Thinking of buying this 1981...do you think it's a good deal?

[JayR]

look at the headers on the 79 and compare them with the 81. Original headers on Specials are double walled and the outer chrome should never be discolored from heat. Heat is escaping from the inner pipe to the outer somehow, could be a rusted inner???

The carbs need tuning, one is running rich and the other could be lean. Running to rich will wash the bore, and to lean will hole a piston. Not saying it has done either of those things yet, depends on how long it has been running this way to what, if any, damage has been done.

Hi Skull360 - thanks for pointing that out, I thought it looked odd but had no idea what the discoloration could mean. You guys are impressive. Funny, the PO is apparently a Yamaha tech and he said her recently rebuilt the carbs with new gaskets and float needles as well as a full tune up.

I read the carburetor tech section and there's a great string about how aftermarket pipes can cause "blowback" (some debate it seems on that term) and cause the engine to run too lean and hot. The PO mentioned "all chrome has no pitting and shines like a mirror"except where its purple and yellow! But hey, it's a pretty bike, and he put some honest work into it it seems.

BTW - I've spent way too much time looking through your Model ID collection. My wife asked if I was looking at SI Swimsuit Ed. (I have it, it's great - Kate Upton in zero gravity

 

[weekendrider]

I think XSLeo is somewhere up there and last I knew he had one for sale.

 

[JayR]

Hi JayR,
photos look OK but some quibbles.
The exhaust pipe oxidation sez it's either got a single-wall aftermarket exhaust system and is tuned just about right or it's got the stock double wall exhaust system that's either burned out inside or it's running way too hot.

Check the date patch on the tires, if they are more than 6 years old they are scrap even if they look new.

Mind you, it does look really nice. Offer him $2700, don't go higher than $3,000.

Fredintoon - so based on everyone's feedback I am definitely going to ask about the pipes, model, etc AND exactly when the carbs were rebuilt to better understand if the current mixture may have washed the bore or holed a piston.

I kind of like the feel of $2,700 too to,start. Would be hard pressed to pay the $3400.

So here's a close up of the pipe on the other side:

 

[JayR]

Never seen after market headers made that shape. How can it be tuned just right with one blue header and one yellow header???????????

Another picture of the headers: Blue and Yellow indeed. So are new headers needed, rejetting, or maybe both? I know, can't really tell with a picture.

 

[Machi]

I have after market pipes on my '80 SG - Macs from http://www.650central.com/
I 'creamed' them and they still discolored a bit - but it was just from the heat. I like em and they make the bike sound like a real twin.
Now wouldn't you recognize aftermarket pipes by the fact they have no cross over underneath? Have you met this girl in person yet, JayR? Or is this a blind date?

 

[JayR]

Ill say aftwrmarket pipes. Those colors look just like the head pipes on my 74.... Which are from mikes.

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So that level of color is sort of part of the deal with aftermarket pipes?

 

[Machi]

I guess - I would go ride that bike though. You might find more significant things you dislike (or love) about her.

 

[JayR]

Love the 79. It's been stuck at $3k on ebay for 2 days... $3,050 going once, twice! Then I have to ship it or ride it back from TX to CT and double the miles.

 

[JayR]

I have after market pipes on my '80 SG - Macs from http://www.650central.com/
I 'creamed' them and they still discolored a bit - but it was just from the heat. I like em and they make the bike sound like a real twin.
Now wouldn't you recognize aftermarket pipes by the fact they have no cross over underneath? Have you met this girl in person yet, JayR? Or is this a blind date?

Ha! This Thursday I'm checking her out I'm in for it I think....

 

[JayR]

I guess - I would go ride that bike though. You might find more significant things you dislike (or love) about her.

Definitely will be doing that Machi. I've ridden some works in progress so I would suspect this may be a different feel being mostly stock....

 

[JayR]

What are you other alternatives, JayR? Wait for a better deal or find a fixer-upper. I'm going to have near 3k in my basket case rebuild before I'm thru . . .

(Not counting my time!)

My thoughts exactly Machi. But - you'll have a one of a kind creation, and it looks like you've got a sweet thing going there. The reality for me is that stock is the only option....so - all I have to do now is make sure the wifey doesn't know where I'm going when I haul ass down to Brooklyn to pick it up

 

[JayR]

It is better to ask forgiveness than permission.

 

[650Skull]

look at the headers on the 79 and compare them with the 81. Original headers on Specials are double walled and the outer chrome should never be discolored from heat. Heat is escaping from the inner pipe to the outer somehow, could be a rusted inner???

The carbs need tuning, one is running rich and the other could be lean. Running to rich will wash the bore, and to lean will hole a piston. Not saying it has done either of those things yet, depends on how long it has been running this way to what, if any, damage has been done.

