What kinda Yamahas out there?

Runningdog · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:38 pm Post subject:

I have a '77 DT250 that I got re-registered last year...it had been a farm bike for over 20 years, but still ran well...just needed all seals, bearings, controls replaced.

I also have a '78 XS400 that I'm cafe-ing...lots of fun. Did I mention that I don't spend more than $300 for a bike?

I had a '81 750 Virago a few years ago, but never really bonded with it.

I have a couple of Suzukis, as well, but that's not the thread, so never mind....

timmy_o_tool · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:38 pm Post subject:

It seems my bike just needed a new battery. I got a new battery in it on Sunday, and it fired right up...

davecycleman · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject:

I have a 1973 RD350 that I bought 3 years ago. It was complete but not in great condition. So far I got it running and have started taking it apart with the intention of having the frame powdercoated and cosmetically updating the bike. I've had the motor apart and had the cylinders honed and installed new rings.

I also have a 1977 XS360 that I bought last summer just for the fun of it. Another complete original motorcycle in decent condition. A good runner and something you don't see very often.

I have a 1979 XS650 that I purchased brand new. I sold it in 83 to my brother. He gave it to our nephew several years later who rode it a little and then put it in a barn. I got it back 2 years ago in rough shape and I'm in the process of building a street tracker out of it. I have it mostly together and I'm waiting to get the paint work back. I should be riding it when spring ever returns.

My newest cycle is my 1992 FJ1200. I've had it about 10 years and love it. I use as my every day transportation and have taken several long trips with it over the years.

I'll try to post some photos in the next couple of days if I can figure out how.

Dave

650hardtail · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:36 pm Post subject:

my old 72 xs that was chopped in the 70's..
heres a pic just before i got it wired/running..
its staying a rat for now..kinda like the patina...lol
but i do have a stock length front end and spoke wheels that may go on it w drag bars

tjls8011 · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:45 am Post subject:

Here is a pic of my 76 xs360 cafe bike. Has less than 10,000 miles on it. It is a great little bike to ride around town

sesshomaru · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:00 am Post subject:

Hey everyone! First post here...why not write about my bikes? I love Yamahas, so naturally I checked this board out. I saw this thread and decided to introduce me and my bikes here.

The first and my favorite is my DT400B. Bought it because it had a title, was in fairly decent shape, and I figured it would be a hoot considering I had a 175 of the same year and loved that bike. Unfortunately the sucker seized up on me back in the fall because I forgot to reconnect the oil injector line back up to the carb after I cleaned it out. Lesson learned; I was kicking myself for weeks.

I went to get it oversized a couple weeks ago but my machinist buggered the bore up. Age is catching up to him, but I think it has something to do more with the fact that he's a Suzuki dealer that doesn't like Yamaha much... Confused

Oh well, I do have a friend with an extra barrel and piston, so hopefully it will be back on the road in the near future. Right now it is getting restored and cleaned up. The going is good!

The other three I have are a LS2, YAS1, and a HS1. I bought those three not running and stuck in 6 inches of mud sitting in a guy's backyard covered in a tarp. The LS2 is history...everything is so rusted together the bolts just break, and the motor is crap: bearings seized, completely filthy, rusted out and nothing comes apart. I wonder what happened to that one and I feel bad every time I see it.

The HS1 is not too bad cosmetically, and is the most "complete" of the three, but the motor is also crummy. It was stuck solid when I got it and the carbs are the absolute worst I've seen. To this day, I still can't get the pilot jet and air screw from one of them. Thankfully it's in fairly solid shape with little rust. The motor is all apart right now, and won't be going back together because of a bent con rod. There's no trace of the road legal stuff as it was stripped down and used as a dirtbike as per standards of people and motorcycles around here.

The YAS1 is like the HS1...missing things here and there...and the motor was also really bad, if not the worst in some respects. The pistons were dented on the top and scored all over, the rings fell apart when the barrels were lifted and the locating pins in the ring groove on the pistons were gone. The bottom end was in good shape though. Same story with the road legal stuff here too. At least it has the original Dunlop tires! Laughing

Now you're probably wondering why I bought those bikes. One reason is I literally couldn't sleep knowing they were going to sit there and rot...at least I could put them in my basement and keep them nice and cozy until I get the time and financial resources together.

Secondly I managed to get them for so cheap that I figured I could take apart the engines and learn things. I found that they are simple and quite straightforward as long as you keep off the drinks!

Lastly, and this is the biggest reason: I really want an RD or a pre-RD piston port twin (AS3, CS3, DS7, RD400F) and these are as close as I could get because those bikes are impossible to find around here. If they do pop up, they are show bikes that someone wants some ridiculous price for. I want a rider that needs a little bit of work...I'm just waiting on the right bike for the right price.

Finally, I also had 2 DT175Bs...great little bikes, and I sold both to help pay for other bikes. One for my GPz305 and the other for a Kat 600. In the near future I will be picking up a DT250F. All in all, I think I like the enduros more than the street bikes, but they both are likeable bikes.

ol55 · Commuter Joined: Feb 09, 2009 Posts: 391 Location: VA

Welcome to VJMOG. I thought this bike was a good deal but too far for me. I like the RD's also.

http://www.hondatwins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3012

Larry

sesshomaru · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:14 am Post subject:

LOU · Weekend Warrior Joined: Feb 05, 2007 Posts: 8

mqqn · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:29 am Post subject:

Hi folks -

I have a few Yammies - I have an old JT80 and a GT 80 - both need work. I have a 73 RD350 basket case, and a pretty nice 83 YZ 490 -

Here is a link to a huge pic of the 490

http://www.iammoon.com/images/bikes/1983YZ490K/DSC02872.JPG

best regards -

mqqn