New to site and have some questions about a new project

okay I'll start by saying I am new to the site and also these bikes. I apologize if I ask obvious or stupid questions but it's all new for me

Little background I've been planning a garage project bobber build for a couple months now..was looking for bikes to do a complete chop project and just happened across a basically already built bike that just needs a lot of touch up work..and that I also plan on changing a lot just already has wiring and hardtail done (I'll attach a image if I figure it out)

The bike is kinda a crigslist mystery talked the guy down ALOT and didn't really ask to many questions..fired it up looked it over for about three minutes and put it in my truck and left. (Won't say what I paid But it was about the cost of buying a tc tail kit and paying someone to weld it on for the whole bike)

Now..the bike is titled as a 1982 xj550r
Most of the 550s I see have 4 carbs? Mine has two.
Why?

Also is there a way to find a number on the engine to see what it is?

The rear tire axle seems too short for the tail kit on the bike..is this common for the stock to not fit correctly? I removed the tire because it's flat and need to get it repaired and when I did the arms came out a good inch or more

I have a lot more questions that I'm going to search more on before I ask..I don't use forums much but I'm sure there will be someone who will post a link and teach me the magic of the search tool I get it. Honestly for these questions I wasn't finding anything and also..I plan on using this site a lot in the upcoming months and just want to make myself known and get o know some people.

It's day 2 of owning this thing and I've been at work for 24 of the 48 hours I've owned it. I've managed to get it in my garage and remove the rear wheel that's about it.

Thank you in advance for reading my n00b post and getting a headache because of my questions.

 

Considering theirs only 2 banks, along with the side covers, and kick start, I'd venture to say this is an xs motor in your bike. Can't speak much more on it, but I own a 550 and can confirm its 100% not a xj550 motor.

 

Yea for all I know this thing is a xs just with a donor title from a similar bike

 

I'd agree with that. I can't see anything that resembles an XJ model from your picture. Nothing about the frame, engine, wheels or forks speaks anything of an XJ bike, even for a 'custom' XJ.

 

Seems safe to assume it's a donor title..so now to find markings and figure out exactly what it is

 

Xjs have a short Vin stamped on the case by the crank case side of bike. This would be near your kickstart. I can speak nothing on the xs models but would assume theirs a stamping somewhere on the case that can be deciphered. This would help you determine the engine, it could have been jammed in another frame,. But it looks like an xs with a TC Bros hard tail.

 

I'd say that's most definitely an XS. How big of an XS is yet to be determined. I have a few close friends that have them. PM me if you have any more questions, if I can't answer them myself, they most assuredly can. Looks like a neat project though. That's my ideal next project.

 

vin number should be stamped into the head stock for the frame
looks nice needs a front brake.
as far as the arms moving out you will need to get some spacers made to take up the space exhaust pipes
motor size may be stamped on jugs if front between exhaust pipes

75 xs500b maybe. can you post left and right motor sides
76 xs500c

do not know where the spoke wheels come from
this may be it
73 74 TX500A comes with spoke wheels

 

http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2015/12/14/77-yamaha-xs500-relic-motorcycles.html


this loks more like your bike
https://rocket-garage.blogspot.com/2010/12/xs-500-flat-track.html

 

Oh boy a mystery it could be a 500 (Yamaha did make them) or a 650 or 750 ... you will have fun figuring out parts for it till you figure out just what it is. Since it is a twin this why you only have 2 carbs!!! .

 

...and 2 exhaust pipes. I would be concerned about the title, considering the shady behavior of the seller, and the title not matching the bike. You should probably make sure it's legal before spending any money on the bike. It would suck to spend time and cash restoring a bike you can't license!

 

Thanks everyone for the responses...I'll get some numbers off it tonight and post them here..is it safe to assume a lot of the older Yamaha motors are pretty easily interchangeable on frames?

 

Doug, compare the VIN on the title to the VIN on the fork tube. If the numbers match, you're fine. The TUBE is considered to be the bike. Whatever number is on the tube will determine what the title will be for.

