Author Topic: Terry's barn find XR500R  (Read 14844 times)

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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #25 on: June 12, 2015, 04:54:04 PM »
How cold does it get at night where you are in the Winter Terry ?

Not cold compared to your end of the pond mate, last night it got down to 40 deg F, and it should get close to 60 mid afternoon. Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #26 on: June 12, 2015, 05:03:40 PM »
So jealous. I love those bikes and this is making me want to start digging around for one. I have a funny story about a guy I know who rides one of these on the street but it's just to long to type. As always, great work Terry.

Thanks mate, and I'd be interested in reading your story, I had many adventures on my Yamaha XT500 (one of the bikes I really regret selling) including a 1000 mile weekend ride to the 1985 Bathurst Motorcycle TT. I sold it when I bought my KZ900, and I still kick myself for doing so.

The good thing about getting old and settling in one city is that you don't necessarily need to sell one bike to buy another, so I've no intention of selling this one anytime soon, although I might need to buy another shed, with 6 running bikes and 4 more projects, I'm fast running out of space................ ;D   
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #27 on: June 12, 2015, 05:16:33 PM »
Terry,

Is that a F model?  ;)
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #28 on: June 12, 2015, 05:20:45 PM »
Ha ha, close Jerry, it's an "E". (for "Excellent", as opposed to "F" for "Fugly............) How's your beautiful 'Vette going mate? ;D 
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #29 on: June 12, 2015, 06:06:33 PM »
Going strong  ;)

Building a hot rod Liter F now  ;D Gonna name it Terry haha cause it'll be fugly  :)
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #30 on: June 13, 2015, 01:08:39 AM »
Ha ha, you know how to hurt a mans feelings Jerry, associating my name with an ugly read headed stepchild of an F! ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #31 on: June 13, 2015, 01:37:23 AM »
Well I worked like a n, er, anyhoo, I worked really hard today, so hard I forgot to take some pics! Anyway, I installed the new chain and sprockets, then adjusted the chain on the bike stand, then took it off the bike stand and realised that the chain was too tight, so loosened it off again, then sat on it and realised that it was too tight, so slackened it off again, then sat on it again and decided that it was a tad too loose, so turned the snail cam adjusters out a couple of notches, and so on and so forth.

I also did an oil and filter change and even cleaned the strainer filter at the base of the frame. Good thing I di too, the old oil was filthy, and had the consistency of water! Hopefully I didn't do any permanent damage running it without doing an oil change first, even though I only ran it for 5 or 10 minutes............

I replaced two blinkers, one was missing and the body of the other was cracked, so I used some of the connectors that I bought from CB750 Supply, and finally worked out how to use their special crimper, which actually works pretty well. I spent a couple of hours chasing an electrical fault, my blinkers all work, my tail light and stop light works, my horn doesn't (but there's power going to it so the horn is stuffed) but the headlight has no power going to it. All the wiring looks good, so I went looking for a fuse, but guess what? I don't think there are any fuses in the whole bike! I pulled both sidecovers, the seat, tank and headlight off, and....... nothing? Bugger!

I'm thinking that one of the relays I was looking at might be the headlight relay, so as the headlight bulb is working fine and the switch is turning the tail light on and off, maybe there's a buggered headlight relay?

 The seat was a bastard to get off, there's two 8mm screws that go through the plastic seat base thru the frame and just a couple of nuts underneath. Simple enough, except mine were rusty and had also spun inside the seat base, so no matter how much I turned the nut, the bolt would turn with it. I ended up taking the angle grinder to one bolt, so I'll think up a better fix than Honda's design overnight and fix it tomorrow.

Good news is I've mastered the starting procedure (there's no battery, so the engine needs to be running to check the lights etc) and took it for a quick lap up my street. It was super torquey, and I was able to pick the front wheel up under acceleration which was good fun. Only problem I had was I forgot about the greasy new tyres and did a massive power slide when accelerating around the roundabout, but luckily I didn't throw it away, thank God.

