What did you do to your Yamaha today?

I've been trying to figure out how to get a brighter light for my 86 maxim x. Do you think that this would fit?
I sure would like to have a brighter light !

 

I think it would fit but there is a separate controller box on a 6 inch cord to be tucked away. The box is only about 4 x 2.5 x 1 but you need to be able to mount that in the headlight bucket. I’ve discovered that there is little or no difference between hi and lo beam but the is so much more light on low beam it really doesn’t matter. And no it doesn’t blind oncoming traffic, the pattern is very faithful to the original and if it’s adjusted properly there is no problem.

 

I've owned my bike since new in 1985. For the first time in 33 years it was on its side this weekend.
I had stopped at Walmart parking lot and was talking to someone. Started to get off the bike...and the kickstand was not down. Sign of getting old I guess.

The drop was a someone "controlled" drop with me straddling it and lowering it down to the pavement.
Most damaged was my pride...a bent engine guard and a cracked left turn signal lens...and a lacerated/bruised knee and ankle.

The lacerations weren't too bad, but I can only imagine what you get when you go down while moving.

As for the bike, I fixed the engine guard with a sledge hammer and two by four. Had a replacement lens already.

 

Ouch, so sorry and ALMOST did the same thing at a gas station with two hot chicks watching. The grunting lifting it back up before it hit the ground was epic...

 

As for me I did the same as it feels like I did all month... wiped down the bike and looked at the weather report with great frustration.

 

Interesting...I am in a college town and two hot chicks were getting out of the car next to me...they asked if I was ok...being married, I didn't pursue the conversation....

Adrenaline was flowing, so tipped it back up easily as carbs started pouring gas on the pavement.

Drove it home and started getting tools out of garage. Wife asked what happened. While fixing the bike, she said I had a blood spot on my knee. I fixed the bike first.....

 

oh! I never remember to post in this thread! A day late, but... Yesterday, rebuilt my clutch. I even got brave and replaced the needle bearings, since they seemed a tiny bit...crusty.

Just have to reconnect the throwout and a new cable! I celebrated with gin.

 

Last year I moved bike out of garage ,went to get off and kick stand folded up ,same as yours controlled drop . Picked up bike as gas flowed out of cap and carbs , only damage was a scuff mark on the case gaurd and a slight scratch on the turn signal base. More embarrassing than anything. Several years ago my Buell Blast was idling while I closed garage door the next thing I know the bike falls over, I had changed out foot pegs for Harley pegs well one broke off 75 $ wasted. Point is we have all had things happen to us just hope your wounds heal ok.

 

I had some free time at work so I used some of the metal polish we use for our aluminum aircraft spinners. Now I know what I'm going to do this winter.

 

Wow did that ever come up nice. Might have to get busy myself.

 

What metal polish are you using ????

 

The stuff I used...

 

Not to get too off topic, but the question of clear-coat over polished aluminum. I spent a goodly amount of time on an aluminum side cover last summer. I applied clear-coat in stages. likely I should have applied one heavy coat, thoughts?

 

Dunno, I don't know what the "proper" procedure is, but I've always clear coated in light coats because heavy coats never end up looking even to me. Hard to get a smooth finish.

But I could well just be Doing It Wrong.

 

Looked like the PO, or perhaps the PPO power washed the RJ's engine. The black paint was really blasted away and it was dramatic once I took a scrub brush and soapy water to everything.

Removing the engine was not an option. After hours of q-tips with acetone rubs, I began the painstaking task of hand (brush) painting her head. I used VHT paint as I've had some really good results with it on my 700's valve cover. It unfortunately doesn't look like it comes in brushable form (their header paint does), so It was a process of shake the can, spray on a piece of plastic, then load the brush. Over and over and over again... the case is nowhere near as bad as the heads... Getting there!

 

I wish I had the time and patience to do something like that. Maybe someday...

 

I like the way that looks! Might have to try doing that after I finish polishing the aluminum.

 

Thanks! I did a 000 steel wool, then polished the fin tips with "Mothers Mag and Wheel Polish" then applied the paint. I did it over several days one section at a time. It is till not done. I think I'm going to pull the tank and do the top next.

 

...and the steady hand! I drink way too much coffee to attempt that!

 

Interesting day... got out of work at noon, took the long way home


Then in the late afternoon took my front wheel to the shop to have them mount and balance a tire I had waiting...

Got home and put it on the bike and went for a test ride. OH, Hellloooo smoothness.

