Barn Find: 1981 Yamaha XS650

I recently acquired a 1981 Yamaha XS650 that has been sitting for the past 15 years of its life. As I'm new to the Motorcycle scene, I'd figure I'd ask for some help/suggestions of those with more experience than me on how to bring her back to life. So what should my first steps be to resurrect this bike?

Welcome to the forum. You will find loads of information about waking your new find in the Tech section of the site.

Check out the "tech" section. Best place to start.
If its been sitting, you'll need to bust some knuckles to make sure it is ready before you try to start it.

http://www.xs650.com/threads/guide-...checklist-for-the-condition-of-your-find.367/


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Hi Chris and welcome,
First, replace the tires, because they are at least 15 years old even if they look like new they'll be age-hardened and won't grip the road hardly at all.
Same deal with the front brake hose, it too is WAY past it's best before date. FWIW, get a stainless steel wire braid reinforced hose, they really do work better.
After you've done what you can to improve the way the bike handles and stops, start resurrecting the engine and transmission.
The list's search function will find you all manner of step by step procedures for that.
And my pet hate, those rototiller handlebars.
Unless you are 7 feet tall with your wrists at 90º to most peoples you'll be better off swapping them for bars that are lower and straighter.

Hi Chris: welcome to the forum!

You're a lucky dog to have found a nice bike that is still relatively "unruined" with lots of wacky customization. I certainly agree with Fred about replacing the handlebars - but that can come later IMHO. You're going to wind up with a bike which is an absolute blast to ride, a reliable and interesting piece of history and a total chick magnet.

OK...maybe not so much a chick magnet...but people will ask about it because it looks cool, and it doesn't sound like a blender.

I was out on my 1976 XS650C today and I had a ball. She's red with orange and brown stripes (very '70s) and people looked at her everywhere I went. This time last year, she didn't run - at all - nothing worked, the fuel tank was full of rust and the carbs full of cottage cheese-looking stuff - and the entire bike was coated with a film of cow sh!t and hay. I posted a picture of her above - because I just couldn't resist <sorry>.

As people have said - the Yamaha XS650 really is a very fine motorcycle - BUT - the process of waking one up after a long snooze is important. Basically, you need to be sure that your bike is going to be safe and reliable - before you take it on the road. As Fred pointed out - no matter what they look like - you will certainly need to replace both tires and the inner tubes and rim tapes as well as the brake hoses and fluid. The fuel system (fuel tank and carbs) will likely need to be cleaned, the spark plugs should be replaced and the battery is almost certainly pooched as well. All of that will cost you a little bit of money - a few hundred $ or so.

You need to ensure that the engine oil filters (there are TWO of them) are both clean, intact and secure and that the engine oil is clean as well - BEFORE - you try to start the bike. Yamaha XS650s are as tough as a bucket of roofing nails, but they do have several peculiarities and typical start-up issues, of which you should be aware:

1) the electric starter can be....a little bit troublesome. The fix is simple - and not expensive - but many bikes do need it. Once the starter is sorted out - it will work every time and people here know exactly what to do.

2) the electrical charging system can also be a bit of challenge but again, the fixes are relatively simple, not expensive.

Best of all, you've got several dozen new buddies who are experts and more than willing give you a hand with advice, instructions, encouragement and perhaps the occasional kick in the @ss. I would suggest that you search for and read the following threads:

- "My 60th birthday present" by Mailman and,

- '81 build thread - the handover" by littlebill31.

NOTE - I may not have that last title quite correct. Anyhow, these two threads are the chronicals of two guys waking up old 650s and making them into nice, safe and reliable rides. They're not done yet, but you'll learn a lot from just reading.

Anyhow - my advice is, be methodical, do not rush things, read the threads given to you above and ask for advice - and then take it. Everyone here is learning and yet there are folks (NOT including me) on this site who literally know more about these great old bikes than MamaYama did when she built them. All of the parts you need are readily available either from dedicated suppliers or on the web - or from the folks on this site. Don't worry about finding parts and supplies - just get a shop manual (downloadable), tell us what you need and people will give you advice on where to get it.

As I said above - once this process is over and you have it running, I'm certain that you will love your 650, and if you don't - I will likely offer to buy it from you myself.

Cheers,

Pete