If numbers are different, you'd have two things to hope for:

1. Look the frame over and see if there is a 'reassigned' number tag
2. You don't get pulled over or have an accident

Fwiw, there was also a virago (XV) 500.......

 

But virago 500 was a vtwin... His is parallel.

I just looked at op's picture again. No front brake. Why would someone choose 70% less braking force? Are looks more important than life, cuz without brakes, you'll probably be an ugly, messed up corpse!

 

douglife,

Be careful with this bike......it looks very dangerous......I am not here to burst your bubble.....but this looks like something from the 1920's .....a motorized bicycle.......

You will definitely wind up with hemorrhoids by driving this one......your life is more important than fixing up this hacked up XS Special from the '70s.........

I don't think you are going to be able to register or drive this bike the way it is now.....

Cut your losses now..........

Not sure what your budget is......but there is a lot of nicer XJ's out there that you can bob if that is what you really want......

I am sorry...just being honest......This forum would like for you to be on some bike that is much safer & reliable.....

 

old school bobbers had no front brakes this bike is should have disc brakes up front

if it is a 500 it looks like a TX500 not even an xs but the truth is in the frame number. motor covers look TX in the parts diagrams
link TX500A

you may have a good case for fraud and be able to get your money back. your leverage will be having him arrested for theft by fraudulemt means
if your state does not require titles and will do bill of sales DMV should be able to tell you what bike it is with vin then get a bill of sale from him it will be a short vin due to being a 70's bike

 

This thing looks scary!!! Maybe I'm just old?

 

I get the whole safety thing and it's not going to be comfortable and all that..but this is classic hardtail build style on this and it's what I wanted to do..it's not going to be a daily or anything it just more of a thing to have and ride short rides on..

Everyone that says it looks dangerous I'm just wondering if you see something different about this set up opposed to me buying another bike and chopping the frame for a hardtail? It would turn out to be the same thing..I have no intentions on riding the bike the way it is it's still project

The reason I bought this one was the price and the fact the hardtail actually looks very well done..I'm not too worried about the donor title aspect of it

 

I agree, it looks like a decent chop. Looks like a TC Bros weld up kit. Hard to see the welds from here though. I'd sand though all the welds and be sure things are done right though. I'd ride it like I stole it if I was sure everything was kosher.

I do think I'd throw a brake on the front. I love a good bobber but it's not worth it, not with stupid people on the road. A lot of braking comes from the front.

You stated it's a project, and if the welds are solid and everything's straight then yes you're ahead of the game as opposed to starting from scratch.

I can't stress enough to just make sure it doesn't look good but it is good. I've seen hack jobs with putty in the welds; Don't be that guy. Stick around in the 'other motorcycles' area of this page. I'd love to see where this bike goes.

 

Front brake is in my plans for sure..and I plan on having the frame stripped and repainted also so I will check all the wends then..he bike may also end up with rear disk if I change wheels

I'll stick around

 

your fork s are set up for dual disc

 

From the xs forum a guy says he's sure it's a xs500

 

What ever came from searching for Vin Numbers on the frame neck and also case Vin?

Seen plenty of people call an XJ a certain model only to have the VIN say something different. The VIN does not lie.

 

Yea this frame has been hrdtailed and painted no vin anywhere only numbers I can find are 371004188 matching frame and neck

 

What about numbers on engine

 

I keep thinking of the intro to that Iron Maiden song:
"Let him with understanding recon the number of The Beast, for it is a human number, and the number is six hundred and sixty six."
If you needed a name for your project, there you go, it's The Beast.

 

Same number on engine 371004188

 

See.. 371 is a tx500 model, not an xs. At least from a quick search.

I think we're avoiding the elephant in the room of the wrong title.

 

As I said before, compare the number on the tube with the number on the title. do those match??!!??

