Philly Riders

You could come up Route 1 and cross the Conowingo Dam, no toll. Turn right immedietly after Dam and ride down through Port DePosit. Brings you out just past the I-95 toll in Perryville. Cross over I-95 past the Pilot truck stop and you will hit route 40.

 

Seriously? Ugh!

 

Actually, if you go that way, just after you make that right hand turn past the Conowingo Dam there is a gathering of bikers at a tavern called the Union Hotel Restaurant & Tavern. Every Sunday during the summer there is a band playing from 1 pm to 5 pm. You can get food and beverages and check out all the bikes. They usually have quite a collection. I've met a few other XJ'ers down there. Here's a link. Union Hotel Restaurant and Tavern Check out the Tavern Pics on the website and you'll see what I mean about a gathering.

 

Hey, that's awesome. Thanks Xman.
You down for a trip that Sunday 5/22?

 

yeah maybe move the meet from Glasgow, DE home depot to the union hotel.

 

Actually, I think I may be able to make it down there on Sunday the 22nd. I'll have to check with the wife make sure she doesn't have any plans for us LOL. She rides a 1997 Virago and may want to tag along.

 

Sounds good.

FYI, I found this website with bike routes. http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/delmarva.html

 

hey guys........well after an awesome ride to virginia beach (340 miles) and a horrible trip through six hours of rain back today(280 miles, not the scenic route) i dumped my bike ten miles from home on a wet road on a patch of gravel and wet leaves....fortunately I didn't high side it, and some friendly motorists came along and helped me up. Not sure how but both my legs ended up underneath it and my right leg was pinned trapping me. They lifted the bike and slid me out. I had a helmet and other protective gear so other than some "deep muscle contusions" I walked away from it.....the XJ has a puncture in a cover on the left side of the motor (no oil came from it, don't know what its covering) from a twisted highway peg that went through it so looks like my riding days are over until I get it repaired/if I can afford to get it repaired.....felt like sharing...ride safe!!!and remember to wear your helmets....if not for that helmet I'd still be in the hospital right now.

 

Oh hell man, sorry to hear that. I'm glad you were wearing your gear and were able to walk away from it. Nice of those folks to help. When I dumped mine last year, I rolled off and dislocated my thumb. A few people stopped their cars and helped me get the bike up and out of the road. It's nice to see there's still good people out there.

Keep us posted on how things go.

 

Will do! Stiff and sore all over....just submitted my insurance claim. Keep your fingers crossed maybe ill be up and running sooner than I think (wishful thinking)

 

coverage denied.... :-(
I'll see if it can be repaired for less than I have in the bank......

 

That stinks. What'd they deny you for?

 

they didn't offer me collision coverage cause the bike isn't at some minimum value. so since it was only me involved in the accident no coverage. I knew this, but forgot...
Had someone hit me I'd have coverage (but probably be in the hospital)...I'll have it looked at and with a little luck maybe it will be ok

 

damn that sux, insurance was sooo cheap on the XJ too. Well pabs... let me know if you want to take a look at my xj.

 

just to clarify the insurance...progressive doesn't offer collision coverage due to the value of the bike, it wasn't that I turned down the coverage. I only had coverage if I caused damage to someone else, or was damaged by someone else. Since it was just me, myself and I.......but thanks for rubbing it in that I didn't have it neals ;-)

 

I was wondering if you had full coverage on a 30 year old bike..... some people might. When you figure out what it needs let me know. I've got some parts though I haven't been through the boxes in awhile so I don't know what all is in there.

 

Are we riding Sunday? Weather looks good down here after this week of rain.

 

I'll let you know. I should hear back from my shop today. I let the experts give it a once over. Might just need a new left side crankcase cover, hoping the piece of the cover that got knocked inwards didn't damage any internal components.

 

I'm in for Sunday.

pabst, let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

 

What's the plan?

Might be better to go out earlier in the morning before the thrunderstorms creep in.

 

WOOOHOOOOO

$79.00 and I'm back on the road ;-)

Now apparently I just need to learn how to keep the rubber on the road.
Still can't do Sunday, have that charity walk/run...

 

Good to hear your back o the road.

 

Anyone else coming? If it's just us again, and you're up for a long run, this might be cool:

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/md213.html

 

yeah I'm up for that. Would want to do it early in the day to beat any thunderstorms home.

 

Ok 8, 9 am?

 

I would like to join the ride if that is alright, and the vac sync goes well tomorrow. Will be my first time doing the vac sync so hopefully all goes well.

Where are you guys meeting, and at what time?

 

Sounds good. At my daughter's softball game right now. I'll be back online in a few hours and confirm the place\time. Wherever we meet, figure early morning. PM me your number so I can text you as well.

 

Fairhill Shell
4428 Telegraph Road
Elkton, MD 21921-2601

That would be a good meeting place. Right near 213 and a good place to gas up before we head out.

Meet there at 9? Anyone's welcome.

Otter that's about an hour ride from my place.

