Topic: What did you do to your non-SOHC4 motorcycle today?

[Kelly E]

Good Luck on your ride.

[Terry in Australia]

Spotty and I have been working feverishly on my newly acquired Yamaha VMax. We finished everything we needed to get it ready for it's Roadworthy Inspection. I rode it over to the shop for the inspection on Monday, and it passed inspection, so I rode it over to my storage facility to take the pics that I need to send to my club plate coordinator.

VMax RWC 2 June 2025 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

We've done a few mods on it, including fitting Hayabusa 6 piston calipers and R1 discs, HEL braided brake hoses, a shorty rear fender to replace the "droopy" OEM item, and some slightly used Delkevic exhausts, to give it a better note.

VMax pipes and shorty fender by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

VMax pipes and shorty fender 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I've just got to send some more paperwork to the club plate coordinator and then take everything across to the DMV to get my new club plate, before I can take it for it's first legal ride. No rush, it's miserably cold and wet here at the moment, but I'm really looking forwards to a ride on a nice sunny day.

[CycleRanger]

A few days back I finally fixed the starter gear in my XS650. It's common issue with these motors.
When I got the bike I tried the starter and it just made horrible noise so I've been kicking it over for the last nine years.
While I was there I also replaced the clutch plates. It was interesting that at ~42K miles the original plates were still in spec.
Buttoned it all back up and refilled with oil. Tried the starter and it works! Yay.
Tried the kick starter and it didn't work. WTF?
Well, I had pulled the kick starter shaft out a bit when I took off the cover. (A thing that can happen if you don't hold the shaft in while you pull the cover off.)
I thought it had it back in correctly but some how I de-tensioned it.
So today I had to drain the fresh the oil and take the cover back off. It only took a minute to properly reseat and tension the kick start shaft but it really annoyed me having to go back in.

[Stev-o]

A few days back I finally fixed the starter gear in my XS650.

Did you replace the starter gear?

[CycleRanger]

A few days back I finally fixed the starter gear in my XS650.

Did you replace the starter gear?

Yes, new gear with a new OEM clip.
The original gear was pretty chewed up.
A comparison of new vs old.

[Kelly E]

I took the 84' Sabre 700S out for a romp after getting a new battery and rebuilding the ignition switch. I ended up chasing a guy in a Masarati up the Stilliguamish Valley on Norman Road. We had a bunch of fun until we caught up with a couple of cars.

[grcamna2]

I took the 84' Sabre 700S out for a romp after getting a new battery and rebuilding the ignition switch. I ended up chasing a guy in a Masarati up the Stilliguamish Valley on Norman Road. We had a bunch of fun until we caught up with a couple of cars.

Those low-profile stock saddle/hardbags must handle good,even with side wind blasts.

[Kelly E]

I took the 84' Sabre 700S out for a romp after getting a new battery and rebuilding the ignition switch. I ended up chasing a guy in a Masarati up the Stilliguamish Valley on Norman Road. We had a bunch of fun until we caught up with a couple of cars.

Those low-profile stock saddle/hardbags must handle good,even with side wind blasts.

The Hondaline fairing is very aerodynamic and parts the wind around the bags. It does very well in side wind blasts. The bike is just a bit more comfortable than the Concours.

[newday777]

Replaced the seals on my clutch slave cylinder on my Valkyrie.  The cylinder itself isn't bad- three bolt and the line.  UNfortunately, to get it off you need to remove the ENTIRE sidestand and, in my case, the center stand as well.  It's been an adventure.

I've done a couple on 1500 goldwings so I know that we'll, though I didn't have to remove either stand. They have a charcoal canister that is tucked in tight between the clutch cover/slave cylinder and the centerstand that has to come out first that is a bear working on your back on the floor......

[MauiK3]

I hate working on my back on the floor. No fun.

[grcamna2]

I took the 84' Sabre 700S out for a romp after getting a new battery and rebuilding the ignition switch. I ended up chasing a guy in a Masarati up the Stilliguamish Valley on Norman Road. We had a bunch of fun until we caught up with a couple of cars.

Those low-profile stock saddle/hardbags must handle good,even with side wind blasts.

The Hondaline fairing is very aerodynamic and parts the wind around the bags. It does very well in side wind blasts. The bike is just a bit more comfortable than the Concours.

What size are the wheels on your 84' VF700S ?

[Kelly E]

I took the 84' Sabre 700S out for a romp after getting a new battery and rebuilding the ignition switch. I ended up chasing a guy in a Masarati up the Stilliguamish Valley on Norman Road. We had a bunch of fun until we caught up with a couple of cars.

Those low-profile stock saddle/hardbags must handle good,even with side wind blasts.

The Hondaline fairing is very aerodynamic and parts the wind around the bags. It does very well in side wind blasts. The bike is just a bit more comfortable than the Concours.

What size are the wheels on your 84' VF700S ?

It has an 18" front and 17" in the rear. It currently has a set of Avon Roadrider II's on it.

[Mikey G.]

Carbs off on my GL1000 to try to figure out why she only idles on three cylinders.  There was nothing untoward inside it, so I'm hoping it's something simpler, like it needs a re-sync.

[BenelliSEI]

Carbs off on my GL1000 to try to figure out why she only idles on three cylinders.  There was nothing untoward inside it, so I'm hoping it's something simpler, like it needs a re-sync.

