What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Took my 650 midnight maxim to the local bike night - Pizza and a pint. There was an ancient vtwin yam there 1000cc, with lots of seca bits from the yamaha parts bin. I didn't have my phone, but the guy said it was the forerunner of the Virago a Tr1 or somesuch?

 

Yeah, the TR1 was one I fancied having, until I heard many reports of grenading starters/ gears.

 

I had an 82 XV750 Virago , went thru 3 starters . Dr. Virago had the sort of cure for this a strongerfork spring and three shims for the starter , and battery had to be fully charged . Other than the carbs had wrong jets the rear cylinder had to have a 132 and front 124 as I recall . Bike rode great one day might buy another as they are cheap .

 

Got valve shims done on the 550 today. This is only my third valve shim episode, and it's gotten much easier. Although I still talk myself through every move out loud...probably look like Rainman rocking back and forth on the 5 gallon bucket, "Remove 275 from number three, 275, 275...need a 270. 270 in number three. 270. 270. 270...."

Anyhow, it's close now. Put some Shinko 777s on the other day. Need to get the carbs back on and see if she's alive.

 

There's nothing wrong with muttering to yourself if it's to implant essential information.
I don't care what the other passengers on the bus think.

 

Well here's one you guys probably haven't done before. Got in a panic to take a test drive. Put the chain back on, adjusted the brake and while on the center stand and running, put it in gear to try the brake. Worked great for a second, and then all hell broke loose. I had forgot to attach the link from the frame to the drum (anti rotation bar??). Just had the bolt set in the hole with no nut. It wrapped the brake rod around the axle like a candy cane and then snapped the cam lever off at the splines. Damn it! So much for getting in a rush.

The good news...carbs on, synched with the vacuum gages, starts and idles great and sounds good! This was the first start on the 550 that I've had for a couple months now. Anxious to put it on the road.

Now I get to wait for parts again.

No lesson gets learned the easy way. At least not for me.

 

Mainly I just rode her to to errands. This evening I finished (badly) stitching up my favorite $40 used custom seat. All-day riding is on the menu again.
https://imgur.com/a/k9QICtU


One day I’ll splurge and have a shop recover it.

 

Waiting for brake parts, so I spent some time cleaning up some grime. Pulled the swing arm and side stand and repainted. Soda blasted the shocks. Cleaned up the rear wheel, chain tensioners and got about half the motor looking decent. Still have corrosion on the cylinder fins to deal with. Staying off the road til I have brakes, but front brake only is good enough for cow pasture riding.

 

I rode for 3 hours. Getting used to a different seat takes more time than I remember. Adjusting to body positioning and ergonomics is tedious, but adjusting to a not-at-all-sore backside is heavenly.

 

I finally made the call my old HJC helmet was well OLD at least 20 years old . Went to cycle gear had a panic attack SHOIE 749$ , ARAI 650$ BELL 350$ Bit pricey , went on line to cycle gear found another HJC with blue tooth option for 200$ I like these helmets unfortunately my head must have swollen I ordered the XL and when I received was to tight , they exchanged it Friday and got it today Sunday . Just rode with visor down and since I have the full fairing with windshield it is much quitter. Going to keep old helmet , one thing these helmets are DOT as well as SNELL 90 rated so it is strange the more expensive helmets are only DOT rated . I ride with a full face helmet and convinced the only reason I'm typing is because of it . 20 years ago I took off on my Buell at 230 in the morning, little did I know a road I liked to ride on with a sharp S turn they had dug it up and filled it with loose gravel , to this day I don't know what happened but I was down . My HJC helmet had a large chunk missing at the temple area , I road with a jacket and gloves , the jacket had a tear and my gloves had two tears at my knuckles, and my left knee cap felt like jello . At the time I was more worried akout my bike . I had a headache but needless to say relaced my helmet and this is the one I'm replacing , has many miles on it it has been all over Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan.

 

The white cow is pushing the bike, that's most helpful............

 

It's meant to be horse power .

 

I've become a fan of Scorpion Helmets. Affordable. nice fit (for my head), and both DOT and Snell certified.

 

looks like she’s sniffing it, probably looking for some cow-a-saki

 

Got the shakedown ride done on the 550 tonight. Started as a 2 mile loop to check heat in brakes and bearings and pretty soon it was 30 miles of backroads and hiways on a pleasant summer evening that even included a brief pelting rain shower. Couldn't be happier with this little bike. Zero issues with it.

 

Having multiple parts is always nice , I had two starters put one on my 100$ bike it worked so so . Rebuilt the other when I say rebuilt cleaned up commutator and put a new brush plate in . Spun up nicley with jump pack. Not stratified with the starter I put on, swapped out and now startes great. Decided I would tear dow this stater OMG full of oil ...now I know why it was spinning slow. So this means the front seal was bad , most of times never have to replace this. Had a real ball with this , but finally got it done , hooked up jump pack and spun over good. Not sure if will leak as it goes back in the cabinet . Had a few tire kickers on FB market place but so far nothing serious .

 

after firing up the rebuilt motor (with just the headers from the ancient motad 4-1 spitting fire and rust) I today talked a local engineer into fabricating connections to the shiny new marving collector box. could be on the road very soon!

 

I found a great shop that does car seats and interiors, he recovered my tank and seat unit in black with red stitching, made a great job, will post pics of the finished bike very soon.

 

Got new braided stainless brake hoses from Len at XJ4EVER @chacal in the mail today. Put them on and can feel a real difference in the lever pull. Highly recommend!

I was going to post some pictures of the innards of the old hoses, but those things are devilishly difficult to cut lengthwise, it's hot and I'm lazy, so I gave up.

 

I finished my 11 month project, restoring and light mods to my '82 XJ650J. She will be registered on Tuesday. I took her for a spin around my complex, engine is very smooth after syncing and Colortuning.