Well I spent about 7 hours on the bike today and finally got it back together and up and running.

So far the thing I have done to it are as follows:

Straight Pipe with internal baffle.  Tried to mount the baffle without having to drill a hole, but do to the air coming from the muffler/head joint I think I need to.

K&N pod air filter.  Took a minute to figure out what to move around to mount it but I did it.

New turn signals.  Still having trouble actually making them blink.  They get brighter but thats about it.

Took off the sissy bar and the fender rails.  I like this look and the holes in the fender are an easy fix with some 12mm bolts, rubber washers, and some fancy chrome bolt caps.  Plus I ran the turn signal lights along the side and held it down with the bolts to keep it away from the tire.

Pipe wrap.  Wrapped up the header to keep the heat down; also I heard it gives a little more Hp...not sure about that.  What I do know is that it smells and cooks for quite some time when you first put it on.  Hopefully this will stop once it has burned off all the straglers and formed to the pipe.  In a few weeks I am going to paint this black with some engine paint (not sure if I should do that...anyone?)

Thats about it for now.  I have a Dyno Jet on the way and some new mirrors.  I plan on getting new grips and pegs; alos I am getting the Seeger chop kit in a few months.  This winter I plan on painting it black and maybe getting some new wheels.


The main thing I noticed was the nasty backfire when I let off of the throttle.  I realize the thing has pretty much not been run for years and it had like 3 year old gas still in the tank.  I drained the gas and put new in but I am sure that it will take a bit to clean itself out.  I tried to adjust the air/fuel screw but I couldnt really tell any difference from all the way out to all the way in.  

Pics please  

I actually get the backfires even with the choke off.  I am going to put the jet kit in the carb tommorrow and I will take some pictures to put up here.

Also anyone know where I might be able to grab the battery box cover?  I am not sure how that works considering you open it with the bike key.

I had to futz w/ my battery box cover too.
If is fighting you just pull the 2 phillips head screws that hold the catch on. ( what a silly design for a "lock").  

cain9580 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:

Hi cain ... good luck with your Bike man ... as far as the battery box goes ... well, I've seen more than a few pics of LS650's on the web with the chromed battery box and tool kit cover remoed entirely ... the battery just sits exposed on the shelf behind the airbox (ahead of the rear tire) secured with a strap ... actually looks cool ... in a minimalist kinda way ...

www.m-w.com:  Main Entry: minimalism

1 : MINIMAL ART
2 : a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity

K.I.S.S.  -- Keep It Simple, Stupid!

There are people who tend to go for the minimum required to do the job.  Why two cylinders when one will do?  Why electronic fuel injection when a carb will do?  Why a big air box when a small cone filter will do?  Why a pillion seat when no one will be riding there?

I would expect this to reflect in other aspects of our lives.

Because Americans are suckers for advertising hype AND the "more is better" philosophy. If I shave with a multiple blade razor, I need at least 4 of them to do the job. A single blade or straight razor, no problem. You can't (well, I can't) geyt a multi-blade clean, so I use more of them per shave. The maker sells more of them, so, you do the math...
-WD

Paladin ... think you hit the nail on the head with your take on minimalism ... I've never had a problem with the concept ... North Americans generally tend to live a rather "bloated" lifestyle that is beginning to show, as far as depletion of the world's natural resources are concerned anyhoo ... and now China's 2-billion souls figure they want the same thing ... heaven help us ...
On a more personal level, the whole "more is not enough" and "bigger is better" philosophy seems to have caused more discontentment in people's everyday lives ... as I have gotten older I have come to realize that those who are most content seem to be those who have chosen to pare down their lives and simplify rather than accumulate and complicate ...