Still don't know why I bought my XS. But I guess in some way it's sort of a replacement for the Triumph TR6 I ran two or three years back. That video, and another one it links to, put me right back on the Triumph. A truly lovely bike to ride. There is less weight and it's lower down. Very good neutral handling, melodious soundtrack, nothing sounds quite like a Triumph 650. The charismatic engine has a kind of loose feeling. Four speeds, easy gear change.
Mine was right-hand side gear lever, which is good for keeping the brain in gear too. You try to avoid - and mostly succeed - changing gear with the brake pedal. And with only four ratios and easy torque, you seem to change gear far less often. Most roads only need one gear, most of the time.
Mine had the tls drum brake, which I learned to trust. Said to be the best brake ever fitted to the 650s. Needed more lever pull to slow down, but you learned that if you really heaved like you meant it, the bike would really lose speed. Kind of 'fear assistance'?
Is the Triumph a nicer bike to ride than the Yamaha? Yes. When everything is working.
Would I swap back to the Triumph? No. Because the Yamaha is a more robust bike and keeps on doing what it ought to.
The Yamaha has it's own charisma. It vibrates but that's the engine talking to you. Handles well enough. You can use the bike harder. Maybe more of a hooligan than the Triumph gentleman's motorcycle. But you still have the nice feeling of being on an old fashioned, traditional motorbike.
Is the Yamaha faster than the Triumph? Well, to me it sure seems it is, but that's probably because you can use it harder.
And.
The Triumph always had oil leaks. Even after I fully rebuilt the engine and gearbox. Some people claim they have an old Triumph that doesn't leak oil but well, I don't think it will stay that way long. Then there's the sulks. Like when the oil floods down into the engine and you can't kick it over.