Introduction

Hunter Shelby

XS650 Member
Messages
6
Reaction score
55
Points
13
Location
Murrow, Fenland
Here it is; the ubiquitous introduction post.

I’m David, older rather than younger and living in South Lincolnshire in the U.K. I’ve been riding bikes longer than I care to remember although I stopped a couple of years ago due to health reasons. Now I’m fighting fit again I’m scratching a long time itch and purchased a bike I’d always coveted when I was younger.

She’s an 1981 SH in a rather fetching shade of purple /burgundy and although I’ve fiddled and maintained my bikes over the years I’ve never been particularly mechanically minded so here’s my middle aged challenge.

FE5F77ED-FB5D-4432-950F-5BF405991447.png


The grand plan is to restore and/or improve learning as I go. There is plenty that isn’t original and I don’t don’t have anything particular in mind as yet but I want to try doing pretty much everything myself so definitely a steep learning curve but I’m confident I can do most things. The depth of knowledge on here has already convinced me to try.

My opening question (I’m sure there’ll be plenty more) is about engine numbers. According to the manual it’s stamped on the front cases but I see nothing there.The previous owner insists it’s the original engine and I’ve no reason to disbelieve him and I’m not going for a concourse restore so as long as it runs I’m happy. Is there any other way of telling for sure? Have I missed something?
 
Welcome! and looks like you found a worthy candidate for your journey.
Those engine numbers are kinda hidden behind the tach drive near the engine mount.
 
Welcome to the club!
Engine number is partially obscured by the front engine mount, look behind it on the right rib of the case.
Bike looks good as it stands.
 
Yes, the engine number will be inside the front mount, partially blocked from view by it and not easy to see .....

336ghaI.jpg


uMBvYCt.jpg
 
Here it is; the ubiquitous introduction post.

I’m David, older rather than younger and living in South Lincolnshire in the U.K. I’ve been riding bikes longer than I care to remember although I stopped a couple of years ago due to health reasons. Now I’m fighting fit again I’m scratching a long time itch and purchased a bike I’d always coveted when I was younger.

She’s an 1981 SH in a rather fetching shade of purple /burgundy and although I’ve fiddled and maintained my bikes over the years I’ve never been particularly mechanically minded so here’s my middle aged challenge.

View attachment 152876

The grand plan is to restore and/or improve learning as I go. There is plenty that isn’t original and I don’t don’t have anything particular in mind as yet but I want to try doing pretty much everything myself so definitely a steep learning curve but I’m confident I can do most things. The depth of knowledge on here has already convinced me to try.

My opening question (I’m sure there’ll be plenty more) is about engine numbers. According to the manual it’s stamped on the front cases but I see nothing there.The previous owner insists it’s the original engine and I’ve no reason to disbelieve him and I’m not going for a concourse restore so as long as it runs I’m happy. Is there any other way of telling for sure? Have I missed something?

Hi David and welcome to this wonderful forum!

I live in the South West of England, my XS was my first introduction to older bikes and this forum and all it’s oh-so-knowledgeable members have helped me to begin to gain an understanding of this motorcycle, albeit a preliminary one, that I would of really struggled to gain without this abundant pool!

My bike looked a lot like yours before I started stripping & hacking into her, a ‘79 special with black tins.

I’m sure you’ll find all you need here!

Daniel.
 
Welcome David, i may see you some time as i am in Leverington, my daughter lived in Long Sutton, now in Gedney, i have done a mild resto on one this year, got it last December, careful these XS's can soak up money quicker than an ex wife. If you need any local eyes give us a shout.
 
Here it is; the ubiquitous introduction post.
I’m David, older rather than younger and living in South Lincolnshire in the U.K. I’ve been riding bikes longer than I care to remember although I stopped a couple of years ago due to health reasons. Now I’m fighting fit again I’m scratching a long time itch and purchased a bike I’d always coveted when I was younger.
She’s an 1981 SH in a rather fetching shade of purple /burgundy and although I’ve fiddled and maintained my bikes over the years I’ve never been particularly mechanically minded so here’s my middle aged challenge.
View attachment 152876
The grand plan is to restore and/or improve learning as I go. There is plenty that isn’t original and I don’t don’t have anything particular in mind as yet but I want to try doing pretty much everything myself so definitely a steep learning curve but I’m confident I can do most things. The depth of knowledge on here has already convinced me to try.
My opening question (I’m sure there’ll be plenty more) is about engine numbers. According to the manual it’s stamped on the front cases but I see nothing there.The previous owner insists it’s the original engine and I’ve no reason to disbelieve him and I’m not going for a concourse restore so as long as it runs I’m happy. Is there any other way of telling for sure? Have I missed something?

Hi David and welcome,
your '81 Special left the factory looking much like my '84 Heritage Special except your bike don't have the Heritage's blacked out engine.
The oil viewport shows the engine is the same (or later) year as the frame. Or just perhaps the side casing is '81? Yamaha parts swap like Lego.
Your bike having an aftermarket seat, missing it's cast aluminum grabrail and it's QD seat latches and having a truncated rear fender shows that the dreaded PO has customized it.
And not IMHO for the better.
Especially those quaint little turn signals? With half the UK's drivers being issued their licences at St. Dunstans?
 
