XS650 Craigslist postings depository

Ok whats this worth? It needs a new battery, spark plugs, and gas tank has rust i guess making it leak, so needs that fixed. I dont have much experience with specials.

Price $700 pretty firm, is that good?
I wouldn't ever consider it a good investment, but what do you want to do with it? Mine has been serving me well for decades. I think it will always have more value than the XS750 Special.
 
If only my right knee wasn't an aftermarket item.... :(

1967 BSA 441 Victor - $1,350
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/d/lawrence-1967-bsa-victor-special/7415816352.html


00p0p_5eckONmEbmGz_0ww0oo_1200x900.jpg
 
Last edited:
Needs new battery.plugs and rust in the tank..........
So the bikes not going

Till you take a battery and see what turns on, there is no way to know what needs to be done to the wiring

Rust in the tank is relevant to how bad it is........... Maybe a vinegar job would be enough........ May not be a hole in it could be petcocks that leak

Will need
carbs overhauled

TCI and charging system need to be checked

Only way to give a fair price is to look at it and asses from there.........

Again, Madmaxims bike is value for money compared to buying and spending on something like this, unless this is found to be a gem in a rough..........don't think so though with the gauges removed and the mufflers, it looks like a bit of a botched dream

The bike runs, I think the battery is just weak, or maybe theres a hidden electrical problem. It has rebuilt carbs.

I wouldn't ever consider it a good investment, but what do you want to do with it? Mine has been serving me well for decades. I think it will always have more value than the XS750 Special.

Yes bikes are not a "money maker" by any means.

I'd say it warrants further investigation. A jump box might answer some questions.

Yes its a few hours away so I would bring a truck to pick it up.

I think it comes down to, do i love the bike/ platform/ year, make and model?

Buying it for cheap like less than $700, maybe $500, that is cheap enough that I could replace a bunch of parts like the tank, battery, gauges, whatever else and still have a sub $1000 invested into the bike!

Turning it into a $1500-$2000 bike once the new tank is painted and the bike is done. But again this is assuming I do the work myself. And now again I need to be sure I really love the bike (which I do love 650s, but standards much more.)
 
Last edited:
Buying it for cheap like less than $700, maybe $500, that is cheap enough that I could replace a bunch of parts like the tank, battery, gauges, whatever else and still have a sub $1000 invested into the bike!

Turning it into a $1500-$2000 bike once the new tank is painted and the bike is done. But again this is assuming I do the work myself. And now again I need to be sure I really love the bike (which I do love 650s, but standards much more.)

If yo ask me the mileage is a factor.
 
The bike runs, I think the battery is just weak, or maybe theres a hidden electrical problem. It has rebuilt carbs.



Yes bikes are not a "money maker" by any means.



Yes its a few hours away so I would bring a truck to pick it up.

I think it comes down to, do i love the bike/ platform/ year, make and model?

Buying it for cheap like less than $700, maybe $500, that is cheap enough that I could replace a bunch of parts like the tank, battery, gauges, whatever else and still have a sub $1000 invested into the bike!

Turning it into a $1500-$2000 bike once the new tank is painted and the bike is done. But again this is assuming I do the work myself. And now again I need to be sure I really love the bike (which I do love 650s, but standards much more.)

If the joy is to wrench then a bike like this will fill that need............

For what you have as far as rebuilding, painting, replacing, and after spending the money and comparing that to what this bike has had done to it and its condition, (post #5), then this isn't going to cost any more.............Just a comparison.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/1980-xs650g-special-two.60852/
 
50k is a lot honestly, thats why the price is low tbh.

I would not Buy it not even for a wrenching project 50 k is to high ... Unless there is documentation of work done .
Otherwise there is an engine split in the near future. Not knowing your skills / tools / time
I believe there are better options I would go for less than half that --a third mileage
And not caring how it looks exterior But that is just me.
 
Last edited:
I would not Buy it not even for a wrenching project 50 k is to high ... Unless there is documentation of work done .
Otherwise there is an engine split in the near future. Not knowing your skills / tools / time
I believe there are better options I would go for less than half that --a third mileage
And not caring how it looks exterior But that is just me.
I have seen at least one very nice XS650 with 125,000 miles on it, and another that I know is still on the road with over 100,000 miles on it. Mine looks great from a few feet away with 61,000 miles. It's all in the care it received somewhere along the line. Refreshing a top end isn't really that big a deal, now that I've done it.
 
