Moto Kēno was busy this weekend and last. After getting the seller to put a chain on the bike to test ride it we found a couple of problems and were able to get the price down $500. The bike is real clean and handles excelently. The history of the bike is a little unsure as the seller thought it was an '81 but we've since found that the frame is a '78 and the engine an '80. After adjusting the clutch we've found that the stiffer springs are actually quite nice! Chris rode it for the first time yesterday and is super stoked to get it up to La Ronge so he can get some real time in the saddle!
He rode it for the first time and got his hands a little dirty. After the clutch adjustment we had to adjust the idle which is still giving us a bit of a headache as it bumps up to 3000 after being riden for a short while and will randomly go back down???? Any suggestions are welcome.
The next thing we checked out was the front brake as the disc and caliper were covered in grease it was not very strong but the more we rode it the better it got. So we pulled the caliper to inspect. Found out a couople of things. First the caliper is not leaking and it seems that the fork seals will need some replacing in the future and second the dust boot on the brake piston is a real pain in the ass to get back on!
It is a lot bigger than the seat and this causes the headache when tring to put the snap ring in place. We checked out my 650 to verify that we were not loosing it and yep it's just bigger. Strange but the trick was to put the snap ring opening at the top of the piston and work the seal in from there.
I've found that if I dedicate an entire day to the bike I can get a lot of shit done. So maybe Shane's 650 will start coming along faster now or at least faster than one set of carbs for an entire winter. Chris is happy and I'll be delivering the bike to him in little L.A. on the 17th with a flight back to saskatoon the next day. If any mules are interested in joining me on the way up it would be a sweet early season tour to take!!
He rode it for the first time and got his hands a little dirty. After the clutch adjustment we had to adjust the idle which is still giving us a bit of a headache as it bumps up to 3000 after being riden for a short while and will randomly go back down???? Any suggestions are welcome.
The next thing we checked out was the front brake as the disc and caliper were covered in grease it was not very strong but the more we rode it the better it got. So we pulled the caliper to inspect. Found out a couople of things. First the caliper is not leaking and it seems that the fork seals will need some replacing in the future and second the dust boot on the brake piston is a real pain in the ass to get back on!
It is a lot bigger than the seat and this causes the headache when tring to put the snap ring in place. We checked out my 650 to verify that we were not loosing it and yep it's just bigger. Strange but the trick was to put the snap ring opening at the top of the piston and work the seal in from there.
I've found that if I dedicate an entire day to the bike I can get a lot of shit done. So maybe Shane's 650 will start coming along faster now or at least faster than one set of carbs for an entire winter. Chris is happy and I'll be delivering the bike to him in little L.A. on the 17th with a flight back to saskatoon the next day. If any mules are interested in joining me on the way up it would be a sweet early season tour to take!!
Nice. Looks real good. A bargain at 13 fo sho. He's got a snappy 650 project there. Another love affair with the kult of XS begins... Can't wait to ride it. I was a little too gunned for bikin' by the time you guys rolled up on Sunday. Roofing's one thing, but com'on. Safety first.
ReplyDeleteOh..The ramped idle speed after riding sounds like air leakin in the manifolds once they get softened up with heat. spray some carb cleaner around and see if you get a jump. Otherwise head over to XS650 Garage and check the forums.
ReplyDeleteWe sprayed the intakes down with carb cleaner when we got it back to the house and there was no change. So I'll take a look at the forum. And Chris almost put it through a gaurd rail in First Nations university parking lot the first time he rode it, the first of many but clenching moments for him!!
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