1972, the year Triumph lowered the seat on the OIF models. They still had the shifter on the right (right side) and just the right amount of gears, four! 69 was a good year too, Triumph tipped the cam followers with stellite.
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Consensus---Best Year
- Thread starter Britman
- Start date
My choice is the 1971 XS1B, but some may say there are too many XS1Bs...
Knew next to nothing about these bikes when I bought one.
With hindsight, would have preferred a standard for the wire wheels and more classic lines. If it's looks, definitely prefer the XS1 and XS2 - the colour schemes and the original tank shape. My ideal purchase would probably be a standard 77, 78 or 79 as they have the better frame - thank you Percy Tait - and other improvements.
But it's a bit academic in Blighty 'coz there ain't many XSs around. Very limited choice and as Ads says
Course, ended up wiv a fucked-up 78 Special and decided to finish it in one of my fav colours - had to be yellow XS1 or orange XS2
Have since fitted an early style round tail light. Would like to fit wire wheels and rear drum but realistically not gonna happen.
So I take consolation ending up with an XS650 with the best-handling frame, BS38s, electronic ignition and looks that folk seem to admire. Plus it sounds good and generally just rocks. Keeper.
Unless . . .
With hindsight, would have preferred a standard for the wire wheels and more classic lines. If it's looks, definitely prefer the XS1 and XS2 - the colour schemes and the original tank shape. My ideal purchase would probably be a standard 77, 78 or 79 as they have the better frame - thank you Percy Tait - and other improvements.
But it's a bit academic in Blighty 'coz there ain't many XSs around. Very limited choice and as Ads says
Course, ended up wiv a fucked-up 78 Special and decided to finish it in one of my fav colours - had to be yellow XS1 or orange XS2
Have since fitted an early style round tail light. Would like to fit wire wheels and rear drum but realistically not gonna happen.
So I take consolation ending up with an XS650 with the best-handling frame, BS38s, electronic ignition and looks that folk seem to admire. Plus it sounds good and generally just rocks. Keeper.
Unless . . .
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Yes sir, so far I've collected an XS2, 650B, '80 (mostly molested tracker) & '82 (fully molested bobber); but the "original Special" - a '78 SE in Midnight Blue - would be cool to have.
I have never seen an example of a Heritage Special in red. It might be rare.
The ‘78-‘79 Specials are my favorite in appearance, excepting the XS750 Special that was a swing and a miss.
Not the best pic, not mine, but...
There was a nice one in red for sale not far from me years ago but the owner was VERY attached to it....
There was a nice one in red for sale not far from me years ago but the owner was VERY attached to it....
usaswordsman
XS650 Member
I'm in SW Missouri and just over the border. What rally are you talking about in May? I would like to ride mine.
usaswordsman
XS650 Member
I'm in SW Missouri. What rally are you talking about? I'd like to ride.
I concur! Haha especially once it was given the “correct” paint job.
*xs1 in green is my most desired bike, such a looker. - followed by the xs2 and in a tight 3rd is the TX. They go downhill from there haha
Last summer, I did a long weekend over 1,000 miles on my XS650SK. I rode home through very heavy rain. The bike performed flawlessly and was not uncomfortable. Negative points if your bike won’t do that.
Why the heck cant they do something like that on my side of the country?
That would be a blast....I'd be in full tilt overload looking at all the 650's...seriously.
Here’s your chance. There are plenty of these bikes in your part of the country. We still have the XS650 Society. Join it. Start a rally. John Chaves (@desmoman900) will help you. If you start with 5 or 6 bikes, it will be a blast! I hosted or cohosted two rallies until I moved. One of them is still going strong.
Wasn't anything post 74 when the frame improvements came in?
Looking at the Tech section only forks were improved after the initial strengthening except the special frame shape
Brochure for a NRR 83 here.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...workshop-manuals-and-other-information.30569/
https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...workshop-manuals-and-other-information.30569/
