Philly Riders

new to the site, and the XJ560 (less than a week). Anyone in the area interested in going for a ride someday, and/or passing on their wealth of knowledge to help me get my bike pristine? Usually end up riding solo, but would love to start riding with some people who share an interest in these bikes, or just like to get out. Let me know!

 

Hey pabstblueribbon,

Welcome onboard. This weekend is the recurring Ephrata bike rally at the VA lodge in Ephrata PA. Based on mapquest that's about an hour trip from where you are. Check out the info http://ephratamotorcycle.com/

I've been many times. Alot of bikes - old/new/custom/etc... Get there early, have some breakfast check out all of the bikes, vendors.

You'll enjoy it. I plan on heading up on my 82 XJ650 from Wilmington De with a couple of other riders. Maybe see yah there....

 

thanks for the info, obviously since I just read it...I missed it.
Sounds like a good time, hope you enjoyed!

 

I know i am super late to this, but just wanted to chime in about being a philly rider.

 

Im bout 2/12 hours away from philly in York PA. Would like to meet up and ride sometime let me know

 

sounds good 81Seca, always looking for someone new to ride with.

There has to be something going on around SE PA that could allow a few of us to get together for a ride!

Anyone interested in doing something some time, or know of anything already planned please let me know. I like riding solo and all but it would be cool to get together with some other Yamaha riders!

 

http://www.bikerplaza.com/motorcycle-events-pa.html

 

awesome link, thanks a lot!

 

No problem. some smaller events arn't on there. But it is the best listing I know of so far. Its hard for me to get away (3 year old, puppy and a pregnant working wife) But if any one is going to be in the Reading area send me a PM.

 

yeah I noticed that some of these were big events. Still a great resource.

In the mean time though I was just hoping for a less organized smaller group outing..

If anyone's interested let me know. I'm going to go out regardless so I won't take it personally if nobody responds, haha. I know it can be hard to schedule time to ride, especially with all the responsibilities you have!

 

If you guys feel like coming over the bridge into cherry hill, nj. Top Dog on Route 70 has a bike night the 2nd monday of the month starting in may. Hope to see you there.

 

that sounds like a fun time, checked out the website looks like a neat place. Not sure I can handle the commute from King of Prussia on I-76 in rush hour traffic...my left hand might be strained before I even hit the bridge, lol.

 

I'm near Lancaster and usually ready to ride. I found some cool, back country roads with views in Lanco County so if anyone wants to ride here, let me know. Anybody want to do the next Ephrata event on 7/4?

 

what about a carb clinic for our area? anyone have a lot of experience?

 

I'd be up to learning if people are getting together, but my 550 is out of commission from needing brakes and the fork seals redone. But I'd enjoy getting together and meeting and learning what we all have in our collected knowledge.

 

this is a great place for us to meet.

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?rlz=1 ... 0990885156

adam is extremely knowledgeable about our bikes and is a really nice guy/mechanic. His shop is filled to the brim with vintage cafe racers and he is open every first friday of every month for the Frankford Ave First Friday event. That would be a good time.

 

I've helped a couple guys out. I'm down near Baltimore.

There's always the Allentown one in August too.

 

Anybody riding ??
I dig on the bar hopping thing mostly...
I try no to venture too far from the city due to law enforcement(a little more lax in the city).
(still working on some turn signals)

Plus, they usually don't bother firemen too much.

Anytime somebody wants to ride a bit or just meet up for some bike talk just send me a msg...

 

Anybody riding ??
I dig on the bar hopping thing mostly...
I try no to venture too far from the city due to law enforcement(a little more lax in the city).
(still working on some turn signals)

Plus, they usually don't bother firemen too much.

Anytime somebody wants to ride a bit or just meet up for some bike talk just send me a msg...

 

Anybody riding ??
I dig on the bar hopping thing mostly...
I try no to venture too far from the city due to law enforcement(a little more lax in the city).
(still working on some turn signals)

Plus, they usually don't bother firemen too much.

Anytime somebody wants to ride a bit or just meet up for some bike talk just send me a msg...

 

I am in West Deptford, about 20 minutes south into NJ from Center City. I've got an 81 Midnight Maxim 650, and have been slowly repairing/restoring mine myself. It's my daily commute vehicle, so I'm planning on a restoration and some aftermarket add-ons down the road, but I'm down to meet with people to ride. I do have winter riding gear, so road conditions and weather permitting, I'm available on weekends.

 

lets make this happen
SOON
Its gonna be like 60 on thursday!
i just rebuilt my carbs and am having trouble getting her started (somehow not getting enough fuel) but when i do, it'll be my DD

 

You may not have gotten the enrichment jet in the bottom of the bowls clean enough to get fuel into them. That'll cause your hard start.

 

I ended up just needed to properly gap my plugs, turn the idle mixture screws out one more turn and it fired up.

But i am in desperate need of a sync. Does anyone around the area have the tool?

 

You can make one for about $4.

You need a yard stick, duct tape, clear tube to fit your vacuum ports, and some ATF.

Make a long U shape at the middle of the tube, tape it to the yard stick and the legs up each side.


Put ATF in the tube so it's about half up the yard stick.

Synch 1-2, 3-4 then 2-3.

The best part about ATF is it's easy to see and if your carbs are way off and suck some in it'll just smoke out the exhaust no worries.

There's also the baby bottle method, the single gauge method, etc. All can be found on this site.

