My XS250

[motorbyclist]

yes breather hose

there's a knack to starting it

rear seems ok

need to have a proper look

[Real_Wolf]

rear seems okay, give it a try riding it and you'll see different.

Started fine after the lab, though might not just be the knack, I still think its because Rob wasn't around

[Magua]

Was that you splitting behind me from the port to sh1 yesterday? Nice looking bike. _b

[Real_Wolf]

yah, that was me. Not so used to the bike so I usually try to let other bikes split in front of me if I can

[Real_Wolf]

hmm, pulled my clutch in just as I was leaving uni, put it in first, about to ride up the little curb bit before leaving the carpark, and hear a nice snapping sound. At first I thought the lever itself had snapped, but no.

However at certain times, the gears just didn't want to change. Took a real mighty kick to put it into the gear I wanted, othertimes it didn't.

Pulling it in, leaning clos to it without a helmet, could hear a light clicking noises, might just be from absolutely no lube.

Also, on another note, since Andrew suggested it, tried pulling my bike key out while engine was on, and sure enough it comes out

[motorbyclist]

Pulling it in, leaning clos to it without a helmet, could hear a light clicking noises, might just be from absolutely no lube.

!

the cable (as i suggested) is fraying, ie it has snapped a few strands and the rest are steadily going, and as they come free they catch on the sheath and make it harder to pull.

unless you reckon you can ride clutchless (which can be done) i'd suggest you get the cable repaired/replaced asap and don't ride it unless you absolutely have to

try a bike shop first off, and f they don't have anything on the shelf or a means to repair it, go to robinson instruments and they'll be able to replace/repair the cable for you. same crowd who red baron gets to fix speedo cables anyway, red baron mechanic put me onto them when i (delberately) came into the workshop at 4pm on a friday

funny how much time and money you save buy finding the shop's suppliers, got many radiator repairs for only $60, $30 speedo cable repair, dirt cheap bearings too if i get the tools to replace 'em

[Real_Wolf]

I'm assuming my bike would have a standard clutch cable and nothing exquisite?

Riding clutchless is probably very bad, mostly for the waiting at lights and not stalling aspect.

So bike shop it is then? no fix it day for me then? or reckon it'd be fine to ride to the fixit this weekend?

[motorbyclist]

you'll be fine for the fixit, but the cable is clearly a time bomb which could cause an accident when it snaps mid-shift and suddenly dumps power mid corner, lose traction and/or wheelie.

can often be hard finding neutral too, and you'll be having some violent starts if you have to stop at lights (revving your bike and slamming from neutral to first without clutch is possibly the worst thing you can do for the gearbox)

clutchless shifts aren't too bad in bike gearboxes due to their sequential setup, reasonably low torque and synchros clutching anyway, but will cause damage over time - mostly to the clutch, but the stuff that matters is the dogs on the synchros, and the chance of bending a selector fork

shifts without clutch can be practically harmless provided it's done smoothly

[Real_Wolf]

heh, my bike would need to drop the clutch at almost full revs to wheely, not sure if it'd even manage it then, tis very heavy.
Losing traction or on a corner is bad, though don't really use clutch on corners very much (paranoid about my back wheel anyway).

[motorbyclist]

yeah wheelie like that wouldn't really apply unless you revved it up before releasing clutch - if ya did that mid corner you were going to break the rear loose anyway

[Real_Wolf]

Heh, I think my XS is misregistered.

I think its actually an 83 model, but judge for yourself (For those who remember what my bike looks like).

This isn't concrete proof, but can't find many pictures of the 80's era of the xs250, but yeah

Heres a 1983
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2007%5C0...775335-800.jpg

Heres a 1986
http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2004%5C0...200320-800.jpg

the 86 has a circular headlight, different seat shape, no handleholds on the back, a flat exhaust, and a lot more space above the crank case, different suspension shape, and a fuel tank without 'leg' spaces

[BANZAI]

Heh, I think my XS is misregistered.

I think its actually an 83 model, but judge for yourself (For those who remember what my bike looks like).

This isn't concrete proof, but can't find many pictures of the 80's era of the xs250, but yeah

Heres a 1983
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2007%5C0...775335-800.jpg

Heres a 1986
http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2004%5C0...200320-800.jpg

the 86 has a circular headlight, different seat shape, no handleholds on the back, a flat exhaust, and a lot more space above the crank case, different suspension shape, and a fuel tank without 'leg' spaces

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate...rUrl=Translate

This is the Japanese page that I found then I put it to web translator (so some of sutff doesnt make sense lol), but yours is diffinitely '82-early 80's model.

And checkout the fuel tank capacity! 20 Litres!!!!!

[motorbyclist]

run the engine/chasss numbers

[Real_Wolf]

um, I don't trust that fuel tank, its definetely not 20 litres, since it only lasts about 160km. And after that it needs to be on reserve. At which point filling it up always costs less than $20

[Real_Wolf]

Well, took my bike to cycle treads today.

Told him about the clutch cable, and how the back wheel seemed out of alignment

He took off the clutch cable, turns out to be 'unique', and so had to go to Atomic just up the road and get it fixed, but that was no problem.

Put it back on, and did some testing, then left, and found it wouldn't disengage at all. Came back (barely got up the ramp), and they fiddled with it a bit more, so it uses all the spring but only connects at the very end.

So now I need to have my actual clutch looked at.

As for the back tyre, turns out its not just the tyre, the whole wheel arm can be moved around, and needs to be pressed. Great