Not another car but an old motorcycle: 1976 Yamaha XS650

[Cees Klumper]

For those interested in 2-wheel vehicles, I am documenting my ownership, since two weeks, of a 1976 French blue Yamaha XS650. This was Yamaha's first 4-stroke engine, fashioned after the British bikes of the era. It became very successful and known as the motorcycle the British should have built. Mine has under 5,000 miles and is almost entirely original, but I am looking to change that by using it to commute to work here in Los Angeles, a couple of times a week, and use it for general tooling about town.

http://www.xs650.com/threads/the-blue-76.53275/

[Bonnyboy]

I had one that had a compression release which made kick starting a breeze.  If yours doesn't have one, see if you can find one to retrofit to your bike.   I had mine for a week and got it for a bottle of rum and traded it for a restoration manual for the triumph Twin (By Bacon) which at the time was worth $100.    One of those bikes I should have kept.  I was going to make a flat tracker out of it but restored a 1970 Triumph Tiger instead.   

[Cees Klumper]

Wow, there's a lot to take in from your reply Ian, but the bottle of rum stands out the most for me.
Thanks for the kickstarting tip, I will look into it.

[MikeSimon]

For those interested in 2-wheel vehicles, 

OMG, don't start a motorcycle thread  I will not be able to resist flooding it with responses. I am heavily involved in the 2-wheel hobby, the main reason, my Pagoda has been neglected for the last 20 years....I own 15 motorcycles down from 18 at one time , 6 Hondas, 4 BMWs, 2 Kawasakis, 2 Ducatis and one Harley! 

[Cees Klumper]

Ah well you beat me in numbers MikeSimon, I only have 6 of them.
Yesterday and today been battling the front fork tubes, dismantling is turning out to be quite a chore. At least I managed to change the tires over the weekend with old fashioned tire levers and elbow grease. Tomorrow I will be fabricating a special 'fork tube socket tool' with a 17 mm 6-point socket and my very first angle grinder I just picked up at Home Depot:

[MikeSimon]

As I said, "don't start a motorcycle thread". Maybe not the right place. There is a great forum, which, btw, is set up exactly like this here.
It is dedicated to the Honda SOHC bikes, but they have a section for "other" bikes too and are very tolerant about and interested in other makes and models.

forums.sohc4.net

Give it a try. There are plenty of "experts" in all aspects of motorcycle repair and maintenance, in case you need any help.

[star63]

I also have a XS650. 1979 with about 9000 miles on it. 

[Cees Klumper]

@ MikeSimon - thanks for the tip, will check it out

@ Petri - that's great, all the way in Finland. I bet the riding season is shorter than in California! (I was once in Helsinki in January and boy was it cold)

This evening I managed to get one of the fork bolts loose. By this weekend I will be riding!

[Mike Hughes]

Hey Cees, get yourself some studded tires once you get your fork put back together and you can go ice racing next time you are up there!