New to the forum and this XS2

WBacon

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Hello all, this seems like the place to be!
I picked up this old xs awhile ago for three reasons. One of my early bikes was an xs, I'm sure that's a familiar narrative. I've wanted to customize or chop a bike and the xs provides an excellent platform for that. Lastly, I found this neglected for 12 years since it's previous owner passed away and I got it real cheap.
I haven't done anything to it yet, (other than verify that she'll be a runner) because I have another project to finish first.
So, now that I have this fine specimen in my garage part of me thinks I should simply bring it back to its original glory instead of the chop plan I had in mind when I started looking for an xs650.
Decisions, decisions..... IMG_0015.JPGIMG_0016.JPGIMG_0017.JPGIMG_0018.JPG
 
You'll be wanting to check out Mailman's XS2 resto thread. It took him a good year but he redid every single thing practically on the whole bike. Pretty much anything you ever wanted to know about an XS2 is in there. It was a very unique model, with many little differences from any of the other models.
 
My personal opinion would be to restore it close to original. That's one of the early years and it has quite a bit of value. If you got it cheap I would bet you could sell it and make enough to get a latter model and have enough money left over for a good start for whatever you want to do to it.
The thread 5twins mentioned is here.
http://www.xs650.com/threads/mailman’s-xs2-a-full-on-restoration.51520/
 
Thanks for the replies. The bike is in fairly good shape. If I didn't have other rides I'd definitely do a quick fix and have it ready for spring.
Mailmans thread is a wealth of info for sure! Love it.
If I was going to go the route of selling to get a different year xs, I think I'd hold out for someone that wants to trade because I could end up selling to someone that chops it anyway.
 
Hi Bacon,
Welcome to the forum. Others have already said this but I’ll chime in. The early models such as yours were few in number. Personally I would like to see it preserved, as the years went on they made very many of the later models, and a lot of them have already been altered and would be good candidates for customs. Your bike still has a lot of the hard to find unique original parts on it. Of course it’s your bike and decision. Good luck with it!
Bob
 
Chop the hell out of it.:devil: You know, TC Bros hard tail, king & queen seat, sissy bar, ape hangers, peanut tank etc. When it`s half done and you`ve lost all interest in it I`ll give you $300.00 for it.:jk: Just Kidding. Looks like a great start on a good daily rider.:thumbsup:
P.S. Welcome to the forum.
 
Chop the hell out of it.:devil: You know, TC Bros hard tail, king & queen seat, sissy bar, ape hangers, peanut tank etc. When it`s half done and you`ve lost all interest in it I`ll give you $300.00 for it.:jk: Just Kidding. Looks like a great start on a good daily rider.:thumbsup:
P.S. Welcome to the forum.
You had me for a minute there!
I'm definitely leaning towards restoration.
 
Stock…… bobbers.... cafe'... choppers..have a following... but ...keep it stock.... you'll be richly rewarded with a sense pride and ownership..
Keep in mind.. you'll spent 1000's … I just got back from the wallet abuse chrome shop... except for mufflers... expect $2000.oo in related chrome bits for a Xs2.. add $1500.oo for a quality three stage candy flake red with white trim... then you'll have several packages at your door step from various XS vendors... The last Xs2 we did at our little shop... $10000.oo, with purchase of the bike we had in stock.... (last one)…...
it's a hobby.. we all enjoy.... I think it's cheaper the own'n a boat....
 
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Howdy WBacon:
Well, I guess I've got to put in my $0.02 in as well (that is about $0.0157 USD at the present rate of exchange I think). As noted by everyone else, it is of course your bike - but....
  • so many people take a nice old XS650 like yours and start to chop it and then lose interest or run out of skill or money - but of course, only AFTER they've ruined it as a rideable bike and created a now nearly worthless and hard to sell pile of parts);
  • some others do eventually complete their chopped bikes - but then the owners find that what they have built is too uncomfortable to ride more than a few miles, it handles like a wallowing lawn chair, it doesn't stop (because they've removed the front brake - duhhhhh....), it doesn't turn (because they have extended the forks - double-duhhhhh....), it is hard to start because they have removed the battery and installed some winky capacitor system (triple-duhhhh.....) and now, nobody else wants it for virtually any amount of money.
On the other hand, the XS650 is actually, in its own right, a very nice motorcycle for riding - pretty much just as it came from the factory.

In comparison with modern bikes, it isn't very fast, the handling isn't all that sharp and the brakes are...to put it charitably, "quaint". But, it looks really cool, sounds awesome, its a total chick magnet and it is very very comfortable in comparison to the modern crotch-rockets which require you to fold your legs into a pretzel, crank your neck past 90 degrees to see forward and provide passenger seating which no woman I've ever met could actually use (is that sexist - sorry). I have four bikes including two XS650s, a modern Suzuki SV650 and a big Honda ST1300 sport touring bike - and my first choice for a nice Sunday ride is always the XS650 Standard - my crusty, grumpy old 1976 C-model, "Lucille".

