Restricting a Yamaha xz550 ?

andy_uk · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Karma :

As the title says...

Basically a friend of mine (also on the 2yr 33BHP license) has the chance of a xz550 for £200 (non-runner, needing some work...)
She wants to restrict it but the only kits we've been able to find are from FI International (for silly money!).
Has anyone on here restricted one of these before?
If so, what does it use? (washers, throttle-stop, CDI mod etc)
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Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

For a start, that's a Yamaha XZ550 (or maybe a 400, if it's an import).

And then, make sure you know what you're getting into, before you buy it.

They were universally slated for quirky handling and dodgy electrics and they didn't make many of them, so spare parts could be an issue; do you know why it's a non runner?
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andy_uk · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Karma :

temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

I looked at them a while back.

The source of the issues I think was the alternator-parts are available to fix it. Stator springs to mind. They also have unusual carbs.

Other than that they were ok, and the engine was regarded as a very good unit.

https://www.ridersofvision.net/Technical/technical.html
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P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Probably doesn't make far over that..

Would just either risk it or fit a home made throttle stop by restricting the throttle cable with a fishing weight.

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

^^^ Yep stators (CMSNL list them, only E375 a pop!) and starter motors (NLA).

The carb is a Mikuni downdraught, like a car and almost nothing is available to service them; they used to suffer from a just off idle stutter, which made them interesting at slow speeds.

They had very little front end rake, which gave them quite quick (some would say nervous) steering, but the suspension was too soft, so they would fall into corners, then wallow about; I heard someone describe one once as like riding a water bed.

I think it was one of those bikes that was too expensive and different for it's own good. I'm pretty sure they only sold them here for a couple of years and they weren't a common sight then, I can't remember when I last saw one on the road.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
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Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

andy_uk · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Karma :

Thanks for the replies Smile

I'll hope she decides not to go for it...but if she does, throttle stop it is Wink

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Aprilia Classic 125, GS500E, ER5-A1, ER5-C4, ER6 & an XJ6 project frame...

moonzoomer · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Jul 2012 Karma :

andys675 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Karma :

yamaha's answer to the CX500, full of fail
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twostroketit · Spanner Monkey Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Karma :

I have only ever seen one of these on the road and that was back in 1992. Not Yamahas finest moment.
I do have an old magazine with a road test of on in it, though.
Does anyone remember the DOHC XS400? It looked very similer and was not a sucess either.
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