Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted January 16, 2011 06:19 PM
Garage find!!!!
For about 3 years now on a road I sometimes cut through to go to a friend of mines house I have noticed the rear taillight of a dual sport bike sitting in the back of a garage. I never new what it was because I could only see the rear. Anyway, Today I was on my way home and cut through and saw the people that live in the house were raking leaves and the garage door was open. I pulled up and asked about the bike and if they wanted to sell it. The owner said yes but it had not been ridden in 6 years. We pulled some boxes off of it and moved some more junk to get it out and it is a 1991 Yamaha XT600. White and red. A little over 1800 miles on the odometer. Of course the carbs you know are gummed up (it has 2). inside of the tank was not rusty and looked clean. Other than being dirty it looks in pretty good shape. It will need a battery and it's has some fading on the seat. Needs a good cleaning. the fork boots are torn from age and one of the fork seals is leaking, has the factory dual sport tires on it and the chain and sprockets look good. It does not have a Kick starter but I put it in high gear and rocked it back and forth to make sure the motor was not locked up. It has front and rear disc brakes. He told me he would take $500 for it but I talked him down to $300. Clear title so when I get it going I will be able to ride it to work. Pics tomorrow because it got dark on me before I got it to the house. Anyone ever rode one? do they have decent power?
  
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ZX14Mike
Zone Head
Posts: 891
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posted January 16, 2011 07:42 PM
I never thought the big dual purpose bikes had decent power I would guess between 30-34 horsepower They make about the same power as a 125 2stroke with alot more torque and alot smoother power with real long gears, definately a wide ratio transmission........but they also weigh 150 pounds more than a 125 2 stroke.
You paid a good price for it but I think the power wil feel tame to you.......you can wheely in 1st or clutch it up in 2nd and maybe even 3rd but I always thought XT 55o's and 600's lacked power and were kinda boring.
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted January 16, 2011 07:47 PM
 Edited By: Big_T112 on 17 Jan 2011 03:47
That sucks, But it looks decent and has low miles. I will give it a try and see what it feels like. Then sell it if it's that weak. I hpe it does mot have one of those stupid Yamaha 5 valve heads. That was the best thig that ever happened to the R1 was when they went to the 4 valve head.
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Bigbore4
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted January 16, 2011 07:56 PM
As silly as the 5 valve was, you could still get a shitload of power out of them. Yammy's got a lot of experience with making oddball configurations. Not sure if you know this, but they built the heads for the ford Tauras SHO engines.
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted January 16, 2011 08:14 PM
I did know that. should have built the trans to. The later automatic ones were horrible to fail. 5 valves, It makes adjusting the valves a pain on the streetbikes with 20 valves. the single cylinder like the 660 had screw type adjusters. In the 700 they went to the 4 valve head. I can't tell you how many R1's I have had to rebuild due to the clutch dust/fibers stopping up the pickup. If you dragrace a Yamaha, clean the screen everytime you replace the clutch plates!
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Bigbore4
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted January 16, 2011 08:41 PM
Yup,
Ford AOD's were just about the biggest piece of junk made, next to the chrysler stuff.
The old C4's and 6's were good, but when they went to the od they got all f'd up. Should've used a gm.
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CraigChrist
Pro
BAWLS
Posts: 1043
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posted January 16, 2011 09:13 PM
don't forget the 700R4. those things will grenade if you even think about pulling a trailer with them lol. we had a 94 Z71 blazer and it lost a transmission pulling a tiny little trailer with a kawasaki mojave through the hills of oklahoma. Gones are the days of the C4, C6, TH350 and TH400...
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60ft-------1.42
1/8th------5.97
mph-------119
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Bigbore4
Zone Head
Posts: 806
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posted January 16, 2011 09:49 PM
Actually, the r4 did have some issues, but gm got them way sorted well before anyone else. When they went to the 4L60 and the 4L80 things were good. The 80 is basically a 400 with all the bells and whistles.
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Hellmutt
Needs a job
Posts: 2013
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posted January 17, 2011 06:28 AM
Nice find!! good luck with it and once she's road/trail worthy, post up some pics!!
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British flying couch with endtables and an orange thumper
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted January 17, 2011 08:29 PM
OK I got it running this evening and it's tall geared. Sounds like it has a lot of Cam chain noise also but maybe that's from setting up all those years. The steering head bearings need to be greased as it is stiff to turn which makes it handle bad. It is pretty smooth and will easily hit 85 mph. I really didn't try to wheely it with the stiff neck bearings. The battery is weak and jumped off but will need to be replaced. . Good brakes. I got to clean it and take a few pic's. I think this one will go up for sale.
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted January 18, 2011 08:41 AM
go tear up some trails
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2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted January 18, 2011 07:13 PM
I am this weekend. I got to go get me a Wal-Mart Battery first. I bet it would be hard to push this thing off in the dirt.
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Edgecrusher
Expert Class
Posts: 256
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posted January 19, 2011 05:07 AM
Sounds like the perfect commuter. I would keep it if it were mine. Ride the hell out of it. Make some aluminum boxes on the back and tear it up on the way to and from work.lol
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14black
Expert Class
Posts: 280
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posted January 19, 2011 09:17 AM
Edited By: 14black on 19 Jan 2011 17:17
Sounds like a nice find and nice price paid - always liked those old XTs. I've had 5 or 6 Duals over the years, and they were always fun/versatile/comfy bikes. Post some pics!
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted January 19, 2011 06:38 PM
I will, I just have to get home earlier than "way past dark" I am going to clean it up and then post up some pictures.
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