I basically just rock the bike back and forth in gear, and make sure there isnt too much play in the shaft. Look at the differential oil and see if there are any metal shards in it. Finally, ride it around at high speed, and listen to any whining. A rear diff may sometimes whirr, but it shouldnt whine
I wish CZcams & your channel existed back in '93 when I traded an 81 Malibu for a 82 Kawasaki 550 LTD. Would have saved me a ass load of trouble with the electrics on that thing.
@joedanero Good idea! Checking for a blown head gasket is mentioned in one of my other videos, but you are right they both should be in this series. Perhaps #4 is on its way...
Oh btw some valuable 411. If your still thinking of moving out here to CA with your bike you might want to CYA & contact the California DMV before you move about registering your bike/s here. Everyone I've ever talked to says its impossible to register an out-of-state bike in CA due to the BS smog restrictions here. Even my owners manuel for my 85 Maxim says that only California models have a special charcoal canister that has a line that runs from the gas tank. Just FYI.
Just the original ones. All I did was put on straight bars and new grips, shaved down the tank, painted and pinstriped it, put on a single seat, bobbed the frame, put on new turn signals, blacked out the engine, new sheet-metal side panels, pod filter and rejet the carbs, and did some mechanical repairs. PM me your email and I will send some pics of how it turned out
Hi Max. After careful consideration for doing a fork seal job, there's tools that I just don't have such as a fork seal driver, fork cap tool, HP tool, fork rod holder & fork seal protector bullet, & since its a safety issue I'm not going to take any chances especially since I don't have insurance. I've taken it to Honda motorsports around the corner from me & quoted $435 for both Forks.
@Michiganborn1969 Yeah sounds like those fork seals are starting to go. I would do them both, its not hard, I dont have any videos up but there are a lot of great how-to videos on youtube for fork seals. And thanks for the heads up about registering the bike, its still a year off or more, but we really do need to look into it...
ahha i love how you have all these beat up old bikes that you say you might want to avoid but nevertheless youve bought them in an attempt to salvage them
Well yeah, I always maintain that any motorcycle is repairable, but for new riders buying an old bike, sometimes it might not be worth it. Lots of things go wrong on motorcycles and there are lots of ways that unscrupulous sellers try to conceal those flaws, so Im just trying to level the playing field here for the newer riders just breaking into the hobby
I'm usually scouring craigslist for cheaper bikes, as long as it isn't stolen and has a clean title I usually plan to put time into them. Just more of a hobby for me.
First pull out the spark plugs and look at them. If the tips are black, chances are good you are running rich. To tell if you are jetted properly, first you will need to remove the carbs, and then see what size jets are inside them. Compare that to the stock jet sizes which you can find online or in your repair manual. Finally, consult my other video on how to jet carburetors to see if the new jet size is appropriate for your bike.
Thanks for your educational videos. I just bought a 76 Honda XL350 as my first bike. It's also my first time kick starting a bike. I can do it fine once the engine is warm but having a hell of a time of doing it when the engine is cold. The previous owner was able to get it going cold after 5 or so kicks. I figure it's partially a learning curve on my part to learn how to kick start, but wondering if you would have any other suggestions on getting to kick start easier. Thanks again!
I think it's important to look at the bolts and screws on the engine block for tool marks. If I see strong evidence that someone has worked on the engine I tend to shy away. If the previous owner can't fix a seat release properly, I don't want him touching the engine!
Btw if you ever have to take the rear wheel off a shaft driven bike like my Maxim, see if you can film it. The other YT videos don't get into details or close ups. My Maxim has mag rim & still a lot of meat on the Perellis but would like to know what to do if that day comes I do have to change it out. Just a thought. Thumbs up!
@Michiganborn1969 O yeah shaft drives are way easier, almost no maintenance, very smooth, less dangerous than chains. Only downside is they rob about 3-5hp. And yeah go ahead and make your own vids that would be great, post up a link when you finish.
@Michiganborn1969 OK its actually super easy, a lot of my bikes are shafties and especially if you have a centerstand, doesn't take more than 10 mins. But yeah maybe I'll make a video next weekend.
