Purplezinger
XS650 Addict
After yesterday's ride 29640. That works out to 1000 miles per year for 30 years.
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Who has the most and least miles on their XS650
- Thread starter XS771
- Start date
blue900
XS650 Addict
Received as a Gift in spring of 2005, 1981 special with 12,000, with miles flat tires, leaky seals, rusted exhaust, White paint over spray drops every where and several other problems. My friend was tired of paying the shop to work on it, had the front tire go flat and layed it down lightly and injured his ankle so lost interest, It had sat for 2 years or so.
He said the dealer offered him $200 trade in on his Honda V45 and he turned them down, and later gave to me, if I would fix it.
I checked Mileage tonight 45500 miles.
I have used it as a daily ride for the around 5 months of riding here in South-East Idaho from the spring of 2006. Daily work commute 50miles total. I ride as much as I can, most all miles are work and back. I have done some fun group rides, day trips of around 300 miles
I thought several times the engine was not going to survive my limited knowledge . It has been hot enough it would just die coming off the interstate, several times in the first 4 years as I was trying to learn about this thing. I was so worried I bought the next bike that came along in 2009, thinking, not if but when my engine had a problem I could still use all the parts and knowledge I have purchased and gained.
Engine has not been opened, Original cam chain and includes some black plastic and aluminum in the side filter at every oil change, the Head gaskets need done sometime as the right side is seeping some especially at the end of the 1000 mile oil change interval. Will do the tensioner and cam chain also. Stock charging and ignition system have worked fine. I have even added AroStich Velco hand warmers they work fine, no more frozen hands! (Note LED Tail Light)
Ride on!
He said the dealer offered him $200 trade in on his Honda V45 and he turned them down, and later gave to me, if I would fix it.
I checked Mileage tonight 45500 miles.
I have used it as a daily ride for the around 5 months of riding here in South-East Idaho from the spring of 2006. Daily work commute 50miles total. I ride as much as I can, most all miles are work and back. I have done some fun group rides, day trips of around 300 miles
I thought several times the engine was not going to survive my limited knowledge . It has been hot enough it would just die coming off the interstate, several times in the first 4 years as I was trying to learn about this thing. I was so worried I bought the next bike that came along in 2009, thinking, not if but when my engine had a problem I could still use all the parts and knowledge I have purchased and gained.
Engine has not been opened, Original cam chain and includes some black plastic and aluminum in the side filter at every oil change, the Head gaskets need done sometime as the right side is seeping some especially at the end of the 1000 mile oil change interval. Will do the tensioner and cam chain also. Stock charging and ignition system have worked fine. I have even added AroStich Velco hand warmers they work fine, no more frozen hands! (Note LED Tail Light)
Ride on!
wesleyonoel
XS650 Addict
- Messages
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- Reaction score
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- 43
As of yesterday, my bone stock '73 TX shows 15245 miles on the odometer. Bought it at a going out of business auction for an antique store in a small MT town - of all things! Had a few problems (carbs, charging system) but got them sorted out......eventually.
I have a lot of Xs650's pass through here, the great majority show 10K to 30K miles on the clock. Less than 10K is more common than more than 30K Which I think mainly speaks to the original purchaser and my location in the upper midwest. 5 months of decent riding weather. Xs650 were low dollar bikes usually bought by a fence sitter wanted a to TRY a motorcycle but not sure how much use they would get out of it. Typically bought, rode off and on for a few years then one spring when it wouldn't start, it starts that slow trip to the back of the shed, garage, barn. Till decades later I find it. And I get em going and send em on to a new home where I think often as not the cycle repeats or it gets cut into a custom that NO ONE could put a lot of miles on. I did hear of a German? I think that puts serious miles on an XS, he has developed an overhaul schedule and has an extensive blog on the care and feeding of an XS650.
I think the highest miles bike I have is a 70 with 32K miles engine is stuck it was dragged out from behind a shed somewhere. I spend way more time wrenching than riding, 2-3K a year is typical for me. To much of my road mission involves freight or relatives that require car, van, or pick up. I now have three licensed bikes and my wife has one too. AND I play musical plates to boot. Straight up just riding around don't flip my switch that much. I just put 60 miles on the 79 standard yesterday,my first "real ride" on it, it shows 20K. It was a project when I got it and has lots of cosmetics and improvements to go but it ran great on the back roads.
I think the highest miles bike I have is a 70 with 32K miles engine is stuck it was dragged out from behind a shed somewhere. I spend way more time wrenching than riding, 2-3K a year is typical for me. To much of my road mission involves freight or relatives that require car, van, or pick up. I now have three licensed bikes and my wife has one too. AND I play musical plates to boot. Straight up just riding around don't flip my switch that much. I just put 60 miles on the 79 standard yesterday,my first "real ride" on it, it shows 20K. It was a project when I got it and has lots of cosmetics and improvements to go but it ran great on the back roads.
Nickyd
XS650 Enthusiast
Whats considered 'A lot" of miles for an XS650? i picked one up recently, its a 1981 XS650 SII with 13000miles. a leak which im trying to sort out, other then that i don't see any thing else wrong at the moment. i don't know how the PO was but if i take care of it is 13000 a big deal or with this run a lot longer? and another off topic question.. im new to bikes lol. is it possible to get an engine re build if at some point it did just stop working? can you have someone go throw it and make it like new?
Thanks guys!
Thanks guys!
13K is in the low miles category. Read up on head bolt re-torque and push rod seal replacement. Just read in tech for a while, here's a good start. Straight up; the XS650 is kind of old for someone with no mechanical knowledge or no desire to learn. A total rebuild should be a long way off for you if you read and follow the advice in the tech section. Advice is gladly given on the forums if you ask and give details about what you don't understand how to do.
