They're getting rare in my neck of the woods.
Its important to note that this forum has become a popular place to follow the xs650. From the outside it appears hardtailed XS650s are everywhere but on the street they are still a scarcity to see chopped...
I'd love to run into another one on the road chopped or stock...
I doubt anybody here would notice, but the good old XS650 no longer exists. How so? They were all chopped to death by guys enamored with the Teutels and tattoos and being a bad-as$ outlaw. XS650s were relatively cheap and anybody with a chainsaw--I'm not making this up--could hack and whack their frames and make a rigid. Put a whitewall car tire on it. Drop it to 5 psi to survive the roads. Put the springer saddle on it from your Schwinn. Looks cool, can't get out of its own way, and rides like cr*p. We don't need no stinkin' shocks. Make sure you put apes on it. Real men ride apes. When I sell my 1980, I'll just ask one thing: don't ruin it by making it a chopper, because they're like bellybuttons--everybody has one.
you obviously have never rode a chop!!.....more fun than ridin your ol.....oh never mind..you wouldn't understand!!
I have rode choppers-- lots of them-- and most are unsafe at any speed. But it's your bike and your life so cut them up anyway you like, the value of my stockers keeps going up.
yes, there are some unsafe...poor welds etc...agreed some people should not be building bikes!!
but one put together right, is a absolute hoot (and has safe as any factory bike)!!!
hell I have seen "factory" bikes I wouldn't ride either...cobbled up repairs, bald tires, literally put together with haywire!!
Have you silly old geezers forgot that we just discussed this last week?
I promise you that if rigid frames and choppers were safer or better handling then every racing bike ever built would be rigid and chopped. Or had you not noticed that racing bikes have swingarms?
Safe as a factory bike? Safe as a 1948 Harley-Davidson perhaps but nothing like as safe as ANY 1970s factory machine. For starters, choppers suffer from rigid frames that add hundreds of pounds to the rear suspension loads. Even the best built choppers are ill handling monsters no matter what the brand or how well the welds are made.
Suspension serves far more than cushioning bumps.
To imply that ANY chopper or rigid frame bike is safer shows a complete lack of suspension basics. The swingarm was one of the greatest advancements ever made to increase the handling capabilities and make motorcycles safer to ride. And don't get me started on the springer...
I promise you that if rigid frames and choppers were safer or better handling then every racing bike ever built would be rigid and chopped. Or had you not noticed that racing bikes have swingarms?
Seriously, Dude, it's your bike and I welcome you to do with it what you like but let's keep claims somewhere near reality. Ride, build, have fun but keep it real.