I am back with an XS

David Toll said:
I don't know Mike. I agree with you in regard to maintaining as much originality as possible. The bike is a '1978 XS 650 SE. That's the way God and those little Japanese engineers planned it. Remember, they invented the aircraft carrier, the Bullet train, the electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, the hybrid electric vehicle and the hydrogen car to mention just a few of their mechanical gems. By lowering the bars, you change the entire appearance of the vehicle and thumb your nose at the design. If the SE doesn't suit your stature, I'd sell it and buy a Triumph. If you just want flatter bars, sell it and buy an E. These motorcycles, in original condition, will become a relative rarity and accrue value accordingly. Just my opinion.
Cheers
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David, I hear what you are saying and that's why I haven't changed it in my two years ownership. I enjoy riding the old girl but I can only ride for about 50 miles until my back starts hurting. If I do make the change, I will hang on to all the old parts and should I ever sell the bike, I can restore it back to stock in a few hours. Just a thought I have been having off and on for awhile. Thanks for your opinion!

Mike
 
mikesim said:
My 78 is its twin. I just wish I had the lower bars. I just can't get used to the "rototiller" bars and the stepped seat. I hesitate to do so because it would no longer be original. One day I may change it over 'cause I'm sure I would have much greater enjoyment riding it with lower bars.
Mike
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Lowering the bars is a simple change back for a sale..........will not affect the resale at all, as for your back lower bars will improve it.

My 83 i found my position was making the weight move to my tail bone. ...........lower bars meant i was leaning forward a bit more, and the weight was more over my hips with the foot pegs under me instesd of slightly forward. This meant the directional downward line my head was slightly forward of my hips and feet were under my hips with some weight slightly taken up with my arms. Better control of the bike as well
 
David Toll said:
I admit, I hadn't considered physical discomfort - selfish of me. My problem lies with my feet not my back. Forgive my presumption gentlemen.
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Not selfish or presumptuous..............Use to ride the 83 with the buck-horns and regularly, (every 2 weeks or so), i would do a 2 hour one way trip to my Fathers for a weekend then back. Used to load up bags on the back to make a back rest. it was the best way to solve the tailbone issue keeping the buckhorns...........
 
650Skull said:
Not selfish or presumptuous..............Use to ride the 83 with the buck-horns and regularly, (every 2 weeks or so), i would do a 2 hour one way trip to my Fathers for a weekend then back. Used to load up bags on the back to make a back rest. it was the best way to solve the tailbone issue keeping the buckhorns...........
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Hi Skull,
using luggage to create a recliner is an OK way to ride with buckhorns but when one has been brainwashed into believing that a Vincent has the perfect riding stance, the buckhorn bicycle-riding bear sit-up just ain't right.
 
Amen! All of my bikes have had low bars and one with clip ons. Buckhorns just ain't natural. When I was a kid a buddy put ape hangers on his BSA and he let me ride it. I rode it around the block and couldn't get off of it fast enough.

Mike
 
mikesim said:
My 78 is its twin. I just wish I had the lower bars. I just can't get used to the "rototiller" bars and the stepped seat. I hesitate to do so because it would no longer be original. One day I may change it over 'cause I'm sure I would have much greater enjoyment riding it with lower bars.

Mike
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Those bars can get way low. Loosen the clamps and rotate them down. That's how I wear them and it's comfy like a handshake. I do agree that up near horizontal looks very uncomfortable.
 
mikesim said:
Rotate them down, rearward?

Mike
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They won't come farther back, just rotate them down to where your wrists are at a comfortable angle. I do have people ask or more like give me crap about my handlebars. I usually respond, "Just try to keep up."
What works for me may not work for you. Handlebars are completely subjective. You won't ride the bike if it's uncomfortable.
 
jetmechmarty said:
They won't come farther back, just rotate them down to where your wrists are at a comfortable angle. I do have people ask or more like give me crap about my handlebars. I usually respond, "Just try to keep up."
What works for me may not work for you. Handlebars are completely subjective. You won't ride the bike if it's uncomfortable.
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What the hell??!! I'll give it a try, thanks for the advice.

Mike
 
20200329_143758.jpg

My 1980 came with these bars..quite comfortable...I like them over the rototillers......
 
The bars were the first thing I tossed - horrible things.
I even tried giving them away to a bicyclist who was looking for buckhorn bars but he never turned up, that's how unpopular they are.
The flatter bars on it now came from a smaller bike and to tell the truth they're just a bit narrow, but not uncomfortably so.
Some time I'll put a slightly wider set on, but maybe never. Only when another set turns up and I can be bothered.
And yet, when I first rode a Special (when it was a new model) I was ok with the bars back then. Odd, but in the intervening years I developed a preference for a particular riding position and I stick to it.
 
Grimly said:
The bars were the first thing I tossed - horrible things.
I even tried giving them away to a bicyclist who was looking for buckhorn bars but he never turned up, that's how unpopular they are.
The flatter bars on it now came from a smaller bike and to tell the truth they're just a bit narrow, but not uncomfortably so.
Some time I'll put a slightly wider set on, but maybe never. Only when another set turns up and I can be bothered.
And yet, when I first rode a Special (when it was a new model) I was ok with the bars back then. Odd, but in the intervening years I developed a preference for a particular riding position and I stick to it.
Click to expand...
Absolutely! Make it comfortable for you. I like my original bike, but if I couldn't ride it, I'd change it. My point is, those pull-backs don't slow me down. They work fine. Also, I like Specials, esp. 78-79.
 
Well, just to feel things out, I posted under the cheapo free listing status on Cycle Trader, sold within 24 hours at full asking price. Time to start looking again, but the mad money stash is just a tad fatter. YOU JUST CAN'T KEEP THEM ALL.......
 
jetmechmarty said:
Those bars can get way low. Loosen the clamps and rotate them down. That's how I wear them and it's comfy like a handshake. I do agree that up near horizontal looks very uncomfortable.
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Marty, bless your heart! Just for funsies, I lowered the buckhorns substantially and it is like a new bike! I can't believe the difference! I'm gonna go for a long ride tomorrow and see how the back does. One thing that I still need to deal with is the king/queen seat. The hump doesn't allow my tush to go back far enough for comfort and I'm still riding somewhat upright. I think that if my butt was back a little I could lean forward a tad and life would be good. I found a company on Ebay in Vietnam that makes direct fit replacements for the bike. He had good reviews. Has anybody of the forum had any experience with him? I can then still save the stock seat and restore it to original if need be.

Many Thanks!

Mike
 

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