I have determined mine is a 1970 xs1 but the motor is seized and both spark plug holes are screwed up. And the bike is just in bad shape all together. I mean it was free haha. I was hoping to make a cool cafe racer out of it but i fear this bike isn't worth my time
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Worth saving a bike with a seized motor
- Thread starter connorjex
- Start date
member3480
RICH
you got sellable parts if you part it out. Early motors are worth some money
Attachments
The early engines used a needle bearing on the small end of the connecting rod. The holes in the rods tend to get oval. The steel around this hole is thinner than the later engines.
These rods are also longer and use shorter piston
The earlier engines used a different tooth count on the crank and cam sprockets. This uses a different cam chain.
You can keep that cam by rebuilding the crank you have with the newer rods and pistons. This way the sprockets match. This is the option I might use. You can easily increase the cc's with bigger pistons.
You can just swap the crank and cam for a later type. This may be the easiest way.
I would look into the prices of the parts needed in each option.
The 70 and 71 engines didn't have the e-start, The heads use a 3 bolt valve cover on all 4 valves. When they added the e-start they also added a compression release on the front left exhaust valve. To add this they changed from the 3 bolt cover to a 4 bolt cover.
This is not found on the later bikes. This would increase the cool factor of any bike you build around that engine.
The drum front brake will also increase the cool factor.
Being that the frame you have doesn't look to molested I might restore it back to close to stock. All the way if I can find all the right parts.
Leo
These rods are also longer and use shorter piston
The earlier engines used a different tooth count on the crank and cam sprockets. This uses a different cam chain.
You can keep that cam by rebuilding the crank you have with the newer rods and pistons. This way the sprockets match. This is the option I might use. You can easily increase the cc's with bigger pistons.
You can just swap the crank and cam for a later type. This may be the easiest way.
I would look into the prices of the parts needed in each option.
The 70 and 71 engines didn't have the e-start, The heads use a 3 bolt valve cover on all 4 valves. When they added the e-start they also added a compression release on the front left exhaust valve. To add this they changed from the 3 bolt cover to a 4 bolt cover.
This is not found on the later bikes. This would increase the cool factor of any bike you build around that engine.
The drum front brake will also increase the cool factor.
Being that the frame you have doesn't look to molested I might restore it back to close to stock. All the way if I can find all the right parts.
Leo
They say a picture is worth a 1000 words.... but this picture is best said with two words.. Ugh lee. Ck the vin number... insure it's a Xs1... based on the photo you'll have $1000.oo's getting it back stock..... My Xs1.. (000657).... had the factory 750 installed kit and the needle bearing upper rods ….which failed a year after I purchased it. It sat for 20 plus years before I purchased it sight unseen over the phone. I used a 73' crank and returned it to 650.
So.. the big question...… do you take the time and $$$$ and restore it.... you have the bare bones to start with.... first I'd start with eyeball'n the engine and determine it's needs.... snap'd cam chain..?... wrist pin failures…. ate the crank.... ? Locating the stock parts.. difficult but with this group... shouldn't be a issue..... note... early Xs1 units are slightly different then later Xs1..... as the model year progressed.. they dropped the gathers... (requires correct fork ears) add'd signals, also add'd the traditional round tail light..prior they used some sort of off the shelf Yamaha dirt bike tail light I believe. Fenders.. starting to become hard to find. Figure, chrome plating… close to $2000.oo.... a proper..correct paint job... $1500.oo.... frame paint additional.... etc etc etc....
… this bike can be brought back … Hey, it's cheaper then own'n a boat.
So.. the big question...… do you take the time and $$$$ and restore it.... you have the bare bones to start with.... first I'd start with eyeball'n the engine and determine it's needs.... snap'd cam chain..?... wrist pin failures…. ate the crank.... ? Locating the stock parts.. difficult but with this group... shouldn't be a issue..... note... early Xs1 units are slightly different then later Xs1..... as the model year progressed.. they dropped the gathers... (requires correct fork ears) add'd signals, also add'd the traditional round tail light..prior they used some sort of off the shelf Yamaha dirt bike tail light I believe. Fenders.. starting to become hard to find. Figure, chrome plating… close to $2000.oo.... a proper..correct paint job... $1500.oo.... frame paint additional.... etc etc etc....
