1974 Yamaha TX650 Cafe Project

[jimmiv74]

This is my winter project. My first project bike. It has a broken exhaust valve, general 70's cruiser crap on it but other then that it is in good shape. I will tear down the engine next week to see the is damage from the broke valve. shouldn't be bad as the valve didn't fall into the cylinder. but I would love some suggestions as to what I should replace as long as I have the engine torn down. Is was taken off the road in 81 and the valve broke in 2000 something the guys started once a year when it was off the road till the valve broke it has 10,000 miles on it.

 

[DreadRock]

Sweet bars ! Clip-ons?

 

[two-smoker]

Dammit I've been looking for a set of those rims for months now... Lol. (corrected. Damn swype...)

 

[YogiBear]

those bars flipped upside down make a perfect clubman substitute.

 

[jimmiv74]

Dammit I've been looking for a set of those time for months now... Lol.

You are in luck these puppies are for sale.... ;D

 

[DreadRock]

not sure about the 650s but i know the early TX 500s had problems with the head cracking from heat . might want to take a look !

 

[bbillington]

look at the FAQs over at xs650.com and you'll get some great advice on routes to take with a rebuild. Is there an eagle pinstriped on the side of the tank? bike looks pretty good overall though. Hope you got a good deal on it given the inflated prices these days.

 

[jimmiv74]

not sure about the 650s but i know the early TX 500s had problems with the head cracking from heat . might want to take a look !

I don't think the 650's had that problem but it will be torn compleatly down. So I will look for any cracks.
Thanks

 

[jimmiv74]

look at the FAQs over at xs650.com and you'll get some great advice on routes to take with a rebuild. Is there an eagle pinstriped on the side of the tank? bike looks pretty good overall though. Hope you got a good deal on it given the inflated prices these days.

I am on xs650.com had to talk may self out of making it a 750 with Mikes Kit.... Yea some little bird like head, would be cool to use if I wanted to do a bobber but....
Not bad $450 and all the chrome is in really good shape so I hope I can sell that off on ebay for a good $$ and help recoup some engine cost.

 

[bbillington]

I am on xs650.com had to talk may self out of making it a 750 with Mikes Kit.... Yea some little bird like head, would be cool to use if I wanted to do a bobber but....
Not bad $450 and all the chrome is in really good shape so I hope I can sell that off on ebay for a good $$ and help recoup some engine cost.

nice! if the tank is in good shape and you just plan to paint it, IMO, sell it, and get something else to paint. It's kinda cool the way it is and I'm sure somebody will put it to use.

 

[jimmiv74]

Well got the engine torn down. Had to drive the valve down threw the guide because it broke in the open position making it impossible to to release the springs. So it is off to the machine shop for guide work... Everything besides that looks good. going to start mocking up the tail I got a Yamaha R6 led tail light that I am going to use. It has the running, break and signals all in one should be different but cool... maybe... We will see. I think I want to do the frame Orange but I don't know if I should powder coat it or paint it... Pros and cons anyone? this is my first sketch of what I am shooting for. feel free to throw stones.

 

[YogiBear]

I like the style, and colors.

 

[Kanticoy]

Really no cons to powder other than having to take it to have it done. It pretty much surpasses paint in every way, especially on a frame. Paints main pro is being able to do it at home. But its 10x less durable. If you have access to powder, do it. You won't regret it. It comes in ROL colors as well so its easy to match to paint.

 

[jimmiv74]

I like the style, and colors.

Thanks. I have strugled with the idea of and orange frame for a long time but I think I am going to do it. I am trying to walk the thin line between classic and modern.

 

[jimmiv74]

Really no cons to powder other than having to take it to have it done. It pretty much surpasses paint in every way, especially on a frame. Paints main pro is being able to do it at home. But its 10x less durable. If you have access to powder, do it. You won't regret it. It comes in ROL colors as well so its easy to match to paint.

My fear with powder is that with the orange frame if I take a hard stone and gets chipped I cant touch it up... if it was black you wouldn't see it as much... I don't know. I am most likely over thinking it... :

 

[DreadRock]

i would go with powder coating its the best way for a frame. and that color set up is way cool together and would be a eye popper ! and if you do take a stone to it , it will depend on where it hit and if it chips it. PC is tuff stuff and should hold up to small stones. if you need to pick up a small thing of paint ( model car paint ) thats the closes you can find and just use that. most lil chips will go unseen by everyone but you . i say go for it

 

[jimmiv74]

Well It looks like two engines will make one runner. I think the tank is about ready for filler and paint. Just starting on the tail the next few weeks we tell if I like what we have started... I need to figure out what to do with the brakes and levers. Any suggestions? I think I am going to do two disks up front but I have to find a matching set. Suspension is also a big question mark. I am up grading the springs in the fork and was thinking about trying a valve cartridge emulator from Race Tech. Any one ever do this upgrade? Also rear shocks, I am looking at Works Shocks with dual rate springs, 13" eye to eye. Again suggestions welcome...
Thanks

 

[montessa172]

For dual front discs, if you can find a mate for your oem '74 caliper and disc they will mount on the left side, the caliper will mount either left or right with no modification early style only.... I believe mikesxs stocks both. Consider a master cylinder upgrade if you go this route. You can also upgrade to later style calipers from an xs 750, which would require an triple tree fork upgrade to 650 35mm tubes. But the 750 discs are smaller diameter.

 

[jimmiv74]

For dual front discs, if you can find a mate for your oem '74 caliper and disc they will mount on the left side, the caliper will mount either left or right with no modification early style only.... I believe mikesxs stocks both. Consider a master cylinder upgrade if you go this route. You can also upgrade to later style calipers from an xs 750, which would require an triple tree fork upgrade to 650 35mm tubes. But the 750 discs are smaller diameter.

Yea Mikes is out of stock but i did find a few on ebay. The rotor is the problem, every think I find is grooved and I think I would like to drill. Mikes has an upgrade rotor but is is listed as 77 or newer and I am not sure what the difference is, something to do with the change in the fork I would bet 34mm vs 35mm... may be worth the fork upgrade if it bolts up to the hub.

 

[jimmiv74]

Well the tail is going in a different direction then I originally planed. It is very rough but it is growing on me I am going to keep working on it for a few more weekends and see if I think it is a keeper... put the bars on and think I am going to make a "dash" to have three Air craft toggles with covers for the lights, ignition and start.along with some LEDs for the signal, high beam and power indicators... may be... let me know what you think. Oh what kick stand should I keep, never thought about it but I don't see a reason to keep both?