Then a few miles from the house had a deer pop onto the road and stop. It was dark and black by then, tight road and in a curve. I puckered up and missed him by a foot doing 45 mph. Absolutely could have slapped him on the ass on the way by.

That one shook me up a little.

 

I hit a moose one night 26 months ago. would rather it was a deer .

 

Carbs off, cleaned, carbs on, and test ride.......

 

The engine looks great ...it is what Honda called Spec 3 on their VTX 1800 bikes
Crankcases, cylinder, starter motor: Satin black finish with milled cylinder fin edges.

Nice touch

 

Great day temp 86 degrees ,came home from work filled up bike rode only 10 miles ( family time) would have liked to go further ...might be last of season this weekend temp 50's and possible frost might have to get ready to put away for winter. Oh no I said the W word

 

Fight it! It's only real if you believe it.

 

Pissing down rain, 6 Celsius and forecast show's 4 Celsius when I get off work. I decided there was no snow, can I say that here, in the forecast so I rode the Seca. So glad I did, rain and all. I brought full bike gear and layers for after work but it's worth it.

 

you put it away due to snow and mostly ice on the roads , not because it is cold

 

At my age I am a fair weather rider ,if it to windy ( living close to chicago that a daily thing) or raining , I don't like to ride in these conditions .

 

After what seems like weeks of rain I was finally able to ride to work and stay dry. They're calling for possibly some rain this afternoon. I figure if I have to ride the mile or so across town in the rain at least I have dry clothes at home and a garage to park the bike in right away.

 

When I was young I used top go out in freezing conditions, still would I don't mind the cold it is the black ice that is dangerous. Cold dry sunny days are fine for winter biking.

 

You've seen me ride a motorcycle plenty of times!

 

Stripped forks to replace the seals and got a piece of timber 500mm long 75mm wide and 50mm thick and drilled a hole in the centre of it just slightly larger than the stanchions so I can drive the seals into the recesses in the lower fork legs with my hands. If you do this chamfer the underside of the hole where it goes against the seal to prevent crushing the seal lip. Be finished this job tomorrow and I am going to fit new front tyre and use heavier fork oil.

 

recently started to have some difficulty with the fuel delivery.
Basically rides fine for about 5 0r 10 miles then acts like its starving.
Well dies actually
let it sit for about 10 minutes fires right up yet shortly does the same thing.
College started 3 weeks ago so I have not had the time to change the fuel filter check the tank or the carbs the normal stuff one does when chasing a fuel delivery problem.
I will have an updae maybe next week.
Ride on My Friends !

 

See my "Seca Ongoing" thread... just chased a bunch of that and ended up being fine screens at inlet to bowl float valves...

 

I have fitted an in line fuel filter so hopefully it will help keep carburettors clean a bit longer.

 

Next time it stops slacken the fuel cap (you probably have done this already) if not slacken it and try and start engine. Could be a partial vaccum in the tank due to blocked holes in cap?

 

Your Gas Cap and You

 

well, I started to work on the bike cleaning it, but as I was disassembling, an "e" clip, it decided to fly across the shop. So I spent the next hour trying to find it/clean the shop. I did find it and spent more time cleaning.

 

I refitted my front forks today as I had changed the oil seals and dust seals and have a replacement tyre on the front. Going to change the oil and filter tomorrow and charge up the battery. Then I will fit the neutral wire to the switch and change the rear shock absorber bushes. One bush needs replacement but better to do them all at the same time.

 

Storm's a comin. Went for a ride anyway.

 

Tucked mine away for the winter.

 

Craig B,

So sorry......maybe you should winter in SoCal and enjoy some of this fine weather here year around........sure does wonders for bike riding......love it.....

 

Froze myself on the way home from work... all in all not bad though...

 

Repairing a loose connection in the headlight shell.

 

when you run low on gas, do you just switch tanks?

 

It was 2 Celsius on the way to the physiotherapist this morning. I was smart, I wore long underwear. By 1:30 it was 12 degrees so I rode to work tonight. Still suppose to be 5 Celsius when I get off. I'm trying squeeze every last ride in before I put her away for the winter.

 

That is funny Polock. I have three spare tanks for the XJ as they are difficult to get here.

 

We hit $1.60/L for regular gas last week so I will be riding to work all winter. I wonder if I can find an aftermarket snowplow and chains for my XJ.

 

[QUOTE="Paul Howells, post: 612353, member: 22048] I wonder if I can find an aftermarket snowplow and chains for my XJ.[/QUOTE]

That i would like to see!!

 

In USD...that is $ 6.09 / gallon........ouch