Just introducing myself.

SolidGhost

SolidGhost

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I’m picking up a ‘77 XS650 tomorrow. I’d had ‘66 Triumph before and loved it for years, made it my own, made some good memories on it. I had no choice but to sell it one day. I told my new wife recently I’ve dreamt of it four nights in a row. We’re sitting there with the kids and she’s suddenly reading off listings. I thought it was over for me but she wouldn’t have it. I happened to find this XS, locally and in my price range. I’ve got some plans for it and since it’s not exactly all original anyway I’ll make a mild custom. I’m not majorly cutting it up. Something along the lines of a scrambler in style and some of what’s coming out of Japan these days. First I’ve got to make adjustments to fit my short stature.
IMG_6490.jpeg
 
🍀 looks as though you found a 78E model. A very good year to make into your motorcycle 👍
To lower it a tad I’d recommend just raising the fork tubes a SMIDGE in the triple clamp. (1/4”)
Slightly shorter shocks (1/4”) lol..
You can most easily get a lower seat height by finding or making a thinner seat.
In other words … your XS will handle best if you can leave the suspension close to stock and get a seat to help with the height.
 
XSTime said:
🍀 looks as though you found a 78E model. A very good year to make into your motorcycle 👍
To lower it a tad I’d recommend just raising the fork tubes a SMIDGE in the triple clamp. (1/4”)
Slightly shorter shocks (1/4”) lol..
You can most easily get a lower seat height by finding or making a thinner seat.
In other words … your XS will handle best if you can leave the suspension close to stock and get a seat to help with the height.
Click to expand...

Interesting. It was listed as a 77 but then my Triumph was sold as a 66 and it was cobbled together from a 66 frame, 68 engine, and 69 front end. This guy has a garage of bikes he and his son build together, keep the ones they want, and sell the ones that were more fun to build than to keep.

And yeah I looked at a lot of threads and reviews (this forum has been helpful to me even as a lurker) and right now I’m thinking of saving any possible suspension mods til I’ve tried everything else. Trim the seat way down, lower profile tire, and then maybe whatever suspension changes might be made can be slight.
 
Yes, definitely a '78 Standard model. As mentioned, it's a very good year. I've had one much like it for nearly 20 years now and just love it .....

Mammys2014.jpg


There's just so much you can do to these to improve them and make them better. It's pretty much all covered here on this site and much of it is simple and cheap to do. For instance, notice the brace on my centerstand tang. They have a nasty habit of breaking off if you don't do that, lol.
 
Yes, very nice '78 Standard.
Swap those slash cut muffs for a set of the long commando's and she'll be the Belle of the Ball at any bike night.
Welcome aboard!
I'll add that missing that old '67 Triumph 500 i had as a young'n is what got me back on two wheels, and the advice, given to me from an old Bud that had stayed the course through the years, to search out the xs650 is what got me here.....best Triumph that Triumph never made......
 
SolidGhost said:
I’m picking up a ‘77 XS650 tomorrow. I’d had ‘66 Triumph before and loved it for years, made it my own, made some good memories on it. I had no choice but to sell it one day. I told my new wife recently I’ve dreamt of it four nights in a row. We’re sitting there with the kids and she’s suddenly reading off listings. I thought it was over for me but she wouldn’t have it. I happened to find this XS, locally and in my price range. I’ve got some plans for it and since it’s not exactly all original anyway I’ll make a mild custom. I’m not majorly cutting it up. Something along the lines of a scrambler in style and some of what’s coming out of Japan these days. First I’ve got to make adjustments to fit my short stature. View attachment 272046
Click to expand...
Great looking ride. Welcome aboard.
 
A beautiful bike. Congratulations! I have the exact same one. It’s a 78E. The only thing you may want to change are the exhausts. See the 5twins’ photo. Those are commandos and work and look great on these bikes.
 
5twins said:
Yes, definitely a '78 Standard model. As mentioned, it's a very good year. I've had one much like it for nearly 20 years now and just love it .....

View attachment 273141

There's just so much you can do to these to improve them and make them better. It's pretty much all covered here on this site and much of it is simple and cheap to do. For instance, notice the brace on my centerstand tang. They have a nasty habit of breaking off if you don't do that, lol.
Click to expand...

Beautiful and yes, I’m looking forward to having a bike with parts and options that are a bit more…accessible. And thanks for the tip!
 
nj1639 said:
Yes, very nice '78 Standard.
Swap those slash cut muffs for a set of the long commando's and she'll be the Belle of the Ball at any bike night.
Welcome aboard!
I'll add that missing that old '67 Triumph 500 i had as a young'n is what got me back on two wheels, and the advice, given to me from an old Bud that had stayed the course through the years, to search out the xs650 is what got me here.....best Triumph that Triumph never made......
Click to expand...

Among the first things to go will be the slash cuts though the sound is nice. Too cruiser for my liking. Glad you found your way back to a bike. In memory of our lost loves, here’s my ‘66 overlooking Seneca Lake.
 

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Welcome! Nice looking bike! It's only original once and everyday they're getting closer to extinction. There's sure a lot of beauty in originality! Whatever you decide I hope you have fun with it. In the end that's what matters!
 
zrx1100 said:
A beautiful bike. Congratulations! I have the exact same one. It’s a 78E. The only thing you may want to change are the exhausts. See the 5twins’ photo. Those are commandos and work and look great on these bikes.
Click to expand...
Your bike looks great. Wild, I wonder what made the seller think 77. I don’t know enough to care from one year to the next but I think I like what I’m getting myself into.
 
Just like cars, Yamaha started making the new model year bikes in the late Summer or early Fall of the previous year. So, it's very possible the manufacturing date stamped on the steering neck is late in '77 sometime. That would explain why the seller is calling it a '77 model.
 
5twins said:
Just like cars, Yamaha started making the new model year bikes in the late Summer or early Fall of the previous year. So, it's very possible the manufacturing date stamped on the steering neck is late in '77 sometime. That would explain why the seller is calling it a '77 model.
Click to expand...
Of course. Makes perfect sense.
 

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