Big_Ed
XS650 Member
Yep, it's dead. Ran great for several months - see attached. I had ridden one of these back in my days in California and had seen them for sale in the motorcycle shop in Richmond, but never had a chance to buy one. My son-in-law called one day last year and said "Hey, you want this old bike?" And there it was. I gave his grandfather $200 for the bike; getting the title was problematic but we finally got it and I went to work on the bike. Now, it is a nice vintage 1975 XS650 Yamaha Motorcycle lovingly restored after a 30-year stint in the barn. New items that I put on include: tires and rims, tubes, spokes, brakes (front disc pads and rear drum brake pads), front wheel bearings, brake lines, kickstand, handlebar controls for both sides and grips, plugs, plug wires, condenser, coils (2), ignition points, headlight, horn, Hagon rear shock absorbers, air filters, battery, battery cables, latches for side covers and taillight. I rebuilt most everything to spec including: front forks, master cylinder, brake switch, front brake caliper, petcocks, fuel tank and carburetors.
Original paint, tool kit, original seat (no tears or holes), original air boxes, original chrome on pipes and handlebars –these were in very good condition and I mainly sanded, polished and/or painted, and added a small windscreen. It was a real Thumper to ride - shook like hell and sounded great. Then one afternoon this summer I was cruising up a hill and the motor imploded.
Yep, I rebuilt damn near everything on the bike EXCEPT the engine, although I did clean out many, many mud-dauber nests from the engine fins and other small openings. After I drained the oil and pulled the oil pan off, pieces of the timing chain fell out and a strand of the remaining chain was hanging down. The engine won't turn either so I know something is truly jammed up in there. So now I am trying to figure out if I want to sell it (and for what price?) or haul it my local M/C shop and let them have at it for a few weeks. Hmmmm. Ideas anyone?
Original paint, tool kit, original seat (no tears or holes), original air boxes, original chrome on pipes and handlebars –these were in very good condition and I mainly sanded, polished and/or painted, and added a small windscreen. It was a real Thumper to ride - shook like hell and sounded great. Then one afternoon this summer I was cruising up a hill and the motor imploded.
Yep, I rebuilt damn near everything on the bike EXCEPT the engine, although I did clean out many, many mud-dauber nests from the engine fins and other small openings. After I drained the oil and pulled the oil pan off, pieces of the timing chain fell out and a strand of the remaining chain was hanging down. The engine won't turn either so I know something is truly jammed up in there. So now I am trying to figure out if I want to sell it (and for what price?) or haul it my local M/C shop and let them have at it for a few weeks. Hmmmm. Ideas anyone?