Just an update:

I've spent some time on my little XT225 over the weekend during the cooler portions of the day. Yesterday evening I rode it about 40 miles or so, up and down a mountain, some back road, a bit of highway, etc. Nary a burp nor a spit. Pulls good off idle and runs out nicely when asked to.

I do believe it's fixed. I will be picking up the new speedo cable w/housing this week and installing it eventually. Once the garage cools off (really hot weather right now), and it goes back onto the lift stand, I will install the cable, rehang the tank shrouds, flush/refill the forks and look it over. It will then be ready to ride up in the mountains beginning sometime in late September. (Or when the weather finally drops down into the 80s!)

Looks to be a keeper!

V-man