New member 83 650

[trianglelaguna]

Just joined
I had a ohc 75 in 85 and have wanted to find one to fix up ever since .
Found a very neglected but all there 83 heritage special.
Am removing decades of grease and rust and waiting on a set of carbs from mikes xs
Will need new rims - etc - rusted from sitting ten years in damp garage by the ocean so rims have bad spots.
Anyways saying hi and trying to learn this forum by getting 5 posts I believe?
Does this count for first post ?
Here are some pictures of it just unloaded fully dirty - hack bars and goofy cable routing etc- superbike bars and big scrub and detail to one side yesterday
Craig

 

[trianglelaguna]

Here is one side - after an initial cleaning
Cleanser - sos- chrome polish- de greaser
Each cleaning after itll get better but im impressed- literally sat in one spot for a 11 years it had bug shit and dust - grease luckily protected some of the cases etc
Have not heard it run - carbs were gum - seller had a new battery and had it running on starting fluid but I declined a listen lol -
Came with a stripped parts bike stuff in a box ill be posting to see if anything is useful when i get it done - headlight rims - carb box of sets etc etc free for shipping but thats later - hearing it run and more cleaning for September

 

[jetmechmarty]

That's cleaning up well. I'm still riding my SK since new.

 

[5twins]

Welcome. Yes, that is cleaning up well. Nice to see another one of these being saved. My '83 was in a similar state when I got it after sitting for about 12 years .....

A thorough carb cleaning and complete rebuild, and some charging system repair (fixed cut wires) had it up and running nicely. Then a few seasons of "riding and wrenching" has it looking quite good .....

There are numerous little things you can do to improve the bike, most all outlined on the site here somewhere. You can turn these into a very nice, dependable old ride.

 

[bosco659]

Welcome. Yes, that is cleaning up well. Nice to see another one of these being saved. My '83 was in a similar state when I got it after sitting for about 12 years .....

View attachment 223152

A thorough carb cleaning and complete rebuild, and some charging system repair (fixed cut wires) had it up and running nicely. Then a few seasons of "riding and wrenching" has it looking quite good .....

View attachment 223153

There are numerous little things you can do to improve the bike, most all outlined on the site here somewhere. You can turn these into a very nice, dependable old ride

I just noticed how many spokes are on those wheels. Looks like many more than a standard has.

 

[gggGary]

I just noticed how many spokes are on those wheels. Looks like many more than a standard has.

82-83 Heritage Special US got the 48-64 spoke wheels, Canada got Mags with drum rear, you got an 84 model year also.

 

[5twins]

Yes, I replaced the front with a regular 36 spoke. Those 64 spokes were just too much and I don't care for the look. But I'm OK with the 48 spoke rear, I'll keep that. Once the tire wears out, I have an alloy rim and stainless spokes for it. I also have a spare 36 spoke 16" rear and once again, when I wear it's tire out, it will get an alloy rim and stainless spokes as well.

 

[Adamc]

All aboard the Skylark, and welcome to the forum.
Looking forward to your bike development on here.

 

[trianglelaguna]

Hey thanks for the replies- you special is cool
Ill be doing some stuff but once running- joining the forum is already paying off as you folks know the years and gears on the xs
Ive had 25 bikes since my late brother gave me his gold and black 75/6 in85 but mostly Z1 and the like kz etc

 

[650Skull]

Welcome Triagle,

This link has a lot of info
https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...workshop-manuals-and-other-information.30569/

Best advice can give is ............before buying anything ask on here first so your directed to the best supplier and the advice that comes with it.

 

[5twins]

Yes, had you asked, we probably would have given the "thumbs down" to a new carb set from Mike's, lol. If they're those Chinese Keihin replicas, there have been issues reported with them. The stock carbs can be made to work very well with a proper overhaul and the right jetting.

 

[willis]

Welcome to this site. Honestly this is the friendliest forum I’ve ever been a part of. So much experience and knowledge here. I like that it is so active as well. So many other forums are pretty stagnant/dormant. I find myself checking in here many times a day. The tech section is pretty vast and the search toolbar is your friend. Oh, and did anyone mention we all like pictures here?

 

[trianglelaguna]

Ill ask for advice - usually able to figure stuff out by reading- i dont want to mess with carbs and am fine with this set thanks for the head up
Few of mine below

 

[650Skull]

Ill ask for advice im able to figure stuff out by reading i dont want stick carbs and am fine with this set thanks for the head up

Some people never post till they have built their bike and they have used the site to gather all their information for their XS650.If your more comfortable, and enjoy using the search and tech menu means your self sufficient and more power to you for that.

Mikes XS does sell more than one set of different carbs now........... A while back he didn't and the set he was selling hadhas been extensively tested and reported on by a couple of members who knew what they were doing. Those carbs at the time couldn't be made to work without a lot of work and even then they weren't as good as a well sorted set of factory BS38's/BS34's.

If your happy then that's good.

Asking you, to ask before buying, is not to say your research wont bring up he same answers that might be given. It's that sometimes information through a search, or even the tech menu, has been updated or another source has been found or the original source's quality has waned. A lot of money can be saved on some big money items

non of this is in any way a judgment on your capabilities.

As a mention of your capabilities it helps if a bit of background on your self and your capabilities and, (just an intro so to speak) it, helps up to know what sort of posts to offer.
Are you crawling walking or running, so to speak

 

[trianglelaguna]

Cool folks like those stock carbs - well
Mine came with a box of extra sets half torn into - bags and bags of sludes and jets and floats thats great news
Ill give the whole box to someone or anyone seeking something.
Ill take pics later of the extras pile - I’ll keep the stuff off the bike in a spares box but ill not need a box of xs carbs

 

[trianglelaguna]

So the mikes carb bad reviews is old news and outdated- thanks for clearing that up
Im pretty sure this set is bitchen

 

[trianglelaguna]

Im looking to purchase a set of rims that would have disks- anyone have leads its much appreciated
Im searching the site as able trying to figure out whats where and what’s current
Aftermarket rims folks like etc
Any advice appreciated

 

[650Skull]

So the mikes carb bad reviews is old news and outdated- thanks for clearing that up
Im pretty sure this set is bitchen

To be clear.............I said mikes sells several different sets of carbs.......now.............. The ones you have may not be the ones i mentioned or the ones 5t mentioned.

Your seem to be more that capable and know what your doing.

 

[nj1639]

Looks like you may have a '78 Standard fuel tank there in the parts. Extra gallon if so, not a bad upgrade. Black painted headlight bucket too......more clues to some '78 parts. '78/'79 BS38's carbs are the apex on the xs650 line before the EPA got their grubby mitts in the production which resulted in the 'lean from factory' bs34's.
Welcome aboard!

 

[trianglelaguna]

Excellent- information thank you