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Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 12:45 pm
by panic
The front brake will disappoint you.

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 6:57 pm
by Ferrous_Head
He's been riding old bikes for a long time.

he knows what poor brakes are like.

Anyway, they are better than the rim brakes from the 1900's.

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 7:22 pm
by MN-HD57XL
panic wrote:The front brake will disappoint you.


I don't imagine they are significantly worse that the single-leading shoe on my '67 Triumph. Learning to ride within the capabilities of the machine is the important part.

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 7:24 pm
by MN-HD57XL
xlh59 wrote:Hi John,

you are of course completely right ... and I would always prefer if someone rides that bike rather than seeing it as an investment or even re-sell it or even part it out.

Speaking for myself, I just wanted to inform you, that this is an incredible find that is almost impossible to find. I live in Germany, here it is impossible (not even almost) -- it takes me years to find simple parts to get it back close to original. Just keep that in mind and (like you stated) keep everything you take off.

If you are looking for a different exhaust system, I would point you to the -61 interconnected duals or even the -58 (non interconnected) predessesors. They look better than the later dual (in my opinion) and work without issues (ok, the -61 is a bit hard to mount on the bike).
Unbenannt.jpg


Man, how many 57 have you seen in blue?

Enjoy this incredible bike!


YES!!!! That is the exhaust. Lovely. Any leads anyone on here may have I'd be grateful for.

Ra

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:42 am
by leobrady
vintagebrake.com has good stuff

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 9:36 pm
by MN-HD57XL
Some update photos. Things are coming together nicely.

Some may wince at the exhaust, but rest assured, all the original parts have been cleaned and safely packed away and will stay with the bike.

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 10:33 pm
by Lisa
Hope you painted the inside of those pipes with high temp paint so they don't turn
blue in the future ?? They are very nice.

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:03 pm
by JerrryR
Hi Lisa,
How do you paint the inside of the pipes?
Thanks,
Jerry

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 3:19 pm
by silva
Tape off the chrome, clean any residue off inside of head pipe, with solvent. Spray some high temp paint in the I.D. of each head pipe.

Re: 1957 XL owner - New to the Forum

PostPosted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 5:23 pm
by strong56KH
I'm wincing at the 16" rear wheel which looks like it has begun to trash or will trash your original fender if there is not enough clearance for it.