Engine Paint Color

kd4eqt · Posted: October 12, 2005, 1:11 pm Post subject: Engine Paint Color

'83 Heritage Special that I am trying to clean up and make look as good as possible. Question is what were the stock paint colors for this bike of the engine, the cylinders, carbs and the engine side covers. On mine it looks like the engine/trans was black with unpainted/polished side covers. The cylinders were unpainted and the carbs were black. It looks like it has been spray bombed so it's hard to tell what was what in the beginning. I've seen original pictures/ads that show some all unpainted and some combinations of black and unpainted, I assume this depended on the year and model.

Thanks for any info,
Tony

Borris · Posted: October 13, 2005, 1:08 am Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

My Herritage Special has black cylinders, heads and carbs. My side/case covers were at one time polished. The previous owner let the cleaning and polishing go so it don't look to "Special" at the moment.

insulinboy · Posted: October 13, 2005, 1:13 am Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

It depended on the model.. not neccisarily the year.. Yamaha made all the XJ's and XS's with either standard (the unpainted ones) or Midnight special (black with gold highlights) hope that helps in some way

kd4eqt · Posted: October 13, 2005, 8:27 am Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

Thanks, I think I'll go with black everything except the side covers if I can get them polished. Got it torn down to a bare frame right now so as soon as I can get it blasted and some fresh paint on I'll start putting parts back together.

xs650mike · Posted: October 16, 2005, 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

The '82 Heritages (XS650SJ) have black powder coated engine cases and carbs. Cylinders and heads were black with the edges of the fins on the sides of the barrels ground to metal. The coating on the heads and barrels is not durable, it wears off quickly. I believe it is actually a chemical blackening or something. It will be blasted off the front of the motor the first time you ride in the rain. The SJs have black painted fenders, fork legs, headlamp shell, turn sigs, license mount, shock caps and headlamp ears. On the '83 Heritage Special (XS650SK) the engine treatment is the same but the fork legs are polished and the fenders, turn sigs, headlamp shell, headlamp ears, shock caps and license mount are all chromed. Badges on tank and side covers are chrome on both models. The valve adj. covers are polished and the cap nuts and oil supply tube are chrome, just like all XS650s. HTH.

xs650mike · Posted: October 16, 2005, 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

Forgot to mention, tank and sidecovers on both models are "New Yamaha Black". I saw somewhere that the SK was also available in "Ruby Red" but I've never seen one or heard of anyone who has.

xs650mike · Posted: October 16, 2005, 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

Here's a pic of an '82 Heritage that is stock except for handlebars. i13.photobucket.com/al...45bb50.jpg

kd4eqt · Posted: October 17, 2005, 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

That does clear up alot. I had seen several pictures with the fins bare and wasn't sure if it was painted that way or had just worn off. I have reduced my bike down to a frame and a box of parts, so as soon as I can get the frame blasted and clean I'll start putting on new paint. I'm not trying to be a fanatic on making everything original but wanted to keep it as close as possible.

Tony

xs650mike · Posted: October 17, 2005, 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

Looked around and found an image of an XS650SK Heritage Special, looks to be bone stock down to the handgrips.

Too bad it's so small but it'll give you an idea.

xs650mike · Posted: October 17, 2005, 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Paint Color

Except for the turned out mufflers!

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650