85 x getting ready for a face lift

getting ready to start on this poor thing . i saw it for sale just like a sick puppy. (you know the commercials with the spca and neglected animals ) all the maint has been kept up but the custom dew just has to go. The former owner decited to do a facial on it. why I have no idea i have all the original parts and i am going to reconstruct it . Has fresh paint on it and runs great just needs a tweak here and there and some custom polishing of parts ect. will probbibly take me most of the winter to complete but i have no intensions of riding any of my bikes for a few months its 20 degrees out and since ive gotten older dont like to be cold . I have some chrome parts like the rear drum kick stand ect hoping to make it look a little better then stock we will see. I have allways liked these ever since they came out . In 1985 helped a friend of mine out that owned a yamaha shop in New smyrna beach fl he was the first one to get one and a v max just in time for bike week we had a blast .had all the magazines doing photos of them so they hold a special place in my heart and there isnt many left . i believe this was number 1698 but i would have to check. I bought it for 500 bucks has almost new tires new paint needed a lockset nothing matched but got one off 1 of my parts bikes. will update as i go along with my project . I thought about taking it to walmart with a bucket and sign saying will work for parts lol

 

I can name a few things, that rear fender is hideous, I dont know if you can unpaint that engine, it looks bad like that.

Also, but the stock airbox on... it will probably perform better.. maybe buy a new exhaust system too, and i'm not too fond of those saddle bags....

 

A set of nicely polished 1980 or 1981 crank end covers (no lettering) would lend a nice accent to the motor. It is hard to tell from the photo,but it looks as if the "psuedo cooling fins" are missing from the cylinder.If they are present,sanding the edges to highlight them might be a good idea. A Harley Sportster rear fender would probably fit and look good on your bike. You have a great bike to start with there!

 

Schooter's right....if you can find a stock airbox for it, you'll be able to get better performance with much less hastle (unless the PO got lucky and rejetted it well)
That engine paint job looks horrible.
This is what I did to my second restoration:
http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll16 ... inshop.jpg
The alternator cover was glass beaded and clear coated.

I think I have a spare rear fender if you want to go back to stock. Hopefully the PO didn't chop the frame if you want to go that route. I sold the rear seat though.

I didn't have a good enough set of crankcase covers, so I sanded and polished out the raised edges before I clear coated them.
http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll16 ... ogress.jpg

It really depends on how major you want to go.
The frame has a removable section to make engine removal easier which is the only way to paint it IMO...then you might as well paint the frame too

Since it is water cooled, my paint guy told me you don't need to use high-temp paint on anything but the head.

You can spend HOURS AND HOURS on the details (and $$$ on replacement parts).

 

man, mike, that is such a beautiful bike

 

lol my thoughts exactly guys. the motor is no problem im going to pull the valve cover and polish it like its supposto be . the paint on the motor is good it just looks like crap because of all the polished parts were painted also. that all has to be sanded and polished . Here are a few pics of my old z1 notice the before vs after pics i did it all in the frame . just takes time under restorations in my albums( link below ) I agree cant stand the sattlebags i have the the fenders luckily he had them painted to match. That black peice of tin has a good home its called the trash for the rear fender. the cyl fins are painted and i have the chrome for the carbs also. i dont have the air box but the carbs were jetted runs great over 2k i have done alout of tuning on pod filters im going to try to play with the idle circuit to get it right if not i will get a airbox off ebay and buy new boots . unfortunately he did cut the rear frame behind the seat but luckily i have it and will be easy to re weld . hopefully mine will turn out as good as the purple one did you did a nice job . i really like seeing pics gives me ideas . Now you can see why i felt sorry for this bike . I really wish i could find a 4 into 1 for it just for the sound . Like i said ive done alout of carb jetting but it almost seems sensless without the exhaust system . The last bike i did was my v max pipe and a bunch of time jetting picked up 20 hp at the rear wheel http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp18 ... Img225.gif love all the input its great to see and hear what works for people. here is a link to the bikes ive had and redone in the past 2 years . my collection is down i have 3 viragos and the x . im getting to the point where i get more satisfaction from making them look good vs making them run but after doing it over 30 years now i have more pics to add but havnt done so yet http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp187/cutlass79500/

 

oh ya... we've been telling you all this bad stuff about your bike, but that is a NICE score for 500 smacks, good find

 

.sorry double message

 

bought a fender and everything else attached . my ultamate garage work bench is almost finished hopefully this weekend . if only tim the tool man could see this one . installing a computer out there tomorrow . i have to strip an 89 virago and get it ready to part out on ebay then the fun begins cant wait. got to cold out there to work anymore my readdy heater couldnt keep it warm enough tonight not used to having snow on the ground in atlanta and its 15 degrees out side right now burr. will install a web cam so you can see the progress as i go. Also just picked up a hobart stick welder off craigslist 235 amp a/c d/c never plugged in came with rods helmet gloves chip hammer . some rich guy bought was going to learn to weld but never got 220 put in his garage and lost interest got it for 175 bucks looked up retail on what i got was almost 700 bucks .

