XS650 articles, reviews, tests, stories wanted

[peanut]

looking for anything and everything about XS650 to read . I can't get enough at the moment and have trawled the net for hours.

New to this bike and like everything in my life I want to eat sleep and breathe the thing until I have absorbed all I can .

Any guides, articles, touring stories , reviews anything will be of interest. Not interested in buying magazines off ebay with a couple of pages for a rippoff £5.00+ though

 

[ady66]

If you haven't already got it, the XS 650 performance portfolio is I think worth a read. It is essentially a collection of reprints of contemporary magazine reviews bound into a book. About 12 quid if I remember correctly.
And of course a Haynes manual

 

[650Skull]

Here are a couple of links, then chase the links through their sites and that will keep you busy for months.

 

[peanut]

portfolio is on my list if I can find a cheap copy.

Thanks for the links ... that should keep me busy for a few hours

Keep em coming ......being a speed reader is a curse at times

 

[650Skull]

portfolio is on my list if I can find a cheap copy.

Thanks for the links ... that should keep me busy for a few hours

Keep em coming ......being a speed reader is a curse at times

if you follow the links it will take you weeks or even months to read it all and some will have to be put through a translator on the Dutch and German sites.

Why don't you post what you have found

 

[weekendrider]

A quick read, but longer to implement. The Minton Mods.
The Carb Guide.
The old 650rider site.
The Garage.
The wiki page.
650 Centrals tips and tricks.
Mikes tech section.
XS650.com(Is it still up?)
Then google XS650 and start the blog posts.
Ohh and don't forget you tube.
See ya in the mornin.

 

[peanut]

Morning weekend rider.

Talking of the time difference , co-incidentally my gf is in the US at the moment, she arrived in Idaho yesterday for a 2x week horse drive at Medicine Lodge. Wonder what the weather is like out that way at the moment?

The Minton Mods is brilliant and i've read and re-read that several times. I shall refer to that later on when I rebuild the bike .
Wiki was quite informative but needs a lot more work I think by someone familiar with the racing history and upgrades and the various mods you can do to the bike to give a more complete picture.
Mike's tech section and Morse,s I am using to assist me in rebuilding my engine and are excellent .
I haven't read the carb section yet but when I get the engine finished and fitted I have the carb guide to look forward to as I wrestle with the carb overhaul and setting up.

I must look for some more blogs to read. those that I've found so far tend towards bobbin,choppin,hardtailin stuff which isn't of much interest to me at the moment . Initially I'm looking to use the bike as standard but perhaps develop later as a street tracker .


Youtube what can I say. i've trawled and trawled and just cannot get enough of that. I just love the sound of that engine accelerating and on over run .

650skull thank you for the links you provided, lots of interesting things to read and lots of tech help too. it would take me too long to type out all the reading matter I have come across to date. I read at the rate of an average novel every 2 hours or less so I have got through a lot of reading in the past few weeks ...one of the blessings of being retired I guess.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone

 

[gggGary]

http://www.biker.net/650/betterxs.html

http://www.classic-japanese-bikes.com/Yamaha-XS-650.html

http://thexscafedotcom.wordpress.com/


Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Ba da, Ba da, Ba da, Ba da...Feelin' Groovy.

Speed reading is fine to help find the nuggets but yah gotta drop out of high gear and idle through the good stuff, or nothing sticks.
Heck this forum has HOURS of good reading, search posts by XSjohn, 5 twins, grzld1 weekendrider, and more for excellent XS650 Background.

 

[peanut]

http://www.biker.net/650/betterxs.html

http://www.classic-japanese-bikes.com/Yamaha-XS-650.html

http://thexscafedotcom.wordpress.com/


Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Ba da, Ba da, Ba da, Ba da...Feelin' Groovy.

Speed reading is fine to help find the nuggets but yah gotta drop out of high gear and idle through the good stuff, or nothing sticks.
Heck this forum has HOURS of good reading, search posts by XSjohn, 5 twins, grzld1 weekendrider, and more for excellent XS650 Background.

I know.I know......but I can't stop.... must dash.....

So thats why I can't remember anything lol.

I'm trying to emass all the good technical articles I can for future reference. At the same time I'm really enjoying reading about other owners personal experiences and advice.

Has anyone taken an XS650 on tour round America/ Europe / the World and lived to tell the tale ? That would make an interesting read.

Touring on my XS is No1 on my bucket list at the moment and I can't wait.

Thanks for the links Gary.