lopejd01
XS650 Enthusiast
Hi, I already posted my bike and some questions but I figured I should have probably started off with an introduction.
24yrs old, been wanting to learn to ride for awhile but I'm also a full time college student and had to find the time. This summer I made a conscious effort to learn and started checking craigslist everyday for bikes. Took months but I found a bike that caught my eye- a 77' xs 650. Paid 1500$ for it, maybe a little much but I felt good about it.
Bike ran great for the first day or two I had it but than all of a sudden it wouldnt idle. My dad got it running long enough to do a couple laps but it sounded weird. we put it away and the next day I tried starting it up again and now it wont even start at all. I have a feeling the problem is in the carbs.
My experience with bikes/engines/things with wheels = none. I take my vehicles in to have the oil changed. Not against learning though. I bought a 4 wheeler this summer and took the carb apart to clean out the jets. Took me hours though to get it running right after I did it.
I'll probably endup taking the bike in to get looked at though. I have just so little experience and no one to help, i'm afraid I'll endup getting it in pieces and cause more of a mess. besides, I bought the bike to learn to ride and I can't do that if it sits in the garage all summer. BUT- if anyone has any advice on how what could have happened, please let me know. If it seems like something I can attempt without screwing it up, I'll go for it. It just went from running great all day to not running in a snap.
The big question I do have, because its not engine related, is the wiring. electrically, its bone dry. The guy I got it from put a crappy headlight on it and it works. the right switch it there and works. the brake light also works, though only when engaging the rear brake. It also does not stay lit when the headlight is on (is it supposed to, like a car? lol not sure if theres something that keeps it running). Maybe because the battery is practically dead. I've always had to kick start it because the electric just clicks. I posted pictures of the wire mess thats hanging down behind the headlight. serious mess of wires. any idea what some of them are for? I need to figure out how to wire the speedo, front and rear turn signals, and the front brake to rear brake light. additionally, I'm probably going to go with the tiny LED signals so..anything special I need to know about wiring these up?
Thanks.
24yrs old, been wanting to learn to ride for awhile but I'm also a full time college student and had to find the time. This summer I made a conscious effort to learn and started checking craigslist everyday for bikes. Took months but I found a bike that caught my eye- a 77' xs 650. Paid 1500$ for it, maybe a little much but I felt good about it.
Bike ran great for the first day or two I had it but than all of a sudden it wouldnt idle. My dad got it running long enough to do a couple laps but it sounded weird. we put it away and the next day I tried starting it up again and now it wont even start at all. I have a feeling the problem is in the carbs.
My experience with bikes/engines/things with wheels = none. I take my vehicles in to have the oil changed. Not against learning though. I bought a 4 wheeler this summer and took the carb apart to clean out the jets. Took me hours though to get it running right after I did it.
I'll probably endup taking the bike in to get looked at though. I have just so little experience and no one to help, i'm afraid I'll endup getting it in pieces and cause more of a mess. besides, I bought the bike to learn to ride and I can't do that if it sits in the garage all summer. BUT- if anyone has any advice on how what could have happened, please let me know. If it seems like something I can attempt without screwing it up, I'll go for it. It just went from running great all day to not running in a snap.
The big question I do have, because its not engine related, is the wiring. electrically, its bone dry. The guy I got it from put a crappy headlight on it and it works. the right switch it there and works. the brake light also works, though only when engaging the rear brake. It also does not stay lit when the headlight is on (is it supposed to, like a car? lol not sure if theres something that keeps it running). Maybe because the battery is practically dead. I've always had to kick start it because the electric just clicks. I posted pictures of the wire mess thats hanging down behind the headlight. serious mess of wires. any idea what some of them are for? I need to figure out how to wire the speedo, front and rear turn signals, and the front brake to rear brake light. additionally, I'm probably going to go with the tiny LED signals so..anything special I need to know about wiring these up?
Thanks.