Anyway, hopefully I'll get the headlight working tomorrow so I can get it thru the roadworthy inspection on Monday. I'm actually quite surprised that the tail light and blinkers are so bright considering that it doesn't have a battery or a regular charging system. Pretty impressive for a 32 year old bike! Cheers, Terry. ;D     
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #32 on: June 14, 2015, 02:38:44 AM »
Wow, it's Sunday night already! I woke up around 8 this morning, did the 3 S's, and drove over to collect the 5 new(ish) tyres I scored for 100 bucks on eBay for my oldest son's Ford Explorer. All went well, they were in really good condition with less than 5000 miles on them, so with luck I'll have his car back on the road soon.

I had to drop by his apartment to help fix a leaking tap (faucet?) in his shower, I told him how to cut a new seat, how to replace the tap washer etc, but he said it was still leaking? Well it was leaking, but not from the tap he fixed, sadly............

I drove home and gave the new Explorer fender another coat of paint, then got stuck into the XR. I didn't like Honda's method of fastening the seat to the frame, they just used 2 large 8mm bolts that rusted and made the bolt turn inside the seat, God knows why Honda didn't use a plate with a couple of bolts welded on, but for whatever reason, they didn't. I cut the rusty stripped bolts off, and started again.

I used a piece of Alloy strap, drilled the two large holes 90mm apart, then inserted two new 8mm alloy nutserts. I drilled some holes in the plate as my intention was to pop rivet the plate to the plastic seat base. Although the pop rivets held I wasn't 100% happy, so I drilled out two of the holes in the seat base and inserted two M6 nutserts, so the strap is now riveted and screwed to the seat base.





I ran out of time before I could sort out the non-functioning headlight, so I'll get Jeff to take a look at it tomorrow when I take it over for the roadworthy inspection. I must say, with the new tyres, chain and sprockets, it's starting to look more like a functioning bike and less like some garage furniture! Cheers, Terry.



I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #33 on: June 14, 2015, 04:26:13 AM »
She's looking Ready & Good  ;D Terry;I like how you fixed the seat hold down.The fork tubes look great for the street w/o the gaiters.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #34 on: June 14, 2015, 04:59:49 AM »
Thanks mate, the OEM gaiters just went hard and fell apart, so I've ordered new ones as the fork tubes are still in magnificent condition compared to the frame which has stone chips and abrasion all over it, proving that the old gaiters did their job! Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #35 on: June 14, 2015, 05:52:27 AM »
Good choice on the tires!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #36 on: June 14, 2015, 05:10:44 PM »
Thanks Steve, they look great, I just hope they work well on tar, that power slide I did going around the roundabout on Saturday got my sphincter a puckering! That was just the greasy coating that the factory puts on them of course, I just have to remember to take it easy when I scrub them in, I should probably find a dirt road to help scour that stuff off sooner rather than later. Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #37 on: June 14, 2015, 07:28:05 PM »
Thanks Steve, they look great, I just hope they work well on tar, that power slide I did going around the roundabout on Saturday got my sphincter a puckering! That was just the greasy coating that the factory puts on them of course, I just have to remember to take it easy when I scrub them in, I should probably find a dirt road to help scour that stuff off sooner rather than later. Cheers, Terry. ;D

Terry,
I like the idea of the 'Super Motard' lowering the bike w/ wider rubber.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #38 on: June 15, 2015, 03:17:01 AM »
Thanks mate! Well I borrowed Jeff's trade plate and rode my wicked XR500R over to his shop for it's roadworthy inspection, then back home again. It passed the inspection with flying colours, so I can now apply for a club permit so I can legally ride it on the road for 45 or 90 days every year.

To achieve this I need to get on the VICROADS (DMV) website, print off the form, mail it to the BMW Club "Red Plate Registrar" so he can sign it and mail it back, then I take the signed application form, the roadworthy certificate and the receipt for the purchase of the bike to my nearest VICROADS office, wait around until I'm called up to the counter, pay the 70 bucks fee, and get my red plate.

