RPC3
XS650 Addict
Hi all - I'm going to be posting quite frequently I'm sure over the next few months (years?) to help troubleshoot and get advice on a bike I'm hoping to pick up this weekend. Assuming everything goes as planned I'll have a '78 650 standard in my driveway by tomorrow afternoon (and worst case scenario, I'll have some sort of 650 before spring's end).
My plans for the bike are going to be three phases. 1) get it running as best possible under stock conditions, 2) clean it up a bunch cosmetically while keeping it running under stock conditions, 3)start modernizing it a bit for reliability/handling sake (pamco, PMA, updated electricals, etc) once phases 1&2 are done.
This will be my second bike, so I'm not totally green to motorcycles but I'm still on the newer side. I just sold my first - a 1974 Honda CL200 which I spent the last two years tinkering with and riding (rebuilt and synched/balanced carbs, rebuilt clutch, new points, set timing, changed gaskets and seals, did all shop maintenance such as valve heights, new brakes, fork oil, etc). I'd say I'm handi-capable, but I'm still learning quite a bit and thus need to rely on places like this forum in addition to the shop manuals for advice.
Assuming I get the bike, I'll probably change the gas, put a new battery in, change the oil,new plugs, and will see if it'll fire up. Shortly after I plan on rebuilding the carbs, ordering a gasket set so I can take the side covers off and inspect, clean out the oil filters, clean the electrical connections, test the advance unit, etc. and hopefully be at a good place with everything. The bike looks mostly stock and un-tampered with, but hasn't run for a few years.
I'll get some photos up as soon as I can so people can help let me know whats different than stock or if anything looks suspect. I don't have a ton of tools yet, so I'll need some help building up my supply (currently have a basic mechanics tool set from sears, torque wrench, impact drive, snap ring pliers, feeler gauges, etc), but I just bought a house and have a shed I can finally start utilizing a bit for bike space. It looks like my options for parts are going to be mostly mikesxs, 650central.com, ebay, and bike bandit/other OEM retailers. I've got the downloadable shop manual and a clymer manual on the way. Looking forward to having a reliable and long term bike to ride and work on - hopefully more to follow soon.
My plans for the bike are going to be three phases. 1) get it running as best possible under stock conditions, 2) clean it up a bunch cosmetically while keeping it running under stock conditions, 3)start modernizing it a bit for reliability/handling sake (pamco, PMA, updated electricals, etc) once phases 1&2 are done.
This will be my second bike, so I'm not totally green to motorcycles but I'm still on the newer side. I just sold my first - a 1974 Honda CL200 which I spent the last two years tinkering with and riding (rebuilt and synched/balanced carbs, rebuilt clutch, new points, set timing, changed gaskets and seals, did all shop maintenance such as valve heights, new brakes, fork oil, etc). I'd say I'm handi-capable, but I'm still learning quite a bit and thus need to rely on places like this forum in addition to the shop manuals for advice.
Assuming I get the bike, I'll probably change the gas, put a new battery in, change the oil,new plugs, and will see if it'll fire up. Shortly after I plan on rebuilding the carbs, ordering a gasket set so I can take the side covers off and inspect, clean out the oil filters, clean the electrical connections, test the advance unit, etc. and hopefully be at a good place with everything. The bike looks mostly stock and un-tampered with, but hasn't run for a few years.
I'll get some photos up as soon as I can so people can help let me know whats different than stock or if anything looks suspect. I don't have a ton of tools yet, so I'll need some help building up my supply (currently have a basic mechanics tool set from sears, torque wrench, impact drive, snap ring pliers, feeler gauges, etc), but I just bought a house and have a shed I can finally start utilizing a bit for bike space. It looks like my options for parts are going to be mostly mikesxs, 650central.com, ebay, and bike bandit/other OEM retailers. I've got the downloadable shop manual and a clymer manual on the way. Looking forward to having a reliable and long term bike to ride and work on - hopefully more to follow soon.