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Mikesxs has or had the chrome side covers...here's a pic of my So. Jersey mentors bike, a little dark but you can see the chrome cover, and the chrome engine cover, and the chrome oil cooler. He now has the Bub exhaust, and the etc......
Here is mine I picked up for a bobber project... 1975 model.... I know that some off the parts aren't correct for this bike like the rear turn signals, front fender, and the mufflers. It is in pretty good shape so I don't think I will cut this one up, but may be get the correct parts put back on it and ride the piss out of it and find a basket case for the bobber project....
I think the 70's XS' are a shame to chop, but I own a 1981 "Special" and I will be the first to admit, they are anything but special. They DESERVE to be cut up and refashioned, I find no beauty in it.
I don't remeber if I have shown mine, but I can't find it looking through the thread. Here is a couple of pictures for you.
I bought the bike last December and have tried since then to make it a reliable ride, first the charging system went out, so I changed to a PMA setup along with a Pamco ignition.
Rode around 2000kms without any issues at all untill the Pamco died, got a new one put in and it's purring again. Going to the Alps in July on a 2-week trip, so I hope I've got most of the smaller issues figured out by then.
Latest iteration after coming back from riding to South America (Not on the XS) http://www.mototrip.org
My bobbed '81H with ~'74 donor motor. Custom wire harness, stock ignition (works nicely with fixed diode), kick only for now, pods, open pipes, honda rebel shocks, new high output coil, custom battery box (covered with duct tape for the moment), drag bars, new fork seals, bobbed rear fender, custom solo saddle. The Yamaha badge on the tank is photoshopped in to see if I like it.
Still need to tweak it, just started polishing parts, probably ride it this summer and strip it down next winter for powdercoat/paint.
Heres "the owld girl" at the"Empty The Barrel Rally" a fortnight ago in County Durham, She took best chop...to be honest there was no competition...still a great moment for her!!
This is my first XS. I bought this '78 bone stock a couple months back with only 30,000 kms. I haven't done much, just drag bars, lowered a couple of inches, pods, rejet, PMA, the usual stuff like a tune up, bushings, seals, etc.
Here's a new one, I want to make it into a rigid. I had read Punkskalar's build on Pirate and liked the way his bike turned out.
I didn't know how big the 650 following was before this but realized the benefits in building this bike. After a year and a half of looking for a good bike at a good price, I found this one.
I've been reading up on all the tech info and I plan on riding the bike for this summer doing all the small stuff first and then pull the bike in for the winter for the back half.