Fredintoon - so based on everyone's feedback I am definitely going to ask about the pipes, model, etc AND exactly when the carbs were rebuilt to better understand if the current mixture may have washed the bore or holed a piston.

I kind of like the feel of $2,700 too to,start. Would be hard pressed to pay the $3400.

If the Inner is rusted then you are up for a new set of headers and carb work, Carb shouldn't cost much. Never heard of the original mufflers being cut off and clamped to new headers, not to say it can't be done!. If that can't be done, with new headers and mufflers your up for over $300.00 to start.

Better to ask what the engine and frame no's are. Then you can check against the ID chart and that will tell you what you are buying.

Another picture of the headers: Blue and Yellow indeed. So are new headers needed, rejetting, or maybe both? I know, can't really tell with a picture.

Have to find out why the headers are getting the heat through to the outer wall. Not goiod in my book.

I have after market pipes on my '80 SG - Macs from http://www.650central.com/
I 'creamed' them and they still discolored a bit - but it was just from the heat. I like em and they make the bike sound like a real twin.
Now wouldn't you recognize aftermarket pipes by the fact they have no cross over underneath? Have you met this girl in person yet, JayR? Or is this a blind date?

The Special headers are unique because they are considered a rolling offset. ! curve from the head to the muffler, when looking from the side. Looking from the front it has another curve from the head to the outer side of the engine side-cover. 2 curves in the 1 curve. All other headers you see have 2 distinctive bends and only aftermarket single walled pipes will discolor

 

[650Skull]

If the 79 and 81 were the same price i would travel 3 times the distance to get the 79. Way better bike.

 

[weekendrider]

Have you looked at either one of these?

http://newlondon.craigslist.org/mcy/4357300337.html

http://longisland.craigslist.org/mcy/4315829469.html

 

[JayR]

Have you looked at either one of these?

http://newlondon.craigslist.org/mcy/4357300337.html

http://longisland.craigslist.org/mcy/4315829469.html

Thanks just sent an email to New London with regular questions ; title, miles, last time ran, is engine frozen etc.

 

[barelycompetent]

That newlondon one looks like it needs more then just a clutch cable. No headlight, the tank looks oxidized on top, missing a lens cover on one rear turn signal, the seat is shot, I would offer like 400 for that bike. I would bet that the carbs would need attention as well.

 

[fredintoon]

So that level of color is sort of part of the deal with aftermarket pipes?

Hi JayR,
it's more that single wall pipes get hot enough for the chrome to oxidize and change colour.
The Japanese bike builders said "Eff the weight gain" and installed double wall pipes to keep the outer pipes cool enough to not change colour.
That's why I posted that the '81 bike either had aftermarket pipes or the inner pipe was burned through or the bike was running way too hot.
You can "colour tune" a single wall piped bike by observing the pipe colour.
Mauve/blue/tan/straw/light straw fading to normal chrome ~1/3 around the top bend shows good enough tuning.
Of course, it only works the first time. That or you use a lot of BlueBgone between adjustments.
Mind you, that's only single thin wall pipes.
My son fitted pipes from MikesXS that were mebbe 1/8" thick.
They also oxidized in use but only in several shades of brown.

 

[JayR]

Well gentlemen, the object of my desire has once again escaped me . I was supposed to see the bike yesterday but work - WORK - got in the way. I rescheduled for Thursday but the owner notified me this afternoon that he sold it for full asking price. Oh well, probably saved me a trip b/c I was not prepared to pay $3400 for the machine, even as purty as she is, or was.

But seriously, thanks everyone very very much for offering up your expertise so willingly. This forum is really something else. I learned a ton about how to eyeball a bike and maybe to better understand the implications of pipe coloring, seemingly random stains, etc.

Hmmmm, the grass may be greener over here anyway! Although Skull650 you may have convinced me I need a 1979:



funky low miles barn find. Really, what is going on here?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181350441191?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1426.l2648

1980 decent specimen
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-XS-Y...4066f41cc&item=360885207500&pt=US_motorcycles

1977 Classico
http://cnj.craigslist.org/mcy/4378273488.html

By the way weekend rider and BarelyComp, haven't heard back from new London yet. If I were to do a build that may be the perfect bike if it turns over - beat up enough where you get it for a few hundred. Would be tossing the lights and seat etc anyway. We'll see. Thanks again.

 

[fredintoon]

- - - Hmmmm, the grass may be greener over here anyway! Although Skull650 you may have convinced me I need a 1979: - - -

Hi JayR,
while any XS650 is better than no XS650 I cannot understand why Skull likes a '79 above an '81 by a 3 to 1 ratio.
While I'd take a nice clean '79 above a rubbished out '80 or newer that's all about condition; WTF, it's just about the same effin' bike!
Just about the only part that can't be simply swapped between the two is the lift-off seat.
And I like the lift-off seat.