rick1956
Just a regular guy.
Hi all,
I'm just making a "Hello, I'm the new guy" announcement. I'm new to Yamaha 650 twins, but I'm no newbie to motorcycles. I've been on or around them since way before I could touch the ground sitting on one. My dad would put me on his hot-rodded Honda S-90 and push off when I was ready, laughing his ass off when I would eventually fish-tail into a slow-speed crash. Dad had Honda one-lunger's around all the time, working on them for extra cash, and to supply his own bikes with parts and upgrades. It was only natural that I would find myself doing the same sort of thing when I grew older.
I spent a couple years restoring an old Honda 305 Superhawk while I was in the Air Force, stationed in North Carolina. One of my parts-chasing adventures led me to a nice old 305 Scrambler that spent some time with me until it was stolen a few years later. I went without bikes for a while (other than my Honda 250 Elsinore I rode in the boonies) because my lifestyle went into family-building mode. In 2003 I bought myself a Harley Softail. I still have it, but I have grown complacent of the heavy, cruiser thing. It's still great for a two-up ride up into the Cascade Mountains on a nice day, but I needed a change. More like an option. I needed something that offered a little solo excitement when I felt the need. Because I am a lover of old things, I didn't want anything too new.
After looking at lots of types and styles of bikes for a couple years, I just plunked down a whopping $480 for an 81 xs650 on Craigy's List last week.
It doesn't seem abused in any way, but as seems to happen with many of them, it has spent all of its time outdoors (although under cover). That means there is moisture evidence in all the usual places, but none of it is too bad. It hasn't run in a few years, but it appears that the main reason for that is electrical. The guy I bought it from was constantly talking about the wiring "There should be positive here, wouldn't you think?" he said, pointing to a wire.
I wasn't concerned with that--I was too busy checking for items missing, stuck, or broken.
It's not a great time to buy a project bike with the holidays staring us in the face, but it's out there in the shop when I find the time, patiently waiting its turn next to the hawg. I've still got to finish up the wiring on the Harley (I'm splitting the starting/accessories relay off into two relays for improved starting) before I can really tackle the 650.
Plans? I'm the type of guy that likes 'clean & neat' when it comes to bikes. Take off all the extra shit that doesn't help it in any way, but don't remove anything that's welded on (in case I want it back to bone-stock later).
About all I know right now is that it has decent compression, it rolls, and the tank is good inside (unlike outside).
Having said all that, I'll be around, lurking and observing!
Rick
I'm just making a "Hello, I'm the new guy" announcement. I'm new to Yamaha 650 twins, but I'm no newbie to motorcycles. I've been on or around them since way before I could touch the ground sitting on one. My dad would put me on his hot-rodded Honda S-90 and push off when I was ready, laughing his ass off when I would eventually fish-tail into a slow-speed crash. Dad had Honda one-lunger's around all the time, working on them for extra cash, and to supply his own bikes with parts and upgrades. It was only natural that I would find myself doing the same sort of thing when I grew older.
I spent a couple years restoring an old Honda 305 Superhawk while I was in the Air Force, stationed in North Carolina. One of my parts-chasing adventures led me to a nice old 305 Scrambler that spent some time with me until it was stolen a few years later. I went without bikes for a while (other than my Honda 250 Elsinore I rode in the boonies) because my lifestyle went into family-building mode. In 2003 I bought myself a Harley Softail. I still have it, but I have grown complacent of the heavy, cruiser thing. It's still great for a two-up ride up into the Cascade Mountains on a nice day, but I needed a change. More like an option. I needed something that offered a little solo excitement when I felt the need. Because I am a lover of old things, I didn't want anything too new.
After looking at lots of types and styles of bikes for a couple years, I just plunked down a whopping $480 for an 81 xs650 on Craigy's List last week.
It doesn't seem abused in any way, but as seems to happen with many of them, it has spent all of its time outdoors (although under cover). That means there is moisture evidence in all the usual places, but none of it is too bad. It hasn't run in a few years, but it appears that the main reason for that is electrical. The guy I bought it from was constantly talking about the wiring "There should be positive here, wouldn't you think?" he said, pointing to a wire.
I wasn't concerned with that--I was too busy checking for items missing, stuck, or broken.
It's not a great time to buy a project bike with the holidays staring us in the face, but it's out there in the shop when I find the time, patiently waiting its turn next to the hawg. I've still got to finish up the wiring on the Harley (I'm splitting the starting/accessories relay off into two relays for improved starting) before I can really tackle the 650.
Plans? I'm the type of guy that likes 'clean & neat' when it comes to bikes. Take off all the extra shit that doesn't help it in any way, but don't remove anything that's welded on (in case I want it back to bone-stock later).
About all I know right now is that it has decent compression, it rolls, and the tank is good inside (unlike outside).
Having said all that, I'll be around, lurking and observing!
Rick
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) and attend the "LeMay" museum cycle show (took first in the café class) also the award for the guy who drove (trailered) the farthest to attend.
