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View Full Version : I restored the Yamaha


FastDoc
07-23-2010, 01:09 PM
I originally bought this little bike to resell it, but wound up doing quite a bit of work to it and decided to keep it. Plus I fell in love with the little guy. :D

My buddy Ron recently had his custom Harley repainted a beautiful dark metallic blue clearcoat, and had some leftover paint. The paint and clearcoat alone were about $300. Because he did not need and would not use the leftover paint, he donated it it me. It's good to have good friends. :D

I have another friend who is an out of work car and motorcycle painter, and he offered to paint my little bike for all of $100. 8)

So for $100 I have a custom painted bike. I also repainted the fram and everything that was black from the factory, polished the chrome, and she's beautiful! :P

Mechanically she's great too. I rebuilt the forks, cleaned the carbs, replaced the fuel line, fixed a minor ignition problrm, changed the oil, etc. I have a new rear tire, but the old one still has some useful service left in it. 8)

When I change the tire I will also change the chain and sprockets and regear it up a little for the freeway.

I'll take more pics when I can if you all are interested, this is just a quick snapshot from my cell phone. It really does not do the project justice.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/xs.jpg

Weldangrind
07-23-2010, 02:17 PM
Sweet bike! Yes, I'd be grateful for more photos.

I loved my '79 650, and your bike looks very similar. How's the front brake? The 650 version had a disc, and perhaps a donor could be had for cheap as an upgrade if necessary.

FastDoc
07-23-2010, 02:39 PM
It's brakes are adequate but not great. It's not the strength but the modulation ability that's sub-par. I thought about upgrading to a disc brake but for it's use as a commuter it's fine. Also I just redid the forks and don't want to repalce them and do it again.

FastDoc
07-23-2010, 03:58 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/xs2.jpg

MICRider
07-23-2010, 07:11 PM
Wow! She looks great Doc! Hard to believe its the same bike :D. I would love to see more pics as well when you get a chance.

Cheers!
Stew

Weldangrind
07-23-2010, 07:32 PM
That paint looks about 6" deep. 8)

FastDoc
07-23-2010, 07:51 PM
It's a killer paint job. It would look great on a $20,000 custom. I really lucked out with the free paint and nearly free labor. I take good care of my friends and they take good care of me.

The paint looks black in the cell phone pics but's its a dark metallic blue. :D

Now I'm thinking of having him do my GS750....

FastDoc
07-23-2010, 08:55 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/DSC05765.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/DSC05764.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/DSC05763.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/DSC05762.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/DSC05761.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/DSC05766.jpg

Weldangrind
07-23-2010, 10:28 PM
Not even a hint of orange peel. I wish I could say the same for my '09 Caravan.

Is the engine solid mounted like the 650? If so, are the bars isolated?

Your instruments look alot better than mine did.

AZ200cc
07-23-2010, 10:56 PM
Very nice work Doc :D

FastDoc
07-24-2010, 12:28 PM
Thanks guys.

The handlebars ar rubber mounted and work well to isolate vibration.

The pegs and engine are soild mounted. There are no counterbalancers.

It works well. There is a soild buzz in the pegs between 45 and 50 but other than that vibration is tolerable. I would not mind figuring out how to mount rubber mounted footpegs.

Weldangrind
07-24-2010, 01:39 PM
Foam rubber insoles maybe? :lol:

SpudRider
07-25-2010, 01:48 AM
That is a very nice bike, Doc. :) Also, the paint job is superb! Please remind me. What year, and what model is this motorcycle?

Spud :)

FastDoc
07-25-2010, 01:52 AM
That is a very nice bike, Doc. :) Also, the paint job is superb! Please remind me. What year, and what model is this motorcycle?

Spud :)

1981 Yamaha XS400.

I'm thinking of having him paint my GS750. :P

This little bike has a nicer paint job than my car for crying out loud.

MICRider
07-25-2010, 07:04 AM
The bike does look fantastic! I have worked with the metallics quite a bit and I always love the way they turn out :D. The fellow did a beautiful job on it.

Cheers!
Stew

Jim
07-26-2010, 02:15 AM
Looks great :)

davidsonsgccc
07-27-2010, 02:56 PM
sweet bike reminds me of the 84 yamaha 400 special i started on the street with in 1990. thanks for the memories.

shawn