I restored the Yamaha

FastDoc · 07-23-2010, 01:09 PM

I originally bought this little bike to resell it, but wound up doing quite a bit of work to it and decided to keep it. Plus I fell in love with the little guy.

My buddy Ron recently had his custom Harley repainted a beautiful dark metallic blue clearcoat, and had some leftover paint. The paint and clearcoat alone were about $300. Because he did not need and would not use the leftover paint, he donated it it me. It's good to have good friends.

I have another friend who is an out of work car and motorcycle painter, and he offered to paint my little bike for all of $100. 8)

So for $100 I have a custom painted bike. I also repainted the fram and everything that was black from the factory, polished the chrome, and she's beautiful! :P

Mechanically she's great too. I rebuilt the forks, cleaned the carbs, replaced the fuel line, fixed a minor ignition problrm, changed the oil, etc. I have a new rear tire, but the old one still has some useful service left in it. 8)

When I change the tire I will also change the chain and sprockets and regear it up a little for the freeway.

I'll take more pics when I can if you all are interested, this is just a quick snapshot from my cell phone. It really does not do the project justice.

Weldangrind · 07-23-2010, 02:17 PM

Sweet bike! Yes, I'd be grateful for more photos.

I loved my '79 650, and your bike looks very similar. How's the front brake? The 650 version had a disc, and perhaps a donor could be had for cheap as an upgrade if necessary.

FastDoc · 07-23-2010, 02:39 PM

It's brakes are adequate but not great. It's not the strength but the modulation ability that's sub-par. I thought about upgrading to a disc brake but for it's use as a commuter it's fine. Also I just redid the forks and don't want to repalce them and do it again.

FastDoc · 07-23-2010, 03:58 PM

MICRider · 07-23-2010, 07:11 PM

Wow! She looks great Doc! Hard to believe its the same bike

. I would love to see more pics as well when you get a chance.

Cheers!
Stew

Weldangrind · 07-23-2010, 07:32 PM

That paint looks about 6" deep. 8)

FastDoc · 07-23-2010, 07:51 PM

It's a killer paint job. It would look great on a $20,000 custom. I really lucked out with the free paint and nearly free labor. I take good care of my friends and they take good care of me.

The paint looks black in the cell phone pics but's its a dark metallic blue.

Now I'm thinking of having him do my GS750....

FastDoc · 07-23-2010, 08:55 PM

Weldangrind · 07-23-2010, 10:28 PM

Not even a hint of orange peel. I wish I could say the same for my '09 Caravan.

Is the engine solid mounted like the 650? If so, are the bars isolated?

Your instruments look alot better than mine did.

AZ200cc · 07-23-2010, 10:56 PM

Very nice work Doc

FastDoc · 07-24-2010, 12:28 PM

Thanks guys.

The handlebars ar rubber mounted and work well to isolate vibration.

The pegs and engine are soild mounted. There are no counterbalancers.

It works well. There is a soild buzz in the pegs between 45 and 50 but other than that vibration is tolerable. I would not mind figuring out how to mount rubber mounted footpegs.

Weldangrind · 07-24-2010, 01:39 PM

Foam rubber insoles maybe?

SpudRider · 07-25-2010, 01:48 AM

That is a very nice bike, Doc.

Also, the paint job is superb! Please remind me. What year, and what model is this motorcycle?

Spud

FastDoc · 07-25-2010, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpudRider

That is a very nice bike, Doc.

Also, the paint job is superb! Please remind me. What year, and what model is this motorcycle?

Spud

1981 Yamaha XS400.

I'm thinking of having him paint my GS750. :P

This little bike has a nicer paint job than my car for crying out loud.

MICRider · 07-25-2010, 07:04 AM

The bike does look fantastic! I have worked with the metallics quite a bit and I always love the way they turn out

. The fellow did a beautiful job on it.

Cheers!
Stew

07-23-2010, 01:09 PM	#1
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I restored the Yamaha I originally bought this little bike to resell it, but wound up doing quite a bit of work to it and decided to keep it. Plus I fell in love with the little guy. My buddy Ron recently had his custom Harley repainted a beautiful dark metallic blue clearcoat, and had some leftover paint. The paint and clearcoat alone were about $300. Because he did not need and would not use the leftover paint, he donated it it me. It's good to have good friends. I have another friend who is an out of work car and motorcycle painter, and he offered to paint my little bike for all of $100. 8) So for $100 I have a custom painted bike. I also repainted the fram and everything that was black from the factory, polished the chrome, and she's beautiful! :P Mechanically she's great too. I rebuilt the forks, cleaned the carbs, replaced the fuel line, fixed a minor ignition problrm, changed the oil, etc. I have a new rear tire, but the old one still has some useful service left in it. 8) When I change the tire I will also change the chain and sprockets and regear it up a little for the freeway. I'll take more pics when I can if you all are interested, this is just a quick snapshot from my cell phone. It really does not do the project justice. __________________ Happy to serve.
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07-23-2010, 02:17 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Sweet bike! Yes, I'd be grateful for more photos. I loved my '79 650, and your bike looks very similar. How's the front brake? The 650 version had a disc, and perhaps a donor could be had for cheap as an upgrade if necessary. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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07-23-2010, 02:39 PM	#3
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	It's brakes are adequate but not great. It's not the strength but the modulation ability that's sub-par. I thought about upgrading to a disc brake but for it's use as a commuter it's fine. Also I just redid the forks and don't want to repalce them and do it again. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

07-23-2010, 03:58 PM	#4
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	__________________ Happy to serve.
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07-23-2010, 07:32 PM	#6
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	That paint looks about 6" deep. 8) __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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07-23-2010, 07:11 PM	#5
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	Wow! She looks great Doc! Hard to believe its the same bike . I would love to see more pics as well when you get a chance. Cheers! Stew
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07-23-2010, 07:51 PM	#7
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	It's a killer paint job. It would look great on a $20,000 custom. I really lucked out with the free paint and nearly free labor. I take good care of my friends and they take good care of me. The paint looks black in the cell phone pics but's its a dark metallic blue. Now I'm thinking of having him do my GS750.... __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

07-23-2010, 08:55 PM	#8
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	More pics: __________________ Happy to serve.
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07-23-2010, 10:28 PM	#9
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Not even a hint of orange peel. I wish I could say the same for my '09 Caravan. Is the engine solid mounted like the 650? If so, are the bars isolated? Your instruments look alot better than mine did. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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07-23-2010, 10:56 PM	#10
AZ200cc Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Show Low Arizona Posts: 2,889	Very nice work Doc __________________ <br />2001 Suzuki DR200SE<br />1997 Suzuki RM250 YIKES<br />1995 Yamaha Breeze 125 daughters<br />1991 Honda XR80r Restored<br />maybe a 2003 Yamaha TTR90
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07-24-2010, 12:28 PM	#11
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Thanks guys. The handlebars ar rubber mounted and work well to isolate vibration. The pegs and engine are soild mounted. There are no counterbalancers. It works well. There is a soild buzz in the pegs between 45 and 50 but other than that vibration is tolerable. I would not mind figuring out how to mount rubber mounted footpegs. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

07-24-2010, 01:39 PM	#12
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Foam rubber insoles maybe? __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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07-25-2010, 01:48 AM	#13
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	That is a very nice bike, Doc. Also, the paint job is superb! Please remind me. What year, and what model is this motorcycle? Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
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07-25-2010, 07:04 AM	#15
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	The bike does look fantastic! I have worked with the metallics quite a bit and I always love the way they turn out . The fellow did a beautiful job on it. Cheers! Stew
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