 

wow... for before pics that bike is in good shape. Can't wait to see it finished. it looks like someone cared for it but I don't need to comment on the awful engine painting. But otherwise its pretty nice. Haha... I was expecting something from "Swamp Thing". Can't wait to see the progress!

 

thanks chuckles i cant wait either love these types of projects

 

I am on one myself. Just got a speedo and did the best I could on polishing up the rear footpeg brackets... new NOS pegs as well. Got those from our very own XJ4Ever guy in the forums.
But these projects are sweet. Especially with these old bikes. The way they are abused and turned to junk, they will be a rarity some day.

 

That Engine sitting-in-there, all Black, is giving me the Hee-bee Gee-bee's and saying it mildly.

That's like taking a Magic Marker and coloring-over the nice diamond, all Black, on an Engagement Ring.

I cast one vote for you to yank that Engine out-of-there and have that baby Media Blasted with Plastic Beads, Walnet Shell or Coconut ... something that will bring-out the really nice look of the Bright Alloy that's hiding under some Goth Veil the PO thought was going to be cool looking and got it wrong.

That Bike is all about bragging what a nice Mill you got.
Get rid of that Black.
It doesn't look customized.
It looks vandalized.

 

new rear section should b here tomorrow or friday

 

did a few more parts. have to make a plate to mount the cdi cover so i can chuck it up and block sand the rough casting on the outside fins. just have to paint the triangles now and buff out a few spots

 

project is underway first part is polished up here is before and after pics pics do not do it justice camera wasnt et on florescent lights. went with the centers black just to hard polishing between the letters looks really good tho

 

finished the grab rails all 3 .im out to prove you can polish a turd. next its tine to pull the saddlebags and all that other crap that they installed . Has anyone polished the solid rear wheel. if so let me know how it turned out i really cant see it right now but now is the perfect time to do it. I might be out of work for 6 weeks due to illness wont know for a few days. without the fender would be a perfect time to do so .think it would really make it stand out . im trying to get everything polished up before painting the frame. im gonna replace the shocks (they painted them flat black ) ugh with a pair off 1 of my viragos havnt measured them but look like they are about an inch shorter ..also since i have to pull the carbs gonna polish them up a bit one of my 5 valve covers has a broke hole and the chrome is peeling a bit. i figure the better it looks when i redo the carbs the more i will want to get it done before spring . been doing alout of reading on alukminum polishing and getting all the differant buffing wheels ect so im about ready to get started .been getting ideas of plum crazy Dont worry i would never steal your ideas

 

got the fender all assembled looks pretty good . Im working on 2 bikes so its going kinda slow

 

Very nice!!!!!!!!

 

That is sweet. I can't wait to see more.

 

Looking good.
Take your time and it will be amazing.

 

got kinda board this eve .was to cold to work in the garage waiting for the snow to get here . did the next part

 

I pulled the fender and saddlebags today i figured everyone would get a laguh out of it . its a boat trailer fender galvenized below the black paint. will be working on the back for a while frame shocks everything you couldnt see when the saddlebags were on has been painted flat black. im going to try and polish the bright side of the solid wheel as well.
gotta pull the carbs when i got it the former owner told me the carbs were gone thru by a professional.when i rode it i could tell something wasnt right not much power under 2500 but at 2500 would almost pull the front wheel . if you let it idle it would start dropping cyl after about a min. now it wont start smells floodede my guess its the floats are to high but will find out

 

now you can see what i have to work with alout of painting and i have to weld the rear seat frame back on adleast it was cut clean. going to use a set of virago shocks on it they are about 1 inch shorter and a little stiffer. also going to use the virago upper tree the risers are about 2 inches taller so i can use a flatter handlebar. got plenty of time to do this cant ride right now and have 2 other bikes in the garage

 

got my alt cover polished up looks pretty good

 

finally going to get started on it . been out on disability the past 3 months hopefully they are going to get my money strightend out soon no pay means no parts havnt had the strength to work on any of the bikes im hoping to get back to feeling normal just dont have the energybody has been thru alout. looks like i will finish the virago this week or next get it ready to sell. looks like my working days are about over hopefully this new dr can get me walking the way i should so i can ride again. my x is going to be my physical therapy. take my time on it while its on the lift

 

should be getting back at it in the next few weeks. its been so long still not sure if i will ever be able to ride again been a rough year after being misdiagnosed and the wrong treatments i almost died. it accelerated what i have. i am walking better then i did but my hands are pretty messed up. looking forward to restoring this beast have all winter to do it so will keep updates going. looking to sell my virago in the next week or so if anyone is interested would make a great bobber just turned 9k still has original tires tires need replacing from age and the carbs could stand to be cleaned pops a little at idle it didnt before it sat when i was sick has a wild paint job first 1k gets it

 

Awesome imagination, you must really get into Halloween!

