Rescuing Jennie 1989

[2CoolWheels]

Wow, the pictures came out too small....Let me try again.

[Donkey Hotey]

That photo is great. I can just hear the conversation inside, "Edna, it's more of those damn motorcycles out front again!"

I didn't post the location of the bike out of respect for the original owner. Don't know if he wants his story out on the web. It was in the dead center of the country, I can assure that.

As for riding together, my riding is rarely planned and almost always last minute. The ride last weekend was not planned.

At 1:00 PM I went to get a "quick burger" at Newcomb's and had already-delayed yardwork waiting at home. I didn't make the choice until 3:30 PM, stopped at Angeles Forest and Big Tujunga Road. Right was yardwork, left was an extra 180 miles of riding. I splurged since it was a new toy but, I'm paying for it this weekend. The lawnmower and wood chipper await.

[Donkey Hotey]

Nice story Greg! Funny how we justify getting another X huh?... Not that I would
know...Hehehehe..
Jumper

Don't need justification, just the right bike at the right price. I gave up justifying them a long time ago. 

[wytfut]

Its interesting about the factory site.... the current residents, have taken a stance of preserving the X heritage the best that they can. Mike and I both looked in the window, in the Lobby, and there is still X's built into the design...
Some of the folks attending the rally went to the factory site to take pictures... and a gaurd came out and helped take pictures....

Don't believe your Jenny is the same one, but there was one in Omaha for sale a year or 2 ago. He had been a past dealer....  I had gone to his home to help the family price everything he had, as he had some sort of illness.  He had a jenny and a wrecked DWS. I told him to get his  family to put that DWS back together, as it wasn't worth much damaged.
The Jenny was in pretty good shape other than normal wear and tear.

They had a lot of stuff.... we picked up a few bits and pieces... and the family sold I believe all of it on www.....

[Donkey Hotey]

Interesting. Yes, I had seen that other bike from Omaha in the post history elsewhere. As long as you went there, this bike also came from Omaha.

Wait, I just looked at a copy I did of the original title: Vance Willer? He must have had two. This one was sold in 2002 with 5,400 miles on it. From the post history, the time-line would make sense.

[2CoolWheels]

Greg,
   I know your time is valuable, and you're not much into rallies, etc. but I highly recommend attending an X-Rally if you can one year.

[wytfut]

Greg/Mike,
    Mike states the truth.... I"ve been involved with X world since late 99.... a lot of wishing at that time.... And this year was my first time to the Rally.....  I was a bit overwhelmed, finally meeting folks that I've communicated with for all these years face to face....

     Vance Willer would be the correct name.... wouldn't surprise me that he had 2. One or two of his brothers were motorcycle mechanics and last I had heard they got the DWS put back together. I was a bit nervy about that DWS... as they had been using dinosaur oil in it without any oil cooler.
      Vance was a bit apprehensive about any price/sale issues, but the family was there in full force trying to build some obvious cash...
      Lots of loose bits and pieces. My oldest son ended up with a full sized dealer sign....
      I know they got rid of quite a bit, but don't know if it all went ..... a sad story of sorts... don't know if Vance is still alive, or bankrupt....

[Jumper]

Geez... I remember Vance... Think I met him at Daytona in 2001... That or on the phone..
Jumper

[Donkey Hotey]

Well, his ownership gives me a bit of a warm fuzzy feeling. Having 17K miles, I was unsure what updates might or might not have been done to the bike. I'm going to figure that the trans has been done, the ECM has been richened and I'm guessing it may have had oil pickup tube mods as well.

Except when I accidentally overfilled it, she's had no puking problems and gets positively dismal mileage (35-ish). The lack of fuel economy and a bit of a rich smell suggest the ECU remap. By old posts of mine, 1525 used to get high 40s (stock tune) and did better than 50 once. This Jennie isn't even close but, I'll live with it to save the valves and heads.

[Jumper]

I'd double check the work. Don't assume the upgrades have been done. I have SuperXTune in all my bikes and average about 45 MPG or 225 miles on a tank. That's with all the upgrades and tricks done to the engines. S/N 827, 960w/1375 engine, 30 tooth sprockets. S/N 1409 has stock cams and  a 32 tooth sprocket ...Gets a bit better mileage. Sounds like you may have the Laughlin tune with the rich running and poor mileage. This is a guess mind you. The SuperXTune gives about 200-250 degrees reduction in Exhaust Gas Temps. It really is the tune to have in your X. You may also have Bobby's "Monster" tune with a 12% across the board increase.

Jumper
 

[Donkey Hotey]

Thanks, Jumper. Your mileage numbers are promising. I'm going to have to do some research on the tunes and tuning options available today.

I don't want to have to pull the ECU out and ship it if I don't have to. Obviously, 1525 will need updating when I get her back together. I have an ECU here that I bought more than five years ago that supposedly has the final factory tune (1.7?).

Both bikes will remain bone stock, down to the mufflers, with the exception of the necessary air cleaner kits. I'm unsure how different their requirements will be without cams, freer flowing exhausts, etc.

[Jumper]

Greg... You can buy the SuperXTune directly from Atlantic E-H. They have the tune, cables etc. that you would need. You can download it to your computer and load it into your X's. Check their website out at www.superxparts.com There is some good info as well as suggestions for upgrades. Or, Call them and ask questions. Jamie or his wife, Marty will be glad to help you out.
Jumper
 

[Donkey Hotey]

Thanks for clarifying that. I had already talked to Marty a few weeks ago about the tune. I thought it was an either/or thing: buy the tuning software and DIY or send the computer to them and they would load a proven, 'generic' tune.

Right now, the focus is on 1525; twelve years is too long to have been in pieces.

[wytfut]

sorry in the delay about posting... but have been working out of town all week..... actually the past 2 weeks...

My guess on that Vance Jennie is that it probably doesn't have any of the updates done other than factory updates....

The Willers were all kind of vague about our Group and the things we have all done to the X's over the years....   Even Vance. ... The only reason they knew about me was that I contacted them from a post on the resource board... as a sister had asked for some help with all the stuff they had. ...

They hadn't realized how devoted our lil group was to keeping these machines on the road, and had come up with our own update/fixes....

sidenote: they were surprised on actual market value of the bikes and parts. As they were hoping for "large" monies to help out.... from what I was picking up. He had a lot of stuff, and if any of them were patient enough to just sit down and organize all of it... they could have made a tidy sum...   or the other direction of selling it as a "lot".... but probably would've missed out on the totals....

I know at the time they were successful in selling a lot of the stuff... but don't know if it all went or not.

I had contacted via email one of the brothers (mechanic) about NOT throwing away the bashed in DWS tank. I told him if they couldn't sell it to contact me, as I would take it for a shop trophy...  never heard back...

[Donkey Hotey]

OK Bruce, you've crushed my spirit. 

I guess I'll have to assume it needs everything. It may take years to get it all done. There are other bikes in the reassembly line at my house. No time to tear this one apart.