Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
We noticed you are blocking ads. DO THE TON only works with community supporters. Most are active members of the site with small businesses. Please consider disabling your ad blocking tool and checking out the businesses that help keep our site up and free.
So, after doing some checks on the head, and checking condition of the cylinder bores and piston rings I discovered that my 750 head has been bored out to around 900cc with each cylinder bore measuring 5mm larger than standard!
My immediate response was one of frustration as I'd already ordered a standard head gasket which now will not fit, but now I think it will be a neat twist. I'm going to get a copper gasket made up following the recommendations of the guys on the yamaha triples forums, and will start work on the engine in about 10 days time.
My plan is to replace all the lost bolts, fit all the necessary components and see if I can get this b* running, compression tested and carbs rebuilt and synched.
This is going to be a brat style, so I'm toying with either regular semi-gloss black, or a dark charcoal grey. I want to powder coat the whole engine black though (with polished stainless bolts and polished head fins) so I think a black frame, black wheels and black engine might be a bit too much..
Keep the updates coming. I vote a charcoal grey for the frame. Here is a photo of mine in a grey frame and black engine. The frame is actually a metallic colour and is the same as the tank.
I have all but discounted black now..it's coming down to a dark metallic grey, a deep metallic bronze, or an ultra clean looking cream frame with black everything else. The cream would look badass I reckon, and would show chips and scratches less than the others. However it would also require more regular cleaning..
Thanks. It's taken me about 6 months to get it to where it is today. Yeah, I should have put a build thread together but I don't post much....
I also considered the cream look but for the tank not the frame.
I'm mostly thinking cream/bronze because I thought grey would be "different", and then quickly found 3 others doing XS750 builds with grey frames, can't be seen to be copying now can I?
May I ask Hal, where is your battery?! I can't see a recessed tray under your seat and surely it's too big to fit under the rear of your seat?
I did one of mine in charcoal metalic... Love the look in the sun.
And you're not copying anyone, just choose the color you want. So what if some one else wanted the same color before you did... that just means you have similar taste.
I've got an 8 cell Antigravity lithium battery squeezed in beside the rear master cylinder and in front of the swingarm. You can see in the picture below where the battery box is. Next to it is where I've put the new reg/rectifier from Oregon MC. It's a bitch to get to but I don't plan on accessing that often.
Theres no room under the seat, that hump at the back is just extra cushioning. All the rest of the electrics are under the seat. The tray is only as big as the width of the frame so there appears like there is nothing there at all.
Nice solution! I've only got an AGM battery which I suspect is a fair bit larger but I'll have a look at that area when everything is back together. What else did you need to upgrade to run the Lithium battery?
I agree Beldrueger, the grey does look great, and probably a bit more versatile with tank colours too. Both of you have exceptionally clean builds, I can only hope one day mine will turn out even half as good!
All you need to do is to make sure your regulator/rectifier is in good condition. If you over charge a lithium battery it will get fried.
I didn't risk stuffing about with the 30 year old reg/rec. I just replaced mine with a modern one from Oregon MC that way I knew it would be alright.
Awesome, I'll look into that when everything is up and running!
Ordered some handlebar controls and have set the ball rolling to get one of Sonreir's custom harnesses made up which will save me the massive electrical headache. Also, given that I have been away from the bike for a week due to working away, I mocked this up in my spare time...this is my final draft of what the bike will look like, metallic dark bronze, with a cream tank and probably a cream rear fender too. Excuse the dodgy MSPaint creation but this is where I'm going to head, the only difference will be the wheels powdercoated black, and the forks lowered slightly and new shocks on the rear and low-rise superbike handlebars with all new grips/controls etc.
Well progress has been slow, I had three weeks off work for a friends wedding and other important events and was hoping to get some decent progress done on the build, sadly not! I now have just 4 days left so the new plan is to take the head off to an engineer family friend who will measure the jugs and determine exactly what size I've got, and also hook me up with a copper head gasket.
Took the frame to a family friend to have the tail loop welded on but ran into some difficulties when using the gasless mig unit he had. Everything welded up nicely until the last section which kept oxidising and bubbling out leaving a hole in the weld. Tried maybe 10 or 15 times with different wires to see if it was a flux core issue but still no luck. He's now going to take it into work on monday and use their rigs instead which he reckons will do it no problems.
Also, I spoke to the powder-coater and he suggested that the bronze colour looks awful in powder coat (his exact words were 'It'll look like a two-wheeled turd'). So dark grey it is! He's just painted someone else's frame in a Dulux colour 'Steel-Pearl' satin #57127 which looks amazing in sunlight, so that's what I'll go for.
Yep it came with a plug which we inserted but it has completely melted away by the looks of it in this section. Not sure on the type of steel, it was an eBay special. Will hopefully get the frame back tonight and will check it all out.
Some more information came to light regarding the large bore on the jugs...turns out I'm running some original Henry Abe 900cc pistons!
Unfortunately the cylinder walls have some watermarks which may require a new bore. Rings for these pistons are as rare as hens teeth let alone overbore ones, so it looks like I'll need to get a set custom made. Currently cylinders and pistons are off getting measured so hopefully I hear back next week with the result!
Lucky find. I looked at one of those kits. Don't be suprised to find that the pistons don't match! As I remember, the middle piston is smaller. Hopefully you won't have to bore it out, as you may not have room to do it.
Could be an unlucky find if I'm not able to use the cylinders, I just wanted to get it running an licensed before I went to town on the engine upgrades...
I reckon the 750 cylinders will be virtually on the limit of wall thickness before breakthrough, so I may need to bolt on the spare 850 heads instead and get those bored out which would be a safer option.
Good work so far, sorry to hear about the problems with the cylinder sizes. I would try to find another motor but that is easier said than done with an xs750. Hope you work through this, really want to see this bike done.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
