New Project

[TasRocketRider]

Must be the year for it? Go Boog, R3Tex. Give it a go, what can go wrong?



My winter project, the venerable unbreakable Yamaha DT175 now broken. Will end up as a flat tracker for use around the property. So far pulled out engine & to major bits and looks repairable. Busted crankcase & missing a few bits. Paid nicks so need to limit parts list!! Flat tracker equals a very naked bike so the angle grinder on the frame comes out next.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

Hey guys...Interested in your thoughts on a project idea I have. I want to build an old school hard tail bobber. I am looking at a 1980 Yamaha XS650 as a base bike. Found one for online for $1,000 obo. Will probably offer $500 or less. My intention is to cut the ass end off, stretch it a little, lower it (probably a lot), rip off everything not absolutely essential, suicide shifter maybe?, rebuild/build up the engine, and paint it.

I have never played with one of these before so anything I should be looking for? Any inherent problems?

One of my crazy friends had one right around that year, and beat it like a rented mule. He was harder on his equipment than anyone I know. Probably one of the only bikes he ever had that he didn't blow up. I'd say they are pretty bullet proof.

 

[warp9.9]

One of my crazy friends had one right around that year, and beat it like a rented mule. He was harder on his equipment than anyone I know. Probably one of the only bikes he ever had that he didn't blow up. I'd say they are pretty bullet proof.

Let @Steel get a hold if it. He will flog it like a certain @scot in exile abuses sheep

 

[Steel]

Let @Steel get a hold if it. He will flog it like a certain @scot in exile abuses sheep

I can say with confidence that a Suzuki Intruder VS 1400 is a really durable bike.

 

[sleeves]

Bobby, that particular Bike is an XS 650 Special a rare bike these days, would be well worth restoring to original condition.

As much as I'm not a fan of Jap bikes Pauls right, they are a rare bike now, not many were sold as the styling at the time was not well received and were seen as a cheap jimmy up to attract a certain market.

 

[Boog]

I have a 1980 XS1100 great bike going in a straight line. Going around a curve with any speed is a whole lot of fun. Can I say you will need a lot of ASS pucker for the curve

I saw that curve thing in action back in High School but on a Suzuki 1100. My school mate called and said he was going to ride his Dad's brand new GS1100. I heard that bike coming up the hill that has a curve half way and saw him lay it down, hit the curb then a stop sign. The bike came apart in pieces. The police say he was doing around 90mph in a 25 zone.
It seems many of the bikes from this era were sloppy in the corners (my old Virago 750 for instance), especially when doing 65 over the limit...

 

[Boog]

Bobby, that particular Bike is an XS 650 Special a rare bike these days, would be well worth restoring to original condition.

Oh that is cool Paul. I haven't ran the VIN yet to verify but I am hoping you are right about it being a Special. The internet is full of advertising about it back in the day and I do intend on restoring it and not chopping it. Now to just get it in my back yard...