The XS650 Lives Up To It's Reputation

Yes, I know... XS650s are an electrical mess. Well, Bessie (remember I named her after a stubborn cow that she is) has lived up to the reputation of her comrades. While I was home in Florida I bought her a new electrical harness and man I was excited to see that sitting there waiting for me when I got home to Dallas. I just knew that it would solve all of my problems... HA! I did make pretty good progress, but with a few wires that was questionable and a melted mess I had run into a wall. I have never been one to toot my own horn or think that I am a great motorcycle mechanic... I'm still a beginner at a lot of the mechanical and electrical aspects, so like Regis Philbin asks: "Would you like to phone a friend?" "YES!" Being very lucky for this assistance Bessie has had some life sparked back into her.

Original Harness 

 New Harness

Now I'll say that I started to get pretty negative about ever getting this bike running again, especially since December has not been a good month (see previous blog post). However, with this help I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This brings me to think about people who don't ask for help. I mean, wouldn't you feel like an idiot if you completely messed up something and then had someone help you? I'm a fan of listening to my conscience and by doing so I was handsomely rewarded with a running bike and learning more about working on bikes. I really think that people need to spend more time thinking about their actions on a regular basis and no that is not just the behavioral therapist in me... it's clearly supported on a daily basis by the idiotic things that people do. 

Better than working outside in the cold

So with a bike that is no longer sitting in my living room, I decided that I would give it some exercise. I didn't want to venture off into traffic or too far from the apartment in case something happen... guess it was my gut instinct. With a few sweet words, Bessie rolled on. I kept her in second gear for most of the time, which I feel is pretty good for not running since July. Her electrical cut out while I was cruising along around 15 mph or so, so I let her roll and I slowed her down. After putting the bike back in neutral and letting it sit for a min while I went to get more gas and throw the battery on the charger just in case she was feeling a little drained. Well, I came back and she started right up... HAPPY DANCE! I rode her around and around the apartment complex doing as I did before and as I was turning around... BAM! electrical cuts off again except this time in mid turn. This sucked for two reasons 1) I broke my clutch lever and mirror and 2) I have never dropped a bike in all my years of riding. I quickly picked her up (surprised that I did since it was on a incline and weighs almost 500 lbs) and parked her in a parking space. Me and my bruised ego went back to the apartment to drink some water and clear my head. Bessie went from stubborn cow to one that was uncooperative and pissed off like she was going to the meat market. After my little break I went out to her and convinced her that neutral was a good place to be instead of second gear... this required a swift kick, but she got the point. No leaks or damage beside what I have already mentioned and now the power is flickering. As I hang my head in shame and walk the bike back to the carport I think about the millions of other bikes that I could buy at this moment, but no... I love this bike way too much. I cruised up to Bates to get a new clutch and brake lever (yes, I'm a girl and wanted them to match) along with a new mirror.

After a proper charge and me popping a few Advil from Bessie's narcoleptic episode which resulted in me kissing pavement, I through the battery back in. She is running again, but now some of the instruments are not lighting up... they were yesterday even after everything. I replaced what I needed to cosmetically and will wait another time to figure out what is happening with her. I'm taking the day off from dealing with her electrical attitude problem.

                     Silver clutch and brake levers are now black which was actually on the original bike.

Rockabettie

It's Been a While...

This past month has certainly not been one for the record books. My father fell into a coma after a massive brain hemorrhage on the 28th of November which meant I had to hop onto an airplane pretty quickly. After all of the great news we have received in weeks prior of my father's cancer pretty much disappearing, we never expected this to happen. With my father being on blood thinners surgery was not an option and as he slipped further and further into the coma it quickly became apparent that he was only going to be with us for a short time. Thanks for one of my great friends from Denver, I was quickly placed onto a plane to Orlando. I bounced around Texas on transfers, but as soon as I landed in Orlando I quickly ran to the car rental counter. "No, I don't want your insurance or GPS. Yes, I know there are tolls... I grew up here. No, I don't want your insurance. Yes, I have a 1/2 million dollar policy. Give me the damn keys!" I hopped in the little rental car and made record time to Ormond Beach. I quickly turned that Kia Soul into a race car... just don't tell my mom.  I was only able to spend a few short hours with my dad and it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Knowing that you have control over someone's life (literally) is horrifying. I kissed my dad goodbye and walked with my mom while the nurses began the process of shutting down his machines. The next half hour we were entertained by my nephew (who is 15 months) while all along we knew what was happening a matter of feet away. As I was on the phone with my dad's long time dispatcher (my dad was a trucker for 30 years) the nurse walked up to me. We walked into the waiting area where she told us the details. He went peacefully and fast, which is all we had hoped for.

