And to think there are still guys trying to emulate those bikes (hardtails) with the 650's.
Indeed. What often strikes me is that these folks write into the forum for help - always with great enthusiasm and plans for a "bitchin'" / "mean" / "ragin'" / "knarly" / "sick" ( does that mean?) ride as they take some nice old motorcycle that never hurt anyone and go at it with a sawzall.
Not always, but more often than not, they run out of skill, time or money before finishing it - and then it becomes a "PROJECT BIKE for SALE" on the forum....OR....in a few cases, the bike is actually completed and they find that they cannot ride it for more than five miles without suffering pain or a major injury to their back / kidneys / knees / etc. and the bike becomes a "HARDTAIL for SALE" on the forum.
The thing is: if they had just taken a little time to ride the bike in stock condition, they would have found that the XS650 is really one of the nicest bikes around for profiling down at the local Dairy Queen or roaring up and down the main drag of town annoying the blue-rinse set in their Lincolns and Camrys.
There IS a reason that no manufacturer builds hardtailed bikes any more - and hasn't for decades....
Now, I acknowledge that it is a free country and a fella can do what he wishes with his motorcycle and I also grant that some of these bikes are completed and ridden and loved by their builders / owners - and that is great. Some of the examples on the calendars are really well done - not my thing - but clearly a lot of art and skill went into them. Such an outcome is certainly much better than having another nice old XS650 simply scrapped.
Nonetheless, the wastage of old motorcycles doesn't seem to be decreasing and it is sad - especially when the outcomes are so predictable, based on our collective experience.
The folks who want to build a hard-tail should just wait until someone else's failed project comes up for sale on this forum - it won't take long - and then they can carry on with their dream without ruining someone else's.
Anyhow, back to my dungeon for more meeting prep...
Pete
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