Stock colour of a 1978 special.

[Leslee]

Hi, after selling our 1979 XS special 2 yrs ago & totally regretting it as soon as it exited our driveway, we have now purchased ( this week ) a 1978 XS special in Black....now not so keen on the black as a colour. On the title of the bike it says its green, but aren't the Standards only green for the 78 year, & Midnight Blue & Vintage Burgundy the colours for the 78 special. So very confusing, or did someone change the colour somewhere within the bikes 40 plus years to green I wonder. Anyone else have a green 1978 special by any chance - also with the colours for that year was there any pinstripe / decals on the tank & side panels at all. We would like to get the bike back to the correct stock colour. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[650Skull]

Everything i know tallies with what you said............. 78E Standard had 2 colours, Star Black and Spruce Green Metallic.

Is the 78SE a NZ bike or an import?. I know people imported Japanese models into NZ.

I have more info on my external HD back home. Will post more when i get back.

And welcome from an Expat from Taranaki

 

[650Skull]

From Biker.net
http://biker.net/650_models2_index.html

 

[Leslee]

Everything i know tallies with what you said............. 78E Standard had 2 colours, Star Black and Spruce Green Metallic.

Is the 78SE a NZ bike or an import?. I know people imported Japanese models into NZ.

I have more info on my external HD back home. Will post more when i get back.

And welcome from an Expat from Taranaki[/QUOT

Thank you - yes it is NZ new.

 

[650Skull]

Only 3 greens from my information.

70 XS1Candy green
74 TXA Vegas Green
78E Spruce Metallic Green.

 

[Leslee]

Thank you 650Skull very interesting, at least it does confirm my thoughts on the colours..

 

[650Skull]

https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...workshop-manuals-and-other-information.30569/

Oceania, (Australia/NZ), 78SE/79SF models were incorporated in the same batch of Vin #'s as the Canadian models.
PDF has confirmed Vin No's

NZ and Oz models finished in 81 but retained Points on all their models, where the US and Canada, japan changed to a factory Electronic ignition, ( TCI),

 

[Leslee]

Thanks, checked out the forms. Yes the engine & frame numbers are both matching being starting at - 447910 - so all tallies correct for the year & area model. Someone obviously decided to have the paint work green in its past life, maybe they picked up the Standard colour for the 78 year by mistake which I suppose could be easily done. We now shall have to choose on the Midnight Blue or Vintage Burgundy. Our previous 1979 XS special was Carmine Red ( after we had to change that as well from a weird blue which was also on both mudguards as well ) both mudguards had to be re-chromed after that too. I see our old 79 bike up for sale very recently on a NZ auction site & the colours have changed on that one again !! cheers

 

[colebrooker]

Hi, after selling our 1979 XS special 2 yrs ago & totally regretting it as soon as it exited our driveway, we have now purchased ( this week ) a 1978 XS special in Black....now not so keen on the black as a colour. On the title of the bike it says its green, but aren't the Standards only green for the 78 year, & Midnight Blue & Vintage Burgundy the colours for the 78 special. So very confusing, or did someone change the colour somewhere within the bikes 40 plus years to green I wonder. Anyone else have a green 1978 special by any chance - also with the colours for that year was there any pinstripe / decals on the tank & side panels at all. We would like to get the bike back to the correct stock colour. Thanks for your help guys.

I have the green. It came from USA to England where the registration here decided it is a 1977 and it's a standard.

 

[colebrooker]

I have the green. It came from USA to England where the registration here decided it is a 1977 and it's a standard.

Spruce green.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Hi, after selling our 1979 XS special 2 yrs ago & totally regretting it as soon as it exited our driveway, we have now purchased ( this week ) a 1978 XS special in Black....now not so keen on the black as a colour. On the title of the bike it says its green, but aren't the Standards only green for the 78 year, & Midnight Blue & Vintage Burgundy the colours for the 78 special. So very confusing, or did someone change the colour somewhere within the bikes 40 plus years to green I wonder. Anyone else have a green 1978 special by any chance - also with the colours for that year was there any pinstripe / decals on the tank & side panels at all. We would like to get the bike back to the correct stock colour. Thanks for your help guys.

Even in New Zealand, I wouldn't expect this to be a particularly valuable vehicle. Other than pink or purple, paint it whatever color suits you, says I.

The US Specials for 1978 had a plastic badge on the tank and another on the side cover, both in gold. The color is not broken by any stripe or decal. It all looks good in black. As I recall, the Midnight Blue and Vintage Burgundy are both very dark, the burgundy less so.

My daughter wanted a purple XS650 Special. We settled on black with purple glass mixed into the paint. It looks great in the sunlight.

 

[gggGary]

A Spruce Green Special would be special indeed.
Just call it a rare import color.

 

[gggGary]

I have the green. It came from USA to England where the registration here decided it is a 1977 and it's a standard.

And a handsome bike it is.

Tell us more?

 

[650Skull]

Even in New Zealand, I wouldn't expect this to be a particularly valuable vehicle.

View attachment 206202
View attachment 206203

XS has become rare in NZ and the prices do reflect that even for Specials

 

[Grimly]

I have the green. It came from USA to England where the registration here decided it is a 1977 and it's a standard.

Always liked BRG and gold striping, but it's probably more historically accurate to call it Irish Racing Green.

 

[gggGary]

Always liked BRG and gold striping, but it's probably more historically accurate to call it Irish Racing Green.

I'm thinking most of the BRG's are a touch yellowish, that Yammie green is slightly blue.

 

[650Skull]

RG's 79 Special he painted green looked good

 

[jetmechmarty]

RG's 79 Special he painted green looked good

 

[650Skull]

https://www.xs650.com/media/albums/rg-1978-se-special.1372/

 

[colebrooker]

And a handsome bike it is.

Tell us more?

I replaced the silencers as we call them due to rust. A bit loud but I like them that way. Can I relate frame number to manufacture year?