Just Ride.

Should this ride thread be just a.... well, thread? Or should there be a dedicated Forum topic?

  • Yes, it's own topic in the Forums

    Votes: 19 90.5%
  • Nah... threads good enough.

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .
It was close to 80 degrees out today so I took the bike out for what may well be the last ride of the year. Went to a local coffee shop with my friend who was riding a brand new 2020 Indian Challenger. Pulled into the parking lot and the Harley guys start looking over my bike with great interest and start asking me questions about it. Surprised they had no interest in the Indian. No matter where you go these bikes still get all the looks and attention!
 
No matter where you go these bikes still get all the looks and attention!

Yours does!

Many years ago, I was riding in the mountains with a friend. He had a fairly new GL1200. It was covered with painted murals and gold plated bits as was customary back then. I was riding my very stock XS650SK. (Heritage Special). We were parked in Helen, GA and a bystander said, “Hey! That’s a cool bike! What year is it?” Lee Roy piped up about his Wing. “No! The Yamaha!”
:laugh:
 
Some great photos and stories here. Like to check out this thread when I'm starting the working week and can't ride - cheers me up! Those autumn colours are spectacular but those winters are a bit sad. Only seen snow twice in my life and that was in NZ. Can't imagine riding in weather like that. No wonder you fellows make the most of the "riding season". And so much history! We usually knock our old stuff down to build a shopping centre or car park. We have some old country towns but you have to be in for the long haul if you want to get to them. Must start using my phone/camera on a few local rides to give you blokes a look at OZ. Bos and Marty are right, the XS always draws attention. I like it!
Cheers
 
Got to ride three bikes today, and the coming week is looking good too!
madness barn.jpg

I had some trouble with madness running poorly last ride but she was happy as a clam today. Bluff road not far from the ranch.
Stopped and got apples from Ski Hi orchard, apple pie tonight!
 
Got to ride three bikes today, and the coming week is looking good too!
View attachment 178252
I had some trouble with madness running poorly last ride but she was happy as a clam today. Bluff road not far from the ranch.
Stopped and got apples from Ski Hi orchard, apple pie tonight!

What happened to all that fall color? :laugh2: Doesn’t last long does it.
 
1,600 motorcycles and not a single XS650 (that I could see). Odd.
If the basement is open, you can get up close and personal to the XS-2. It's on the very bottom of one of those towers going up the elevator shaft. It can be viewed from the 1st floor, but it's at a distance. It's an unrestored original bike. That, and there's no telling what they have in storage. I asked about a couple of bikes I wanted to see again, that have been rotated to storage.
 
The basement was closed due to Covid. I wouldn't be surprised to see an XS650 in the racks but why not one on the floor? I mean it's an icon right?
They also didn't have a KZ400 or a KZ200.
 
The basement was closed due to Covid. I wouldn't be surprised to see an XS650 in the racks but why not one on the floor? I mean it's an icon right?
They also didn't have a KZ400 or a KZ200.
It was open during what would have been Vintage Fest. XS650 is iconic to us. I’m not so sure the feeling is universal.
E9992115-7BAD-4D3F-8890-8A54CC67509F.jpeg 36C7C0C3-AC4B-4DA4-AF77-5F1467ECD334.jpeg B2C85C17-087D-4C46-8525-451EA3DD84ED.jpeg EE2A70B9-A2E5-4FC7-B94B-5270D8DFC7A6.jpeg
 
Been there twice, did not see any XS650's, asked on the way out and was told the exhibitions rotate and there is probably a couple here somewhere.
Like Marty sez - they don't get no respect.
 
Look on the bright side. If everyone knew what a fascinating and compliant motorcycle the XS is, we wouldn't be able to afford one or they'd be common as dog droppings.
Gary, there must be some spectacular scenery in the States. Never considered it as a travel destination but that stuff around Baraboo looks amazing. Might call for a change to my retirement travel itinerary if CoVid ever goes the way of the Dodo.
We have gun shops in OZ but you need a police check and a "cooling off" period. No automatics or even semis and gun ownership brings with it a certain element of conservative ostracism.
"Oh! You have a gun on your wall!? Do you really kill things???"
"No, actually, I prefer to wait 'til my lamb dies of old age or mishap."
Shame. I grew up hunting with my dad. Would've liked to have taught the boys a bit of firearm safety. Apart from occasional visits to the local pistol club range, that is not to be.
 
The XS650 is just popular enough to have some aftermarket support. Suits me.

I'm an XS11 fan, in case you somehow missed that. It has no aftermarket support. Even aftermarket exhaust is NLA. It outperforms both the KZ1000 and the GS1000, and you can pick one up for a fraction of what you'll pay for one of those. There are several incredible motorcycles out there suffering from no respect.

Barber has an XS1100LG Midnight Special, also on display about half way up one of the elevator shafts.
 
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