Make sure you get it good and warm before all your fine tuning or you'll just do it again.

 

are you saying ATF like automatic trans fluid?

 

Yes. Automatic transmission fluid. You can use water, oil or whatever works as well. If water gets sucked into your engine it'll be bad news. ATF will just burn off.

 

first question - i understand 1-2 and maybe 4 but how do you adjust #3? Doesnt that hose need to go to the gas tank in order to pull gas from the petcock?

Second question - Murphy's law went into effect and i have developed a leak around my oil filter housing. I am left with 2 choices:
1. go get a fram filter with an O-ring and live with the stripped bolt head
2. Spend $60 on a spin-on oil filter adapter

what do you think?

 

#3 is adjusted by the main idle control knob. That's why you make 1 match 2 then 3 match 4 then 2 match 3.

You can remove the vacuum line from #3 and set your petcock to PRI and fuel will flow. Or use and auxillary tank.

There's a third option. Chacal sells replacement bolts for the filter housing. I think they are cheaper than the spin on adapter. One has a larger head.

 

thanks for the super fast response!

Okay i think i will just get the O-ring for now and replace the bolt in a month or so for the next oil change

I have got to get this bike on the road, i am going bonkers sitting in my cage everyday

 

Alright, got everything "fixed", i need to do a final sync today with the YICS port blocked and hopefully that will help it start sooner.

I am hoping that I dont have to pull all the bowls and clean them out again.

This is getting old fast.

 

does anyone have a colortune around philly? I can get it started and ride to you if you are within 100miles.

after my rebuild the bike takes like 8-10 tries to get it started and thats a maybe... I think I am going to have to pull it and make 10000% sure those enrichment tubes are spotless.

 

i just wanted to say thank you for all the advice guys. I still need to find a color tune and get it all dialed in. And I still have the issue where every once in awhile the solinoid stays engaged and makes the starter run till the battery dies.

But other then that, she runs!

Video of her running

 

nealskj I have a good bit of experience working on my bike that I could pass on to you plus we could go for a ride sometime. No colortune or carb syncs but I have been through a few cleanings with good results.

 

Well, I still have not been able to hook up with any other XJ riders, and I want to do it this year dagnammit.

Anyway...Its still a little miserable out, and I need to replace my headlight relay. I have every intention of being on the roads by April 1st. Going to have my local shop do a tune-up and oil change this week so I'll be ready with time to spare.

Maybe if we can get a few of us to commit to a few dates this spring/summer we can finally get a few XJ group rides in this year. It should be fun, in theory, hahaha

Any takers? How about one of these dates:
4/9/2011
4/17/2011
4/24/2011

Take care

Mark

 

I could probably do the 4/24. Pending on the weather. I try not to ride in the rain. I'm booked the other days.

Of course the bike is burried in the back of my shop so when I dig it out I'll see how it runs.

 

weather permitting of course. Though I just ordered my frogg toggs so there is no stopping me now

Let me know via message or post if your bike is good to go when you dig it out. I was shocked to find mine running like a champ when I dug it out last weekend. Just need to have some minor maintenance done (knock on wood) and I'm good to go.

Well, thats two for 04/24. Any others willing to commit?

 

Pabstblueribbon - I want to go but at the moment my front wheels locked so I need to do a through cleaning of the Master Cylinder. Let me get back to you in a week or so on the 4/24 ride

 

Sounds good to me! I set a reminder to checkin with everyone on 4/1
Then we can pick a meeting place and of course a ride route!

 

well..if anyone is interested for the 24th pm me....
if I don't get any I'll just be forced to ride alone, no hard feelings though

 

PM sent

 

i'm down, just let me know when and where

as long as it is above 40 degrees she starts and works the whole day, lil b!t(h

 

I have a couple things that I need to get done on the bike (valves, carbs, MC/brake line replacements). I'm waiting on parts to do the valves. Once those come in, if I can get all that knocked out, I'll be up for a run - Hopefully in the next few weeks.

 

Otter, let me know if you need a hand.

 

Sure thing man. Sent you a PM. Thanks!

 

*****************WEATHER PERMITTING*************

SUNDAY April 24th, 2011 -

I will be leaving from NW of Philly (Norristown, PA) to meet up with iwin and otter (hopefully) in Glasgow, MD (about 55 mile drive) If anyone else from Philly area wants to ride down with me let me know...nealsxj I'm talking to you We can organize our own pre-meeting meeting... haha.

Meeting in Glasgow, MD around 2:30 PM at Home Depot on Rt 40 and Glasgow Road. It seemed the closest to the middle between Philly and Baltimore area. From there we will take a scenic ride through parts of MD, another 40-50 miles, than maybe lunch and ride back home.

Any questions or suggestions or whatever let me know! Feel free to PM me!

 

Glasgow is just about 10 miles into DE. Yahoo maps takes you to the UK with glasgow, MD.

 

Whoops...well I knew what I meant and that's all that matters! Right???
Haha

 

i was all in until you mentioned that this is on Easter. Is it too late to push it back one weekend?

My XJ is running again!

PBR - i am gonna send you my cell number, cause i def wanna go regardless.

 

Got the bike out of the back of the shop this yesterday. It sure starts better when I put gas in it. I thought there was going to be enough to get to the station down the street but no luck. 2 gallons of fresh from the can and it fired right up.

So, if the weather is good I'm good.