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Post by scouseviking on Sept 29, 2012 4:32:59 GMT -5
Hi there, I am looking into buying another bike for my little collection. My current bike has blown a base gasket and needs a strip down so I need a bike to keep me going over the european winter. I have found a 1981 XS 650 german model with 30 000 miles on the clock and was wondering if there is anything I should look out for if I decide to buy it. The current owner said the bike has had the barrels, pistons and valves done recently which may just mean re-bore and valve re-grind,so are there any other things I should look out for when I go to check the bike out. The bike is in great codition and I am ready to put my other bike into temporary retirement (until my son reaches 18) as the gasket is leaking oil all over my boots. Thanks in advance.
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Post by XS Rod on Oct 3, 2012 14:12:17 GMT -5
You sound like you are an experienced rider... welcome either way Look at the suspension components, brakes, general condition of the entire bike. Receipts help... you know what they say... No Receipts... no Love
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Post by scouseviking on Oct 7, 2012 3:48:14 GMT -5
I have found another one in a dealers in Holland with a claimed 6000 miles on the clock that looks to be in perfect condition. This bike has obviously spent its life in a shop or garage and I was wondering if things like oil seals and bearings should be changed as its been standing still for so long. I work on my own bikes so I was wondering would an engine strip down be advisable as a safety precaution? Its about a 400 mile drive and for 3000 euros it looks really nice. Should I go for this condition of bike or get a cheap one and re-furb the engine myself? I have been riding for 40yrs and I think I know what I am doing ,but its good to have advice from people who know this bike.
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pamcopete
Full Member
'78/E, '81/H, '82 XJ550, '74 CB750, '81 CB750, '73 CB450
Posts: 167
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Post by pamcopete on Oct 7, 2012 14:12:32 GMT -5
I have found another one in a dealers in Holland with a claimed 6000 miles on the clock that looks to be in perfect condition. This bike has obviously spent its life in a shop or garage and I was wondering if things like oil seals and bearings should be changed as its been standing still for so long. I work on my own bikes so I was wondering would an engine strip down be advisable as a safety precaution? Its about a 400 mile drive and for 3000 euros it looks really nice. Should I go for this condition of bike or get a cheap one and re-furb the engine myself? I have been riding for 40yrs and I think I know what I am doing ,but its good to have advice from people who know this bike. An engine with just 6,000 miles on it does not need any work done if it has been indoors for that period of time. The insides of the engine has a coating of oil that will protect the moving parts from corrosion. If you do experience a leak or two, then just put a few more miles on it and chances are those leaks will cure themselves. I just recently bought an engine for my 1981 CB750C from a seller in Illinois who sold the engine to me off of a complete bike that had been sitting in a garage since 1995. I installed the engine in my '81 frame, changed the oil a couple of times and the engine has no issues. Good compression and leak down tests were done. No strange noises or leaks either. The engine had 12,000 miles on it when I bought it, now has 18,000 miles. A few years ago I bought a 1981 XS650/H that also had been sitting for about 10 years with 6,000 miles, and same deal. No problems. In any event, I would ride the bike for a while to see if there are in fact any problems, because if you tear it down without knowing what those issues are, you may end up putting it back together with the same problems.
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pamcopete
Full Member
'78/E, '81/H, '82 XJ550, '74 CB750, '81 CB750, '73 CB450
Posts: 167
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Post by pamcopete on Oct 7, 2012 14:19:07 GMT -5
This message was deleted by the original poster.
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Post by scouseviking on Oct 7, 2012 18:20:23 GMT -5
This bike and several others I have found have been imported from your side of the pond and seem to be in very clean condition. I was thinking about rubber seals in the disc brake calipers and any other seals that may of gone hard over the years of non use. I think I might take a trip to the uk and see whats available over there. Thanks for the advice,I hope to be posting pictures of my new bike pretty soon. My Kawasaki Zephyr is oozing oil especially after a long blast and I need to get it into a workshop before I do any serious damage. I havnt had a leaky bike since my last triumph 750 tiger.
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Post by Tom Graham on Oct 8, 2012 13:06:28 GMT -5
Before starting the engine for the first time the spark plugs should be removed and a bit of oil squrited inside the CC. Kick the engine over with the plugs out to distribute the oil to the valve stems, the rings and to splash out any excess oil. You do this because any engine that has been sitting a very long time may stick a valve open at a dry first start. The piston hits the valve and ruins the engine. Happens, not often but enough to scare me.
The brakes should be flushed before riding. Then flushed again and again each week until the fluid stays clear. The new brake fluid will pull contaminates from every nook and crany as you ride, and as it cleans the new fluid becomes contaminated. This is a minimum requirement.
It is nice when you can fill the old tank with new fuel and ride but the carbs may be varnished with evaporated fuel. At a minimum you can pull the float bowl drain plug and spray carb cleaner up into the bottom of the carb and let it drip on towels. Unscrew the mixture screw and spray carb cleaner inside the idle passage way. Hopefully the idle jet will unplug and you will not need to dissassemble the carbs. Use 1/3 a bottle of fuel injector/carburetor cleaner in the fuel to clean the system as you ride.
Tom
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kopcicle
Full Member
"don't crush that dwarf , hand me the pliers "
Posts: 150
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Post by kopcicle on Oct 25, 2012 0:09:59 GMT -5
This message was deleted by the original poster. just wondering if this was a "first" :-) ~kop
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