Hello all,
Figured I've lurked enough the last couple months, so i registered.
Any input would be welcome!
I've wanted to learn to ride for a few years, but while living at home during college was not condusive to getting a bike or motorcycle endorsement (gotta love the MOM factor). On a visit back home earlier this year (from Ohio to CT), I was talking to my neighbor where i grew up. He is an avid biker and had something like 5 different bikes in his garage and has been riding as long as i can remember. He recently got a nice Yamaha V-Star and was selling some of his old bikes. I asked about a late 80's Yamaha 800 that he had, but he wouldn't sell it to me because in his opinion, it was too much bike for a brand new rider (didn't even have my permit at that time nor had i EVER been on a motorcycle). He did say that he'd GIVE me an old 650 he got for free about 5 years ago though...on 1 condition. I had to get the OK from MOM (even though I'm 25) as he said "it's too easy for her to stick the shotgun out of your side door and shoot my bedroom!".
So i went back to Ohio after my visit and contemplated how to convince mom te give the OK. Called her a couple weeks later and got all geared up for a knock down drag out debate on getting the bike. To my utter surprise the first response was "yeah, he mentioned it. We'll be out in 2 weeks with the bike and to visit".
2 weeks later, the following bike showed up at the In-laws
Title and serial indicate a nice 78 SE (2FO-104xxx, built in late 77 IIRC). Since it hadn't been run or ridden in about 5 years, I bought some parts from Mikes XS and started going through the bike with my father-in-law. New progressive front fork springs, flushed and re-filled front forks with Spectre 20w fork oil, new fork seals/boots, re-did all the fuel lines, air box, new plugs, new rear shocks/springs (13.5" monzas courtesy of Mikes) new clutch cable and set the clutch correctly. flushed brake system, new EBC pads, etc. Only things left at this point is an oil change for storage and soaking the chain and re-lubing.
A couple issues still remain. The tach sorta works, its just VERY SLOW responding and doesn't go above like 2000. speedo is fine. Also, the seat doesn't sit right with the hinge pins in. the latch isn't long enough to hit the catch and its almost like one of the stops under the seat is too tall...i THINK it may be a re-covered standard seat.
It also started to backfire off of the right cylinder on deaccell, but while working on it, the rear muffler to header pipe joint is very loose, probably leaking. Im guessing this is the source of my backfire but not 100% sure.
electric starter works, but pops out of gear 3 out of 4 times. I think i can fix it by adjusting the bendix gear spring tension from what i found on the forum.
sure sounds nice running and drives quite well from the many trips up and down the driveway and around the house so far. I'll get some better pics this weekend as well
Video below
Figured I've lurked enough the last couple months, so i registered.
Any input would be welcome!
I've wanted to learn to ride for a few years, but while living at home during college was not condusive to getting a bike or motorcycle endorsement (gotta love the MOM factor). On a visit back home earlier this year (from Ohio to CT), I was talking to my neighbor where i grew up. He is an avid biker and had something like 5 different bikes in his garage and has been riding as long as i can remember. He recently got a nice Yamaha V-Star and was selling some of his old bikes. I asked about a late 80's Yamaha 800 that he had, but he wouldn't sell it to me because in his opinion, it was too much bike for a brand new rider (didn't even have my permit at that time nor had i EVER been on a motorcycle). He did say that he'd GIVE me an old 650 he got for free about 5 years ago though...on 1 condition. I had to get the OK from MOM (even though I'm 25) as he said "it's too easy for her to stick the shotgun out of your side door and shoot my bedroom!".
So i went back to Ohio after my visit and contemplated how to convince mom te give the OK. Called her a couple weeks later and got all geared up for a knock down drag out debate on getting the bike. To my utter surprise the first response was "yeah, he mentioned it. We'll be out in 2 weeks with the bike and to visit".
2 weeks later, the following bike showed up at the In-laws
Title and serial indicate a nice 78 SE (2FO-104xxx, built in late 77 IIRC). Since it hadn't been run or ridden in about 5 years, I bought some parts from Mikes XS and started going through the bike with my father-in-law. New progressive front fork springs, flushed and re-filled front forks with Spectre 20w fork oil, new fork seals/boots, re-did all the fuel lines, air box, new plugs, new rear shocks/springs (13.5" monzas courtesy of Mikes) new clutch cable and set the clutch correctly. flushed brake system, new EBC pads, etc. Only things left at this point is an oil change for storage and soaking the chain and re-lubing.
A couple issues still remain. The tach sorta works, its just VERY SLOW responding and doesn't go above like 2000. speedo is fine. Also, the seat doesn't sit right with the hinge pins in. the latch isn't long enough to hit the catch and its almost like one of the stops under the seat is too tall...i THINK it may be a re-covered standard seat.
It also started to backfire off of the right cylinder on deaccell, but while working on it, the rear muffler to header pipe joint is very loose, probably leaking. Im guessing this is the source of my backfire but not 100% sure.
electric starter works, but pops out of gear 3 out of 4 times. I think i can fix it by adjusting the bendix gear spring tension from what i found on the forum.
sure sounds nice running and drives quite well from the many trips up and down the driveway and around the house so far. I'll get some better pics this weekend as well
Video below