If you go through all the basic maintenance and follow the procedures you will end up with an enjoyable reliable bike, half ass or ignore maintenance and it will behave badly in public and leave you stranded time after time.
If you go through all the basic maintenance and follow the procedures you will end up with an enjoyable reliable bike, half ass or ignore maintenance and it will behave badly in public and leave you stranded time after time.
rusty rocket
XS650 Junkie
felixcontour
XS650 Enthusiast
I got a hair over 10k. Seems to be the most common odometer reading in this thread so far.
CDNTX650
XS650 Guru
My 74 showed about 12,000kms on the clock. I did hone, rings, and stem seals and it has 3000kms on it now. I do maybe 500 to 1000 a season on it as i have a Versys for touring. The KZ i just got has about 30,000kms on it. Seems to have been pretty well cared for. Ill check lash next summer.
Furious D
XS650 Addict
34K and some change on mine . Not bad considering it had sat since 2002 when I picked it up last year.
Not sure if the motor has been apart before. I didnt get much history on the bike.
Not sure if the motor has been apart before. I didnt get much history on the bike.
Someone mentioned earlier that even some Harleys can go hundreds of thousands of miles. Former republician Senator from Wisconsin Dave Zien, reportedly put a millions miles on his Harley. The bike, a 1991 FXRT, was finally retired and Harley gave him a new one in exchange. I believe the bike is on display now in Sturgis.
jefft
jefft
Okie
XS650 Addict
I just read an old post by XSJohn (RIP) posted in 2010, where he said he just rolled 70K+ on stock clearance pistons.
http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411
http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411
The '72 engine ,currently in my '77 bike, has covered around 90,000 miles in various different chassis since I bought & rebuilt it in late 1978, its still on its original bores ( 3rd set of rings).. Another '79 model of mine has only covered about 6000 miles though it looks as rough as a badgers arse!
Orion61
XS650 Addict
I had a 76 with about 40k it still ran strong but would smoke a little blue if you got on it, you could smell it more than see it. The previous owner said he ran it pretty hard without great care, but I was without a bike and it was in 1986, the bike only cost me $300.00. I traded it for a 73 TX 750 (I know)
that only had 10k on it. BUT the TX weren't that bad IF you had the extended oil pan on it and knew how to keep the counter Balance chain properly adjusted. I put another 22,000 on the TX. I loved that bike and would take another one any time. My Cousin had a TX500, the purple one with the counter balance that I had a hell of a time keeping up with on my 650!
The old XS650's ran a whole lot hotter than todays bikes and the oil wasn't nearly as good. They are also a lot heavier than bikes today so that lugged that little 650 pretty hard. If you get lucky enough to find one with low miles that has been stored inside, I see no reason it wouldn't run 65,000 or 70,000 miles on Synthetic oil, and keep it under 75 on the highway. 50,000 should be no big deal, even then the bottom end on these are robust enough to take a simple top end rebuild. JUST DON'T OVER TIGHTEN the CAM CHAIN ADJUSTER!!!!!
that only had 10k on it. BUT the TX weren't that bad IF you had the extended oil pan on it and knew how to keep the counter Balance chain properly adjusted. I put another 22,000 on the TX. I loved that bike and would take another one any time. My Cousin had a TX500, the purple one with the counter balance that I had a hell of a time keeping up with on my 650!
The old XS650's ran a whole lot hotter than todays bikes and the oil wasn't nearly as good. They are also a lot heavier than bikes today so that lugged that little 650 pretty hard. If you get lucky enough to find one with low miles that has been stored inside, I see no reason it wouldn't run 65,000 or 70,000 miles on Synthetic oil, and keep it under 75 on the highway. 50,000 should be no big deal, even then the bottom end on these are robust enough to take a simple top end rebuild. JUST DON'T OVER TIGHTEN the CAM CHAIN ADJUSTER!!!!!
dps650rider
XS650 Addict
My '78 has 136,122 miles on it.
How many times has the engine been apart?
I bought my XS650 new in '83. It has 53,300 miles on it as of today. The engine is as the factory assembled it. For how much longer, I can't say.
Spockwerks
NAMAZU Pez de Terremoto
Have one named Pop-Pop (I like to name my bikes). Well, this one has 114,000.8mi. on it.
It also has a new speedo and electric tach. New valves, pistons 1st over, rebuilt crank, new clutch, chain, sprockets etc, etc, etc. Would like to sell it because I am out of room in the garage and with my new project going it is impossible to maneuver out there. No reasonable offer refused.
It also has a new speedo and electric tach. New valves, pistons 1st over, rebuilt crank, new clutch, chain, sprockets etc, etc, etc. Would like to sell it because I am out of room in the garage and with my new project going it is impossible to maneuver out there. No reasonable offer refused.
Michaelo
650Mick
Just was thinking about this yesterday, so here it is, 20520 miles on the clock when arrived from USA. looked yesterday and 27777 miles. That will be 12 months in September we have our first anniversary.....I've had 6 weeks no riding due to fractured ankle (not bike related) so they're not bad miles for the year when you throw in a re-build as well....
Orion61
XS650 Addict
And what year is it? another important question is what is your idea of reasonable offer? lol But when you think a rolling frame is worth $250.00+ and what parts will get you. I would have been very tempted to do a re-phase if I went that far!
dps650rider
XS650 Addict
A few times. I used to run it to redline every time it was out and have also made several engine modifications. I think I did the first top end job around 50,000.
If you want to play you have to pay...
