[AUS]: '82 XZ550 Rebuild Thread.

[Brian Moffet]

and the tyre sizes are 120/90 and 100/90 for reference :P

That's what I run on my 1983 Vision.  Metzlers to be exact.

Brian

[Kid Jedi]

I tried those on my 82 and she felt really sluggish. going to run 90/90 on the front and 100/90 on the rear, but might be stick with 4.0

[chrisw]

Mine will have new tyres. Most likely a set of medium compound Shinko's (I love em, except for the wet performance)

either that or scrounge around the shops here for a set of pirelli's

At the moment its running a metzeler front and a brigestone rear. rear is great, but 4 years old. I'd rather not tempt fate.

[Night Vision]

I had one of those Bridgestone Spitfire 120/90's... that's a big tire regardless of the numbers

[chrisw]

yep ;) thats what this one is too.

[Rick G]

Actually, you have the right fork leg assembly on the left side and visa versa.

[chrisw]

Through the fantastic power of an Olympus borescope I have had a good long inspection of the combustion chambers of the XZ550 engine while its out of the bike. Saving a full strip down this is a great method of inspecting the guts of the beast and it only takes a few minutes.

my conclusions of the 42 000km old engine;

1. Its VERY clean, slight oil discoloration as expected but NO coking, NO buildup soot or carbon, its amazingly clean and smooth.

2. NO scoring or damage to the bores / pistons / heads / valves.

3. Everything just looks well.... amazing. the piston design suprised me, a very odd looking domed piston.

The engine basically looks just run in, not 42 000km old! im very impressed.

[Kid Jedi]

did you plastigauge anything? did you check the actual bore diameter?

[chrisw]

well, im sure its well worn, but im talking about the visual inspection :) as per the previous reply I haven't actually stripped it down (and been able to measure). but from the funky borescope with awesome levels of macro viewing power, it looks ALOT better than expected. I was expecting a coked up worn out engine with rust and crud everywhere.

[chrisw]

So I've been busy with work lately, that might change soon as im REALLY after a career change with less stress and more family/friends time, the money isn't great with the current job anyways.

so I had 2 hours spare as I was doing some housework today (removing garbage to the tip to be precise, after 6 bike projects, there was over 90KG of rubbish parts!

just some paint and assembly, not put back together properly, just placed on softly. Still needs to be clearcoated and buffed all over, and no, I haven't fixed those forks yet :P

How it started...


Current State





Next bit to tackle!

[chrisw]

the PURPLE REIGN ... i mean XZ550 is getting there *cough prince cough*

[Kid Jedi]

hey if prince doesn't have to figure out his gender than neither does your bike!

:D

I think the purple looks really nice with the black swing arm, and the silver motor be a great accent. I think it will come together great

[funkamongus]

I do too.. You should polish those rims too!!! and the fork lowers!!!