New Owner, and Clueless

[WideAWAKE]

You might want to try some lacquer thinner on a rag. Sometimes a rattle can job will rub right off and leave the original finish. Worth a shot.

I’d second that.

You may have a preserved/decent paint job under that rattle can/house paint.

Clean, clean, clean, clean some more. See what can be done to properly wake it back up (believe there is a good write up in the tech section about it).

 

[gggGary]

You might want to try some lacquer thinner on a rag. Sometimes a rattle can job will rub right off and leave the original finish. Worth a shot.

Needed to replace a gas tank on a V Star 1600 found a complete bike, rattle canned flat black for cheap. About a quart of acetone and couple rolls of paper towel later it was a complete perfect tank with factory paint job, in excellent condition IN THE CORRECT color!

Also have a decent set of XS1 ears and headlight bucket in factory green paint that was hiding under a black rattle can job.
Bought that bike cheap also (notice a trend here?) Saw just a little chip of green peeking out in the ad for a 1975... . ;^)

 

[JJames]

There's other routes that don't cost near as much a mentioned above.
You can do a sympathetic restoration/survivor which involves just getting it reliable and looking respectable... not a showroom bike. It'll look just like the original, but also shows some of it's age. That'd make it a respectable desert highway cruiser.

Yeah. Like Jim says. And based on a goal of a no chop, no candy paint rider. I think you could get this one on the road without breaking the bank. Looks like forks and tires would be your first concern. And checking out the brakes of course. There are very good thread (S) On "waking up " bikes out of storage. I'm tech-challenged but hopefully someone can link you to these. Also good stuff on assessing and diagnosing charging system, a common issue. And carburetor cleaning. Recommend cleaning the carbs before attempting to start the bike. Invest in a good battery and battery tender. And have fun. Lots of folks here to help.

 

[gggGary]

There are very good thread (S) On "waking up " bikes out of storage. I'm tech-challenged but hopefully someone can link you to these

https://www.xs650.com/threads/guide...checklist-for-the-condition-of-your-find.367/

 

[JJames]

https://www.xs650.com/threads/guide...checklist-for-the-condition-of-your-find.367/

Thanks Gary. I believe it was 5twins excellent post-s on carbs . Not sure of the author but good thread describing "slap test" etc. Charging system diagnosis. Thanks guys.

 

[Kevin Werner]

I've started restorations on XS's that looked a lot worse...

Did you finish any...

 

[TX650A Van Islander]

Yeah. Like Jim says. And based on a goal of a no chop, no candy paint rider. I think you could get this one on the road without breaking the bank. Looks like forks and tires would be your first concern. And checking out the brakes of course. There are very good thread (S) On "waking up " bikes out of storage. I'm tech-challenged but hopefully someone can link you to these. Also good stuff on assessing and diagnosing charging system, a common issue. And carburetor cleaning. Recommend cleaning the carbs before attempting to start the bike. Invest in a good battery and battery tender. And have fun. Lots of folks here to help.

What a great thread for a great project! Congrats on getting this motorbike k1n3k !
Nice to see some younger guys becoming involved with this forum. I say that with HUGE respect and appreciation for those of us with gray hair

 

[46th Georgia]

I think after looking over the bike again, its going to be just made ridable for now. Let me be clear, NO cutting, NO welding, NO drilling. I'm really digging the stock look a lot. Its growing on me the more I look at these pics but the cost and time factor is beyond what I can reasonably sink into the project at the moment. I've got a few other irons in the fire that take priority. I'm talking about getting the bike cleaned up, running, riding, and then building the missing stuff that the bike needs to be rideable. little things like custom turn signals because the factory ones are gone. I'll probably sand down the tank and side covers and see what lies under that terrible looking paint (looks like it was rattle canned in a wind storm) and see what needs to be done. Just basically get the bike looking decent and ridable. That way I can enjoy it while collecting parts. There are a bunch of little things missing.

You guys convinced me, it will get restored, just not yet. I want to ride it in the mean time while collecting parts.

unless someone has a newer bike that is already running, has the correct forks, spoke wheels, and is a good candidate for a cafe build. I might be easily persuaded to trade.

A wise move that you will appreciate in the future.

 

[gggGary]

Did you finish any...

A group touring a brass cathedral door foundry watched an old man smooth flaws and polish a massive door.

One asked "How do you know when you are done?" "I never finish, they take it away, and I start on another."

 

[jetmechmarty]

Greg Hageman built this XS-2 for Yamaha’s Faster Sons promotion. It is a custom motorcycle, but retains everything that clearly identifies it.

https://pipeburn.com/yamaha-xs650-xsr700-greg-hageman/

I like your idea of making it just go before you dismantle it. Every improvement adds value. Make friends with it, then decide.

 

[Adamc]

View attachment 244085

Greg Hageman built this XS-2 for Yamaha’s Faster Sons promotion. It is a custom motorcycle, but retains everything that clearly identifies it.

https://pipeburn.com/yamaha-xs650-xsr700-greg-hageman/

I like your idea of making it just go before you dismantle it. Every improvement adds value. Make friends with it, then decide.

What a beautiful machine. I love the subtle custom mods too.

 

[k1n3k]

I officially own the bike now. Title should be here in a week! So now the next stage is to get if home and start cleaning and evaluating it.