Hello!

[JesterB]

First off this was suposed to be in the intro section. but when i tried to post it told me to log in even tho i was and then i copied pasted and forgot to click off where i wanted it to go
Hello,

I'm Jesse.
Ive always loved the old bobber style bikes and would love to build one.
Having not done one befor i came here looking for advice.
I have the tools and mechanical aptitude.

What I dont have is the experience and knowledge with xs650's or for that matter motor bikes.

What i am looking for now is a xs650 to ride and chop later.

This would be the later plans.

What is availiable right now locally are

Really close

78 street tracker $2200

1981 650 YAMAHA HERITAGE SPECIAL $2600

1980 650 $1625 +120 ferry fee

1979 2day trip away $2500 +120$ ferry fee

The one for 1625 would be my first choice, the price is right and it has spoke wheels.
They have not gotten back to me so i assume it has been sold.

So my question is what should i be looking for.

At this point in time i dont care if it has drums or disk.
I know disk is better, but in the end i want spoke wheels.

given purches prices are around 2000 in my area for a runner.
should i be looking for something with spokes/drum ( most seem to have mags )
or does it even matter. I know wheels aren't expensive, its the drum/disk difference im wondering about.

the 78 is so close i could be riding by tomorrow!
the 79 is further away and more money. but may save me money in the long run?

my impuslive side tells me to grab the 78
some little spec of wisdom in the back of my head says ask for advice from someone whos been down the road



Anyways thanx for any advice!

 

[weekendrider]

Welcome to the site Jester.
All the choices look to be nice bikes.
I would strike the Hertiage Special as to expensive.
The 78 might have the most resale value for the parts you are stripping off.
Stock seats/grab bars/fenders don't bring much.
But is that what you want to ride while you are planning your build?
Things to consider mileage, compression, charging rate, oil leaks.
The owners knowledge of these things may tell you how it has been treated.

 

[nj1639]

The advice given to me when I first decided to go searching for an xs650 was to stay with '80 or newer due to the electronic ignition.....it was good advice. I'd be considering the '80. The '79 and the Heritage look good but are pricey like weekendrider said. The '79 as a stocker to keep as is for that price, well ok. Too much of a hand has been put into the tracker already for my taste.

 

[JesterB]

Well im checking out the 78 on tuesday hopefully

the 79 has sold already

and that 81 special will only drop the prices to 2400 has 13,000 miles on it and was always stored in doors.

 

[nj1639]

The '78 would give you parts to sell or trade off when you go to bobbin'.....kinda half way there on that one......'sides, it's already been molested......

 

[Tron]

You in victoria dude?

I live here..and am heading to kelowna in a week and am soooo tempted to pick up the 73..from the same guy with the black 79 (castanet)

If the trackers alright and not molested..offer him 1800

 

[Tron]

Have you seen the 75 with 750cc big bore in van?

mmmmm droooolz

 

[JesterB]

Yeah, I live in Victoria.
Was staying away from that 75 because of the big bore kit.
The more I think about the 78 the less im interested in it.
The rear disk is a concern for me because I want a 16" rear spoke.
Also I just want stock pipes.
My dad might have a friend with some parts maybe even a bike im excited to see where that lead goes.

If that fails a trip to vancouver is in order.

Found a really good buyers checklist on the site. http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18515
Do you happen to know a good build page of a custom made hard tail?
why do you want a 73 i thought they had weak frames?

 

[Tron]

Id call moto method, and ask about the 750..its a sweet bike

 

[Detale]

Don't let the electronic ignition be a huge selling point. You can get a pamco ignition and put it in yourself man. As they said above ask the owner questions. If he knows the answers then the bike has a chance it was treated right. Compression is a big factor. Oil leaks and charging issues are also important. Good luck and welcome

 

[Tron]

I want this 73.. http://classifieds.castanet.net/details/1973_yamaha_tx650/1377372/
In vernon, same guy as other black one.

 

[JesterB]

Yeah, I didn't ask him about that bike because I read thoes frames are wobbly.

I may have found a "barn find".I wont find out till friday if hes willing to sell or not.

I'll call motomethod tomorrow, its the only other bike out there in range I havn't tried to contact.
read some scary reviews from motomethod. Very cool concept though.

 

[650Skull]

Yeah, I didn't ask him about that bike because I read those frames are wobbly..

Any thing can be braced, and i have an article about XS2's, (same frame), coming 2nd and 9th in the Castrol 6 hour race in 1972. It was racing Triumps, Nortons, BSA and the Suzuki, Kwaka and Yamy 2 strokes. The Honda 750/4, 1st, 3rd, 8th with the 500/4 4th and 5th.

These were straight off the showroom floor

 

[JesterB]

thnx for the little history lesson I had no idea honda was so dominant.

I checked out the 78 today.More of a project than I want for the time being
atleast at that price.

Checking out another on saturday. If that doesn't pan out ill venture to the mainland the following weekend if i can set up atleast 2 to check out.

 

[CDNTX650]

thnx for the little history lesson I had no idea honda was so dominant.

I checked out the 78 today.More of a project than I want for the time being
atleast at that price.

Checking out another on saturday. If that doesn't pan out ill venture to the mainland the following weekend if i can set up atleast 2 to check out.

Man, HRC alone is bigger than all of suzuki as a company...HRC still dominates moto GP!!! 3 factory bikes!!!?!!??! i bet thats like a budget of 20 mil per team!!!

 

[JesterB]

Well little update!
Ended up getting the 1981 special
turns out to be a 1983
Was a much cleaner bike then any of the others I looked at
not even 21000 KM on it.
The bike will not idol so I was able to get a much lower price on it .
has brand new tires
Even the OEM exhaust is in mint condition. (you can see the info plate on the picture its not on any of the other bikes)
Came with an extra set of carbs. unfortunatly I think they are both bs34's
First thing tomorrow ill check the charging system.
if that checks out I'll check to see if the carbs are synced (looking that up right now)
the guy i bought it off of thinks that is what it is.
I think he may have just not cleaned out the jets enough.
really hope I can get it going for next weekend.

 

[Tron]

Rad. Let me know if you need help, or want to go for a rip.