That would be great. Do you think shafties as you call em are easier then chain drives? Also for what's worth I'm currently editing & working on a video about the 1st time I'm changing the oil on my bike. More the informative, it should also be entertaining b/c I'm going to try something new in my editing. Doing voice over narration with perhaps some music. Got my fingers crossed it turns out ok.
I am getting ready to buy a 1980 Kawasaki KZ750, it has sat for several years without running & It comes with two additional carbs. Any advice on what to check out first?
Can you tell me what to check if the bike does not have a chain? As in what to check in a shaft driven bike? And how to check? Like the Yamaha XJ Seca.
I waana buy a Suzuki Bandit S600, I've watch you're videos and I'm thinking its gonna help me a lot but maybe you have some particular tips for this kind of bike?
Happy 4th Max! Quick question, over this last weekend my Yamaha Maxim started developing a dark greasy ring in the right fork tube about 3" - 4" above the seal cap. I've been finding the front suspension a little spongy & my left turns to be. Little unnerving. Do you think the fork oil seal is ruptured? Is it an easy DIY job & should I replace both left & right seals if only 1 is bad?
Hey man nice vid. One thing. Those levers DO bend when they fall over from the stand. Mine did at the store a few months back. & yes it's cast aluminum. ikr... just be sure to check closer if u see this for body scrapes and even with eyeball fork\handlebar tweak. Thanks i'll sub you bud;)
Most of the time I will put up wanted ads on craigslist for broken down motorcycles. That way I don't usually have to compete with any other craigslist user to get there first, and I can haggle on my own terms
@Michiganborn1969 I know it's 6 months later, but most of the tools can be DIYd, and older forks are easier (and need less specialized tools) than newer ones.
@gladivarious333 Wow thats a ton of miles. Hopefully he took care of it well. I guess just do a very thorough inspection of the bike before buying it, even for such a cheap price, because that is definitely very high miles for a motorcycle
Hello, got a question for you. I bought a 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650 for $1000. It has a kerker 4-1 exhaust system and i think it runs a little rich; the end of the exhaust baffle is covered in black soot and my bro says it lets out a little smoke when I accelerate at full throttle starting at around 60+mph. Is there a way to tell if the carbs were properly jetted? If the carbs are jetted properly, what do you suppose i do? thanks!
can i get some advice im about to check a bike....its a 02 r6 street fighter; it does have a high mileage around 44k and the lowest the owner is taking is $1200; it needs fork seal replaced; and a possible tune up. is it worth it?
I might consider doing that for me another project but my wallet is tied to my current one. 1980 Yamaha sr 250. going to make a little bobber out of it
Hmm not that I can think of, they are really great bikes but my experience with them is fairly limited, perhaps you should get on a suzuki forum and ask around what other owners think
Well, getting the bike in better running condition will allow it to start in fewer kicks, but as for the force required to kick it over, you are probably stuck with that. Look for vacuum leaks, clean the carbs, adjust valves, new spark plugs, that sort of stuff. I have videos up for most of these things
Youre the best man! Ready to look at a potential first bike tomorrow, and now i know what to watch out for. Thanks a bunch!
I basically just rock the bike back and forth in gear, and make sure there isnt too much play in the shaft. Look at the differential oil and see if there are any metal shards in it. Finally, ride it around at high speed, and listen to any whining. A rear diff may sometimes whirr, but it shouldnt whine
I wish CZcams & your channel existed back in '93 when I traded an 81 Malibu for a 82 Kawasaki 550 LTD. Would have saved me a ass load of trouble with the electrics on that thing.
Dude great job.... Some very useful information.... Really enjoying your videos.....
thanks for all the info on all 3 videos
Thanks a million for these post.
Very Good tips.. Thank you
Thanks for the post got a few good tips from your vid. Thanks
@joedanero Good idea! Checking for a blown head gasket is mentioned in one of my other videos, but you are right they both should be in this series. Perhaps #4 is on its way...
another great video. thanks
Oh btw some valuable 411. If your still thinking of moving out here to CA with your bike you might want to CYA & contact the California DMV before you move about registering your bike/s here. Everyone I've ever talked to says its impossible to register an out-of-state bike in CA due to the BS smog restrictions here. Even my owners manuel for my 85 Maxim says that only California models have a special charcoal canister that has a line that runs from the gas tank. Just FYI.
