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Bought her 5 years ago as just a ride , then I discovered what an XS is.
So time to make her as good as if not better than new.
I am in the process of THE rebuild on my 79F, I have spent many hours on this site reading the relevent posts in regards to mods.
So my shopping list grew and the credit card took a bashing.
I have purchased what I think are the best first mods. In order of preferance
I was going to do the gearbox mod , but after dismantling the box, discovered that the PO had replaced the weak gears with newer Yamaha factory modified gears, so that was not needed, but did replace one c - clip which had been left out at last assembly, and removed the kick start gears.
So my list looked like this
1 Mikes XS High output coils
2 Solid core leads 8mm ( Sadly I could not get red)
3 new 90* caps.
4 T - Kat fork brace.
5 XS850 Diff
6 Jardine 4-1 to replace a beaten up existing 4-1 that was rusting sadly and way too loud.
7 Longer (15mm) rear shocks to change the rake giving a quicker turn in for the twisty roads that dominate the New Zealand roading system.( our longest straight road is only 50 miles!)
8 New brake seals, pads and have had discs surfaced. Front and rear. New lock tabs for discs.
9 New wheel bearings and seals
10 New clutch pack with new springs.
11 New switch blocks ( Mikes XS)
12 New steering head bearings and seal. ( yes there is one there, but is not found on any finches or parts list)
13 New engine gaskets, carb gaskets.
14 Removal of the oil cooler,( over kill for our temperate climate)
New air filter in std air box, with three 1" holes drilled in base for better air flow.
15 Heated hand grips ( I get white finger from an old injury in the cold)
16 Cut down seat. ( dont believe in pillions)
17 Stainless steel bolt kit for all external engine bolts
I have also removed the rear fender and have fitted a harley fender in the same style as Da-Bubble's bike that is well liked by you guys.
Twin headlight unit, bullet signal lamps also like Da-Bubble's bike with black upon black and the red trims to the now black wheels.
Not a copy of Da-Bubble's bike, but using his ideas and formula.
So with a few other mods, a fresh coat of paint on the frame, engine and body work. I will have her back on the road very very soon.
So Da-Bubble. you can take some credit for this, as you have a sweet looking ride. I loved it the moment I read your thread.
Future mods, next year when the Credit card is back down will be.
Bridgestone Battleaxe 45 tyres ( current tyres still have a seasons ride left in them)
Floating discs ( yeap Mikes XS again!)
Fuel lines
Stainless steel brake lines
Hydralic Clutch conversion with stainless steels lines
Rewound alternator stator ( to improve the poor output of the std one) Will give a report on this when done for you all as it can be done to the factory alternator, increasing the output significantly.
The reason I have gone so far with this bike is it had a complete engine recondition by PO when the gearbox blew, and as we know, gearbox bits in the engine dont do nice things.This ended up with him high siding it. This resulted in the front ending up bent, but no other structural damage. So reconed forks were fitted at the same time. The bike has done 178000k .
I bought it not knowing the models reputation, after finding this site, reading about what it had done, how it had changed the way people looked at "fast" bikes , its continuing fan base, I believed I had a ride that I could stick with for many a passing mile.
So research and this forum gave me the ideas, incentive and knowlage of how to make my ride special to me, but also a ride that many others would look at and Know what it is.
Also It has already proved, more than once, to be able to mix it with more modern rides on a reasonably equal footing. But not on the longer straghts.
I am looking forward to this comming seasons Biker Ralleys where it will appear in its new form. I believe it will be much to the surprise of many cheque book riders who have no inmagination past the std mods and few clip on bits the apply to their plastic fantastics.
I also want to put her on the Dyno again and see if she will pass the 86BHP at the rear wheels she posted last time.
Pics?
Sorry no, not untill ts finnished, then I will get some profesional pics done.
Many thanks to all of you people who have helped make this happen because you all love the Bikes we ride.
So time to make her as good as if not better than new.
I am in the process of THE rebuild on my 79F, I have spent many hours on this site reading the relevent posts in regards to mods.
So my shopping list grew and the credit card took a bashing.
I have purchased what I think are the best first mods. In order of preferance
I was going to do the gearbox mod , but after dismantling the box, discovered that the PO had replaced the weak gears with newer Yamaha factory modified gears, so that was not needed, but did replace one c - clip which had been left out at last assembly, and removed the kick start gears.
So my list looked like this
1 Mikes XS High output coils
2 Solid core leads 8mm ( Sadly I could not get red)
3 new 90* caps.
4 T - Kat fork brace.
5 XS850 Diff
6 Jardine 4-1 to replace a beaten up existing 4-1 that was rusting sadly and way too loud.
7 Longer (15mm) rear shocks to change the rake giving a quicker turn in for the twisty roads that dominate the New Zealand roading system.( our longest straight road is only 50 miles!)
8 New brake seals, pads and have had discs surfaced. Front and rear. New lock tabs for discs.
9 New wheel bearings and seals
10 New clutch pack with new springs.
11 New switch blocks ( Mikes XS)
12 New steering head bearings and seal. ( yes there is one there, but is not found on any finches or parts list)
13 New engine gaskets, carb gaskets.
14 Removal of the oil cooler,( over kill for our temperate climate)
New air filter in std air box, with three 1" holes drilled in base for better air flow.
15 Heated hand grips ( I get white finger from an old injury in the cold)
16 Cut down seat. ( dont believe in pillions)
17 Stainless steel bolt kit for all external engine bolts
I have also removed the rear fender and have fitted a harley fender in the same style as Da-Bubble's bike that is well liked by you guys.
Twin headlight unit, bullet signal lamps also like Da-Bubble's bike with black upon black and the red trims to the now black wheels.
Not a copy of Da-Bubble's bike, but using his ideas and formula.
So with a few other mods, a fresh coat of paint on the frame, engine and body work. I will have her back on the road very very soon.
So Da-Bubble. you can take some credit for this, as you have a sweet looking ride. I loved it the moment I read your thread.
Future mods, next year when the Credit card is back down will be.
Bridgestone Battleaxe 45 tyres ( current tyres still have a seasons ride left in them)
Floating discs ( yeap Mikes XS again!)
Fuel lines
Stainless steel brake lines
Hydralic Clutch conversion with stainless steels lines
Rewound alternator stator ( to improve the poor output of the std one) Will give a report on this when done for you all as it can be done to the factory alternator, increasing the output significantly.
The reason I have gone so far with this bike is it had a complete engine recondition by PO when the gearbox blew, and as we know, gearbox bits in the engine dont do nice things.This ended up with him high siding it. This resulted in the front ending up bent, but no other structural damage. So reconed forks were fitted at the same time. The bike has done 178000k .
I bought it not knowing the models reputation, after finding this site, reading about what it had done, how it had changed the way people looked at "fast" bikes , its continuing fan base, I believed I had a ride that I could stick with for many a passing mile.
So research and this forum gave me the ideas, incentive and knowlage of how to make my ride special to me, but also a ride that many others would look at and Know what it is.
Also It has already proved, more than once, to be able to mix it with more modern rides on a reasonably equal footing. But not on the longer straghts.
I am looking forward to this comming seasons Biker Ralleys where it will appear in its new form. I believe it will be much to the surprise of many cheque book riders who have no inmagination past the std mods and few clip on bits the apply to their plastic fantastics.
I also want to put her on the Dyno again and see if she will pass the 86BHP at the rear wheels she posted last time.
Pics?
Sorry no, not untill ts finnished, then I will get some profesional pics done.
Many thanks to all of you people who have helped make this happen because you all love the Bikes we ride.
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