Tim
Showing posts with label 2012 OMS xs650. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012 OMS xs650. Show all posts
6.04.2012
xs650 build/entry: part 5
We have done the service work to make this XS650 that has been slumbering in a barn since 1986 road ready. It is 100% road legal. I have my pack that we did a Product Review in a post last fall mounted up and ready to go. All that is left is load Purple Rain on the truck to trek 1100 miles to the Ozark Mountain Scramble for 3 days of mountain riding and hopefully not much wrenching.
Tim
Tim
6.01.2012
xs650 build/entry: part 4
We rode the Purple Rain XS650 to a bike night in Buffalo NY. This is 60 miles each way from my place. I wanted to do a final shakedown to prove to myself this bike will stay together for 600 miles of mountain riding in the Ozarks. This was the first time that I rode the beast at night. It was cool on the ride home 52 degrees and the motor ran flawless. The standard incandescent lighting leaves a little to be desired but useable. It makes me think how far we have come with modern Halogen lighting and now HID units make the Halogens look like a candle flame.
In retrospect with this project I had a bunch of chopper and custom ideas but after we worked all the bugs out to make the bike reliable it did not leave much cash for customization. All told I came in at $65 under budget the way the bike sits today. It is funny on how much little items like gaskets and spark plugs and fuel system parts add up when you only have a couple of hundred bucks to spend. What you end up with is a 33 year old stock looking bike that is hopefully reliable.
Tim
In retrospect with this project I had a bunch of chopper and custom ideas but after we worked all the bugs out to make the bike reliable it did not leave much cash for customization. All told I came in at $65 under budget the way the bike sits today. It is funny on how much little items like gaskets and spark plugs and fuel system parts add up when you only have a couple of hundred bucks to spend. What you end up with is a 33 year old stock looking bike that is hopefully reliable.
Tim
5.22.2012
xs650 build/entry: part 3
Well we did the whole DMV dance last week and made Purple Rain legal for the road. The last time this bike had any road duty was 1986. I wanted to do a few hundred miles on it to make sure it will stay running and together on the Ozark Mountain Scramble. I did 250 miles over the weekend on country roads with many different elevations and terrain. The sample roads ranged from small village 30 mph streets to 5 mile long uphill pulls and hills with 70 mile per hour down hill sweepers.
What we found out is the engineers that designed and built this motor knew how to build the reliability in. Once I worked out the fuel issues with leaking petcocks and dry rotted fuel lines we were able to keep the motor running on 2 cylinders. Knock on wood the electrical is all stock and has never been played around with. Everything electrical works with the exception of the horn and the back light for the tachometer.
We need to address a few item that are not show stoppers but in the name of safety should be repaired. The list is as follows:
1) Replace the rear swing arm bushings. When you apply the rear brake it shifts the swingarm and changes the direction you are traveling.
2) Replace the fork seals as they are weeping and spraying down the front of the bike with oil.
3) Replace the front brake pads as they were oil soaked at one time and it takes a country mile to stop. I have ridden drum brake bikes with more front brake stopping power than this bike.
4) Replace the high-low beam switch on the handlebars I looked down one moment it was there then the next moment is was gone.
5) Wash it up and get it ready for the 1100 mile truck ride From NY to Arkansas.
Tim
What we found out is the engineers that designed and built this motor knew how to build the reliability in. Once I worked out the fuel issues with leaking petcocks and dry rotted fuel lines we were able to keep the motor running on 2 cylinders. Knock on wood the electrical is all stock and has never been played around with. Everything electrical works with the exception of the horn and the back light for the tachometer.
We need to address a few item that are not show stoppers but in the name of safety should be repaired. The list is as follows:
1) Replace the rear swing arm bushings. When you apply the rear brake it shifts the swingarm and changes the direction you are traveling.
2) Replace the fork seals as they are weeping and spraying down the front of the bike with oil.
3) Replace the front brake pads as they were oil soaked at one time and it takes a country mile to stop. I have ridden drum brake bikes with more front brake stopping power than this bike.
4) Replace the high-low beam switch on the handlebars I looked down one moment it was there then the next moment is was gone.
5) Wash it up and get it ready for the 1100 mile truck ride From NY to Arkansas.
