New Guy from MI

Hey folks,

I'm new to the XJ community and new to this type of bike in general, but not new to 2 wheels. I've been riding for about 7 years, but all sportbikes (Kawasaki ZX6Rs and Honda CBRs). I've been looking at various options for second bikes (to keep - I've bought and resold a number of bikes relatively recently) and these are some that really stuck with me in my search.

My daily ride when it's warm enough out for my pansy butt to get out there is my 2005 Kawasaki ZX6R, but my wife absolutely hates riding on the back (and frankly, I don't enjoy the bike as much with her on the back either). Since we'd both love to take some longer tips (longer than the 30 min she'll tolerate being on the ZX), I needed a second bike (and what could be bad about that anyway, right?).

Anyway, I found myself a decent 1982 XJ650 that was running well enough to ride it home, but needs some mechanical work as well as a fair bit of cosmetic work to be what I want it to be. The good news of the whole deal is I only paid $300 for it, so I've got a bit of cash to buy some new parts and whatnot.

I don't know how much I'll be on here because I have other forum I'm pretty active on, but I'll try to pop in now and then and not just to ask questions though I'm sure I'll be doing a decent amount of that.

If ya'll have any advice you'd like to throw at a newcomer to the XJ community, feel free to let me know. Anything in particular I should make sure to read on the site or mods that are not really optional, I'd be happy to hear anything you experts have to tell me.

I look forward to getting to know some of you a bit and hopefully contribute to the community as well - I always document my projects relatively well, so I'll keep a running thread of the work I do on my bike in case anyone is interested in seeing it.

Cheers

 

Welcome to the club. Although the 650's were built for two up riding imo with the evolution of bikes they are more one uppers now. They also have plenty torque for a novice rider. You've been riding sporties. It may not be fast enough. They're good bikes tho. Who knows you may end up liking the bike for other reasons and decide to keep it. Again, welcome.

Gary H.

 

Thanks for the thoughts, Gary. I know it doesn't have TONS of power or anything and it's already been a bit of an adjustment the few times I've ridden it, but I really think I'll end up liking it overall. Although I've been into sportbikes, I'm not a typical sportbike rider, I don't think - I just enjoy the looks and the riding position, so that's what I've been riding. I'm sure I'm nowhere near using all the power available in the 600 SS bikes I've owned so far.

I'm not looking to do anything crazy or to ride it two-up like I ride my ZX on my own, they are different bikes for different purposes to me at this point. It doesn't need to be all that fast or handle like my ZX or anything like that - If I want speed, I've got a bike for that, this one has a different purpose. This one is for longer relaxed cruises with the wife.

Again, thanks for the welcome and for your thoughts. Given that you have the same bike as what I just bought, I may look to you for advice now and then - hopefully that's alright.

 

Cool. Glad to hear it. If there's anything i can help you with just ask. That's why we're all here. It's a great site.

Gary H.

 

<--- Doesn't ride in temps below 60 ish either

Hi and welcome to the forum! From your location is looks like your just a little East of me! You should hit me up sometime for a ride, once the weather gets warmer! Can't help ya much on the 650 as mine is an '82 750, but let me know if I can be of service!
MB

 

Thanks for the welcome! Is Lamont the place that kinda north of Allendale? If so, I'm almost directly on the other side of GR from you - I actually live in Lowell currently. I'll be sure to hit you up to ride once the weather get's a bit warmer!

 

That's the place. Right on Leonard, which is a popular cruise from GR to Grand Haven during the summer for scooters and hot rods

 

Yup, I've taken Leonard from near the East Beltline out to Grand Haven many times and sometimes headed up the lakeshore from there as well. It's a nice summer ride without TOO much traffic usually.

 

Welcome to the site Nitrus! You are way ahead of the game if the bike runs and you rode it home. Here is the first thing to check and put on your shopping list (saftey items first, but...)

