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Post by headcase on Mar 1, 2011 23:01:21 GMT -5
My title says 1979, but the build date on the frame tag says June of 1978. I've read/heard that for 1979 Yamaha made some changes to the bike...spokes to cast rims, brakes, carbs, settings etc. The thing that confused me most was when I had a front tire installed, the shop had to stop and decide whether it should be tubeless or not. I figured a cast rim would have a bead on the rim to seal it, but turns out that it needed a tube. They said tubes were mainly for spoked rims usually. Not to mention the rim itself had the words "cast iron" cast into one of the spokes. Yes, it's aluminum. Could I have a bike that was put together in the middle of a bunch of changes that were underway? There were a few other instances that hung me up when I was looking for parts or procedures and settings and sometimes I have to wing it. Do any of you highly respected Mojo Guru Elders know offhand any other details I might need to know? I plan on doing many of the usual upgrades in the future and I'm just a bit wiggy on ordering parts that might be wrong.
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Post by 5twins on Mar 2, 2011 2:10:41 GMT -5
The '78 and '79 models were practically the same for the most part. There were cosmetic changes in the Standard model and the mags may have changed as you noticed. The 1st mags were in '78 on the Special model and, yes, they required tubes. Apparently the castings could be porous and leak air so tubes were fitted. If the mag is a tubeless type, it is usually stamped "Tubeless" in one of the spoke webs.
Many manufacturers finish a model year run in late summer or early fall and start in on next year's models. Yours is right in that time frame so I guess it could be either year. Maybe the serial # might shed some light on the subject.
I think most parts will be the same for '78 and '79. I know the carbs are the same. Like I said, the main changes I know of were cosmetic to the Standard.
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Post by headcase on Mar 2, 2011 10:01:24 GMT -5
Should have mentioned its a Special. S/N#2F0157992. The entire bike is standard black, and I recently noticed it was probably repainted, but I'm thinking it was black to begin with. I got a laugh out of the 'cast iron' on one of the spokes. Maybe they did protos from iron and forgot to mill it off the mold when they went to production with them.
A funny side story...I have a 1975 Sherwood stereo setup that was made in Japan, and evidenty there were translation issues to english, because the tag on the back says 'Sherwood Stereo Amprifier" (NOT a typo here) I raugh renever I lead that tag, tlansration plobrems maybe? I would make a 'stereotype' joke here, but being on a stereo, it may be a bit much for those with sensitivity to bad jokes. I have to wonder if the Yamaha owners manual had any of these kinds of gaffs as well.
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Post by 5twins on Mar 2, 2011 11:58:56 GMT -5
Serial # indicates it is a '79 but some sites list that # as a Standard, some as a Special. Frames were slightly different (rear shock mounts and passenger peg/muffler mounts) between the 2 models so that's another way to tell. '79 model also eliminated the headlight on/off switch on the right side handlebar switch assembly (throttle side). Take a look at the model I.D. section at the MikesXS site. They have serial #s listed and pics of the frame differences.
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Post by headcase on Mar 2, 2011 20:46:19 GMT -5
I was thinking of putting a switch to the headlight on it to help with the starting problems, figures that this is the year they deleted it. Just have to remember to ride with it on. I'll scope out the pegs/shocks too. It has discs, cast rims, offset tank cap, and 'special' emblems on the side covers. I posted a pic of it somewhere here, just forget where exactly. Whatever it is, I'm gonna ride it like a rented mule anyways! Thanks 5twins.
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Post by 650leo on Mar 4, 2011 1:50:34 GMT -5
If you look close it says ASAHI MALLEABLE IRON this is the manufacturers name, Not the material it's madde from. The company I now ASAHI TECH.
I just learned this a few days ago.
And yes the early mags were for a tube, the later mags say on them SUITABLE FOR TUBLESS TIRES on one spoke. In your mag doesn't have the tubeless marking on it use a tube.
In 79 there was a lot of serial number confusion. They had three models The standard, the Special, and the Special II. They had three in 80 and I think in 81. It's seems to be confused mostly in 79.
The Special II has feartures of the standard and Special. The Special II had a side opening seat, tail and lisence plate light where together on the fender, Spoke wheels but no mudcatchers, There where other things too I just can't recall them now.
Anyway many of the modellists have the serial numbers onfused a bit in 79 some say this number was a Special, some a Special II.
The major changes from 78 to 79 where cosmetic. Mechanically the 78 and 79 are the same.
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Post by headcase on Mar 4, 2011 19:38:06 GMT -5
Thanks Leo. I think the dents in the tank add character too. It was pretty creative of the factory to install those. Cuts down on tank volume just a bit though, I would think.
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