SolidPsyrix
XS650 New Member
Hello All! I just picked up a 1981 XS650 and am currently making a parts list and trying to plan my build. Currently, the bike came slightly disassembled with all the major components. The previous owner installed a simplified chopper wiring harness, but could not get spark. Motor has good compression. He kept the battery.
My first goal is to get the bike running, but I need to rewire some of the previous owner's work, and that means either deciding to get a new lead acid battery (to keep testing and possibly replace some of the TCI ignition parts as needed) or invest the money up front in a plug and play CDI system. Which brings me to my first decision: new CDI or old TCI?
I'd prefer the CDI system to implement a capacitor/batteryless system, as it's cleaner and would fit the cafe racer/brat style build I'd like, though it would be straining the budget. A new CDI system is about $670 + LED headlight & LED tail light down the road. Probably close to $1000 all in, which is almost half the budget I set for myself. I considered keeping the old halogen lights, but read that would pose some issues. I will still need to refurbish the brake system, new tires, get new rear shocks, and redo the front forks.
Keeping the TCI system means forking out around $100 for the battery, and any other parts that may need replacing from the old ignition. I considered getting a smaller lithium battery setup, but the cost of a new battery, charger, and new voltage regulator starts approaching CDI territory, and at that point I figure why not just go there? The con with this is I'd need to fabricate/purchase some side covers to keep the bike clean, and there's no guarantee the old TCI system won't need further investment.
Would opting to just fork out the money for CDI be less of a PITA than trying to refurbish/rewire the old TCI system? I have a mechanic friend who has worked on these bikes and similar Honda CB's from this era and he suggests tearing out the TCI system as it's more pain than it is worth, though that is in contrast to some of the threads I've read here on the forums.
Thoughts? What have some of you done? Pics of your builds would also be welcome
My first goal is to get the bike running, but I need to rewire some of the previous owner's work, and that means either deciding to get a new lead acid battery (to keep testing and possibly replace some of the TCI ignition parts as needed) or invest the money up front in a plug and play CDI system. Which brings me to my first decision: new CDI or old TCI?
I'd prefer the CDI system to implement a capacitor/batteryless system, as it's cleaner and would fit the cafe racer/brat style build I'd like, though it would be straining the budget. A new CDI system is about $670 + LED headlight & LED tail light down the road. Probably close to $1000 all in, which is almost half the budget I set for myself. I considered keeping the old halogen lights, but read that would pose some issues. I will still need to refurbish the brake system, new tires, get new rear shocks, and redo the front forks.
Keeping the TCI system means forking out around $100 for the battery, and any other parts that may need replacing from the old ignition. I considered getting a smaller lithium battery setup, but the cost of a new battery, charger, and new voltage regulator starts approaching CDI territory, and at that point I figure why not just go there? The con with this is I'd need to fabricate/purchase some side covers to keep the bike clean, and there's no guarantee the old TCI system won't need further investment.
Would opting to just fork out the money for CDI be less of a PITA than trying to refurbish/rewire the old TCI system? I have a mechanic friend who has worked on these bikes and similar Honda CB's from this era and he suggests tearing out the TCI system as it's more pain than it is worth, though that is in contrast to some of the threads I've read here on the forums.
Thoughts? What have some of you done? Pics of your builds would also be welcome
What he said.