My Parents

I decided to spend the next week and a half with my family. My brother-in-law was cruising back to port (he is in the Navy and had been away for a while) and jumped in the car so he could drive down to be with us. My nephew was very entertaining and was probably the best distraction to have at that time. We made all of the arrangements that we needed too fairly quickly and helped my mom with some things that she needed to have done around the house. Though the week passed fairly quickly, we found out that my father was being honored by his company of 19 years by having his truck number retired. For those who don't know, this is something that doesn't happen and with Heartland Express my father would be the first. My father's dispatcher and boss headed down to New Smyrna to present us with this wonderful plaque which is now hanging for my mom to see everyday. Like I told Dan (my dad's boss), we are probably doing a little better than some other people that have lost their parents because of our dad drove for so long. My sister, mom, and I say it's like he is on the road again. I'm sure that my dad is sitting in that big rig in the sky watching over us everyday and I know when this motorcycle is running again he will be there right along side me.

Rockabettie

The nervous system of a 33 year old bike.

I was very lucky to have a friend come over and give me a second opinion on the area that I believed to be giving me the problem. Though I thought the bike was grounding out my friend instead pointed out that there was an area of the wiring harness that had melted. Of course this is something that I had never ran into before and I'm grateful for an extra pair of eyes. So, a new wiring harness it is. I tracked down a new harness through Mike's XS and hope that I can buy it soon. I'm going to be so happy to have the bike up and running again, but I'm okay with taking my time and doing it the right way. Fingers crossed that I have a few weeks of riding in before this year is over.

In other news...

Many of you know that I am one for getting in the car and just going. Well, I did that and ended up in Austin.  I didn't think about the F1 race that had filled all the hotel rooms within 50 miles of Austin, but I digress. What I did end up doing was seeing the infamous Jimmie Vaughan (Stevie Ray Vaughan's brother) at the equally infamous Continental Club.

Jimmie Vaughan

   

                                 
Situated roughly in the smaller gallery room with 20 people and there he stood. Being a music nut, especially for  Rockabilly & Blues, I almost had to pinch myself. This is a man that is known across the world for his art and I was standing mere feet away from him. I wanted to tell him how much I appreciated his musical style and that I have been listening to him since I was a little girl, but sometimes a smile and a round of applause is all a artist needs to understand that they are loved by their fans. A night that could have turned into a disaster turned out to be one of the best I had in a long time. I enjoyed a relaxing drive, great music at a venue I've always wanted to check out, and had excellent company that evening (Thanks, Slim!).

Rockabettie

A Weekend of Inspiration

This weekend I had the pleasure to dedicate it  to friends and things that go fast with wheels. From Rockabilly bands to car shows to motorcycle meet ups, I was a happy girl. I am beyond pleased that I am not alone in the United Counties of Texas when it comes to vintage motos though I am quickly finding out that the community is much larger in Austin for both Rockabilly and cafe racers.

I started off Friday night seeing a few rockabilly bands and even a band that well, you can't put a label on. It was nice to go out and wear my usual get up without stares from the Dallas elite. I will certainly check out this band again.

  

Saturday I headed off to work and promptly made my way to Denton for a vintage car/motorcycle show. I have never been to Denton and I was pleasantly surprised by the laid back feel it had. I suppose it reminded me of Texas's version of Fort Collins, CO. I made my way through the acres of cars admiring the cars and very few motorcycles. After a few hours in the sun and taking in the sights I made my way back to Dallas where I hit up Moto Liberty's Grand Opening Party. It was nice to chat to Peter about the Rocker/Cafe Racing community and I think that I will be buying a cool helmet to add some brightness to my typical black moto wardrobe.

Saturday night ended with friends from back home in Colorado that are unfortunately moving back... Common guys I just got here. ;0) After what seemed like a few hours of sleep I was back at it with taking myself to brunch at a awesome restaurant called Smoke and then off to the Travel & Adventure Show at the Dallas Convention Center. I wanted to go to the International Motorcycle Show, but $18 seemed liked a lot of money for what it had to offer. I finally ended up going to the Dubliner where I found a nice crew of two wheeled enthusiasts. I had a great time talking to everyone and I finally feel like I'm beginning to have a social network.

Now back to figuring out my electrical issues...

