Turns out it's a 72....

lidirtrider

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Well...we all have the bug here, so when a frame with a swingarm popped up near by, I jumped on it. I was told it was a 78, so I didnt have any hesitations about cutting it up a little to make a cafe or scrambler. I wasnt planning on any major chops, but mostly removing unneeded tabs, brackets, etc., and maybe trying my hand at a rear disk/spoked wheel conversion, and a also maybe an R6 front end swap.

Once I got it home and checked it out, the VIN reads to be a 1972 model ( S650-120762 ) The sticker is still on the neck but it's covered in gunk and I haven't cleaned it off yet to see if its readable. I currently do not have a title or Transferable Registration for it, but it's not too hard to get one in NY for 1972 or older vehicles. Just takes a little time.

SOOoooo....
First: SInce the older models like the 72' are getting a little more rare, should I just keep this frame and clean it up? What would a 72' frame with papers be worth?

Second: Again, since its a 72' is there anything that makes it less appealing for a cafe or scrambler? I know the early models had a shorter (I think) neck and a few other frame differences. I think the 74' and up frames are lot more plentiful therefor not as bad to cut up if needed.

I know a lot of this all depends on opinions and how the purists feel, but I also don't want to mess up a frame that would better serve someone that is doing a full resto.
 
IMO it's a bare frame, unless you spend 5x what the bike restored would be worth you'll never take it back to original. It'll never have the matching engine which would lose points in a show for restored stuff. So from me I say have at it.
 
Haven't checked for a EXACT match, but the forks from an XS750 standard MIGHT be a bolt on.. The XS750s also had a shorter neck.
Overall early frames are kinda light and um flimsy. check the rear lower engine mount area carefully several have found cracks there. I just looked over my 70 in that area while I had the swing arm off, it all seemed fine.
 
I'm a little partial to the early models. I have to agree with Ratranger if all you have is a frame and title it would not makes financial sense to do a full restoration. If you do decide to make a running bike out of it and modify the frame in the process I do hope you finish it. I have a extra 72 frame with matching motor and title. I'm a bit torn as to what I am going to do with it.
Check the frame for breaks. This is my bike I resurrected
http://www.xs650.com/threads/its-past-time-to-start-xs2-resurrection.53396/.
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And cracks. It all can be fixed.
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Haven't checked for a EXACT match, but the forks from an XS750 standard MIGHT be a bolt on.. The XS750s also had a shorter neck.
Overall early frames are kinda light and um flimsy. check the rear lower engine mount area carefully several have found cracks there. I just looked over my 70 in that area while I had the swing arm off, it all seemed fine.

ok, good to know!

I'm a little partial to the early models. I have to agree with Ratranger if all you have is a frame and title it would not makes financial sense to do a full restoration. If you do decide to make a running bike out of it and modify the frame in the process I do hope you finish it. I have a extra 72 frame with matching motor and title. I'm a bit torn as to what I am going to do with it.
Check the frame for breaks.

Wowza! Scary cracks. I’ll definitely have to inspect this one. I’m not planning a full resto no Matter what! Lol. I Havent got the patience for that. Was just thinking of a fun way to spend money I don't have.

I was thinking of a modern(ish) fork, Like an R6/R1 to keep It all Yamaha. But mostly just seeing what I can find for free or real cheap and cobble something Together.

I dont even have a title yet, so I’ll check the frame over and if I’ll looks good then I’ll do the paperwork. Meantime if anyone needs a 72 frame, I’d be happy to pass it along. Theres always another one out there.
 
Went out for about an hour tonight. I took the swing arm off. Not too bad. A little surface rust but otherwise in good shape. The swing arm pivot bolt actually looks in really good shape too. The grease zerks busted off so I’ll have to drill them out.
The frame is pretty rusty with some heavy pitting in a few spots. There is actually a small hole in the rear loop, which I’d probably be cutting off anyway.
And then the cracks...theres a crack along the left foot peg gusset area, that goes around the swing arm pivot Bolt hole. Thats the only one I cam see right now. Is it fixable? I’m not a welder, but I have a friend at work that does some welding on the side. So I guess I could have him take a look too.
9F00FF54-CD4E-4275-B8DF-66D44D0ABF7D.jpeg
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Went out for about an hour tonight. I took the swing arm off. Not too bad. A little surface rust but otherwise in good shape. The swing arm pivot bolt actually looks in really good shape too. The grease zerks busted off so I’ll have to drill them out.
The frame is pretty rusty with some heavy pitting in a few spots. There is actually a small hole in the rear loop, which I’d probably be cutting off anyway.
And then the cracks...theres a crack along the left foot peg gusset area, that goes around the swing arm pivot Bolt hole. Thats the only one I cam see right now. Is it fixable? I’m not a welder, but I have a friend at work that does some welding on the side. So I guess I could have him take a look too.
View attachment 168236 View attachment 168237 View attachment 168238
I had similar cracks. Fixed, so far no problems.
 
V them, weld them, plate if you feel necessary. As long as you don't it ride like a 18 year old did back in the early 70s you should be fine. Mine is.
 
I'm not sure I'd want to make a modified bike, cafe or scrambler, out of one of these older frames. As you can see, just using it on a stock bike can crack it, lol.
 
Yeah...I'm gonna have a local guy come by today to take a look and see how much it'd be to weld that up. Not sure it's gonna be worth it. Just comparing it to my 75' frame it looks real flimsy.

If I can get papers for it then maybe it'd be worth it to save the neck for someone that needs one for a chopper project.
 
Yes, those early frames were spindly, not braced as much as later ones around the steering neck and swingarm pivot areas. In my opinion, the only thing they're good for is a restoration.
 
I mean, it was free, so other than a little road trip to get it, I can't complain. I still want to totally clean it, and strip it down just to have something to do.
 
If I can get papers for it then maybe it'd be worth it to save the neck for someone that needs one for a chopper project.
Letter and number punches can be had for 20 bucks or so. Welding and grinding over the original vin# and punching the new one ... is a whole bunch easier than cutting off and welding on a new neck.
Don't ask me how I know that.... :rolleyes:
 
I had a local welder/fabricator stop by and look the frame. He said he could fix it up no problem. However, I've decided I'm gonna move on from this particular frame/project. If I had the skills and equipment to tackle it all myself, I'd hang on to it. So....if any wants a free 1972 frame, let me know.
 
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