There's enough adjustment in the stock carbs to run a pipe and pod filters. I have a '77, and a '78, both with stock jetting. Both have pods and headers/no mufflers. Bikes run fine when they are synced up. I f'ed around with bigger jets, and got the bikes running OK but I wasn't satisfied. Took one of the bikes to the shop, what I've done and that it was good, but just not right. He asked what I have done, I told him "pods, pipes, and jets". He told me to put the stock jets back in and bring it back. He played with the needles, and other adjustments and now that one bike runs better than ever. Now I just have to replicate it on the '78.
Funny how times have changed when I first got mine I had a 1978 special I got it in 1980. New in Portsmouth Suzuki Yamaha back east as originally from California but stationed in the Navy out in Norfolk. And yeah I toured the entire seacoast on that bike. The shaft drive is excellent. It doesn't exactly smooth out the triple which vibrates a hell of a lot, but it certainly makes the bike frame smooth. One issue I did run into and I would pay attention to is the dogging lever for first gear. I ran into a situation after about 30,000 mi where it would kick out out of first gear. I'd let go of the clutch and clunk you drop out of first and I wound up having to start in 2nd. I sold it before I had it repaired but this was due to the lash in the driveline. Yeah unfortunately racing my buddy on his XS 650 which was much faster and doing Smokey. Burnouts did not do the driveline any good but just a thought. Good luck
Mine has been sitting a few too many years in my shop (warm and dry) ....This 'maintenance' brings back memories, for sure....What a great light cruiser they are, especially for taller riders...I had my seat altered to straight flat and a sissy bar to lean my bedroll on.....Highway pegs of my own design mounted at the lowest curve of the frame....WORST thing I ever did was buy MAC headers...the center downpipe broke at the mounting flange before the first 6 months and they would not honour the warranty ! ...There was a harmonic vibration from the time I installed them as the center pipe was slightly out of line from the factory and being black ceramic coated, they couldn't be repaired....But only the down pipes needed replacing, not the whole exhaust....So, stay away from MAC headers......John (west coast, Can.)
Can you add some info about the jetting aspect of this project? You said you added 137 jets and went "one notch up" on the needle - this is murky info for some of us so it'd be generous to add more info here - and also tell us how that all worked out! Thanks!
Thanks for the comment! The main jet was increased to a 137 size. The needle clip was moved into a lower notch in order to raise the needle by one notch. If that seems foreign, I recommend watching a carb tuning video where you can see how carbs work and how they are tuned. It idles and runs well with the current setup. The cold-idle is a little rough, however, and it takes a few minutes to warm up while fiddling with the choke.
I did a video series on a '78XS750 Special; I ended up using 145s and dropping the needle on position. K&N pods and Delkevic 3:1 exhaust I've put almost 5000 miles on it so far!
you know, the black is a pretty nice respray and I think for cost reasons my cousin wants to keep it. It looks nice for just a standard gloss black. Maybe a nice yamaha decal on the tank though...
It idles and runs well with the current setup. The cold-idle is a little rough, however, and it takes a few minutes to warm up while fiddling with the choke.
This was my first motorcycle I loved it so much would love to have it back maybe one day
I had one exactly like this one and ppart from the fragile 2nd gear. it was a dream bike. and faster than all other 750 aircooled bike of it's time 🥰
great to know, thanks for sharing!
There's enough adjustment in the stock carbs to run a pipe and pod filters. I have a '77, and a '78, both with stock jetting. Both have pods and headers/no mufflers. Bikes run fine when they are synced up. I f'ed around with bigger jets, and got the bikes running OK but I wasn't satisfied. Took one of the bikes to the shop, what I've done and that it was good, but just not right. He asked what I have done, I told him "pods, pipes, and jets". He told me to put the stock jets back in and bring it back. He played with the needles, and other adjustments and now that one bike runs better than ever. Now I just have to replicate it on the '78.
good to know, thanks!
Funny how times have changed when I first got mine I had a 1978 special I got it in 1980. New in Portsmouth Suzuki Yamaha back east as originally from California but stationed in the Navy out in Norfolk. And yeah I toured the entire seacoast on that bike. The shaft drive is excellent. It doesn't exactly smooth out the triple which vibrates a hell of a lot, but it certainly makes the bike frame smooth. One issue I did run into and I would pay attention to is the dogging lever for first gear. I ran into a situation after about 30,000 mi where it would kick out out of first gear. I'd let go of the clutch and clunk you drop out of first and I wound up having to start in 2nd. I sold it before I had it repaired but this was due to the lash in the driveline. Yeah unfortunately racing my buddy on his XS 650 which was much faster and doing Smokey. Burnouts did not do the driveline any good but just a thought. Good luck
Why was ur buddy’s 650 faster? Did he build it or something?
Woah I learned a lot watching this video
Thanks for watching!
Mine has been sitting a few too many years in my shop (warm and dry) ....This 'maintenance' brings back memories, for sure....What a great light cruiser they are, especially for taller riders...I had my seat altered to straight flat and a sissy bar to lean my bedroll on.....Highway pegs of my own design mounted at the lowest curve of the frame....WORST thing I ever did was buy MAC headers...the center downpipe broke at the mounting flange before the first 6 months and they would not honour the warranty ! ...There was a harmonic vibration from the time I installed them as the center pipe was slightly out of line from the factory and being black ceramic coated, they couldn't be repaired....But only the down pipes needed replacing, not the whole exhaust....So, stay away from MAC headers......John (west coast, Can.)
That's good advice about those headers! Especially because they are some of the most common ones out there for these old bikes
I have one. Bought it new in 79.
Cool project!!!
Thanks for following along as always!
Thank you for using Priority Mail Service
Hahaha ok ok, they are free at the post office so I grab a few every time I'm in there
What kind of jets for each carb did you use main/needle/pilot?
I have the exact same bike and only difference is I'm running pods
Can you add some info about the jetting aspect of this project? You said you added 137 jets and went "one notch up" on the needle - this is murky info for some of us so it'd be generous to add more info here - and also tell us how that all worked out! Thanks!
Thanks for the comment! The main jet was increased to a 137 size. The needle clip was moved into a lower notch in order to raise the needle by one notch.
If that seems foreign, I recommend watching a carb tuning video where you can see how carbs work and how they are tuned.
It idles and runs well with the current setup. The cold-idle is a little rough, however, and it takes a few minutes to warm up while fiddling with the choke.
I did a video series on a '78XS750 Special; I ended up using 145s and dropping the needle on position. K&N pods and Delkevic 3:1 exhaust I've put almost 5000 miles on it so far!
I think the bike needs some super custom body paint
you know, the black is a pretty nice respray and I think for cost reasons my cousin wants to keep it. It looks nice for just a standard gloss black. Maybe a nice yamaha decal on the tank though...
@@two-cargarage decal.with flames ...
Curious if the jet size was right for the pod filters and aftermarket exhaust?
It idles and runs well with the current setup. The cold-idle is a little rough, however, and it takes a few minutes to warm up while fiddling with the choke.
Where did you buy the carb kits...Thanks
try mikesxs.com
Your cousin looks so much like you, i thought it was you in the thumbnail with a wig or something lol
Lol I should have done that for a Halloween special!
Leave it stock.