Rockabettie

Back to the drawing board

Today my  motorcycle guru came over to help me finish up the carbs and hopefully get her started. Well, that didn't happen. There seems to be a wire rubbing somewhere and the electrical is not cooperating when we close the seat. Luckily he has all of the fun diagnostic gadgets that I lack and will be coming back over on Wednesday to see if it the day that my Frankenstein of a bike will come alive. In the mean time, the brake fluid was changed and I was given more lessons about the mechanics of my bike. I'm never surprised how much I learn about this bike when we get to working on it. I'm so grateful to have a knowledgeable and patient teacher.

Someone asked me how I came up with the name "Bessie", so I figured I would explain. At the time I got her, my ex-boyfriend had several other XS650s in our garage ranging from '77-'81. Of course all of the bikes had been converted over to cafe racers and well here was this big black cow of a bike sitting next to these sleek cafes. I said, "Holy cow, Bessie. You're huge!"

She weighs 450 (unlike the picture above which probably weighs the same as a Fiat) and the rest of the fleet was somewhere between 275-350. She also had a good 4-5 inches on the rest of the bikes. So, Bessie my stubborn cow of a bike it is. If you grew up around  cows you would certainly know how a cow works. They move when they want to and struggle when you want them to. Well, the fight is over and she needs to get on moving. Fingers crossed Bessie will finally find the strength to start running on Wednesday.

Rockabettie

A Simple Face Lift

This past week I have been focusing on the little things to get Bessie up and running again. Somewhere between Denver and Dallas her carb choke lever fell off... kinda hard to start a kickstart bike without it. I searched high and low looking for it, tried to modify one that was meant for a chopper, but ended up having to buy one for $18 off Mike's XS.

This little piece of metal has been the vain of my existence lately

However Bessie finally has her carbs in a happy place, now. 

I also took time to clean up the rear end. The motorcycle had an ugly luggage rack on the back with rust on the spacers that just looked horrible. Her right rear blinker broke when I had a friend try to help me kickstart her... that will happen to 33 year old lights and I didn't like them anyway. So, I dismantled the luggage rack (which put up a good fight and didn't want to come off) and I installed my new short stalk replica lights. Yippie! It took a little creativity to get the lights on, but I think they will work just fine. 

Before

After

You have to admit that just this simple change cleaned her up nicely... however those reflectors may have to go. I also need to figure out something with the front end. I don't know if I want to put short stalk blinkers or mid-stalk. Also, I need to ditch the Colorado enduro tires which will help me lower it a little as well as give it a sleeker look. All of this paired with new handle bars will be a good start to the look I'm going for. 

Go short or stay long? Those handlebars need to go, too.

I'll be the first to admit that I am knowledgeable on how to work on a lot of my bike, but carbs are something that is still a work in progress. I have a really cool veteran rider that is helping me learn more about setting my points accurately and getting the whole system dialed in tighter. I'm glad that I have a teacher that is willing to take his time and show me how to do this instead of just doing it for me. The greatest thing about the motorcycle community is everyone is willing to help especially veteran riders. I'm sure that there is some pride in teaching someone a skill, much like teaching your kid how to change the oil in their car.  A lot of working on motorcycles comes to down to patience, research, and the willingness to know what your limitations are. I know mine and when I started working on this bike I knew what it was going to take for it to come together the right way. A motorcycle isn't a complicated machine, but if you try to get into a rush it will certainly frazzle your nerves. 

Rockabettie

The Motorcycle

So in the late Spring of 2012 I had the opportunity to purchase a 1979 Yamaha XS650 Special from a gentleman near Steamboat Springs, CO. The bike ran, but needed lots of love especially since she had been covered in about a inch of barn dust. With various things happening in my life and a move to Texas I have finally been able to give her the love she needs.

Bessie was in pretty much stock condition 33 years after she was "born".

She needed a few "spa days" to get the inch of barn off her

Bessie even had 33 year old air filters in her.. no bueno.

So what is a Yamaha XS650 Special? 

•  The "Special" cruiser model was introduced in 1978 and produced through 1985.
• A 653 Twin
• When the Yamaha XS 650 was launched in 1968 it had one of the most advanced engines in its class of large parallel twin motorcycles. 
• Has point ignition in the pre-80's bikes and is turned over with a kick start.
• In 1980, electronic ignition was installed on XS650s.
• Is a popular bike with the cafe racing community, but are also popular as bobbers, choppers, street & flat trackers, and just old school restoration.
• Weighs about 450 wet (with gas/oil). 

Rockabettie