Last edited:
Here it is; the ubiquitous introduction post.

I’m David, older rather than younger and living in South Lincolnshire in the U.K. I’ve been riding bikes longer than I care to remember although I stopped a couple of years ago due to health reasons. Now I’m fighting fit again I’m scratching a long time itch and purchased a bike I’d always coveted when I was younger.

She’s an 1981 SH in a rather fetching shade of purple /burgundy and although I’ve fiddled and maintained my bikes over the years I’ve never been particularly mechanically minded so here’s my middle aged challenge.

View attachment 152876

The grand plan is to restore and/or improve learning as I go. There is plenty that isn’t original and I don’t don’t have anything particular in mind as yet... Have I missed something?
...love the look of the bike just like you got it....
 
Welcome David! Greetings from Arizona. Look like a solid rider there. Thanks for a pic of your ride. Please keep us in the loop of your progress and trips with her. If there is anything we can help you with, please, ask away! Many problems have been solved many times before. Use the search feature and you can see how it was solved. Might be quicker than asking and waiting for an answer, but we are here to help each other.
 
Welcome David, from Canada’s sunny southern coast inWindsor, Ontario! That’s a smart looking bike and a colour that I have not seen before.

Cheers,

Pete
 
Welcome David, from Canada’s sunny southern coast inWindsor, Ontario! That’s a smart looking bike and a colour that I have not seen before.

Cheers,

Pete


G'day Pete,
please?? Sunny southern coast,
mate usually as cold as a witches tit........unlike the lovely west coast.

Yes I know I am being bitchy however, a lot warmer over there.

GeeDub
 
Thanks for the welcome folks.

Kevski, I’m actually in Long Sutton, just opposite The Ship (handy) so if you seem me fiddling about please stop and say hello.

Fredintoon, thanks for the engine info; I’m not sure about some of the “custom” work although in the flesh the indicators don’t look too out of place. At least she’s got some

Time will tell as I’m still considering what route to take with her; today’s task is to locate the engine number and see what I’ve got...
 
Yes i know where you are, had a good meal and bevvies in the ship a couple of months ago, i quite often come off the Wisbech road there on my Z thou when i am out and about.
 
Hi Hunter, another welcome to the forum.

Pretty much as others have said, have found this forum invaluable since buying an XS650 in May. There is just so much information - it seems there ain't much you can think of doing or problems you find that hasn't been done or found by others already. And so many people ready & willing to give assistance with queries. Looks like you have a good solid starting point, a matching-numbers bike which hasn't been messed about too much. Looking forward to seeing where you go with it.

Cheers, Raymond
 
Good platform to work with, that '81. The drum brake rear mag is a one off here in the states and are on the rare side, it does allow you the option of a set of spoke wheels without having to make drastic changes - thus they're desirable for those with spokes that want to swap for tubeless mags.
Aesthetically, the only fly in the ointment that stands out to me is where the seat meets the tank. Stock seating blends there and allows the eye to flow along the lines. The limp dick taillight and ape hangers'll get ya down the road but it ain't my cup of tea.......lol........but again, good score.
Wondering what charging system you have.
Welcome aboard!
 
G'day Pete,
please?? Sunny southern coast,
mate usually as cold as a witches tit........unlike the lovely west coast.

Yes I know I am being bitchy however, a lot warmer over there.

GeeDub

Hey GeeDub - I said sunny (which it is) - I didn’t say warm (which it isn’t - in the winter).

From the standpoint of weather, we definitely got the short end of the stick when they split up the British Empire - but in contrast to the Wet Coast, housing is affordable and it doesn't rain 8 months of the year. :)

Pete
 
Hey GeeDub - I said sunny (which it is) - I didn’t say warm (which it isn’t - in the winter).

From the standpoint of weather, we definitely got the short end of the stick when they split up the British Empire - but in contrast to the Wet Coast, housing is affordable and it doesn't rain 8 months of the year. :)

Pete


Ah Pete,

You could always emigrate from the chosen frozen and come across to the lovely tropics of the Great Barrier Reef at your doorstep.....OR remain in the frozen land of your forebares

With Heat,

GD
 
Unashamedly bumping my own thread (maybe I should rename it now)..

I found myself, thanks to the late night inebriated eBay syndrome, in possession of two crates of assorted bits and pieces acquired for a very reasonable sum. An almost complete engine in a completely dismantled state, brake discs, grab rails, shocks, 2 complete exhausts and a whole load of other bits. More of that to follow...

The good lady has inferred that this project, rapidly becoming an obsession, is fine cluttering up the house but she wants to enjoy the ride too. Hence a seat change required.

That then led to the realisation, as voiced by NJ1639 above, that the aftermarket seat not only looks rubbish but is in fact rubbish and is secured to the frame by one bolt through the mudguard.

Having found one of the grab rails in a dirty but complete and undamaged state I’ve sent it off to be mirror polished and I’ve also splashed out on an original seat that I plan to have recovered. There’s plenty of resources out here in the sticks...

The grab rail will fit; my concern, though, is I don’t seem to have any seat mountings on the frame.

FE436C6B-E747-440C-B04C-A563E2E42593.jpeg


I would appreciate some input as I’m sure I can make it fit; just need a little rookie guidance people...
 
Back
Top