Just the original ones. All I did was put on straight bars and new grips, shaved down the tank, painted and pinstriped it, put on a single seat, bobbed the frame, put on new turn signals, blacked out the engine, new sheet-metal side panels, pod filter and rejet the carbs, and did some mechanical repairs. PM me your email and I will send some pics of how it turned out
Hi Max. After careful consideration for doing a fork seal job, there's tools that I just don't have such as a fork seal driver, fork cap tool, HP tool, fork rod holder & fork seal protector bullet, & since its a safety issue I'm not going to take any chances especially since I don't have insurance. I've taken it to Honda motorsports around the corner from me & quoted $435 for both Forks.
Thanks Max.
I will be seeing one shaft driven bike for myself.
Shall try this and get back should I have a query.
Maniac with a welder LOL that gave me a chuckle, I think that's me haha
@Michiganborn1969 Yeah sounds like those fork seals are starting to go. I would do them both, its not hard, I dont have any videos up but there are a lot of great how-to videos on youtube for fork seals. And thanks for the heads up about registering the bike, its still a year off or more, but we really do need to look into it...
ahha i love how you have all these beat up old bikes that you say you might want to avoid but nevertheless youve bought them in an attempt to salvage them
Well yeah, I always maintain that any motorcycle is repairable, but for new riders buying an old bike, sometimes it might not be worth it. Lots of things go wrong on motorcycles and there are lots of ways that unscrupulous sellers try to conceal those flaws, so Im just trying to level the playing field here for the newer riders just breaking into the hobby
I'm usually scouring craigslist for cheaper bikes, as long as it isn't stolen and has a clean title I usually plan to put time into them. Just more of a hobby for me.
thanks dude.... helped a lot..
First pull out the spark plugs and look at them. If the tips are black, chances are good you are running rich. To tell if you are jetted properly, first you will need to remove the carbs, and then see what size jets are inside them. Compare that to the stock jet sizes which you can find online or in your repair manual. Finally, consult my other video on how to jet carburetors to see if the new jet size is appropriate for your bike.
Thanks for your educational videos. I just bought a 76 Honda XL350 as my first bike. It's also my first time kick starting a bike. I can do it fine once the engine is warm but having a hell of a time of doing it when the engine is cold. The previous owner was able to get it going cold after 5 or so kicks. I figure it's partially a learning curve on my part to learn how to kick start, but wondering if you would have any other suggestions on getting to kick start easier. Thanks again!
I think it's important to look at the bolts and screws on the engine block for tool marks. If I see strong evidence that someone has worked on the engine I tend to shy away. If the previous owner can't fix a seat release properly, I don't want him touching the engine!
Nice, I just made a bobber out of an SR250 I think mine was an 81. I already sold it but you can see it in the beginning of my CX500 video
Btw if you ever have to take the rear wheel off a shaft driven bike like my Maxim, see if you can film it. The other YT videos don't get into details or close ups. My Maxim has mag rim & still a lot of meat on the Perellis but would like to know what to do if that day comes I do have to change it out. Just a thought. Thumbs up!
@Michiganborn1969 O yeah shaft drives are way easier, almost no maintenance, very smooth, less dangerous than chains. Only downside is they rob about 3-5hp. And yeah go ahead and make your own vids that would be great, post up a link when you finish.
@Michiganborn1969 OK its actually super easy, a lot of my bikes are shafties and especially if you have a centerstand, doesn't take more than 10 mins. But yeah maybe I'll make a video next weekend.
That would be great. Do you think shafties as you call em are easier then chain drives? Also for what's worth I'm currently editing & working on a video about the 1st time I'm changing the oil on my bike. More the informative, it should also be entertaining b/c I'm going to try something new in my editing. Doing voice over narration with perhaps some music. Got my fingers crossed it turns out ok.
I am getting ready to buy a 1980 Kawasaki KZ750, it has sat for several years without running & It comes with two additional carbs. Any advice on what to check out first?
