Heck man,.. it started right up...  don't tear it apart at 6500 miles... it's barley broke-in... (just give it an oil/filter change)...
Those 2 nuts tend to vibrate loose,.. just snug them up (but, don't break them trying to stop a leak... if snugging don't stop it,.. take them off and put a dab of RTV or locktite blue on them)...
...also, check the header flange bolts every oil change, but don;t locktite those... use anti-seize on any exhaust bolts...
We hardly ever have head or cylinder trouble... a plug under the head cover sometimes leaks... (easy fix)..
The stock petcock is a problem... (easy fix)...
...and at around 12k miles, check the cam chain adjuster... we have a modded one available... (it can fall out and explode the engine,.. Verslagen sells a pinned one that can't fall out)...

Also,... raising the front of the seat an inch or two helps with comfort...
Then,.. just ride... ...
... Welcome to SS.Com...

Other than that,.. you'll need a stator every 30 to 50k,... and the usual tires, air filter, spark plug, and battery... every couple years...
Run Shell Rotella, or Rotella T oil every 3k or so... and keep the idle speed up to a purr, avoid a slow, stumbly, lope,... and this bike will usually be good for 70 to 100k before internal work is needed...
...

The experts are probably right, leave the internals alone.

Well I'm the sort of person that cant leave well enough alone...
I'm going to convert this into a bobber.

Ive been speaking to Super Thumper about doing a complete performance mod on the engine.

But you all are rite, its kind of a shame to disturb a bike with such little usage... but it has to be done...

more to come...

WD wrote on 11/11/13 at 00:30:11:



That is kind of different isn't it.  Its yours alrite..
Yes ill post all the chopped parts as time goes on and you got dibs on the shield, but im not any rush right now. just absorbing everything.

Funny enough i already have a bike i love, a hard-tail springer, only the engine is a way underpowered single 250cc, i couldn't stand it anymore.

so truth be told im going to build more or less the same bike i have now...  perhaps minus the springer unless i find an awesome deal on a set for this bike.  doubt that exists though, i dont think im willing to shell out more for a set than i did for the entire bike...

otherwise im slowly starting to collect parts...  looking for:

- peanut tank
- hard tail or ill fab some struts on my lathe
- some straight bars with a rise or ape hanger
- a 5 or 6 inch rear fender
- fab some billet foot pegs.
- solo seat of course and hardware...

so many possibilities.

The typical flat black rat...

So you say apes have to be drilled into?
gosh id hate to drill and tap only to get it wrong and have trouble tweaking the bars a bit.
I might just do a raised straight bar, in that case there is no tweaking the angle...

Im in the north east, not too far from NYC.
You know the over priced, over taxed part of the country, machine shops, indie shops have just about disappeared, im going to be work with super thumper up in VT closest shop who knows this bike well..
I suppose ill need to keep my eyes open for a spring front end, but i dont expecting much...

I like the disturbed paint.  the ls650 does NOT look well aged, at least mine didn't.  So i figure Ill have to find a thread on painting the entire engine and transmission

Also if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg, ill explore a nice fat rear tire...
Perhaps i can recoup some $ selling mine tire and rim, both in great shape...

Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming.
Im pretty psyched about starting on this bike, just wish i could find the time between the day job, and the nite job...

axa wrote on 11/12/13 at 10:00:52:


I picked up these used bars from a Dyna Wide Glide - I think they are about a 8-10" rise and was able to install them without pinning them. I have not had a problem, but your results may vary. At a minimum you could ride with them for a month or so without pins to determine the exact angle you want them pinned at.