Air Filter Options

There are many air filter options out there on the market for the XS from the small ebay cones like I had (ERMGO). to the K&N (RC-0982) ones which are expensive.

Like mine on left K&N copies on right

Mike's XS sell a cheaper copy of the K&N (XS Performance). I have heard questions about the quality of the rubber in them.  So not sure if I will get these. But the K&N are probably a tad expensive for my tastes.

With chrome end caps, gauze washable element. Fits stock Mikuni carbs.
 These have a very nice built-in velocity stacks and DO NOT require modification.
Sold in pairs.

 '70-79  52mm  #MMXS15-0036.... $35.00 pr.   

   '80-84  54mm #MMXS15-0035..... $35.00 pr.      

 VM30-34  57mm #MMXS15-0027..... $35.00 pr.      

 VM36-38  62mm #MMXS15-0029..... $35.00 pr.  

Also a 64mm MMXS #15-0044

You can see here they have no lip.

Here is what THEXSCAFE had to say when they got theirs, (Jan 23, 2011)

• very thin walled...rubber may not hold up esp. with no support...wonder how long it will last...is the rubber ethanol proof?

• where-ever you look the filter wants to break out of the rubber

• see the large hole in the flange lip? WTF?

• strong enough to hang unsupported?

• ethanol proof?

Not an optimal solution. But heaps better. Will have a look around for a K n N to compare.

When I think about it I guess I should add here that pods generally increase engine breathing capacity. The immediate effect is to lean the carb mix. More air, less gas. Pistons and valves don’t like this. Get a little intimate with your carbs. Odds are you may have to massage your jetting.

Reading will tell you. Chop those plugs.

I will contact them for an update.



These Pod type are another option, don't know how good they are, they require oiling to work. Personally I find them a bit cheap and nasty looking……..not in the good way!

Anyone having any experiences with diff filters on the XS or recommendations on which ones and where to buy please email me or leave a comment.

Cafe Grip Mods

Took the screws out of these grips and chucked them in the lathe to bore out the chrome end caps, the plastic I just did with the dremel. The bar end mirrors clamp the end caps in place.

Finally matching grips and two mirrors on the bike which also match! Yay!

New Lessons - Carb Tech.

Learned a few things about my bike and what wasn't running right.  My bike has been running rough for a while. The bike revs out at the lights and I am constantly adjusting the idle down. we had talked about it and Hap and I thought it might be a sticky needle in the cabs. The boys at the BBQ suggested it be the more likely the diaphragms. When i was leaving the bike was idling I said my good byes and getting my gear on all of a sudden it stepped up and was revving like crazy. One look and I was told it was a result of the crappy filters I had on. To test the theory I pulled em off and rode home with out any filters and any troubles. Point proven……

The cause is the filter has a stepped rubber ring and this seals off the three holes circled on the carbs which I forget the explanation but have something to do with return flow and sensing.

These need modification to the stop lip to allow proper air flow to the atmospheric pressure chamber.

From XScafe, not same as mine above but shows the same issues.

Big inner lip...everything restricted...diaphragm vacuum port at the top: pilot air jet-lower left: main and mid range air jet-lower right: bowl vents in the middle

Best ones to use are the K&N at $80ea or the Mike's XS copies at under $20ea plus min postage $30..

I thought I'd give mod-ing these a try in the interim so I cut three chunks out of the step but it cuts right through and in those places and ruins the integrity of the filter.

How thick?

One of my new friends from the club BBQ made me a present of these thickness guages.  Made by Mercer of England. May take one of the dial indicators of so I can use it on the lathe etc.

I was really stoked that I was given these as it was the first time I met these guys and to get this kind of generosity was way cool.

XS650 Club Vic BBQ

A few of the lovelies from the meet up.

Some of the bikes were immaculate restorations, other on their way with a few suped up mods.  Then of course there was my rat bag bike! lol

How many XS frames can you spot in the bottom shot? There are quite a few hidden in there.

Met some cool guys all were friendly fellas and uo for a few drinks and a chat especially if it was a bout the XS's.  Got a lead onn a XS springer and maybe a replacement motor for my car.

Well worth the trip!

TGIF FTW

Assorted weekend inspiration from the net.

Billy Lane Jail Bird

Billy Lane Sentenced To Six Years In Prison

A famous former motorcycle builder from Brevard County headed to prison Friday. Billy Lane was sentenced to six years in prison and three years probation after causing a crash that killed a fellow biker.

"It's been really, really tough, but it's something I have to live with everyday," Lane said inside the courtroom.

Lane was moved to the Brevard County jail after the sentencing Friday morning to be processed. Then he will be sent to the Department of Corrections Reception Center to assign him to a prison and give him a new job behind bars.

"I drive by the spot where I killed him everyday. My motorcycle, at least for the last 20 months I've had my license back, and I've had to think about what happened and I look up to the sky, pray to God for his soul and for his family," Lane said.

Billy Lane didn't offer any excuses for the drunk-driving crash that killed fellow biker Gerald Morelock on A-1-A in Melbourne Beach on September 4, 2006. He repeatedly took responsibility, telling the court he wasn't seeking pity.

"I made the single most irresponsible decision in my life and it cost another man his life," Lane said.

The 39-year-old Melbourne Beach man gained fame and notoriety for the stylish motorcycles he built and displayed on cable television. His attorney argued, if he was spared prison time, he could use that same notoriety to persuade young people not to drink and drive.

Prosecutors, though, worried allowing someone to walk away from killing someone simply because he was famous would send the wrong message.