So, my advice is to give the old gal a chance to show you what she's got and if you really want to chop something, just watch the forum for a week or two and you will find several "projects" which someone else has already f@cked-up....errr, I mean started on. There was a project bike/chopper for sale on this forum about 2-3 days ago - search and you'll find it.

Anyhow, you can usually get one of those for a bargain-basement price and complete it. Then, as pointed out above, sell ME your nice running Standard XS-2. I'll give you a good buck for it and there won't even be any cross-border hassles because I live in the semi-Democratic People's Republic of Ontario.

In the meantime, enjoy the forum, post lots of pictures and tell us how its going!

Cheers,

Pete

PS - much of what I wrote above is in jest. I am glad to note that you're leaning toward restoring it because wrecking an otherwise solid and historic old bike just seems wrong to most of us especially when there are so many "previously enjoyed" alternatives available for nearly nothing.
 
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Hello all, this seems like the place to be!
I picked up this old xs awhile ago for three reasons. One of my early bikes was an xs, I'm sure that's a familiar narrative. I've wanted to customize or chop a bike and the xs provides an excellent platform for that. Lastly, I found this neglected for 12 years since it's previous owner passed away and I got it real cheap.
I haven't done anything to it yet, (other than verify that she'll be a runner) because I have another project to finish first.
So, now that I have this fine specimen in my garage part of me thinks I should simply bring it back to its original glory instead of the chop plan I had in mind when I started looking for an xs650.
Decisions, decisions.....View attachment 136865View attachment 136866View attachment 136867View attachment 136868

Hi WBacon and welcome,
Alberta eh? Visit the CVMG's spring swapmeet in Red Deer on the 31st of March, most years there's XS650 parts to check out.
And like Ken Hansen sez, replace the tires, clean the carbs and ride the thing.
Me, I'd also swap the bars for something lower and replace the time-expired fabric front brake line with a stainless one.
 
Howdy WBacon:
Well, I guess I've got to put in my $0.02 in as well (that is about $0.157 USD at the present rate of exchange I think). As noted by everyone else, it is of course your bike - but....so many people take a nice old XS650 like yours and start to chop it and then lose interest or run out of skill or money - but of course, only AFTER they've ruined it as a rideable bike and created a now nearly worthless and hard to sell pile of parts);some others do eventually complete their chopped bikes - but then the owners find that what they have built is too uncomfortable to ride more than a few miles, it handles like a wallowing lawn chair, it doesn't stop (because they've removed the front brake - duhhhhh....), it doesn't turn (because they have extended the forks - double-duhhhhh....), it is hard to start because they have removed the battery and installed some winky capacitor system (triple-duhhhh.....) and now, nobody else wants it for virtually any amount of money.
On the other hand, the XS650 is actually, in its own right, a very nice motorcycle for riding - pretty much just as it came from the factory.
In comparison with modern bikes, it isn't very fast, the handling isn't all that sharp and the brakes are...to put it charitably, "quaint". But, it looks really cool, sounds awesome, its a total chick magnet and it is very very comfortable in comparison to the modern crotch-rockets which require you to fold your legs into a pretzel and crank your neck past 90 degrees to see forwards. I have four bikes including two XS650s, a modern Suzuki SV650 and a big Honda ST1300 sport touring bike - and my first choice for a nice Sunday ride is always the XS650 Standard - my crusty, grumpy old 1976 C-model, "Lucille".
So, my advice is to give the old gal a chance to show you what she's got and if you really want to chop something, just watch the forum for a week or two and you will find several "projects" which someone else has already f@cked-up....errr, I mean started on. There was a project bike/chopper for sale on this forum about 2-3 days ago - search and you'll find it.
Anyhow, you can usually get one of those for a bargain-basement price and complete it. Then, as pointed out above, sell ME your nice running Standard XS-2. I'll give you a good buck for it and there won't even be any cross-border hassles because I live in the semi-Democratic People's Republic of Ontario.
In the meantime, enjoy the forum, post lots of pictures and tell us how its going!
Cheers,
Pete
PS - much of what I wrote above is in jest. I am glad to note that you're leaning toward restoring it because wrecking an otherwise solid and historic old bike just seems wrong to most of us especially when there are so many "previously enjoyed" alternatives available for nearly nothing.

Hi Pete,
going hyperbolic again, eh?
FYI 2 cents Canadian is about 1.5 cents US. An XS650 will just about "do the ton", compared to an ex WD Royal Enfield it's brakes and suspension are incredible, agreed that it's seating position is OK even 2-up but it ain't a TOTAL chick magnet until you hang a sidecar on it.
 
Hi Pete,
going hyperbolic again, eh?
but it ain't a TOTAL chick magnet until you hang a sidecar on it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion Fred - doesn't make anyone hyperbolic.

...and I did correct the badly done arithmetic.
 
I'll add one more comment. If you do decide to chop or modify it, or any bike for that matter, when removing unwanted parts carefully bag and tag them then offer them to someone who is restoring that same model. Hate to think of all the bits and pieces that probably have ended in a dumpster just because someone thought they weren't "cool".

Even something as basic as the screws that hold the starter together will have value to someone, right Mailman?
 
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