Before and After.
-
Enjoy XS650.com? Consider making a donation to help support the site.
XS650.com receives a small share of sales from some links on this page, but direct donations have a much greater impact on keeping this site going.
I think this 1972 XS2 has potential
- Thread starter ssjody
- Start date
My neutral light didn't work and I traced it down to hacked wiring. There was also a wire broken inside one of the bulb holders (the one with the wall anchor and masking tape, not my work I promise) so I sourced another used bulb harness. The new one had some pretty corroded terminals, so I replaced all the terminals with new ones. I know, big deal right.. but it's the little things and the satisfaction of saving something from the garbage can.
Last edited:
Well look at that! Looks like I'm sourcing some replacement fork tubes..
Other progress was made on the Rear Fender. I had to replace all the rubber and clean a bunch of white paint off the entire bike. Man I don't know what that paint was but it's the toughest I've ever seen.
Other progress was made on the Rear Fender. I had to replace all the rubber and clean a bunch of white paint off the entire bike. Man I don't know what that paint was but it's the toughest I've ever seen.
Attachments
Finally found a use for that 3/8 universal that I've never once in my life used.
Never seen a coil crack like that.
Welp, I couldn't stand it any more. I'm just gonna start from scratch starting with seeing what the inside of this motor looks like. As much as I've been finding wrong I'm sure it's gonna need some work. Let the fun begin!
Ha! That’s how it always begins. I had to change the name of my build thread , midway through , from a sympathetic restoration to a full on restoration!
Man, I have really struggled with this one. I tend to always lean toward the "make it perfect" builds but on this one my goal has been to keep it as a survivor as much as possible. That's just not easy for me to do and I've really wrestled with that on this build. Quite honestly I think it's as much or maybe even more work to try and preserve them as opposed to restoring. I'm not sure where this one will ultimately end up but I do know I'm sending that frame and a bunch of other parts off to be powder coated. We'll see where it goes from there.Ha! That’s how it always begins. I had to change the name of my build thread , midway through , from a sympathetic restoration to a full on restoration!
I've got the top end of the motor torn down and I don't see anything initially that looks bad. There ain't no missing parts and I can still see cross-hatches in the cylinders. The cam chain guide doesn't have even the slightest missing material and practically no grooves at all. I've boxed it all up and I'm gonna drop it off at the machine shop to be gone through and freshen up.
Cleaned up some of the top end hardware tonight.
Take a look at the weights on that crank as they can walk out and lock you up.
Both Xs2 engines I had, hd loose weights.
I was hoping I wouldn't need to get into the bottom end but now you've got me thinking maybe I should
Started on cleanup work on the aluminum.
Nice! So much for the sympathetic restoration, now the real fun begins! 
I've come to the conclusion that I simply cannot adhere to the survivor rules. I'm going to blame it on my CDO (same as OCD but I have a thing about alphabetical order) and just roll with it. It's probably gonna turn out as a restoration in the end so I might as well come to grips with that and get on with life.Nice! So much for the sympathetic restoration, now the real fun begins!
Everyone always seem to shy away with splitting cases. Don't know why. I always tend to go all the way as im a bit on the OCD side. You should be able to check those plugs without splitting the cases if you dont want to get into the lower end.
My OCD in progress, another 73 Z1900 project
My OCD in progress, another 73 Z1900 project
burns
OWG
Is the front-end squished? can't reall tell from the pic. That and/or a locked-up motor might be deal breakers. But that bike is a bit of Motorcycle history that would be shinney and on the road in a perfect moto-world. PersonallyI would not hunt down stock exhausts; the Pea Shooters were meant for these bikes. Pure music. I don't know if they are still around but IKON's are a near period-correct quality set of shocks. Be sure to freshen up the swingarm and headstock bearings. I see miles of smiles in her future.
Good eye! Yes, the front forks were bent (see post #63). Fortunately only the forks suffered damage, the motor seems to be good but I'm having the top end freshened up at the machine shop since I'm this far into it. I bought all new innards for the swing arm including bronze bushings and I'm also servicing the headstock. I also changed every one of the wheel bearings. I don't know yet for sure what I'm gonna do for the exhaust, still trying to decide on that.. I love the look and sound of the original exhaust but everybody's out of stock on the complete system. I figure I've got a little time to figure that out yet.
Thinking out loud
The front tube straighten perhaps
making a hardwood half round block or something .maybe rags .protecting the surface ..And a 2 man job One holding and one sledge hammer operator on the wood
If no press.
Rolling it over a glass surface checking
There are firms doing it but looks expensive
The front tube straighten perhaps
making a hardwood half round block or something .maybe rags .protecting the surface ..And a 2 man job One holding and one sledge hammer operator on the wood
If no press.
Rolling it over a glass surface checking
There are firms doing it but looks expensive
