XS650

[Jon_P]

I had one of these five years ago, i sold it and wished i never did. My local salvage yard that i got my R65 from had it up on ebay for sale at a $1 a cc! so for a whole $650 i got a new stable mate. this one will also go under the sawzall like the R65. This one will get a hardtail bobber treatment, i just could take a old brit iron and chop it so this is the next best thing to a trump or beezer. i will post some pixs when i get her home.

[NC Steve]

I loved those old XSs, did a lot of my earliest street riding on the things.
Are you familiar with either of these sites?

http://www.650motorcycles.com/

http://www.650central.com/

These bikes have quite a cult following, close to 30 years later: pretty rare for the Japanese sleds!
Good luck on the project, and keep us posted. Lots of pics, please!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Jon_P]

the kz900, cb750 and xs650 would be the big three i would say. never had a cb750.

these xs650 have really come back as the jap twin to do a chopper on. look at ebay and 3 out 5 xs650 are choppers.

i bought it because even if all i do is clean the carbs i could resell it for at least twice what i bought it for. i really would like to have another chop so thats what is will be. mostly a hot rod look bobber, but i wont do the rims red. make it as simple a machine as i can make it.

[NC Steve]

Here's a couple pics of an old school BSA ratbobchop I saw recently. Give you any ideas?




What year's this XS, and is it an early model with the drum front brake?
You're right too, there's a bunch of these that've been made into chops, or better yet, some pretty serious flattracker-type cafes.

Have fun, & good luck! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[dewjantim]

Hey Steve, didn't I see that baddassed choppa and lead sled in "The Horse"....Dew.

[NC Steve]

Hmmm, that's possible, I guess, since The Horse folks come here every year for their
Smoke-Out", Smoked-Up", whatever deal.
I took those at the annual Heavy Rebel Weekend in July, though, our local Rockabilly/Car/Bike/Beerfest thing downtown.

Here's a very slow-loading link to lots more pics, if anyone's interested...

http://www.loserville.net/smf/index.php?topic=7272.0

Meanwhile, Jon, how comes the XS650: any progress to report yet??

[Jon_P]

sorry, lets see. we moved to a larger house with a large garage/shop. and a new job have keep me busy for the last couple months. i just about got my side of the garage set up for the bikes (my side wont ever see my car! LOL) in fact i am going to be diggin out the xs frame today. i torn it down a week or so after i got it so it is ready to start. now i have to start.

i am lucky that i have spoke rims with a disc front and a drum rear so it will look clean and still be able to stop. that is one thing i just wont give up, breaks! got to have some good stoppers.

i want to work on trying to build some fork covers for the upper fork tubes like the old trumps had. make it simple as i can. i still have to get some materials but that wont take much.

[thrang]

Never had much luck with Yam's and the only XS650 I ever rode obviously did not like me as it showed how much it loved me by busting my collar bone when I dropped it pushing... yes pushing... it up the back lane in Sunderland!

Did like my 350 elsie though... but if I'd kept it I doubt if I would have seen my 22nd birthday!