Yamaha XS850 - Kickflip

Sonreir

Oregon
DTT SUPPORTER
So I picked up this XS850 over the weekend. Titled and running for $500, but it won't charge.

The plan is to make it roadworthy and sell it and hopefully make a few bucks on the deal.

Current issues (in rough order of importance):
1.) Bike won't charge. Visual inspection shows the regulator/rectifier is hooked up incorrectly (common problem on custom XS builds) so I'm hoping this is a simple fix.
2.) No gauges and no handlebar controls.
3.) Front brake is squishy. Hopefully it just needs to be bled.
4.) The bike's aesthetics are not great, in my mind. But is buying a new headlight for $50 going to get me $100 more on the market? $100 for a new seat get me $150 more on the selling price? Not sure...
 

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Here's the dashboard...

It has a USB charger and switches for the lights, high beam, turn signals, and something else. Kill switch, maybe?

I'm thinking all the switches will go and get replaced by the usual warning lights. Handlebar controls will go onto the bike to ensure proper functionality. Gauge mounted flush in the headlight housing?
 

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Man that paint is all kinds of weird.

If you are trying to flip it, definitely put the handlebar controls back on it.
 
Waiting for parts to roll in, so I started on the wiring and put some controls in place. I'm a little bit peeved with the right side because the cable stay in the throttle was too wide in diameter to fit inside any of the controls I had laying around. This leaves a bit of a gap, but it's probably not the end of the world.
 

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I’m pretty sure I can still do a decent kickflip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
irk miller said:
I’m pretty sure I can still do a decent kickflip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Vid or I don't believe you ;D
 
One of the things I noticed when I picked the bike up was that the center pod filter was missing from the carbs. PO told me that they "fall off all the time". So I removed them and also saw that these are the style that block up the inlets for the diaphragm. So a some quick utility knife work and some glue and hopefully this qualifies as an improvement.
 

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10 out of 10 for trying, but those filters will always be somewhat restrictive. You might want to see if you could get a set of UNI filters at a reasonable price or, dare I say it, a stock OEM airbox. That will come down to cost and availability, but might be a more complete solution.

At least you should have improved things a bit.
 
New headlight and GPS speedo installed.

Not super stoked about the seat gap, but I'm debating as to whether or not it'll make me my money back if I attempt to correct it with a new seat.
 

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I'd need to fab up some new mounts for both the front and rear and that leaves me in the same boat: I'm just not sure the changes will result in a net positive when it's time to sell.
 
I'm toying with the idea of cutting down the length of the hoop in the back so as to move the seat forward. I need to make sure I have all the clearances through.
 
That is already looking much better. I'm tempted to say find a new, longer tank but if you don't have one in inventory already it just adds cost.

So, maybe it's time to let it go. It's a great basis for someone to "make their own".
 
Move the seat forward to the tank, angle the hoop up and run a fender that mounts to the hoop a la 70s vintage dirt bike.
 
Sonreir said:
I'd need to fab up some new mounts for both the front and rear and that leaves me in the same boat: I'm just not sure the changes will result in a net positive when it's time to sell.

True, but time is free :D

It's not but when it's playing with a bike it's at least fun to be paid very little.

I think the gap will really hurt the resale value.

If you can just chop the hoop and move it forward that may be easier.
 
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