Yamaha XS650

I used to have one and did allot to and with it. The bikes are getting harder to find the past few years "for a relevant price" as more and more people are realizing the potential these bikes have and the dead simple maintenance they require. Anything in particular you would like to see/find out?
 
Everyone is bobbing the **** out of these bikes. There are forums dedidcated to these bikes. Google is your friend. You can find them pretty cheap at $1500.
 
I owned a 72 XS-2 for a year. Loved riding that bike. Sold it to a friend who caféd the snot out of it.
 
I am looking to do a mild street tracker with my '77, but will have to plan carefully so it does not become all consuming and expensive. I have a complete stock '81 that is now surplus since I found the '77. I will probably get it certified in the spring and sell it.
 
Oh sorry about my reply, thought you were looking for one.

Great engines on the XS. A friend of mine had one in the late '80s that he got from his father, and I think he rolled the odometer 3 times.

My brother in law just bought one already bobbed but I think he got hosed - it was more of a snap decision., and he really wanted it bad.
 
dru9 said:
My brother in law just bought one already bobbed but I think he got hosed - it was more of a snap decision., and he really wanted it bad.
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Yup, there's a lot of crap bobber and cafe abortions for sale out there. Bobbers and chops are all the rage and uneducated buyers are blinded by the cool factor.
 
I had one and roadraced it with RACE then the VRRA. 750 kit, Hi comp Venolia pistons, Carillo rods, custom webb cams with a ton of head work, crank was knifed and polished, and 38mm roundslides. Made 85hp at the wheel. Beat a ton of "newer" bikes with it. Crashed it more times than I could count it was near indestructible. Sold it to a collector in MI many years ago. Would love to have it back. Awesome bike but vibrated like a mofo.
 
kneedragger88 said:
. Awesome bike but vibrated like a mofo.
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Truer words have never been spoken..
Their chassis was sensitive to tire pressures, steering head bearing adjustments etc..not so much if you just putt putt around with their great exhaust note, but if you regularly tested top-end limits..some ended in shorts-dirtying wobbles, and if you were unlucky beyond that, a crash. My cousin can attest to that, and back in the day..no, he was not donning ATGATT..has some lifetime scars to remind him every day how (ultimately) lucky he was. (went off at 80 mph)
 
Love my XS cafe/streetfighter frankenbike :) Hope to find another XS to bob at some point in the future.
 
Gilligan and Lunatic each have one. Gilligan has more in the states and a spare engine sitting around the house haha.
Reserextion cycles turns them into some sweet rides!
 
Lunatic said:
Love my XS cafe/streetfighter frankenbike :) Hope to find another XS to bob at some point in the future.
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Haha you beat me :)
 
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