This will probably take about a week, and while I've got plenty of other bikes to ride, it still pisses me off that I can't ride it again tomorrow, (legally) I had a ball on the big red beast today! ;D


I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Trevor from Warragul

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #39 on: June 15, 2015, 04:40:01 AM »
Sorry to break the news to you Terry, but the bike still needs to be examined AND photographed by a club scrutineer.  They then fill out a "Vehicle Eligibility and Standards Declaration for Club Permit Vehicles" form...

I know this because I'm Secretary of an Italian motorcycle club.

Cheers

Trevor
1971 Kawasaki H1A
1972 Honda CB350F
1976 Moto Morini 3 1/2 Sport
1978 Honda CBX
1997 Suzuki Bandit 1200
1999 Ducati Monster 750

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #40 on: June 15, 2015, 05:04:47 AM »
Thanks Trevor, I've just read the new requirements so I'll contact my club red plate registrar, he only lives a few suburbs over, so I can always take it over for him to "scrutinise", even though that's bloody ridiculous as it's already passed a roadworthy inspection by a qualified inspector, as opposed to club member with no formal qualifications............ ;D 
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Trevor from Warragul

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #41 on: June 15, 2015, 05:16:41 AM »
It's because the "new" rules aren't new.  Vic Roads have introduced new "administrative" measures.  Therefore, as the legislation hasn't been changed, an inspection by a scrutineer is still required.

The scrutineer will check that the vehicle complies with the new measures.  If it is manufactured after June 1975, and doesn't have a "previous Australian registration history", a VASS (engineers) certificate is required.  It sure has cut down on the number of bikes being put on club plates!  The good news is, if a bike is "Australian delivered" (e.g. it has a compliance plate), it is worth more now.

Also, photos are taken & stored by the club.  If the cops pull over a "steam punked" POS & give it a canary, Vic Roads can request that it be presented for inspection.  In the meantime, they ask the club to provide the photos.  If the photos show the owner has modified the bike, the club is in the clear.
1971 Kawasaki H1A
1972 Honda CB350F
1976 Moto Morini 3 1/2 Sport
1978 Honda CBX
1997 Suzuki Bandit 1200
1999 Ducati Monster 750

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #42 on: June 15, 2015, 05:36:53 AM »
No worries, I just read the VICROADS updates and luckily the BMW club are happy for me to just send them 7 high resolution pics and fill out the forms and forward them to the red plate registrar, so common sense rules in my club at least.

I'll take the pics tomorrow and email them to the club, and I'll drop the forms into the registrars letter box tomorrow, and all going well, I'll be on the road by the weekend! Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Trevor from Warragul

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #43 on: June 15, 2015, 11:50:48 PM »
You're not going full "Steampunk" on the XR500R?  Cut a few coils out of the back spring, lower the front until you've got the requisite 2 inches of travel, then break out the copper spray can.  Awesome!
1971 Kawasaki H1A
1972 Honda CB350F
1976 Moto Morini 3 1/2 Sport
1978 Honda CBX
1997 Suzuki Bandit 1200
1999 Ducati Monster 750

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #44 on: June 16, 2015, 12:30:02 AM »
Ha ha, no, I'm too old to be a punk Trevor, is there such a thing as a Steam Fart? ;D

But I understand what you're saying about unsafe, unroadworthy pieces of crap sneaking under the radar of the old red plate scheme, when I was at Ace Motorcycles yesterday there were probably 6 or 7 bikes that had been "customised" (by their owners, not Jeff, he's pretty straight up and down when it comes to safety issues) and were wearing red plates, even though they were all clearly unroadworthy. (no front fenders, horns, chain guards, aftermarket (loud) pipes, those horrible square edged tyres, etc etc.

I asked Jeff if he'd done the roadworthy inspections on them, and he told me in no uncertain terms that these had been passed by a certain club scrutineer, and not by him.

Anyway, the good news is I crawled around the bike on my wet driveway this morning and took the requisite 7 pics of "Big Red" and emailed them to my club registrar and he replied saying they were fine, so I've express posted him the documents for his signature, and all going well, I'll have the docs back by Thursday or Friday, and a red plate by the weekend, all I need now is some sunshine, it's miserable outside today!