1. Check compression. Even though the safety items are the first thing that need to be addressed, a compression test first will tell you if and how much money you want to plow into the project. A green light or a pass.
2. If its a green light, check the tires to see if they need replacement. Get new ones even if there is plenty of thread if the date codes are older than 4 or 5 years old.
3. Order new brake shoes. Old shoes tend to delaminate over time and can lock your rear wheel if they do. You can inspect them, but for the 12 to 20 dollars, makes more sens to change the out for peace of mind. Inspect the font pads and M/C for any leaks.
4. Inspect the chain and sprocket for wear. Although, I suspect yours is a shaft drive.
5. Check front for forks for any leaks or wetness around the lower fork boots. Really should replace the for fluid. This regular maintenance and this way you can determine if it has been leaking by measuring how much fluid you take out from each fork. And if there is difference in levels between forks this could be a safety issue at high speeds.
6. Check the torque on the rear wheel axle nut and front fork triple tree and lower wheel axle nuts. You would be surprised what multiple past amateur DIY owners may have missed. I found missing case bolts, missing cotter pins, etc. As a matter of fact, doesn't hurt to take the torque wrench and do a sanity check on as may of the important nuts and bolts (shocks, handle bars, side stand, etc)
7. Of course, replace all fluids, oil, brake fluids, etc.
8. Confirm that your fuel petcock is not leaking. First make sure the petcock is not in the prime position. Do this by taking off the fuel line at the petcock. There should be no fuel coming out what so ever with the engine turned off. Once again, make sure it is not in the prime position when you do this.
9. Do a valve lash check on your engine. Chance are good it wasn't done at the recommended intervals or possibly never been done at all. Tight valves will cause loss of compression and eventually lead to engine damage.
10. Have your battery checked. (At Autozone or Advanced autoparts)

I'm sure others can chime in other things you may should replace for peace of mind, like the clutch cable for instance. Good luck and happy motoring with the wife. Great way to spend time together.

 

Thanks so much for your reply! I can't tell you how much I appreciate a nice, numbered list of things to check from someone who has been there. Since this is not my first project bike, I've checked a bunch of that stuff already, but some I haven't and all are good reminders.

- I asked my wife to make sure that someone gets me a repair manual for Christmas, so some of the checks are waiting on that (torque on everything as well as missing bits).

- Here's the short list of things I know need repair or replacement for mechanical reasons: rear tire, rear brake (not sure what exactly, just doesn't work), clutch cable, spark plug boots/wires (probably will do plugs too), carbs (just need some minor cleaning) and air filter.

- I haven't yet checked compression or valves - don't have my own compression gauge and I don't know how to check valve lash (I feel a learning experience coming on)

- Here's the short list of things I've check and know (or think I know) are good to go: front tire, front brakes and MC, forks and seals, petcock, and battery.

On a related note, it's interesting that you mention checking the fuel petcock and making sure it's not in the prime position. The guy I bought it from clearly didn't know what that was (or had forgotten since he hadn't ridden it in a while) and told me incorrectly what the settings were. So after I rode it home, I parked it in my garage (couldn't see real well) and turned it to that setting. This, of course, was followed by me being scared shitless when I went back out a while later, smelled gasoline, and saw a small (very small) puddle under the bike I had just purchased...luckily it didn't take me long to figure out that's what was going on.

Thanks again to everyone who replied so far. I'm headed out right now to take some pictures of the bike in it's current state. I always like to document my projects, so today is a day for documenting the starting point of this bike. I'll probably start a thread with the work I do once I actually get down to doing some real work.


Edit: also, after I've taken a few pics and uploaded them, I'd appreciate someone who knows what they are talking about letting me know if I have the stock gas tank or not...it seems a bit narrow to be stock, but I don't know these bikes that well

 

If the bike was leaking gas in the prime position, also check the condition of the needle valves and the float settings.

 

I would stay away from the Haynes or Clymer manuals. I have been burned with a stripped bolt on a cam chain tensioner (different make) when they had the wrong torque setting printed (had it wrong inside the engine section but correct in the table at the end of the chapter). Others, have stripped cam cap bolt holes (ouch!) for the same type of error. Best service manual is the factory service manual specific to your model and year range. Someone here may be able to point you to free or inexpensive online version. Just make sure it is the real Yamaha factory service manual. Can save you work and money in the long run.