 

Sounds like a plan.
9AM
Fairhill Shell
4428 Telegraph Road
Elkton, MD 21921-2601

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... yland&z=11

 

Great ride today. We should do it again.

 

Absolutely. That was a great run. I'm glad BigT was able to join us. A trio of XJ's; that's my biggest group so far. Maybe pabst and/or some other folks can join us to make our group 4+ next time. Come to think of it, I might be free this weekend.

 

i just did this on saturday

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/N ... A_17.shtml

is that near enough to you guys?... it was a lot of fun

 

Would be twice as far for me to get there as "the loop". I'd do it though if we got a group going.

Oh and if you ride for a distance on a regular basis get one of these: http://www.crampbuster.com/ Got mine last week and used it alot on Sunday. The best $11 I ever spent on the bike. I have the CB1.

 

Anybody want to do something like this? A bit longer than we got on Sunday but people could pick up and drop off where they like. I'd do the whole loop starting from A.

map

My next available ride day is June 5th, actually that's the only weekend day I'm totally free in June.

 

I should be free 6/5, I'd probably join you at point A and drop off at point D to head back home...that would put me at 172 miles.
My one request would be that you leave late enough from point a that I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday! I'd be happy to be there around 9:30 AM..if thats not to late. Anyway I'll wait and see if anyone else chimes in and I can finally make a dang ride! (knock on wood)

 

that would work for me. I'm not much of a morning person either. And Point A is about an hour from my house.

 

Meet at your place 8ish again?


Anyone riding this weekend BTW?

 

yeah otter that works for me.

I can't ride this weekend. My son's over and won't get a chance to get out.

I'm wondering if we/I should post this ride outside this thread. Maybe people skip it because of the title.

 

Good idea.

 

Done. http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... tml#274716 maybe we'll get a bigger group.

 

Thanks Iwingameover and Oldschoolotter for letting me come along on the ride. Had a good time, learned more about my bike and other XJ's, and learned about riding in a group.

Not sure if I can make next ride, but I have been on route 100, very curvy and hopefully fun road.

Will let you know.

 

Any of you guys done fork seals before? If all my parts get here next week I'll be doing them next weekend. It'll be a first for me.

 

Never done them but let me know when you're doing yours; I'd like to give a hand/observe.

 

So my parts box is sitting in front of me on the coffee table.

Plan is to work on them on Saturday. If anyone besides Otter wants to join in and see how it's done, watch me break several bolts and chuck the wrench at the wall you're welcome to stop by. I'm hoping to skip those last two steps.

If you know where the shop is I'll be over there around 10ish. If you don't PM me and I'll tell you.

 

so i sold the XJ
she went to a really cool guy. The dude is a writer/mma fighter and works on a farm. Maybe you will see him on the forum some time.

It was nice "knowing" you guys, and yes I do plan on going on rides with the philly area group whenever possible. So just let me know.

 

Hey iwingameover, I just found an AMAZING way to remove the old fork seals. An alternative to using the inner bushing and washer as a slide hammer.

You basically take all the hardware out of the inner tube. Extend the inner tube fully, fill to the brim with oil, and put the fork cap back on.

Park you car next to a wall, so that there's enough room for the fork and a jack, and compress the fork with the jack. The hydraulic pressure easily forces the oil seal out (just don't forget to remove the circlip)

 

Neal, make sure you stick around to see all the XJ fun you're missing out on without carbs and having a warranty... :lol:

manbot... I had no problem getting the fork seals out. A large screw driver levered them out.

Getting the cap out of the right hand tube took a propane torch, Otter, and a large wood block. The circlip came out with little issue but the cap would not budge. I even tried Kroil.

Thanks again Otter for the help. Bike is back in one piece. Brakes are great now and the ride is much improved over the old, probably original, springs.

And if anyone is in need, I now have a bolt with a 19mm head welded to a long steel pipe for the inside damper bolt. My good small spark plug socket was no where to be found and the crappy set I keep around in reserve didn't have the 3/8 square machined all the way through so it could not be inverted to work as the holder.

Long story short, some much needed updating and maintainance is now done and I haven't had time to ride it father than the gas station down the street. It's going to work with me tomorrow.

 

Had similar time with the forks on my SR250 (long neglected maintenance by PO). Took the circlip out but plug didn't move. Soaked in LiquidWrench for weeks but I doubt it went further than the first "O" ring on the plug. Finally just made a driver from a small diameter galvanized pipe nipple and end cap. Wacked real well until the plug broke free. Then sprayed more LiquidWrench and worked the plug up/down until it came out under fork spring pressure (wheel off the ground). Afterward I lightly sanded the inside of the upper tube and plug body to remove surface rust and coated both with grease prior to reinstalling plug to prevent further rusting.

 

yea, i miss the character and heart of the XJ but starting up instantly and the EFI were easy to get used to.

I definitely will check up on the forum to see when you guys are doing rides. Also, I hope the dude i sold it to will be active here too. I told him about the site plenty of times.

 

hey guys, wanted to see if anyone from Philly is still riding? im rebuilding an 81 seca and would love some knowledge and eventually riding buddies