 

I know that.... But if the title indicates it should be a 500, or the head tube indicates it should be a 500----AND........ The numbers aren't matching the engine, then there are several 500's that the tube MIGHT have come from..XS, XV, etc...... That's all I was saying

 

that is your vin number pre 81 they were all short

 

371 is what I see on ebay motors being sold as TX500 the side covers of the motor TX

title issue depends on if it is needed in his state a simple bill of sale and vin check may be all he needs
poster is willing to register his title and ride as is

 

thats right because you can weld anything to the headstock tube and that is what it becomes.
want to turn your Yamaha into a harley just pick up a wrecked harley frame and weld in the headstock and you got a ..............

 

http://www.cyclerestorer.com/pages/show_man_serial_num.php?sort_field=4&manufacturer=Yamaha

I seem to have started quite the thread lol

I'll say it again..I don't care what the bike is..I'm not going to be upset if I find out it's a 500 or that it has a donor title..I'm not going to try and return it..craigslist doesn't have the best return policy..and I'm not going to cry over a couple hundred dollars I could part it out and make money on it..I'm just trying to figure out what I have lol

The link I posted is a serial number site that I found that lists 371 on xt500 xs500 and xs650 maybe more that I missed im not sure

He bike as it sits will not be ridden..it's a winter garage project and registering it I'm not worried about .. if it is a 73 xt500 then great where I live anything 73 and older is easy

The rear wheel on the bike does not seem like it was made for it so I'm guessing it's a modified 650 hardtail kit on it .. idk of this helps at all but it is a 18 rear and 19 front wheel

Engine number and frame number match..no other markings on frame

 

Your dedication to the bike is admirable. I do not think that we could talk you off of this project if we tried, and I don't think any of us is trying. We're just warning you of difficulties you may face going forward. Guys have spent hours and dollar on bikes that they later find they can't get titles for. No one wants a bike that they can only ride if they out run the cops! Especially without the brakes! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

I know a lot of guys on here that will try and persuade you to go a different route.. those same guys will be the first to give you the most detailed and accurate information to how to fix a problem from you avoiding their initial advise.

Dont let any of our nagging deter you from what you want. At the end of the day, it's solid advise even if you don't want to hear it. Take it with a grain of salt, if you can make it through the initial bumps then you're in the clear. The amount of experience here can't be matched anywhere else. I will tell you to heed everything you hear, especially getting the bike title sorted. We could all care less what you do, but we don't want you to throw money at something to have the DMV say it's not legal. Obviously riding dirty is always an option, but if it's a correctable issue, why but let us help you address it?

 

Yea I mean I'm gunna give it a go..the bikes not going to take much money to get going..it starts right up and seems to run pretty well..I bought it more for the project of it than the actual finished product

As for the title .. it's whatever I'll figure it out..register it as a custom if I have to..if it turns out to be a 73 then no problems..quick eBay searches show tons of parts for the 500s and they are all cheap.. we will see! I'll keep updates coming on here or move it to the other bikes thread as previous stated

 

I already planned on taking a DMV trip this week..we will see..I'm going to have them run the frame number and see if it pops up as a 73 first

 

I love the bike. I see a lot of potential in it, bobbers aren't for everyone and that's just fine with me. Can't wait until we're talking about mods and not semantics.

 

Wait, this is a semantics forum, isn't it?

 

go to www.partzilla.com and look up tx500 look at diagrams you will find your forks are tx style. xs has calipers mounted(mounts) on rear of tubes your tx has them on front of tubes.
then look at engine side covers tx is the style you have xs is completly different.
look at wheels tx spoked xs no spokes.
as far as the wheels and hard tail you will need to make spacers to center tire on rim and aline it with the front sprocket. just make sure your axle is long enough.
or tweek the hard tail to fit properly

DMV should be able to tell you what it is and year

 

parts listed 1974 tx500a (xs came out in 1975, tx500 73 and 74)
rear tire you can click the blue for pics
34.00-18 DUNLOP | M5-049[/paste:font]

rear rim
5RIM 2.15X18[/paste:font]
94421-18049-00

front rim
RIM 1.85X19
94418-19059-00

front tire
325H19Y986SPEDMSTR
94132-19357-00
your bike will look nice when finished maybe they will let you register it as an antique and it will not have to pass inspection. where i live that is how it is just have to put it in a show once a year