Here's a pic I took of a rare old beast I saw yesterday at Jeff's shop, it's a 1979 Yamaha XS1100 Special, a US import that one of Jeff's customers has just bought, it was a well looked after low mileage bike, and would have looked nice in my crowded garage! Cheers, Terry. ;D



 
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline MoMo

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #45 on: June 16, 2015, 04:36:26 AM »
The ole Max was an awesome bike back in the day.  I  almost bought one last week-an  immaculate Midnight Max 1100  for 1500.  Passed because the owner had unMidnighted it-blacked all the gold out and cafed it.  If it had been stock it would be in my shop...Larry

Offline Trevor from Warragul

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #46 on: June 16, 2015, 05:12:05 AM »
They're a fantastic sidecar bike
1971 Kawasaki H1A
1972 Honda CB350F
1976 Moto Morini 3 1/2 Sport
1978 Honda CBX
1997 Suzuki Bandit 1200
1999 Ducati Monster 750

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #47 on: June 16, 2015, 05:50:49 AM »
Yep, they were a great bike, well to be honest, a great engine with a terrible chassis. Back in the 90's the Army got a tad concerned about young soldiers getting wiped out on motorcycles, so they brought in some voluntary training courses (free, of course) and anyone with a motorcycle could attend.

I was riding my first BMW R100RS, and there was a mix of bikes from 250's right up to a ZZR1100. My mate Paul (who I hadn't seen in years) turned up with his "Elephant", an XS1100 complete with spindly 35mm forks and clagged rear shocks etc, just the bike for doing some hot laps around Phillip Island!

I had a ball undercutting him through all the turns as that 600 pound behemoth wobbled and wallowed around at corner speeds that had the 250 riders passing him, then as soon as the road straightened out, he'd fly past most of us, only to do the whole ducking and weaving routine again as soon as he got near a bend. It was hilarious, and I gave him an "A" for effort, but that thing was a death trap! But the engine was magnificent, and is still being used (with many mods of course) in the current XJR1300. And we thought our SOHC4's had a long model run!

My 1987 Yamaha FJ1200 was the third generation of the old XS1100 engine, and with 130 BHP is one of the most willing engines I've ever experienced, so while the XS1100 might have only had 95 BHP, "back in the day", it was a revelation! I remember watching one of my heroes, Stephen Gall (Mister Motocross) wrestling one around the Castrol 6 Hour in 1981 and I was just in awe of him, he was only a little feller on this massive bucking beast. He ended up coming third behind two Suzuki GSX1100's, which were much sweeter handlers.

It's nice to still see one of these old beasts survive for so long in standard trim, I wouldn't mind one in my garage. Cheers, Terry. ;D   
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline ekpent

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #48 on: June 16, 2015, 06:48:25 AM »
Here's a bike I bought recently Terry, its a 1987 Yamaha tt350 but unfortunately unlike the xt350 this bike cannot be legally driven on the street over here. Only brought them into the US for 2 years but other countries like yours I believe have had them much longer. Bought it with new piston and head work with new valves, cam chain etc. Old guy bought it in 91, recently did the work of putting it back together but knew at 65 he was done in the dirt, especially since he had recently taken a hard fall on a bicycle. Know the shop owner that did machining and he is good.  Blew it out of his garage to me at $250.00, quite a bit less than his receipts.
« Last Edit: June 16, 2015, 06:50:59 AM by ekpent »

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Terry's barn find XR500R
« Reply #49 on: June 16, 2015, 07:36:41 AM »
Here's a bike I bought recently Terry, its a 1987 Yamaha tt350 but unfortunately unlike the xt350 this bike cannot be legally driven on the street over here. Only brought them into the US for 2 years but other countries like yours I believe have had them much longer. Bought it with new piston and head work with new valves, cam chain etc. Old guy bought it in 91, recently did the work of putting it back together but knew at 65 he was done in the dirt, especially since he had recently taken a hard fall on a bicycle. Know the shop owner that did machining and he is good.  Blew it out of his garage to me at $250.00, quite a bit less than his receipts.

Eric,
How did the PO let you 'steal' that Yam. for $250 ??
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.