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Whats a good option to easily increase the rear rim size to a 18 inch? Is that really the biggest difference?

Are these special spoked steel rims preferable to comstars?
 
Whats a good option to easily increase the rear rim size to a 18 inch? Is that really the biggest difference?

Are these special spoked steel rims preferable to comstars?
The cast Yamaha wheels aren't Comstars. Comstars are riveted together. The Yamaha wheels are one piece. Later ones are tubeless. The 1980 Special II has chromed steel spoke wheels. They require tubes. With the spoke wheels, you can lace the hubs to whatever rims you want.
I prefer the ignition system on that bike. It has crank triggered electronic ignition. What's not to like?
 
Whats a good option to easily increase the rear rim size to a 18 inch? Is that really the biggest difference?

Are these special spoked steel rims preferable to comstars?

The key point to note is that your bike has a non-standard number of spokes in the front wheel (64 versus the usual 48 spokes) and the rear wheel (48 spokes versus the usual 36 - I think) and so the hub is unique and the rim must match it - and the spokes are not the standard length. The tires are not tubeless - you must run tubes in these wheels.

Nonetheless, I have done the swap from 16" to 18" on my 1980 XS650SH Special II - as have a number of other folks on the forum. MikesXS sells the correct rim and set of spokes to do it - but the task is non-trivial unless you have experience at spoking wheels (and I did not). Be careful to mark the spoke holes in the hub and the corresponding holes in the rim VERY carefully - and be prepared to put it together and take it apart a number of times.

You can check out my thread here: http://www.xs650.com/threads/build-thread-special-to-cafe-bike.48165/page-29

If you buy it - start a build thread and be sure to keep us posted!

Pete
 
https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:3596b474-bd57-4be2-85a5-b5993a3178a6
255812379_4455042444532874_2350455189669462954_n.jpg
 
That Special with the drum front brake is interesting - I've never seen one quite like that.

Pete
The 400's Standards had drum and spokes. Specials had disc and mags. That's either a Standard with Special tank and seat, or Special with Standard wheels and brakes. I'm guessin' the latter.
I had a Standard that I added the front disc to. The drum brake was quiet leisurely in it's duties. :sneaky:
 
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This popped up locally for $900. I am not familiar with this year 1980. What is there to know about it? Good base for a resto mod?

Are the wheels tubeless? I actually like the comstar wheels of the special more than these. Is the rear 16 inch wheel that undesirible?

Or are these spoked wheels good?

Is the frame redesigned to sit lower? Thanks for any adviceView attachment 202211 View attachment 202212

The key point to note is that your bike has a non-standard number of spokes in the front wheel (64 versus the usual 48 spokes) and the rear wheel (48 spokes versus the usual 36 - I think) and so the hub is unique and the rim must match it - and the spokes are not the standard length. The tires are not tubeless - you must run tubes in these wheels.

Nonetheless, I have done the swap from 16" to 18" on my 1980 XS650SH Special II - as have a number of other folks on the forum. MikesXS sells the correct rim and set of spokes to do it - but the task is non-trivial unless you have experience at spoking wheels (and I did not). Be careful to mark the spoke holes in the hub and the corresponding holes in the rim VERY carefully - and be prepared to put it together and take it apart a number of times.

You can check out my thread here: http://www.xs650.com/threads/build-thread-special-to-cafe-bike.48165/page-29

If you buy it - start a build thread and be sure to keep us posted!

Pete

I have to disagree with Maxpete on the wheels. hat bike has 36 spoke wheels front and back. 79/80/81 Special II's, all had 16" rear/19" front 36 spoke wheels
The one your looking at
572565-1637428048-720902.jpg

82 heritage special with 64 spoke front and 48 spoke rear
s-l1600.jpg


For $900 and a worn out bike with a suspect motor compared to the 80G/SII that madmax-im is selling for $2850.00 is no comparison.

after spending 2,000.00 on the $900 one you still wont have a bike in anywhere near as good a condition

here are the for sale adds for the bike by the PO before Madmax-im bought it. First add the Po decided to keep it for a bit longer................. has some history about the bike
https://www.xs650.com/threads/1980-special-two-keeping-it.50690/
https://www.xs650.com/threads/80-special-two.55168/
 
Actually, my Special II did come equipped with 16” rear and 19” front wheels - BUT - unless my memory fails me, the front wheel is a 64-spoker and the rear wheel has 48-spokes - as shown in the lower photo above. I cannot check right now as the bike is buried in a shed in the back-40 - but it certainly had more tha. 36 spokes in each wheel.

Nonetheless, the bike of which we speak does have the standard number of spoke / wheel - so I’d say that someone had been doing some swapping’

Pete
 
1976 Yamaha KZ650 Parts - $100 (Loves Park, IL)

make / manufacturer: Yamaha
model name / number: KZ650

1976 Yamaha KZ650 motorcycle. Complete bike but disassembled. Needs to be restored or parted out. No Title.
 
I have to disagree with Maxpete on the wheels. hat bike has 36 spoke wheels front and back. 79/80/81 Special II's, all had 16" rear/19" front 36 spoke wheels
The one your looking at
View attachment 202254
82 heritage special with 64 spoke front and 48 spoke rear
View attachment 202255

For $900 and a worn out bike with a suspect motor compared to the 80G/SII that madmax-im is selling for $2850.00 is no comparison.

after spending 2,000.00 on the $900 one you still wont have a bike in anywhere near as good a condition

here are the for sale adds for the bike by the PO before Madmax-im bought it. First add the Po decided to keep it for a bit longer................. has some history about the bike
https://www.xs650.com/threads/1980-special-two-keeping-it.50690/
https://www.xs650.com/threads/80-special-two.55168/
You're absolutely right. There's no money in restoring an XS650. I think that's probably true of most stuff.
 
You're absolutely right. There's no money in restoring an XS650. I think that's probably true of most stuff.

I’m no wheeler dealer, I’ve lost money on every motorcycle I’ve ever owned. :laugh2: With one exception, my ‘76 Triumph Bonneville, all I did was a renovation on it. It didn’t get painted. I stopped putting money in it when I knew I had reached the resale value of it, and when I sold it , I broke exactly even on it.
 
Might perhaps just maybe broke about even on the Triumph TR6 I had. Provided I don't count the time working on it. Or the time thinking about how to fix it. Or the miles spent on other bikes chasing round on account of it.
 
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