… this bike can be brought back … Hey, it's cheaper then own'n a boat.
Welcome to the forum, connerjex.
To give you an idea of what you're getting into, have a look at these 2 threads.
http://www.xs650.com/threads/71-xs1b-conversion-to-cafe.45115/
http://www.xs650.com/threads/xs1b-cafe-build.47728/
To give you an idea of what you're getting into, have a look at these 2 threads.
http://www.xs650.com/threads/71-xs1b-conversion-to-cafe.45115/
http://www.xs650.com/threads/xs1b-cafe-build.47728/
You mean, a hole in the water you throw your money into? 
Connor, Is this the bike you told us about on Monday? And you got it for free? Wow. I would agree with DADDYG, and be thinking about parting it out. But that would be to finance a later (not-so-rare) model in better condition, maybe even one that actually runs. Given what it is, and what it looks like, a boat might be cheaper!
wrenchjohns
XS650 Addict
My XS1 restore cost more cash than the sale price BUT, the joy of the restore made it all worthwhile!
john
john
That right there is an excellent summary of what this forum is all about....
ITS NOT SEIZED!!!!!!!!!!!! I forgot to check if it was in gear when i kicked it. The chain was just bound on the case. Motor spins very free and the side with the good plug had good compression the other side just needs a thread repair! I believe since it is missing so much i will try for a brat/cafe style bike. Hopefully it will run this week for me.
They say a picture is worth a 1000 words.... but this picture is best said with two words.. Ugh lee. Ck the vin number... insure it's a Xs1... based on the photo you'll have $1000.oo's getting it back stock..... My Xs1.. (000657).... had the factory 750 installed kit and the needle bearing upper rods ….which failed a year after I purchased it. It sat for 20 plus years before I purchased it sight unseen over the phone. I used a 73' crank and returned it to 650.
So.. the big question...… do you take the time and $$$$ and restore it.... you have the bare bones to start with.... first I'd start with eyeball'n the engine and determine it's needs.... snap'd cam chain..?... wrist pin failures…. ate the crank.... ? Locating the stock parts.. difficult but with this group... shouldn't be a issue..... note... early Xs1 units are slightly different then later Xs1..... as the model year progressed.. they dropped the gathers... (requires correct fork ears) add'd signals, also add'd the traditional round tail light..prior they used some sort of off the shelf Yamaha dirt bike tail light I believe. Fenders.. starting to become hard to find. Figure, chrome plating… close to $2000.oo.... a proper..correct paint job... $1500.oo.... frame paint additional.... etc etc etc....
… this bike can be brought back … Hey, it's cheaper then own'n a boat.
I feel dumb now it was in gear the the crappy rusty chain was bound against the case it is free and kicks over really well
Hey, don't feel dumb, it's Good News the engine kicks over. Takes a while to get to know what you just bought. Or in your case, was just given.
It's ok, once years ago my room mate ran inside after leaving for work shouting they needed a ride because their car wouldn't start. 2 days later they figured out that it was in 1st on the shifter. They had been messing with the stereo and had to pull the shifter back into 1 to get it out.
Way to go, connor! When I first brought home "The Basketcase", I thought it was seized. It turned out, there was so much corrosion in the generator, the rotor was rusted to the stator. Once I "cracked" it loose, I was good to go.
Keep an eye out for parts (both stock and cafe) as you put it back together. Resist the urge to "chop" anything off it. There's not many '70s left out there. You can still do your cafe, and be able to put it back to stock.
Keep an eye out for parts (both stock and cafe) as you put it back together. Resist the urge to "chop" anything off it. There's not many '70s left out there. You can still do your cafe, and be able to put it back to stock.
Way to go, connor! When I first brought home "The Basketcase", I thought it was seized. It turned out, there was so much corrosion in the generator, the rotor was rusted to the stator. Once I "cracked" it loose, I was good to go.
Keep an eye out for parts (both stock and cafe) as you put it back together. Resist the urge to "chop" anything off it. There's not many '70s left out there. You can still do your cafe, and be able to put it back to stock.
I probably wont modify a whole lot on the frame truthfully. It was turned into a chopper in the 70s. So its already been cut a fair bit. So i dont think i am doing uch much damage here by cleaning it up a bit
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