My new 79 XS

[New guy]

It finally happened. I was driving down the street near my house today and there it was. My new bike. It was on the sidewalk in front of a second hand store. It was parked between a treadmill and some golf clubs and behind a table with some toasters on it. I couldn't believe it. I thought it must be the owners parked there but as I sat in the middle of the road holding up traffic and staring I noticed there was no plate. I wheeled in and sure enough it was for sale. Turns out the owner is selling it for his buddy who is getting divorced. He had it for a year and the guy before him had it in the garage for years. Sweet.
Not sure if I should flip it and make a quick grand or turn it ino the backroad cafe style bike I have been dreaming about for a year. I was reading a streetchopper mag at the grocery store a while ago and saw this custom KZ400 and that was it (link at bottom). All of a sudden I needed a tricked out Jap bike. I really liked a lot of the XS 400s so when I saw this sitting there it was too good to pass up. Great shape, 27000 km. Didn't start it, no battery, but felt good. It just felt right.
I am good at taking things apart but thats about it so not sure if I can take on a big custom job. I may just clean it up nice and ride it. Any and all ideas or comments are welcome from you guys. Thanks for having me.

http://www.streetchopperweb.com/features/1004_stcp_1979_kawasaki_kz400/index.html

 

[JARichmond]

Welcome to the forum and what a great find! Cosmetically it looks sound from this far away. If you intend to flip it quick, you ought to sink a little time (and possibly money) into making it run. As we all know, a running bike it worth more than its paper-weight counterpart. There's a great write up somewhere about what to look for in a used/neglected XS if having it run is of interest to you.

 

[New guy]

Thanks for tip. The guy had it running before me so just need to pick up a new battery today. He did a small tune on it, oil, plugs so it should be good to go. Not sure what I could ask for it if I do sell it. There are none here in BC on Kijiji or CL so not sure what the market is for an unmolested bike.
Nice to here from a Londoner, I grew up there.

 

[HoughMade]

... so it should be good to go...

That's a good looking bike. It should clean up well. As for just putting in a battery and it being good to go, I have high hopes for you and it will probably start...but "good to go"? I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not being cranky, I'm speaking from experience; check out what kind of bike I own, below.

 

[AirsoftNY]

Score! I'm always on the lookout when I'm driving around and never see anything worth stopping for.

 

[Lou Ranger]

Not sure what I could ask for it if I do sell it. There are none here in BC on Kijiji or CL so not sure what the market is for an unmolested bike.

I know it's a different market, but here are a few from around where you grew up.
People don't always get what they ask around here, and some sit on Kijiji unsold all summer while others (like the one I bought last month) go on the first day if the seller is realistic.
For some reason there are 3 or 4 used xs400 Maxims listed for every one xs400 sohc. I guess that's what the dealers pushed in this market years ago.

http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...ort-touring-1982-Yamaha-XS-W0QQAdIdZ382041432
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...hoppers-1980-Yamaha-XS-400-W0QQAdIdZ380484901
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...ha-XS-400-Heritage-Special-W0QQAdIdZ376887517
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...rs-1982-Yamaha-maxim-400cc-W0QQAdIdZ376441052
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...s-choppers-81-Yamaha-xs400-W0QQAdIdZ378495929

 

[New guy]

That's a good looking bike. It should clean up well. As for just putting in a battery and it being good to go, I have high hopes for you and it will probably start...but "good to go"? I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not being cranky, I'm speaking from experience; check out what kind of bike I own, below.

You are right Im sure but I am still basking in the new bike glow! I should curb my enthusiasm but in my mind I am already cruising in the sunshine! Ill take some vids when I get it cleaned up.

 

[HoughMade]

Getting it running is not the hard part...sometimes getting it to idle reliably is. As to that, all I have to say is: