Topic: Garage-fresh '76 XS650

[CycleRanger]

Picked this up today. 
Got from a co-worker. His Uncle bought it new and he bought from his Uncle in '78.
He rode it in college and a bit in the 80's then sold it to his brother who only rode it a bit after that.
He got it back from his bother a few years later.
It's been parked since '99 in the garage under a cover. He drained the tank & carbs before he parked it.
The tank (both tanks!) look mint!  Heck, the front brake even still works!
At some point his brother bought a '75 and parted it out.
He's says his brother has the rest of the parts sans engine & frame and will bring them back next time he visits.
It shows about 41K on the clock and he had a notebook with an entry for every bit of maintenance the bike has ever had!
It's in really fine condition and he gave me a hell of a deal on it!
Anyway, this'll be the first Yammy I've had since high school.

[toytuff]

That is clean!

Nice find! 

tt

[CycleRanger]

Just a few more..

Oh yeah, it's got some neat chrome bits too. Foot pegs, front engine mount.

The rubber battery box melted and made a mess but there is no rust in the battery box.

But it does have pods....  But they are nice K&N's so it could be worse.

[BeSeeingYou]

The pods don't cause the problems on the XS650 like they do on a SOC4.  That's a nice bike you scored.  I would be interested in some of the 75 parts if you are selling them.

[CycleRanger]

It'll be a bit before I can get to the bike.
When I do I'll sort through everything and see what i can do without.
At the very least the tank and side covers I'm keeping.
If there's anything extra I'll let you know.

Wow, I'm looking through the maintenance records.
It looks like the oil was changed every 1000 miles with Castrol 20-50 and all other maintenance was done on schedule as well.
Everything is there, mileage, plugs, tires, fork oil, brakes, carb & clutch adjustments.  Wow.
 

[Stev-o]

Looks very nice, CR.  Who can resist a good deal, not us!

[PrsCustom22j]

nice bike CR

[CycleRanger]

Thanks all!

Bwhahahaha!  I think I'll chop it up and cafe it...........






 NOT! 

[Terry in Australia]

That is beautiful mate, it's my favourite model too, you're a lucky man! Cheers, Terry.

[toytuff]

WOW!

Extra parts too? Man, get that smirk off your face! 

tt

[CycleRanger]

WOW!

Extra parts too? Man, get that smirk off your face! 

tt

Believe it or not after I saw the bike I actually offered him more then he was asking but he wouldn't take it.
He knows I'll keep it stock and not chop it up.
I told him lunch was on me for the next couple of weeks!

[Stev-o]

I can't believe your not in the garage right now changing the oil, fitting new plugs and fueling it up!

Cmon man!  We are dying to know if that garage-find will fire right up?!

[toytuff]

He probably slept with the same smirk.

tt

[Stev-o]

He probably slept with the same smirk.

tt

I bet he did! And when he woke up, went out to the garage to admire his new find!!

[toytuff]

I hate him! 

tt

[CycleRanger]

He probably slept with the same smirk.

tt

I bet he did! And when he woke up, went out to the garage to admire his new find!!

Slept in the garage. Saved time....

Actually, the rubber battery box melted completely, probably just from age, there's zero rust in the battery box, and made quite a gooey mess. I want to clean that up so I may well pull the carbs too before I try to fire it up.
I want to check the diaphragms.

[cb650]

very nice.  there was one just like that at the OBR yesterday and a custom one.  I had a 77 in H/S.

[sopo400f]

You lucky dog!
Im dying to get one.

[BeSeeingYou]

He probably slept with the same smirk.

tt

I bet he did! And when he woke up, went out to the garage to admire his new find!!

Slept in the garage. Saved time....

Actually, the rubber battery box melted completely, probably just from age, there's zero rust in the battery box, and made quite a gooey mess. I want to clean that up so I may well pull the carbs too before I try to fire it up.
I want to check the diaphragms.

The diaphragms can still be had but are expensive.  Never had one go bad myself even on a bike that sat for 20 years.   Check the carb mounting boots too.  They are a hard rubber compound and both my XS's are in need of replacements due to age.  The new ones come with a vaccum port that the older bikes did not have.  Comes in handy for syncing but was originally for the vaccum operated petcocks that came with the later bikes.  On another note on the 76 and older bikes the master cylinder rebuild kit is no longer available but a replacement MC is available from mikesXS for a reasonable amount if needed.  I suppose with the pods you are missing the two airboxes?  The stock airfilters are also very expensive so not a bad thing.

[CycleRanger]

The diaphragms can still be had but are expensive.  Never had one go bad myself even on a bike that sat for 20 years.   Check the carb mounting boots too.  They are a hard rubber compound and both my XS's are in need of replacements due to age.  The new ones come with a vacuum port that the older bikes did not have.  Comes in handy for syncing but was originally for the vacuum operated petcocks that came with the later bikes.  On another note on the 76 and older bikes the master cylinder rebuild kit is no longer available but a replacement MC is available from mikesXS for a reasonable amount if needed.  I suppose with the pods you are missing the two airboxes?  The stock airfilters are also very expensive so not a bad thing.

Augh, what, no MC rebuild kits?!  That's not good...  According to the service records the MC was rebuilt in '96 with only a couple thousand miles added since then. It's not leaking now but I'm sure that it would in short order if I started riding.
Yeah, the air boxes are missing. I'm kind of hoping the PO's brother might still have them. He's the one who installed the pods.
I'd like to restore it back to stock, but at least the pods aren't visible when the side covers are on. The air boxes seem to be the only thing missing or not stock on the bike.
Thanks for the info. I've been lurking over at the xs650 forum but it always takes some time to find things on a new forum.
Are there any other forums you think are worth checking?

Oh, wait, apparently the MC rebuild kits are still available....for $80+ dollars!   
Ugh...

No, wait, mikesxs has them for $14?  http://www.mikesxs.net/product/08-6010.html

Whatever, now I'm just taking to myself

[toytuff]

 

Yeah, great conversation I might add.

tt

[BeSeeingYou]

I think that rebuild kit from MikesXS is for the replacement MC that they sell for the early bikes.  Not sure if it works for an original MC.  I have seen the $80 dollar kit a few times though I don't remember where...might be the only option for an original MC.  At that point the MikesXS replacement for $55, which looks very close to the original, may be the best option as rebuild kits are cheap and available.  The kit for the caliper is still easy to get. The airboxes should not be a problem to source out. 

The XS650 Garage seems to be the best forum I think.  Not as active as this one but tons of info to search through and questions get answered in a timely manner.

[CycleRanger]

I think that rebuild kit from MikesXS is for the replacement MC that they sell for the early bikes.  Not sure if it works for an original MC.  I have seen the $80 dollar kit a few times though I don't remember where...might be the only option for an original MC.  At that point the MikesXS replacement for $55, which looks very close to the original, may be the best option as rebuild kits are cheap and available.  The kit for the caliper is still easy to get. The airboxes should not be a problem to source out. 

The XS650 Garage seems to be the best forum I think.  Not as active as this one but tons of info to search through and questions get answered in a timely manner.

Yep, you're right, the $55 may just be the way to go.

[Stev-o]

You haven't attempted start up and you already want to rebuild the MC? And it was just done a couple thou ago? Not feeling lucky, are ya?!

[BeSeeingYou]

You haven't attempted start up and you already want to rebuild the MC? And it was just done a couple thou ago? Not feeling lucky, are ya?!

I should stop putting ideas into his head....don't listen to me, just start the thing up.

Oh...did you know you can swap the later stiffer 35mm forks and trees onto the early bikes...better internals that can take an emulator along with the more modern caliper.  

Actually I would leave it as is.