SpecialII
XS650 Member
Thanks for the nomination!
Surprised me too...I'm not going to tell anyone how to vote, BUT how many others have put a supercharger on an XS650?
I can't believe Home Built has only a few votes. To me, it's the best build this year. Yes, a few are quality builds (I'd like to own) and others are prettier.
MY 2c
Don’t underestimate the power and allure of PRETTY!I'm not going to tell anyone how to vote, BUT how many others have put a supercharger on an XS650?
I can't believe Home Built has only a few votes. To me, it's the best build this year. Yes, a few are quality builds (I'd like to own) and others are prettier.
MY 2c
When speaking of calendar pictures, pretty has everything to do with it. A custom XS650 bike show would bring entirely different results. I'm looking at @Jim's XS650 on my home office wall right now. That red paint is a show stopper!Don’t underestimate the power and allure of PRETTY!
When speaking of calendar pictures, pretty has everything to do with it. A custom XS650 bike show would bring entirely different results. I'm looking at @Jim's XS650 on my home office wall right now. That red paint is a show stopper!
Thanks guys. I still break into a grin when I roll her out of the garage and the sunlight hits that candy red.
Great seeing Jim's meticulous build!
I'll go one further... following a good build thread goes a looong way toward gettin' my vote.A little bit of effort as well............post some pics with a write up gets votes
No flames from me!!!This is a great result - and I do concur with most of the chosen bikes, but I have to admit that I agree with Jim in liking a good build-thread as well as a pretty bike. I am certainly biased toward bikes owned and built by people who have contributed a lot to this forum - and to helping others who are not as far along with their skills (yes, people like Jim and gggGary but also GLJ, Lakeview, Skull, David Toll, SuperJet, Boog, Marty, ThatXS650Guy, 5Twins, TwoMany, grizld1, Raymondo and so many others).
When I look at the bike on the calendar, I think of the guy who built it or resurrected it from a rusted piece of junk and all the hard work he/she put into accumulating parts and learning how to do things - and doing them - to make the best bike he/she could with what was available. If it isn't perfect - who cares? Anybody can drop on into the Barber Museum to see perfect bikes - I want to see runners and riders, dent, leaks and all on my calendar.
Seeing someone win a place on the calendar after having dropped-in, self-nominated their bike (regardless of how pretty it is) and then dropped back out never to be heard from again - having posted a grand total of seven times is, in my view, not cool.
Who is that guy - and who cares about him and his bike? What did he ever do for anyone on XS650.com? Heck - I can just go to the bookstore and buy any calendar full of custom bikes - or just go on the web and google "cool motorcycles" or "cool Yamaha XS650s" - and make my own danged calendar. The story behind it would be the same as Mr. Seven-posts-and-gone-guy and it would be just as compelling.
I have been thinking about this for several years and while I sure wouldn't want to come across as a grumpy old f@rt (like THAT might ever be the case), I really do feel that the calendar should reflect the people of this forum and their motorcycles - and not just how much money was spent, how much skill was expended or anything else. If what appears has a few flaws - well, tough titty in my book. I want to see what people have built and what they ride and the story behind the bike.
....just sayin'....
...bring on the flames...
Pete
Not an unreasonable opinion. OTOH, some people aren't that social, for whatever the reason. I'm OK with that too.This is a great result - and I do concur with most of the chosen bikes, but I have to admit that I agree with Jim in liking a good build-thread as well as a pretty bike. I am certainly biased toward bikes owned and built by people who have contributed a lot to this forum - and to helping others who are not as far along with their skills (yes, people like Jim and gggGary but also GLJ, Lakeview, Skull, David Toll, SuperJet, Boog, Marty, ThatXS650Guy, 5Twins, TwoMany, grizld1, Raymondo and so many others).
When I look at the bike on the calendar, I think of the guy who built it or resurrected it from a rusted piece of junk and all the hard work he/she put into accumulating parts and learning how to do things - and doing them - to make the best bike he/she could with what was available. If it isn't perfect - who cares? Anybody can drop on into the Barber Museum to see perfect bikes - I want to see runners and riders, dents, leaks and all on my calendar.
Seeing someone win a place on the calendar after having dropped-in, self-nominated their bike (regardless of how pretty it is) and then dropped back out never to be heard from again - having posted a grand total of seven times is, in my view, not cool.
Who is that guy - and who cares about him and his bike? What did he ever do for anyone on XS650.com? Heck - I can just go to the bookstore and buy any calendar full of custom bikes - or just go on the web and google "cool motorcycles" or "cool Yamaha XS650s" - and make my own danged calendar. The story behind it would be the same as Mr. Seven-posts-and-gone-guy and it would be just as compelling.
I have been thinking about this for several years and while I sure wouldn't want to come across as a grumpy old f@rt (like THAT might ever be the case), I really do feel that the calendar should reflect the people of this forum and their motorcycles - and not just how much money was spent, how much skill was expended or anything else. If what appears has a few flaws - well, tough titty in my book. I want to see what people have built and what they ride and the story behind the bike.
....just sayin'....
...bring on the flames...
Pete
I like your bike, brother. I nominated and voted for it. Pete just went to the show and watched the bikes come off the trailer. All the work was bought and paid for. We get it, no doubt. In all honesty, I would be happy to buy a calendar with my friends' motorcycles in it, be they beautiful or POS. So, stick around. Better yet, start a 650 rally in Victoria!I'll have you know I've only had one post on here! JK I'm still a newbie here. I just got my Special in late April and am just now getting it in a reliable state of tune. I'm still getting used to having an XS again and loving it, my third one. I'm looking forward to this calendar.
Mine has more ugly on it than yours did.It'd be a really small rally. Not too many left here and I sure get my share of looks riding mine around. Here's a before picture.View attachment 175809
Mine has more ugly on it than yours did.