Can you tell me what to check if the bike does not have a chain?
As in what to check in a shaft driven bike? And how to check?
Like the Yamaha XJ Seca.
I waana buy a Suzuki Bandit S600, I've watch you're videos and I'm thinking its gonna help me a lot but maybe you have some particular tips for this kind of bike?
thank u so much!!!
Awesome
Happy 4th Max! Quick question, over this last weekend my Yamaha Maxim started developing a dark greasy ring in the right fork tube about 3" - 4" above the seal cap. I've been finding the front suspension a little spongy & my left turns to be. Little unnerving. Do you think the fork oil seal is ruptured? Is it an easy DIY job & should I replace both left & right seals if only 1 is bad?
Hey man nice vid. One thing. Those levers DO bend when they fall over from the stand. Mine did at the store a few months back. & yes it's cast aluminum. ikr... just be sure to check closer if u see this for body scrapes and even with eyeball fork\handlebar tweak. Thanks i'll sub you bud;)
Most of the time I will put up wanted ads on craigslist for broken down motorcycles. That way I don't usually have to compete with any other craigslist user to get there first, and I can haggle on my own terms
Ok, will do.
@Michiganborn1969 I know it's 6 months later, but most of the tools can be DIYd, and older forks are easier (and need less specialized tools) than newer ones.
I was wondering where and how you get all those bikes for cheap.
@gladivarious333 Wow thats a ton of miles. Hopefully he took care of it well. I guess just do a very thorough inspection of the bike before buying it, even for such a cheap price, because that is definitely very high miles for a motorcycle
Hello, got a question for you.
I bought a 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650 for $1000. It has a kerker 4-1 exhaust system and i think it runs a little rich; the end of the exhaust baffle is covered in black soot and my bro says it lets out a little smoke when I accelerate at full throttle starting at around 60+mph. Is there a way to tell if the carbs were properly jetted? If the carbs are jetted properly, what do you suppose i do?
thanks!
if you don't mind me asking, did you use the original rear shocks or ones off another bike?
can i get some advice im about to check a bike....its a 02 r6 street fighter; it does have a high mileage around 44k and the lowest the owner is taking is $1200; it needs fork seal replaced; and a possible tune up. is it worth it?
Yep i guess i am ! Cheers m8!
I might consider doing that for me another project but my wallet is tied to my current one. 1980 Yamaha sr 250. going to make a little bobber out of it
@Chriswitahawk Thanks dude more coming
indeed it has
Hmm not that I can think of, they are really great bikes but my experience with them is fairly limited, perhaps you should get on a suzuki forum and ask around what other owners think
Yeah thats a pretty good price, I think that the motor alone would be worth most of the asking price
The Bone Yard.
hard tail or soft tail?
What about dipping the oil and smelling the oil for petrol/gas thats a good sign the rings are gone!
ToAd_DirtbikeR399 my dad said the best way to tell if there's gas or coolant in the oil is to taste it. Yea, don't recommend that. just smell it lol
So... wanna come hang out and talk down some cafe racer sellers on craigslist this weekend??
I dropped my dirt bike on concrete and my break lever bent like that all the way round
do you buy, repair and resell bikes or are you kinda like me and just like buying cheap bikes for few reasons but having a little extra cash :)
Sounds like a bad starter clutch, or maybe worn teeth on your starter or flywheel. Open up the side case and have a peek
Theres not much profit in it. I buy fix and resell bikes to fund my own personal collection, it keeps me in gas and beer
ka-chunk ka-chunk ka-chunk ka-chuck! mad max any1 ?
nice vid btw
Thanks! Very helpful videos. Like to shake your hand.
@donquixada Haha thanks man
Craigslist, and word of mouth
Well, getting the bike in better running condition will allow it to start in fewer kicks, but as for the force required to kick it over, you are probably stuck with that. Look for vacuum leaks, clean the carbs, adjust valves, new spark plugs, that sort of stuff. I have videos up for most of these things
Absolutely. Lets go make some hipsters cry
Soft. I never intended to keep it, so I wanted something that I would be able to sell
Haha does that make you the Toadie?
@gladivarious333 ..........