from granpa's donkey to caferacer: 95% done and the famous 50% to go.
That's a neat bike and I love how the seat works with the rear seat rail.
Most of the time I can't stand exposed rear rails,but with your seat contoured to match it looks great.It's one of the best executions I've seen and you should take pride it how well it can out.
Re: xs650: from granpa's donkey to caferacer: 95% done and the famous 50% to go...
@philos1: I acttually did make "hostital corners" but the material strecthed so much that the corners ended up underneath the seat base ;D
@collatula: thanks a lot - I did experiment with a lot of different looks before I finally settled on this one after staring at old norton manx's for many hours 8) Also, I wanted to keep the original rear fender so that was part of the decision too.
Re: xs650: from granpa's donkey to caferacer: 95% done and the famous 50% to go...
Arghhh, frustration!
So I start up the bike to fine tune the engine and suddenly it misfires and dies. Then it only goes "hmf hmf hmf" when I try to kick it. I open up the left hand side timing inspection cover on the cylinder head and find that my one-year-old boyer bransden electronic ignition has killed itself: one of the little spinining magnets has broken off and caused major damage to the delicate plastic and soldered components on the ignition plate :-X
I'll try to get the company that sold it to replace the broken parts... but again: more delay. Nothing is supposed to be easy, I guess :-\
Re: xs650: from granpa's donkey to caferacer: 95% done and the famous 50% to go...
Well, electronic ignition is in the mail to the comapny that sold it. They are going to replace the broken parts without any charge, so that's a big relief.
I'm still not sure what to do with the whole front brake/front fork setup. it's tempting to ditch the whole front and install a FZR600 front and get the original front wheel to fit. Then I will not need spacers for the calipers and I will get much better front suspension. And I can get a full FZR front from German eBay at about the same cost as a xs650 fork restoration with progressive springs. hmm...
Anyways, I still want to ride the thing while I'm working out the plans so I hooked up one original disc + caliper to my new Duc master with a stainless hose, and what a difference! No sponginess, just pure pressure ;D That's better then I ever got my original 2 disc setup to be - and it took 5 minutes instead of the hours and hours it normally takes!
The secret is this little thing:
You connect it to pressured air and hook it up to the bleeder on the caliper. Its a good idea to have a helper around because you need to fill up the reservoir 3-4 times, while it sucks brake fluid through the system and leaves excess fluid + air in the container. When it doesnt sputter air into the container anymore, you tighten the bleeder screw and viola! plenty of feel in the lever.
So, now I just need to get my boyer system back. Can hardly wait...
Re: xs650: from granpa's donkey to caferacer: 95% done and the famous 50% to go...
It's been a while since I posted but I had a little problem when I fired up the bike: it made a horrible "cling clang" noise from the top end. So I had to pull the engine out and it turned out to be the valve lid that had moved a bit when I torqued it together, causing the valves to make that noise. BUT it's now back in and boy does it run! The quick-action tomasselli throttle takes some getting used to as do the performance clutch that engages in the spot but it's makes it a really fun and sparky ride. I can actually feel the weight I have saved by dropping the conventional battery, starter motor etc etc - it's so easy to corner that I have to be careful not to over-steer.
I still need to sync the carbs to reduce vibration and do a final adjustment of the valves but that's minor business... what's important is that it's that 1st kick caferacer I dreamt about when I started in february ;D
And the sound from the replica long reverse cones? sweeeeeet.
photos are a little dark - I'll take some during the day when we get some real sunshine....
Re: xs650: from granpa's donkey to caferacer: It's on the street!
thanks for the comments! I've taken som more pictures in daylight...
the battery is under the seat, in the little tray where I have also mounted the ignition switch and regulator. It's a 12V 7ah lead battery. I think that I have posted a picture of the electronics earlier in this thread... if not I'll find it.
here's the latest little project on my XS650: front brakes!
actually, it was my plan to do this upgrade when I first rebuilt the bike but the parts I had gathered didnt fit together - FZR 4 pot calipers and spoked wheels didnt go together :-(
So here's a fresh start with a pair of slimmer SV650 calipers, 6mm aluminium spacers behind the 320 mm FZR discs, a 35mm xs650 fork setup (original was 34mm), and still I keep the ducati monster brake master and braided lines.
front wheel off
my drawing for the mockup
and the Tokico caliper.
I got a first mockup made (plywood) just to check clearence and spacing. no problem. I'll make another that can server as a template for the final aluminum spacer. I have a piece of 6mm aluminum that I'm planning on using. does anyone have experience with the necessary thickness of the aluminum on a brake spacer?
I'm going on vacation but in Easter I'll be back with more photos
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