"If Mr. Lane stocked shelves at Wal-Mart, I would submit to the court that we wouldn't be arguing that," a prosecutor said.

Lane faced nine years in prison under the plea deal, but the judge decided gave him a break, noting Lane's remorse. Afterward, the victim's brother offered his reaction.

"That's the judge's gig, not mine. You know, the judge asked me and I told him, 'That's your thing, not mine.' I'm not a judge," Gerald Morelock's brother said.

As for how Lane will get treated in prison, corrections officials said he will go into the general population, but still has to be evaluated before determining if he will go to a high-security prison or not.

I was wondering why I wasn't seeing any new stuff coming for Billy.

Gotta be tough causing the death of a mate. If he is the kinda bloke I think he is then he didn't just get 6yrs in the pen he got a life sentence!  Worst of all the took his hair! Scalped by the man.

 Maybe he will get to build a prison bike and teach few blokes inside some useful legit skills for when they get out.

   HOT FROM THE SHOP

1/1/2012 - News from Billy: ...It is exciting for me to know that Choppers Inc. continues to live and breathe in the bike world until my return, with my sister Georgia behind the wheel. Choppers Inc. will always remain a part of the family, offering old-fashioned service and the highest quality American-made parts, built for the motorcycles we all love so much. 2012 is going to be a great year at Choppers Inc. There will be new products and some exciting changes. Stay tuned, and watch for updates here and on our facebook page. Thanks for your support. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Billy Lane

Brass on

Getting a Rise!

Finished my Hex Brass Risers in the Shed today.  Just need a light sand to get the scaring from the lathe chuck jaws and a bit of a polish.  Thinking to make some profile cut leather washers to go under them.

They day I should have stayed in bed…..

Got some work the other day at a commercial studio doing some freelance retouching…

The last few night before I had been suffering insomnia again and feeling like crap, so alarm goes off and I kick the Missus outta bed and we get ready to go to work.  Of course we are running late and I get down to the bike and she is being tempermental starting.  I realise I'm wearing my going out jeans instead of my Draggin kevlar jeans.  OK FK-IT I wearing them all my jeans will be oily and smell like petrol lol…..

So we head off and it starts raining so I pull over just down the hill to put my wets on.  Place my gloves on the tank. Pull me boots off and have one leg in the wet weather pants and I see my glove sliding off the tank like in slow motion. I'm standing on one leg no shoes and trying to pull these pants on and there is no way I can catch the glove.  No biggy right just pick it up off the road……..Well not quite i just happened to have pulled over right next to the storm water drain and the glove chose a direct course down the drain couldn't believe it!   Finish getting the wets on and cursing away.

I can see the glove down the drain but my arm is too big to fit down there so I put the Missus to work and she get her whole arm down but can't reach it.   She wants to just go home and get another pair.  No time for that and I don't want to loose this fight with the bloody glove.  I find a long stick and poke at the glove until I can turn it around and have the mouth facing me, I skewer it stick inside and pull it to safety!  Ha F-U I win!  Incredibly late now I have to really fang it, white lining down the freeway passing all the cars doing their 110km speeds. I hope there in no cops out this day, be just my luck.  
Bike starts to run a little rough and I realise I'm out of gas.   The XS has two carbs and two petcocks, I reach day and get the left switched to reserve. I'm sitting between two 4wds at this point with white line fever and as I switch the left two reserve I'm to late and the typical xs throbbing ceases and we are smoothly gliding along.  Shit how do I get us out of this.  Manage to coast back from between the 4WDs and across the remaining lanes to the road side.  I have no indicators (blinkers/flashers) to signal with and I'll be stuffed if I'm taking my hands off the bars to signal at this point!!!!!

On reserve kick her once and she is back in action, need to get to 100kmh to merge back into traffic.  As soon as I get off the freeway pull into the gas station and pay premium price for petrol.  Drop the Missus at her work and split lanes all the way to work in the peak hour bumper to bumper city traffic.

Get to work and park the bike shut down and take all the riding gear off.   Can smell petrol…

There is heavy dripping from the bottom of the left carby even though the petcock is off… Looks like they need a rebuild or the carbs do……

Oh well nothing I can do now…………..Should have stayed in bed!

USPS Tracking..

Ordered some bits from the USA.   Had it set to send me tracking updates on the USPS site which never came. So I have been manually checking the site.  This is the latest status.

Processed Through Sort Facility

Your item was processed through our FOREIGN CENTERJERSEY CITY NJ 099 facility on March 06, 2012 at 11:59 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination

I find it bizzare that untill today only the first enrty was listed and now it is updated over night with a whole bunch of follow ups that started a day after. Why does it take so long to appear on the site??
From Feb 26th tracking number to March 6th Updates only show on site on March 10…….

Hex Hell

Was feeling restless today and as I haven't gotten my hands on some cheap levers and m/c for 1" bars.

I decided to hit the shed and make som brass ⅞ risers to tide me over.

Well I had a few minor disasters.

Firstly I wanted the holes bored through on the flats, but due to the width of the worm gears on the four jaw chuch I couldn't get it o sit flat.  So I had to rest the vee in the groove.  This leaves less room for the holes for the clamp bolts.  Next issue was the tail stock lock came loose the bolt had gotten slack and with a bit of chatter due to the large drill went a bill haywire. Tightened her up and had another crack.

Drilled the tap hole for the clamp bolts but the clearance hole for the head walked on one side. As I said earlier rotating the bar hole from flat to vee reduced the material left.

All in all it still came up pretty good just ned to sand the chuck jaw marks out and polish her up.  The mate is half finished. Decided to see if it was going to work before I bored the second incase I needed to find another way.