Classics

Just put my CT3 back together after a reasonablly comprehensive refurb, and am wondering if I have an earthing problem? The bike starts and works fine and all the electrics work OK..........however, when I put the indicators on the neutral light dims in time with the flashers...likewise if I put the brake light on etc....... thats with the engine running or not. I have tried earthing the battery out to other points on the bike, but no difference. Is it an earthing problem or could it be something else? Or is this normal?

Hi folks. Recently I got myself a 1986 XJ900F (32,000 miles). I love the bike and it rides great. Today I went to start it - the green ignition light dimmed, the red oil warning light came on (Ithink it does that to test the bulb), but the engine did not turn over. Seems plenty of power from the battery (bright headlight). I bumped it and it started straight away and now starts on the button every time. Any ideas what may have happened? Thanks.

Can somebody tell me what's the difference...or differences? I understood that 1J3 is US model '76-77, and 1H2 is an European, same year. There is a plastic rear fender on European model...but what else? I have ordered an oil filter for my 1J3, and got what was listed for 1H2, which is this: http://www.louis.de/_4064009555041105eacead441109eb4153/shop/shop_article_big.php?IMG=10050409_920_10.JPG&zusatz=1&TITLE=100506 from this site: http://www.louis.de/_4064009555041105eacead441109eb4153/index.php?topic=search&searchterm=10050409 But I need something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370428803675…

Hi All....good to be back Thinking of fitting speed bleeders to my brake calipers, but I am bit confused as to what size I need for my xs500b twin front discs. There are a set on ebay- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400047506886&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT which are M8 x1.25, but on yambits the standard bleed nipples are M8 x 1 will I still be able to use the one's with the extra .25 pitch? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XS650-XS500-XS-BLEED-NIPPLE-NLA-YAMAHA-/270727761302?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3f08a1cd96 Thanks in advance.....oh and has anyone used the speed bleeders, any good?

Hi Can anyone help me ,i require gaskets for XS 500 1980 and am having difficulties in finding any, has any one here got any themselves or can put me in touch with the right people.

OK, still working on the bike, turns out i don't have as much free time as i thought. I have a few things i'm trying to diagnose so i can fix them. 1. Timing. I went and checked it the other day, spot on, tightened the screws on the plate, still spot on. I take a spin around the block to see how it's riding, then check again, way advanced (this is all at idle when i'm checking, so the advance cam shouldn't be on). I adjust, and have the plate rotated as far as it can go, and it's still not quite where it needs to be. It's running much better now, but i'm concerned that it's as far turned as it can get, and is still not right. picture below shows where the mark…

I'm trying to reset everything on my bike, but i'm having some issues with the timing. I've got a timing light, but i'm having issues with the markings on the rotor. The markings don't match what the factory manual shows. can someone point out which markings are which on this rotor?

Hello all, I'm new here, just picked up a 1975 Xs500...I don't know why. We got it for the wife to learn on. The bike starts, will run but won't idle. It promptly dies if you let go of the throtle. Its not in bad shape for being 30+ years old but I have a mound of work ahead of me. I think it has the original tires!! Any tips, tricks, warnings, condolances will be greatly appreciated, thanks

I picked up a 76 XS 500 a while ago and I finally have it to the point where I'm trying to get it running. The previous owner took everything apart to "clean it" and I don't think he really new what he was doing! To get to the point, it appears that everything was removed under the points cover and put back on carelessly. I can't get it to fire up but it almost seems that it's 180 off, if that makes sense. The info I can find is very limited and I can’t find a shop manual for it. My question is where do I set the main plate to? After the plate is set, where do I adjust the right point plate to - there are a few "dots" and some marks on the right point plate, and the left …

hi. i am currently rebuilding a xs 500d 1979 model. the engine is back in the frame and every thing turns smoothly until i try to kickstart it. the engine feels incredably tight and whilst kick starting it the engine seems to engage a gear and it is then hard to get back to neautral.there is no clutch cable on it as yet so i was thinking do you have to pull the clutch in to make it easier to kick start or is something not put together right. any advice would be welcome. thanks

Just bought a xs500b off Craigslist. The psot read Engine Stuck, Needs Everything. I paid $150. Everything is rusted or locked up. I will take any tips or advice. My first goal is to get the engine free. Updates to follow.

What is the difference between a RD 400 and the Daytona Special? are the motors the same, could they be interchangeable, I know they have different frames and the skins are different. I have a RD400 complete and I have a Daytona Special frame with a wire harness seat and all the skins all I need are the forks front wheel and motor, Could this be done. Thank You

So I picked up a 74 YZ80 and am trying to make sure the numbers agree with years. The listing I see shows the 74 as the 1st year of the YZ80 (462xxxxxx serial number). Does anyone have any other information on this. If this is the 1st year is there anything special about it? Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, I bought a non-running TX500 for almost nothing, and my boyfriend and I are going to do all the work of restoring it ourselves. Besides replacing broken parts (already ordered) getting new tires (no way am I going to trust these ones) doing routine maintenance, and repainting, is there anything else we should probably do? We'll have the engine apart because it's seized, so if we can make any improvements while we're in there, we might as well. I don't care about increasing the performance. I am thinking in terms of reliability first, fuel economy second. I read some article about the 750cc version which said you shouldn't go above 4000 rpms in spite of the h…

So I picked up this beast locally for a few hundred bucks. Overall in good shape, just needs a good cleaning and a thorough going over... This is the first bike that I will be attempting to do all the work on myself. I am very mechanically inclined and look at this as a fun project to get it in as good of shape as possible, by spending as little as possible on stupid things (Read as, mistakes) To start, I need to know if the clutch adjustment screw is universal, so far, everyone I asked, has no idea, so I come to you guys and gals. This bike was missing the whole screw assembly at the handlebar, so the clutch was useless to me. (Had to truck it home) The exhaust w…

Hi I am trying tofind out about a yamaha rd 50 lc 1983 that i have bought ,it needs parts but cannot find anywhere to buy them.can anyone tell me where the bike came from as i have searched google with no luck of tracking another one.I really need helpon this one.hope to hear from someone soon.. Thank you..

After a bit of advice please, just purchased a 1984 DT80-MX (picci attached hopefully) to renovate. My question is, is the yellow frame / black tank colour scheme a factory option (please tell me it isnt) if not what should the frame colour be. Thanks in advance. Stuart

Hello guys, i have a 73 TX500, i'm looking to change both my tach and speedo to a smaller mini gauge set up. My question is what raio speedo do i need to use. 1:1 OR 2:1 or maybe something different? also will any aftermarket tach be the same as long as the cable fits? Or is there a certain ratio i need to use? Thanks for any advice you have.

Hello again, My friend is emigrating to Australia this month & has given me much of his old bike related stuff. However there are a couple of items that I can't 100% identify the exact Yamaha models that they are off. I would like to know so I can list them & get some money together to give to him. Firstly there is a Petrol Tank, I think it's a YAS3 my mate thinks it's YDS3 (surely not !?) Could some of you "old" (or young) boffins please help me to ID it so I can list it properly.

Rotary Valve two-stroke with 3-cylinders in a V configuration (2 horizontal...1 vertical) @ 20,000 rpm it made 19 BHP. So how to keep it in it's powerband of 1200 rpm? a fourteen speed gearbox ..each piston 16.6 cc what is it? The amazing Suzuki RP 68 50cc Grand Prix Triple 380 BHP/Liter...40 years ago