If the joy is to wrench then a bike like this will fill that need............

For what you have as far as rebuilding, painting, replacing, and after spending the money and comparing that to what this bike has had done to it and its condition, (post #5), then this isn't going to cost any more.............Just a comparison.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/1980-xs650g-special-two.60852/
Thanks Doug for continuing to reference my bike forsale..Its true you cant rebuild one for less than what Im selling mine for..which BTW i still have some mixed feelings about..But i can no longer operate a clutched machine...
Cheers..:cheers:
 
I have seen at least one very nice XS650 with 125,000 miles on it, and another that I know is still on the road with over 100,000 miles on it. Mine looks great from a few feet away with 61,000 miles. It's all in the care it received somewhere along the line. Refreshing a top end isn't really that big a deal, now that I've done it.

My first had ca 70000 -80000 km 44000 Miles the top end .. one Cam shaft bearing was gone . The valves needed lapping at least
Cylinder barely got a pass from, the shop ..
The bottom end had a Crank Bearing Pitted A outer one Luckily
And the small end con rod getting a pass.from the Yamaha top mechanic.
The cam had damage on the edge of one lobe , perhaps usable but I replaced it.
Had I not stopped using it it I would get a major breakdown
I bought it 15000 km

So the 125000 miles I would believe be after 3 Rebuilds ( Jokingly ) Or after e very careful usage and perfect maintenance
Something that was very rare or non existent then

And Is not yours also rebuilt and having a replacement Alternator

Furthermore you are an experienced professional Mechanic having the tools and know how and place to do the top end Job.
It is not something everyone can do .. Engine out which is heavy work Disconnecting electrics and putting it back together with need for
Torque wrench that not everyone have Gaskets and parts shop work $ 2 - 400
Leaving it at a shop ?? 5 hours a $ 150 n hour the same Amount as the bike

This is the reason back in the day 18 years bought "Cheap " Bikes setting out with high expectations took them apart
and never got them assembled again..
Some had the tools and knowledge but the time place and the money was not there . Most of then having " Taken a hit "
scrapped the rip off oil leaking no compression fraudulent first bike . Bought a new or newer MC
5 year old tops. And still not so good on the oil change part ( Most of them )
So yes there can be 121000 miles bikes I have never heard of a twin but Can exist
On the other end No service and No warm up Hooligan ridden with poor Maintenance it is probably possible to run it down on 30 000 km
18000 miles.
Who can tell the odometer even can be tampered with

Check out what gggGary found that leading zero ... there can be good crank and gearbox in there .. Can be
Quick inspection swooping that in .And you can have + 10 -- 15 years riding
That I don't think is there on a 50 k miles bike

upload_2021-12-5_22-19-19.png
 
Thanks Doug for continuing to reference my bike forsale..Its true you cant rebuild one for less than what Im selling mine for..which BTW i still have some mixed feelings about..But i can no longer operate a clutched machine...
Cheers..:cheers:

I think your bike is a real nice quality example of an XS Special, so i have no qualms helping out or using the bike as an example. ...........and your a good bloke.

The bike has been around this site for a while now. You have looked after it and the PO before you did a good job in the restore and posted about it on here where a few, myself included, advised you on the bike prier to and during the sale. None of us had any reason to help with the sale other than to advise and report on the state of the bike, and had nothing personally to do with the person selling the bike.

The bike is a good example, and a good sale price, of a very good XS650 SII using your bike as an example compared to the $'s, some are wiling to buy and think they have a good buy but are yet to start working on, and spending the money to get it to a ride-able standard.
 
I set my FB search to a 500 mi radius of Topeka (shitburg). Found 51 XS650`s. 23 of them were hardtails in one stage or another. No shortage of XS650`s here in the midwest and plains states.:shrug:
 
Phil, what was this? The link directed me to my town...it looks like it's gone. It prolly doesn't matter anyway, just curious.
It's gone now. An '80 with 8k miles for 600 bucks up in Iowa. Non-runner but the motor had compression. Looked to be all there and garage kept... no rust. Woulda been a smokin' deal.
 
Back
Top