 

Time to get started. I finally sold the virago tonight goooood riddens. Told myself i wouldn't get hot and heavy into the maxim till the virago was gone. Got the frame put back into place need to fire up the new welder. Been polishing some of the pieces a few pics

 

just got her moved in the shop. Pulled the seat off and tank. Have to go back out unhook the battery and unplug the tci so i can weld the tail peice back on. Started polishing the back wheel but ran out of rouge. Thats a big start after all this time with it sitting

 

polished the ends of the cyl head today. Welded the frame after making sure all bolt holes lined up ground the welds down. Have to paint that part of the frame tomorrow. Change out the rear shoes and shocks replacing the aluminum brake backing plate to a chrome one

 

good luck, i forget how the bike looked in the first place, but seeing that ugly red grab rail it couldn't have been good

 

they started bobbing it. and a mighty bad job of it too

 

Did not get as much done as i wanted but got the exhaust off pulled the rear brakes, smoothed out the welds still have to clean up the new baking plate already has brand new shoes on it. Will do more tomorrow. Got side tacked by cl picked up an industrial pressure washer 11 hp honda 4 gpm 3500 psi with a 27 ft extension pole for hi up jobs for $300 bucks from a 67 yo man who needed the money his house was getting foreclosed on

 

today i finished cleaning the chrome backing plate. installed it looks great Spent about an hour looking it over and deciding what i need to paint ect. Went back to one of my sheds and grabbed a bunch of virago parts wanted to see what i could use. Going to use the shocks off the virago. Springs are bigger around but shocks are 1 inch shorter think they will work just fine the bikes weigh within 25 lbs of each other. I figured i was not going to strip all the flat black paint off the old ones. Should look pretty good. I think if possible i am going to use the horns off the virago. They are the chrome covered plastic ones that are on the 86 models. I think the little beep beep ones look terrible on the 85. I was not very fond of the way the regulator looked sticking out under the left side cover. Gave the heat sync a light dusting of black paint and sanded the fins with 1k grit so they look nicely polished looks really good.
Looks like i am going to have to install my 4-1 on it It had funky tail pipes on it they are in good shape but the id is between 1/4 and 1/2 inch bigger then the outlets on the muffler. You could not tell since it didn't have the baffles in it. I have to get a can the old one was a p.o.s I have seen some on ebay pretty cheap or was thinking of one of the carbon fiber looking or stainless ones you see on ebay cheap they fit cars not sure yet the head pipes are pretty rusty anyhow.Should start soaking them soon. i believe i am going to have to pull the radiator to do it. I will use my little 3/8 impact so i wont brake any studs.
Hopefully tomorrow i can get the swing arm prepped and painted wouldn't have to but the idiot who had it before routed the battery hose wrong so there are spots with the paint gone from the acid Have taken some pics but have not downloaded them yet showing progress.
All my buffing supplies will be here tomorrow so i can get started on the back wheel. I have a full set of mini blinkers but i think i am going to use the stock ones the little bit of chrome adds something. Cant wait to see how the fender and all the polished grab rails ect look on the bike.
After i get the rear end done i will work on the mechanical things it needs. I have a complete good braking system Compliments of virago parts bike the calipers are sticking a little . I need to see if i have a spring i can install in the start button you push it in it stays. If not i Have another handlebar switch. I need to replace the ignition switch this one is messed up with a universal key that you can pull out when its on . I bought a complete key set about a year ago off ebay. I have to put the stock airbox on it when i clean the carbs. Getting away from pods and pvc air intakes. It does have a k@n in the box. I have to get with Chacal i polished up an alternator cover but will probably replace brushes while i am in there Was going to work on it a bit when i went to the garage earlier but i figured once i got started would be out there a few hours then it would be on my mind and wouldn't be able to sleep

 

a few pics of the regulator and what the drum looks like on the dirty wheel. Everything is off the bike in the back cleaning getting ready to paint

 

today put the fender on everything matched up perfect was real happy after welding the frame back together behind the shocks. Put the virago shocks on they look pretty good . They lowered the rear end 1 inch. Wanted to see how hard it was going to be to polish the wheel. I like the polished look. I am not going to make it perfect the aluminum is very pouris. started out with 220 grit then 600 you have to get the machine lines out. There has been a lot of changes since the pic of the bike with the bags and boat trailer fender. Here are a few pics of it. Working with the garage door open with the pine pollen count at 2000 its covered but will give an idea what it looks like now.

 

Have to lay off sanding the wheel for a few days .I have about 5 hrs sanding all the machine lines out still have about 5 or 6 hrs left before finish buffing . But even with gloves 3 fingers started bleeding from all the sanding. But the wheel will look incredible when finished i did 1 spot just to see what it would look like

 

Spent about 14-15 hrs on the rear wheel looks pretty good. The fr
ame and motor are ready to be painted

 

Had some free time today while waiting for the frame paint to dry so i polished the rear peg brackets.

 

nobody's giving you any lovin! I cant bleieve the extent you're going, im really impressed, sanding til your fingers bleed, you're hardcore.

 

Thats ok schooter. They are just jealous lol. Just proving you can polish a turd lol

 

started polishing the front forks tonight here is a slide show of whats been going on with it the past few weeks
http://s1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff4 ... =slideshow

 

Managed to get a little work done to it this weekend in between all the other projects i had going on. finished the 1st fork tube tomorrow i will start on the other .Hopefully my rotors will be here this week so i can put the front wheel back on