thefabulousfink
XS650 New Member
Hi everybody,
I've been lurking on this site since I got my 650 in January, but I'm finally ready to get working on it so I thought I should introduce myself. I'm senior at WSU in Pullman. This is my third bike and I'm a pretty good wrench-turner, but there's still a few parts of motorcycle anatomy that I'm a little fuzzy on.
But enough about me, here's the bike:
A 1981 XS650 Special. It belonged to my cousin's husband and was last run in 2008, then was shut up in a barn for 7 years. My cousin wanted it gone so I got it for the low, low price of $free. The good news is that there is very little rust, the bad news is that just about every fluid, rubber, or consumable part is shot and needs to be replaced.
Here she is after a bath.
I plan to eventually do a cafe build, but I'm going to do it in 3 phases. Phase I is simply get the bike running and do basic operational improvements like bearings and cables. Phase II will be performance improvements; possibly an engine rebuild, phase, over-bore, intake and exhaust. Phase III will be cosmetic; seat, clip-on's, rear-sets, quarter-fairing, paint job.
I'm new to Yamahas, so I'd love people's advice and tips. I'm on a budget for this first part of the build so I'm mainly trying to get an operation bike and save the expensive overhauls until next year when I'll have a job to finance the build further.
Here's what I know/suspect needs to be done for phase I and the tentative order I plan to fix them.
1. Drain gas & oil. check for debris.
2. New oil, check compression.
3. New Battery.
4. Rear brake is seized.
5. Replace fork oil/seals.
6. Replace chain, sprockets
7. Grease all bearings.
8. New tires.
That's what I've got so far. I'm sure more will turn up.
I've been lurking on this site since I got my 650 in January, but I'm finally ready to get working on it so I thought I should introduce myself. I'm senior at WSU in Pullman. This is my third bike and I'm a pretty good wrench-turner, but there's still a few parts of motorcycle anatomy that I'm a little fuzzy on.
But enough about me, here's the bike:
A 1981 XS650 Special. It belonged to my cousin's husband and was last run in 2008, then was shut up in a barn for 7 years. My cousin wanted it gone so I got it for the low, low price of $free. The good news is that there is very little rust, the bad news is that just about every fluid, rubber, or consumable part is shot and needs to be replaced.
Here she is after a bath.
I plan to eventually do a cafe build, but I'm going to do it in 3 phases. Phase I is simply get the bike running and do basic operational improvements like bearings and cables. Phase II will be performance improvements; possibly an engine rebuild, phase, over-bore, intake and exhaust. Phase III will be cosmetic; seat, clip-on's, rear-sets, quarter-fairing, paint job.
I'm new to Yamahas, so I'd love people's advice and tips. I'm on a budget for this first part of the build so I'm mainly trying to get an operation bike and save the expensive overhauls until next year when I'll have a job to finance the build further.
Here's what I know/suspect needs to be done for phase I and the tentative order I plan to fix them.
1. Drain gas & oil. check for debris.
2. New oil, check compression.
3. New Battery.
4. Rear brake is seized.
5. Replace fork oil/seals.
6. Replace chain, sprockets
7. Grease all bearings.
8. New tires.
That's what I've got so far. I'm sure more will turn up.