SHE LIVES!!!!! Got her up and running Saturday! Muahahaha! I'm a happy camper indeed. Now, just have to get a seat ordered up, bars, new tires and she's ready to ride! I'll be doing a complete tear down, paint and powder coating in a couple months. I just want to ride it for now. Got some exhaust gaskets on order. Might need a new alternator. We'll see as I run it more. But she runs! I was soooooooooo stoked to get it going. I had no idea if she would start or not, so this made me quite happy. She actually runs incredibly well. Sounds like *** right now though without the exhaust gaskets. But she runs very well. Not bad for $150 if you ask me!! I've got a total of $320 in the bike right now.. and that's including the purchase price of the bike. Bled the brakes also, and they work GREAT.

 

I too just picked an '81 XS850 Special.
Paid a bit more than you but it's a strong running bike with only 20K on it, just needs some cosmetic work.
I like the looks of cafe bikes just not sure how comfortable I would be (at 64) bent over all the time.
Good luck with your project, anxious to see the progress.

 

Congrats on the resuscitation. Always a hell of a moment when it turns over the first time and blows all that pesky doubt away.