98kellrs
Been Around the Block
So, the thread title aptly describes my project and I quite well I think. I'm Ryan, 26 from Western Australia and I've always loved watching bikes. Born and raised on the Isle of Man motorcycling has always lurked in my DNA somewhere and only once I moved out of home and bought my own place have I had the chance to buy a bike.
I've had two modern bikes to date; a Hyosung 250 (biggest mistake ever) and a CBR600RR which I turned into a track weapon and raced for a little while.
This brings me to my third bike which is my current project; a '78 Yamaha XS750. I've only just picked her up so no real progress yet. Here's what she looked like when I found her:
The previous owner was planning on turning her into a chopper, hence the ridiculous long forks. Thankfully I have a set of original forks which I fitted as soon as I got her home!
Basically she's already been pulled apart and I have 3 boxes full of parts. The engine turns over which is good, and comes with a complete spare 750 engine with a reconditioned head, a spare set of 850cc heads, and freshly refurbed carbs.
Given she's already pretty well stripped I decided to continue that trend and strip the frame. My current plan is to de-tab the frame, strip apart and get powder coated, then start building her back up from the frame. Most of the parts are in pretty bad condition, all brake calipers will need a refurbish, the handlebar controls are all rusted and seized and there currently is no fuel tank, petcocks or headlight.
Here's my progress so far, I stripped the remaining parts from the frame to give me a rolling chassis, next up I'll start de-tabbing and getting stuck in.
My whole ethos is going to be lighten and improve performance and most importantly to LEARN! I have a manual and I'm already on the Yamaha Triples forums but aside from that I have no formal training and no-one to help out either. I've already scored some decent rear shocks from a W800 and I'll be stripping and reconditioning the forks with progressive springs too. In the future I'd love to do an R1 front end conversion but time (and money will tell on that one..)
Anyway, way too much rambling from me, I'll try and stick to pictures to describe my progress from now on
I've had two modern bikes to date; a Hyosung 250 (biggest mistake ever) and a CBR600RR which I turned into a track weapon and raced for a little while.
This brings me to my third bike which is my current project; a '78 Yamaha XS750. I've only just picked her up so no real progress yet. Here's what she looked like when I found her:
The previous owner was planning on turning her into a chopper, hence the ridiculous long forks. Thankfully I have a set of original forks which I fitted as soon as I got her home!
Basically she's already been pulled apart and I have 3 boxes full of parts. The engine turns over which is good, and comes with a complete spare 750 engine with a reconditioned head, a spare set of 850cc heads, and freshly refurbed carbs.
Given she's already pretty well stripped I decided to continue that trend and strip the frame. My current plan is to de-tab the frame, strip apart and get powder coated, then start building her back up from the frame. Most of the parts are in pretty bad condition, all brake calipers will need a refurbish, the handlebar controls are all rusted and seized and there currently is no fuel tank, petcocks or headlight.
Here's my progress so far, I stripped the remaining parts from the frame to give me a rolling chassis, next up I'll start de-tabbing and getting stuck in.
My whole ethos is going to be lighten and improve performance and most importantly to LEARN! I have a manual and I'm already on the Yamaha Triples forums but aside from that I have no formal training and no-one to help out either. I've already scored some decent rear shocks from a W800 and I'll be stripping and reconditioning the forks with progressive springs too. In the future I'd love to do an R1 front end conversion but time (and money will tell on that one..)
Anyway, way too much rambling from me, I'll try and stick to pictures to describe my progress from now on