[TrialsRider]

A very large disposable syringe fitted with a short length of gas line tubbing is a great way to bleed air from the brake hydraulics, you push the gas line tubbing onto that bleeder screw the one you oops broke off ) loosen the bleeder slightly and push clean brake fluid backwards through the system. …difficult to describe better in words but this technique overcomes the problem of bleeding air from an inherently low point in the brake system.
Loctite offers some excellent product to accommodate all of the aforementioned screw thread problems and a small bottle goes a very long way.
Wheel spokes are something that you should never try to adjust dry, as they have a propensity to corrosion and seizure, spray liberally with WD40 a full 10 minutes before making any adjustments and save yourself a ton of grief. Invest in a real spoke wrench.

[TrialsRider]

…don’t do that,
giving up on driving anything that has more than 1 gear is like never learning to chew because baby food is too easy, gear selection is not rocket science and after a while, I guarantee it will feel natural.

[TrialsRider]

Battery technology is so far in the tank, I really wonder how we are to ever to entertain battery powered vehicles.
Replacement batteries were so expensive on my K100RS, over a decade ago I resorted to buying lawn tractor batteries as replacements, (same dimensions) at around 30% to 50% the cost of an OEM battery, I now consider myself lucky when they crap out while still under warranty. …very sad

[TrialsRider]

I recently convinced a girl at work / new rider with some scooter experience, to buy a honda 125 CBR instead of a scooter, my logic being the taller wheels are a little safer and the price right now for the new cbr saved her several thousand dollars. Only yesterday she commented on some riders appearing to want to race her, and discovering a “pecking order” for waving to other motorcyclists. My suggestion was that it’s good to wave and acknowledge any other bikers, even scooters and ‘biker’, bikers… if they don’t respond, just assume they are too scared to let go of the handlebars and crash. I think she liked that and she’s really enjoying the new bike.

[TrialsRider]

CB500 in 1971 was a very pretty bike, I know I wanted one, ditto on the suggestion performance of the engine, brakes, suspension and tires would be somewhat mundane in direct comparison to a modern crotch rocket, and make no mistake, that is a very, wide, heavy bike having a tall center of gravity. Stick with standard bars until you get good with slow speed handling. Things to watch for in the vintage i4 is stretch in the engines internal chains, both valve and primary drive train stretch. If the previous owner was on and off the throttle lots, there will be drive train ‘lurch’ as a result of a stretched primary chain. Mufflers are almost sure to be non-stock as the heavy, double wall headers and original mufflers likely rusted out decades ago
rear shocks are likely just spring holders by now and the front forks have possibly never seen fresh oil, let alone new internals.
They take a while to wind up but given some space they are a very fast bike. Lots of cylinders is good for performance, bad for parts and service. Singles are elegant in their simplicity and multis are elegant in their complexity.

[TrialsRider]

HDMC started making the best motorcycle in the world the moment they bought MVAG !:i … too bad they are divesting it.

[TrialsRider]

has anyone ridden a can-am Spyder ? …looks more snowmobile with wheels than motorcycle with extras.

[TrialsRider]

just like watching a mario kart video game , made me a little nauseous :b
I gotta go for a ride now and settle my stomach

[TrialsRider]

The officer produced his gun at being momentarily fearful of the rider backing up his motorcycle ….I don’t get it

Assuming the black n’ white was not in sight and sound all along ( did anyone hear a siren on that tape ?) Everyone is extremely fortunate the rider did not launch that bike into that car door opening, the instant on seeing a hand gun materialize instead of a badge.

[TrialsRider]

has been known to happen, sometimes makers use identical speedometer components with 2 different models having different wheel sizes.
edit: K100 RS – 4.3 litres per 100 Km / 65 mpg Imp. Gal / 54 mpg US (best recorded)
…not sure how to calculate it on my 4RT, maybe smiles per liter

[TrialsRider]

I love when some dink like yesterday, flashes me to get out of the way, even when there are cars ahead of me ( I never tailgate ) Once the lane opens up I wave bye, bye and roll on the throttle apparently very few cars can get up to a buck 40

[TrialsRider]

Dirt:
A lighter weight bike is safer and less tiring and faster; totally ! : My slightly modified Suzuki TS185 Sierra was a very competitive ride in comparison to the stock TS250 Savage.
Myself, on enduro more like 50-50 braking and on my Montesa VA360 motocrosser, barely used the brakes, it was slide forward, engine brake, pitch her into a corner and then woo-hoo! accelerate out of the corner on the rear wheel The front wheel seldom touched the ground except coming into corners, …maybe I was just riding way faster Long cushy seat and long travel suspension. Tall most definitely, VA360 had 13 inches of ground clearance even with a big down pipe.
Trials mmmmm Trials, full body exercise machine ! Back up to 80% front brake, rear brake can be almost completely replaced with engine braking, …have even taken trophies after completely loosing my rear brake early in the event. First 3 gears are used mostly, rarely 4th. rumor has it there is a 5th. gear. Engine: low and mid range tractability, low center of gravity and the lightest motorcycle known to man. Seat is a sticker, but the fender is very comfortable, even though your knees are up in the air when you sit down. Fuel if you forget to bring any, you can borrow from me, they barely use the stuff.

Street:
Agree with your comments, the biggest rush is to go fast, ( and go ahead and flame me for saying it …kinda boring once you ride Trials.

Roadracer and Sidecar Racing: In a league of it’s own, I love the small displacement roadracers and would totally love to try (classic) sidecar racing.

[TrialsRider]

…or come up on an expert who’s trying to keep you behind, that’s what makes it a race
Great ride and good recovery eternal.

Fortune cookie: eternal winning requires consistency

[TrialsRider]

if pics can tell, looks like a terrific deal for the dollars. If it was me those bars would have to go, but that’s just me.

[TrialsRider]

I see a ton of interesting used motorcycles available on Kijiji ( a free online Canada Classified ads site ) there are so many large displacement bikes available at similar prices to this ( in canadian $ ) I have to wonder if it’s not because the cost to insure these rides, has pushed them out of reach for so many long term owners.
The Yamaha 750 triple was reputed to have some ‘issues’ with carburation, ignition and exhaust pipes, so if that XS does not run as is, I would keep looking. Besides 750 triple is a lot of bike to learn on and since you are considering a machine of that vintage, there are many machines that have since disappeared from the market, including 350, 450 and 550 cc offerings.
…Not to say that one is not a great deal, because as Jeff said, I would need to see and hopefully hear it to pass comment.

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