Got My Helmet and took her for a spin

Well i got my helmet this week and I've finally been able to take the bike for a legit ride around town.
I'm still getting used to riding in general but is definitely getting easier. I used the saddle bags to get groceries and the worked perfectly. I'm going to make a couple of adjustment to the bags to make them more secure but they are good to go.

I'm thinking about going up to the Yukon and starting my trip fro there but that will take more time.

Wrapped up some Pipes

I went for a walk this morning and picked up some DEI exhaust wrap. This stuff is pretty cool, i like the looks but it also provides some awesome benefits to performance for what it is. It is fibreglass mesh band that you wrap around your exhaust headers. This insulates the pipes and improves flow which in turn improves performance. it also prevent heat from radiating out of the header which can avoid burn on your legs and reduce heat on the engine.

So here she is with the wraps installed

Exhaust wraps

How to Add an Inline Fuel Filter

The guys at XS400.COM are great. they looked at my pictures and recommended that I install and Inline Fuel Filter. This little guys prevent dirt and such from plugging your carbs and making a fun day into a bad day. So i went to my local Motorcycle shop picked one up and after so trial and error got it on.


OK Step 1
 Look at you existing fuel line and think about what would be the easiest filter to add, one that has an angle of straigh one

Step 2
GO buy the stuff. Get extra line.

Step 3
Turn the Petcock to the "Reserve" or "ON". take off the old line, some gas will leak out of theline but it will be very little.

NOTE: "Reserve" and "ON" positions on the Petcock only flow when the engine is running (they are vacuum fed from the Carbs.. see that short little hose coming out of the back of the Petcock that provided the vacuum.) The Prime position allows it to flow by gravity which is useful for when you empty the Carbs for servicing and need to refill them before starting the Bike.

Step 4
Measure...Twice. I measured the first segment put it on the Filter then attached the rest of the hose to the other end and made a note of where to cut then cut it.

REMEMBER: there is an arrow on the filter showing which way the Gas should flow. Gas Flows from the gas tank through the petcock to the carbs.

IT IS HARD to remove the hose from the filter so make the line little long and trim the extra off before you put it on the bike. 

Step 5 

Slide clamps onto hose now. Put it on the Bike. Secure the Clamps and turn the petcock to "Prime". watch the filter fill with fuel, when it is full turn the petcock back to "ON".

Step 6

Enjoy

Adding a Fuel Filter

Made/bought 25$ Waterproof Saddle bags

I needed Saddle bags to carry stuff around town and especially when i ride across Canada. But i needed something waterproof.

I decided to go check out my local surplus store (its called surplus Herpy's... i mean surplus Herby's.) And I Found these perfect bags.

Makeshift Saddle Bags

I bit the bullet

I bought her.

Picked her up on Wednesday. super excited i'm looking forward to 

a) Learning how to Ride

b)learning how to work on/ maintain bikes

c)learning how to restore/mod bikes

d)driving it accrosss Canada in August 

Without further ado here she is, ain't she beautiful :D:bike::D:

Motorcycle

Getting things Rolling

So after moving to BC for a COOP work term, i realized that getting my motorcycle license is much easier in BC then Quebec (a difference of several hundred dollars and 1 year). So I went to look at bikes, found one I liked and went to the ICBC to get my Quebec drivers licence switched over and do my learners test.

Well i got my learners and plan on going to buy the bike tomorrow or today. actually probably today since I spoke to the guy who own the shop and someone else had phoned him up for it. The Bike is a 1982 Yamaha XS400 Maxim. I really like the style and there is a whole community dedicated to these bike at www.XS400.com  they have been a great help and i plan on getting more help from them as I improve my skills and start changing and fixing the bike.

Since I'll be returning to Montreal at the end of August my plan is to ride this bike across Canada about 4500 km. This Blog is going to chronicle my trip and everything leading up to it; including my shorter trips throughout the summer.