Zero Knievel Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Okay, just over 6,300 miles and they were cleaned down to the metal with wadding polish before I left. This stuff keeps coming back, and I don't know if this buildup is normal and others keep cleaning it away or if something is causing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman_40 Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Any chance you were riding in rain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spicholy Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 I usually just get a black, sooty build up. That looks like rust. Were you riding through any areas with red soil? Is it on any other part of the bike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rideonXX Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Since it keeps coming back, perhaps it has something to do with the polish you are using. I have 54K on my Bird----very seldom polish the end caps and they never have looked like that. Thin dark gray film at times but never with a reddish tint. I usually use Flitz---but have tried some others. Good luck on sorting it out--------happy trails, kel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVLXX Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Normal... actually better than Normal... ... You're running a Leaner Map aren't you...!?!? Most stock maps will get a thick black soot.... but when you lean out the Bird Motor a bit, the residue turns a Redish Tan. I think it's beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 Normal... actually better than Normal... ... You're running a Leaner Map aren't you...!?!? Most stock maps will get a thick black soot.... but when you lean out the Bird Motor a bit, the residue turns a Redish Tan. I think it's beautiful. Thanks. I am running a lean map to conserve fuel. The bike was ridden in rain during the trip, but this brownish stain keeps coming back, and it cleans off fairly easily with a petroleum distillate (such as wadding polish). It also gets on my luggage. I don't see it on other guy's bikes, but I suppose if you don't ride very far between cleanings, you keep it in check. I was afraid I was burning oil, but my oil level is fine. After all, it is tacky as if it was burnt oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman_40 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 My Jeeps exhaust looks pretty much the same as the rear of your pipes. Looked nice and shiny until getting it hot a few times and off roading in snow/water. I have the same brown all over the exhaust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleeper Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Did it actually get better fuel mileage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Did it actually get better fuel mileage? On the trip I got from 37-54 mpg....depending on conditions and speeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVLXX Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 54.... that's impressive.... what gear set you running ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 54.... that's impressive.... what gear set you running ? Stock. I've noticed the highest MPG in the following circumstances.... 1. Running 6th gear 2. Speeds of about 55ish or RPMs staying not much over 3K. 3. Fairly level surfaces or downhill. In both cases, I'm pretty sure circumstances limited how fast I could go, but there was no need to run a lower gear for the type of riding I was doing. I was impressed since both times I had all 3 Givi cases mounted on the bike. It's also possible ethanol-free gas was in the tank at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon haney Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 You get better mileage at higher elevations also. When I was in Montrose, CO for the West Coast Bash '09, I got 193 miles out of a tank. We were haulin ass for 150 of those miles and I have no PC to lean mine out. Couldn't believe the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 The XX has a 6 gallon tank. Until now, I've never put in more than 5 on a fill up (with the light on). Coming home, I was pushing 80 most of the time and it was windy. A fill up actually took 5.6xx gallons. Under worst conditions, I know I can go 200 on a tank. Under favorable conditions, I could do over 250. Ironically, I did the remap because the buildup on the pipes was bothering me. I suppose there's no avoiding the buildup at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Krypt Keeper Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 The XX has a 6.34 gallon tank, and probably will never get more than 6 gallons out of it as there is always some left in the bottom that can't be picked up. Most I have ever filled up was 5.89 gallons knowing I would run out at any second and around the 240 mile mark on the tank. I was coasting down the hills with the clutch pulled in searching for any gas station. I would get that brownish buildup on my stockpipes. Also get very little on my Leo Vinces. I solved it by cleaning my bike more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I think it's beautiful. I agree. First thing I thought was it looks like the tan color on spark plugs when an engine is tuned right. ---------------------------------------------------------- We're going on the vintage Honda ride up in MI in a couple weeks. The wife asked me how much we were going to spend in gas a few minutes ago. I'll have to recalc. I did tell her that I thought the bird was getting better mpg than the Hurricane though. 2200 miles total for 2 biikes ~ figure 40 mpg (low) ~ should come to about 55 gallons conservatively? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willxx23 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I have to say "not normal" Most people swap out those hot, heavy, ugly ass stock canisters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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