I finally have time to introduce myself to the forum. A few weeks ago I bought my first ever motorcycle, a 1998 Yamaha XJ600S Seca II.
She is a beautiful machine, but the previous owner(s) had neglected her somewhat. So far I have changed the oil (came out looking like chocolate pudding) and filter, changed the brake fluid (also very dark), rebuilt a leaky petcock, and "fixed" a sticky throttle. All a did for the throttle is take apart the throttle assembly at the handle bar and check the connections there and at the carbs - when I put everything back together, it worked as it should (snapped back every time). My suspicion is that the "decelerator cable nut" at the carb side was too loose, and when I put it back together I tightened it up properly. Thoughts?
Projects I have planned for the near future include:
1. Replace brake pads/check the condition of the calipers
2. Replace fuel lines and filter
3. Overhaul the carbs
4. De-rust and paint my exhaust
5. Install a missing hand grip weight as soon as it arrives (see first picture)
6. Follow the new XJ owners' maintenance guide on this site
A couple of questions for those more knowledgeable than I:
Does this rust on the exhaust look repairable?
Also, what is the probable cause of the damage to this part, and what is this part called? (where you can see the chain through a ragged hole)
This bike has been a blast so far, and I look forward to sharing more of my experiences in the future!