Ever looked inside the header pipes? They are double walled. I had a real problem on my ‘75 getting it running right until I discovered the pipe on one side had been overheated. The inner pipe had collapsed at the first bend and was almost blocking that exhaust! Replaced it with another one and the bike ran large toy afterwards. Apparently it was quite a common failure…….drove me nuts for about a year!

[grcamna2]

Carbs off on my GL1000 to try to figure out why she only idles on three cylinders.  There was nothing untoward inside it, so I'm hoping it's something simpler, like it needs a re-sync.

Ever looked inside the header pipes? They are double walled. I had a real problem on my ‘75 getting it running right until I discovered the pipe on one side had been overheated. The inner pipe had collapsed at the first bend and was almost blocking that exhaust! Replaced it with another one and the bike ran large toy afterwards. Apparently it was quite a common failure…….drove me nuts for about a year!

I know what you mean John.
The double-wall inner exhaust pipe/tube is part of the factory exhaust tuning.
I sincerely hope more owners keep their carbs. clean and properly jetted/burning the proper amount of fuel/air mixture for their application;otherwise they'll run too lean & it overheats the valves and it destroys the strength of those inner exhaust tubes/pipes,cracks them & makes them run way too hot,plus cuts performance and blues the head-pipes.

[Gurp]

Today I'm going to order some mini floorboards and pass peg extenders. On my trip i switced out the passenger pegs for longer ones but I saw a thing that extended them about 2 inches out and let me adjust the position.

[Kelly E]

Today I'm going to order some mini floorboards and pass peg extenders. On my trip i switced out the passenger pegs for longer ones but I saw a thing that extended them about 2 inches out and let me adjust the position.

I'm glad you two had a great trip. 

[BenelliSEI]

Washed it (‘08 Honda Varadero) and then put +250 kilometres on it! It’s been so warm lately I took off the tall screen and put back the original, in the lowest position. Let’s more air blow though my mesh jacket!

[Gurp]

Today I'm going to order some mini floorboards and pass peg extenders. On my trip i switced out the passenger pegs for longer ones but I saw a thing that extended them about 2 inches out and let me adjust the position.

I'm glad you two had a great trip. 

Thank you Kelly

[Kelly E]

Today I got the 94' Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours ready for a 5 day ride. The usual stuff, finish cleaning off the last trips bugs, check tire pressure, clean the windscreen, oil level and I raised the shift lever a bit.

[grcamna2]

Today I got the 94' Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours ready for a 5 day ride. The usual stuff, finish cleaning off the last trips bugs, check tire pressure, clean the windscreen, oil level and I raised the shift lever a bit.

Something sitting underneath the engine?

[Kelly E]

Today I got the 94' Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours ready for a 5 day ride. The usual stuff, finish cleaning off the last trips bugs, check tire pressure, clean the windscreen, oil level and I raised the shift lever a bit.

Something sitting underneath the engine?

My helmet is hanging from the highway peg.

[grcamna2]

Today I got the 94' Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours ready for a 5 day ride. The usual stuff, finish cleaning off the last trips bugs, check tire pressure, clean the windscreen, oil level and I raised the shift lever a bit.

Something sitting underneath the engine?

My helmet is hanging from the highway peg.

That'll give it some 'breathin room'

[Don R]

 I topped off the gas in the GS1100 with 2 gallons of no alcohol 91 octane premium. It got the gauge up to 3/4 of a tank and rewarded me with an exhaust cackle on de-cell. I took it to the park where there's a nice circle where I like to practice turns and gradually wear the nubbies off of the newer tires. The pavement's a little wonky now so it took a couple laps to find a good line around puddles and potholes.
 I did forget to re-set the odometer to see if it's working properly now.
 I noticed a grind mark on the top front edge of the master cylinder cap, I'm not seeing how it would get scuffed on pavement unless the gauge panel/headlight bucket was destroyed first. The Kerker has a muffler scrape, and an engine cover looks new, so it is likely that it went down at some point.
 I like this bike but a one owner low mile stock 83 GS11 would be a treat to own. They do appear from time to time. There was a Katana clone recently for $6K that included all of the stock parts.

[grcamna2]

I topped off the gas in the GS1100 with 2 gallons of no alcohol 91 octane premium. It got the gauge up to 3/4 of a tank and rewarded me with an exhaust cackle on de-cell. I took it to the park where there's a nice circle where I like to practice turns and gradually wear the nubbies off of the newer tires. The pavement's a little wonky now so it took a couple laps to find a good line around puddles and potholes.
 I did forget to re-set the odometer to see if it's working properly now.
 I noticed a grind mark on the top front edge of the master cylinder cap, I'm not seeing how it would get scuffed on pavement unless the gauge panel/headlight bucket was destroyed first. The Kerker has a muffler scrape, and an engine cover looks new, so it is likely that it went down at some point.
 I like this bike but a one owner low mile stock 83 GS11 would be a treat to own. They do appear from time to time. There was a Katana clone recently for $6K that included all of the stock parts.

Don, I think the dark blue 83' GS1100ED model is a real nice looking bike;it's surprising the deals a person can find if you happen to run into a good old timer(or his wife)who has one parked,just collecting dust.