mmmboost
XS400 Enthusiast
Hey everyone! I've been a lurker here for a little while so I thought I'd finally chuck up an introduction as well as the project I'm working on. <insert obligatory long intro apology>
I'm a gearhead and have been ever since I can remember. My father and I restored a 1969 Beetle when I was a kid and since then, turning wrenches and building things have been a huge passion in my life. I pretty much can't leave anything alone. In 2009 I bought a 2005 Audi A4 Ultrasport that I spent several years building and modifying. (Build Thread Here) But in 2014 someone crashed into me and the car was written off and ever since then there's been a serious void in my life.
I was always into sportbikes as a kid, so when I started riding motorcycles in 2007 that's what I gravitated toward. I started on a 97 Yamaha YZF-600R, rode that for a few years, and then picked up an '07 Suzuki GSX-R600. That being said, I've always had an appreciation for vintage bikes like the old Indians and Nortons. Over the past few years I've been doing some research and drooling over photos of cafe racers and this XS400 happened to just fall into my lap, so I guess this was the universe's way of saying "the time is now."
A couple of weeks ago I picked up a 78 XS400E that's in pretty decent shape.....but definitely not without it's quirks. The engine seems is pretty clean and leak-free which is a good sign, but the bike wasn't running when picked it up. I was assured it does run, but the battery was on it's last legs. I got it home and proceeded to get give it the once over and taking a lot of documentation photos before starting to pull off the stuff that was going in the parts-for-sale pile. My main focus with the bike for this year is to change a few of the cosmetic things that look very dated, but for the most part keep it together and ride it to figure out all of it's quirks and things that I'd like to improve or change. After that nail down a plan and turn this little guy into a unique cafe racer that will be good looking and functional.
And now what you all came for.....the photos.
Overall the carbs were in pretty good shape, but they had a ton of crap in them. I think the owner had the air filters off and a bunch of crap got into the carbs. Good thing the engine wasn't running.
I finally managed to get the bike to start but it was running like crap and backfiring when hot. This led me to believe something with the timing was off. I ended up finding the timing WAAAAY out and the plug gaps were all screwed up too. Got that sorted and now she starts on the first kick
Part of the reason the guy got rid of the bike was because it wouldn't start or run properly.....he just assumed the carbs were messed when it was actually the timing.
Pulled the shocks apart to clean them up. I plan to paint the bodies and ends. Might ditch the chrome caps too. I'm not really a chrome-guy.
And that's where I'm at so far. Hope you guys pop by once in a while to check in on the progress (although it may be slow this year).
I'm a gearhead and have been ever since I can remember. My father and I restored a 1969 Beetle when I was a kid and since then, turning wrenches and building things have been a huge passion in my life. I pretty much can't leave anything alone. In 2009 I bought a 2005 Audi A4 Ultrasport that I spent several years building and modifying. (Build Thread Here) But in 2014 someone crashed into me and the car was written off and ever since then there's been a serious void in my life.
I was always into sportbikes as a kid, so when I started riding motorcycles in 2007 that's what I gravitated toward. I started on a 97 Yamaha YZF-600R, rode that for a few years, and then picked up an '07 Suzuki GSX-R600. That being said, I've always had an appreciation for vintage bikes like the old Indians and Nortons. Over the past few years I've been doing some research and drooling over photos of cafe racers and this XS400 happened to just fall into my lap, so I guess this was the universe's way of saying "the time is now."
A couple of weeks ago I picked up a 78 XS400E that's in pretty decent shape.....but definitely not without it's quirks. The engine seems is pretty clean and leak-free which is a good sign, but the bike wasn't running when picked it up. I was assured it does run, but the battery was on it's last legs. I got it home and proceeded to get give it the once over and taking a lot of documentation photos before starting to pull off the stuff that was going in the parts-for-sale pile. My main focus with the bike for this year is to change a few of the cosmetic things that look very dated, but for the most part keep it together and ride it to figure out all of it's quirks and things that I'd like to improve or change. After that nail down a plan and turn this little guy into a unique cafe racer that will be good looking and functional.
And now what you all came for.....the photos.
Overall the carbs were in pretty good shape, but they had a ton of crap in them. I think the owner had the air filters off and a bunch of crap got into the carbs. Good thing the engine wasn't running.
I finally managed to get the bike to start but it was running like crap and backfiring when hot. This led me to believe something with the timing was off. I ended up finding the timing WAAAAY out and the plug gaps were all screwed up too. Got that sorted and now she starts on the first kick
Part of the reason the guy got rid of the bike was because it wouldn't start or run properly.....he just assumed the carbs were messed when it was actually the timing.
Pulled the shocks apart to clean them up. I plan to paint the bodies and ends. Might ditch the chrome caps too. I'm not really a chrome-guy.
And that's where I'm at so far. Hope you guys pop by once in a while to check in on the progress (although it may be slow this year).
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