Tim
12.12.2011
xs650 build/entry: part 2
Purple Rain has been sitting for a couple of months while we decided where we wanted to take the modifications. I tossed around hard-tailing this or a Brat Style bike. But all of that has been done to death. I figured we would De-Special it. Back in the early 80's the all the Japanese motorcycle manufactures wanted to capture the American buyer and in the good ol USA we like choppers. The Japanese "Manufactured Custom" of the day consisted of a stepped king and queen seat, Shorty exhaust, Pull back handlebars, a teardrop gas tank and a sissy bar. Some of the models had mag wheels and 16 rear wheels to run the Harleyesqe rubber.
The reason for playing around with this XS650 is we plan on heading to Arkansas to the Ozark Mountains in June for the “Ozark Mountain Scramble”. This is a grass roots style event that you show up and ride with like minded people. I am sick of the rolling shopping malls that most of the rallies and large bike events have become. The premise of the run is the bike cannot be newer than 1980, not larger than 750cc and not cost more than $1000.00 inclusive of purchase price and getting it ready for the run.
We added a tank from a 1976 XS650 that is a little rounder with the filler in center of the top.
The pullback bars had to go. We replaced them with a set of Vintage Style Motocross bars.
A before photo of the seat and the Sissy bar. with the new tank installed.
The rear 3/4 shot with the sissy removed new bars and the '76 Fuel tank.
Right side view with the changes so far. I am starting to like this little bike. We will see what other parts we can dig up or modify to get this thing completed within budget.
Tim
The reason for playing around with this XS650 is we plan on heading to Arkansas to the Ozark Mountains in June for the “Ozark Mountain Scramble”. This is a grass roots style event that you show up and ride with like minded people. I am sick of the rolling shopping malls that most of the rallies and large bike events have become. The premise of the run is the bike cannot be newer than 1980, not larger than 750cc and not cost more than $1000.00 inclusive of purchase price and getting it ready for the run.
We added a tank from a 1976 XS650 that is a little rounder with the filler in center of the top.
The pullback bars had to go. We replaced them with a set of Vintage Style Motocross bars.
A before photo of the seat and the Sissy bar. with the new tank installed.
The rear 3/4 shot with the sissy removed new bars and the '76 Fuel tank.
Right side view with the changes so far. I am starting to like this little bike. We will see what other parts we can dig up or modify to get this thing completed within budget.
Tim
11.01.2011
xs650 build/entry: part 1
Tim has sent me a little info on his chosen work horse for the 2012 Ozark Mountain Scramble. Below is the first entry for his build saga.
I went for a bike ride and found this gem at a local yard sale. All I could think of when I saw it was Purple Rain, Puuuurple Raaaaiiiiiiiin! So with all its gayness I decided the price was right so I picked it up. It is a 1979 Yamaha XS650 Special. Back in the day when this bike was new I never gave these little machines a second look. All I wanted to do was go fast and if it did not have a 3 cylinder 2-stroke or an inline 4 cylinder UJM I was not interested. I have been noticing a few of the XS's modified and I am impressed with the results. The plan for right now is to get it running and mechanically sound to make sure we have a solid foundation to chop from. I will leave it a swing arm bike as Western NY roads are pothole riddled and the only way to ride fast is with a suspension. I plan on doing the entire build myself just like when I was younger and a lot more broke and had no choice in the matter. We will see where this takes us Stay tuned.
Barn Fresh
Dirty, Rusty and Bone Stock
Ultra Gay
Washed Up! Ready for a new Look!
Tim
I went for a bike ride and found this gem at a local yard sale. All I could think of when I saw it was Purple Rain, Puuuurple Raaaaiiiiiiiin! So with all its gayness I decided the price was right so I picked it up. It is a 1979 Yamaha XS650 Special. Back in the day when this bike was new I never gave these little machines a second look. All I wanted to do was go fast and if it did not have a 3 cylinder 2-stroke or an inline 4 cylinder UJM I was not interested. I have been noticing a few of the XS's modified and I am impressed with the results. The plan for right now is to get it running and mechanically sound to make sure we have a solid foundation to chop from. I will leave it a swing arm bike as Western NY roads are pothole riddled and the only way to ride fast is with a suspension. I plan on doing the entire build myself just like when I was younger and a lot more broke and had no choice in the matter. We will see where this takes us Stay tuned.
Barn Fresh
Dirty, Rusty and Bone Stock
Ultra Gay
Washed Up! Ready for a new Look!
Tim
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