72 xs650 electric start or kick start?

Jap901

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Hello I've read that a 72 has electric starter but the 72 I have has only kick start, did some of the 72 only have kick start? Thanks
 
The 72 came from the factory with both. your frame and engine numbers can be compared with the production info found here that should shed some light on what you actually have. Welcome in, we love pics.........and we can help ID the bike with some pics. Way back when the US bikes left the factory the 72 tank, side covers, headlight shell and ears were red with white stripes, 71 was an orangish gold. 72 was disk brake 70- 71 had front drum brakes.
 
Retiredgentleman i'll have to check that out & get back with you.

gggGary I was told it was a 72 engine with a custom frame & by the numbers on the engine it is a 72 but as for the frame there are no numbers at all on the neck. This a project for me and is going to be my first motorcycle build i have ever attempted. Thanks for all the help.
 

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Retiredgentleman i'll have to check that out & get back with you.

gggGary I was told it was a 72 engine with a custom frame & by the numbers on the engine it is a 72 but as for the frame there are no numbers at all on the neck. This a project for me and is going to be my first motorcycle build i have ever attempted. Thanks for all the help.

Hi Jap and welcome,
Check if there's a place on the crankcase to put a starter in that's been capped off?
And no frame ID at all? Double check there's no ID letter-stamped into the frame neck and painted over, or worse, suspicious grinding marks where the ID used to be and be sure that you can get the bike registered before putting time and money into it.
 
Yes, the starter mounts under the engine. Take a look under there to see if you've got one. That is a '72 or later head with the 4 bolt left exhaust valve cover, but on a custom bike, anything can be changed. You do have a project on your hands there, lol. Some of the things done to it look pretty crude.
 
Fredintoon I scrapped 3 layers of paint off the neck no numbers or letters.

5twins unless im going blind which is possible lol I dont see a starter. As for it looking pretty crude I agree but Iit's no problem with me I like and plain on doing a ground up restore rebuild.

Scabber thanks I believe it will too.
 

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The starter would be at the rear of the motor under the tranny, under the lower rear motor mount. The way the front motor mount is attached looks a bit funky also.
 
ippytattoo Thanks i located it, its there. There alot on this bike that don't look to great but its nothing one cant fix, if I can obtain a title.
 
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Yep, that's a from-scratch custom built frame. No XS650 metal in there. Could try looking elsewhere for any signs of number/letter stampings. Otherwise, it's probably unmarked. Depending on local laws (titling using engine number only?), you may need to apply for builder's title, and go thru that mess...
 
TwoManyXS1Bs thanks. Can you tell me what else stood out that its not a xs frame beside the neck.
 
The stock front motor mount bolts through the front down tubes in two places, not through tubes welded to the back of the downtubes. You have the upper half of an original front mount rather crudely sawed in half. When you see "quality" work like that, it makes you wonder just where else they applied their "skills". Oh, I see them evident in the forward control linkage for the rear brake, lol.

There might be a few sections of original frame tubing in use here, but that's about it. The upright behind the motor and the straight section below it could be original.
 
TwoManyXS1Bs thanks. Can you tell me what else stood out that its not a xs frame beside the neck.

Sort of a reverse scan, looked for anything that would actually be from an XS frame.
Couldn't find anything that qualified as coming from an XS frame.

... The upright behind the motor and the straight section below it could be original.

The top/rear motor mount looks welded. Downtube doesn't have the holes for the 3-hole plates.
I don't see the signs of the seat-rails doubler at the upper downturn...
 
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