1978 XS650 Green and Clean!

Calliway

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Finsihed up the paint and body work on my 78. I picked it up late spring last year as a non runner. After getting it going and mechanically sound last year I rode it for the season. I loved it and rode the hell out of it despite being dented and worn but thought I better give it some love over the winter. Exhaust, bars, tires, polished cases, switches and a list of parts to get it running perfectly as well as paint. Here she is.
 

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Finsihed up the paint and body work on my 77. I picked it up late spring last year as a non runner. After getting it going and mechanically sound last year I rode it for the season. I loved it and rode the hell out of it despite being dented and worn but thought I better give it some love over the winter. Exhaust, bars, tires, polished cases, switches and a list of parts to get it running perfectly as well as paint. Here she is.
I love the work put into that bike, and the results a shining out of the pictures.
Green with envy me!
 
Finsihed up the paint and body work on my 77. I picked it up late spring last year as a non runner. After getting it going and mechanically sound last year I rode it for the season. I loved it and rode the hell out of it despite being dented and worn but thought I better give it some love over the winter. Exhaust, bars, tires, polished cases, switches and a list of parts to get it running perfectly as well as paint. Here she is.
Sidecar decals from Diablo?They’re more authentic looking.Nicely done
 
Sidecar decals from Diablo?They’re more authentic looking.Nicely done
Sorry I am not sure what you mean about the sidecar decals. The scallops on the tank I painted on and they are just reverse from what you would tpically see on a bike of that era. Most side scallops are long on top and short on bottom. I just did the reverse. CHeers.
 
Sorry I am not sure what you mean about the sidecar decals. The scallops on the tank I painted on and they are just reverse from what you would tpically see on a bike of that era. Most side scallops are long on top and short on bottom. I just did the reverse. CHeers.
My bad.Meant sidecover decal
 
Technically yes but August of 1977 build and all specs are 1977 and not 78. Over a 100 hours of work and that is the comment. cool cool.
Just 5T being 5T you're prolly lucky skull dint chip in..........
She's a beauty! Great eye on paint and striping.







mumble mumble "prolly is 78 "model year" very few differences, AFAICR none mechanically. Fork internals. :shrug:
 
Just 5T being 5T you're prolly lucky skull dint chip in..........
She's a beauty! Great eye on paint and striping.







mumble mumble "prolly is 78 "model year" very few differences, AFAICR none mechanically. Fork internals. :shrug:
Ahhhh Shade. I needed some, thanks, ggGary, getting a bit hot over here. OP is Dam LUCKY I didn't pipe up and mention the owner knows he has a 78.

Nice bike and you have done a nice job. What colour green is that.
 
Could you see that in your mind before you started, or did you just get lucky? I like your choice of ‘75 graphics for the side panels. I am curious about your exhaust. I particularly like the appearance of your muffler choice. What green is that. All very nice!
Yes when I build a bike I have the finished product in my head and have usually sketched it a few times as well. The 75 graphics as a hole are my favorite graphics and I dd the tank the first time in the 75 graphics as well except after sitting for a day or two they all bubbled. So I peeled them off and reverted to a painted graphic. The exhaust is the Dunstall replicas that I have removed the core and wrapped in fiberlass matte so they sound great. If you dont those Dunstalls are horrible and raunchy. Wrapping the cores makes them sound beautiful. The green is Dark British Racing Green from a 1954 MG. I used Nason (Axalta/Dupont) and sprayed in a home made pop up paint booth in my back yard.
I was multitasking when asking about your sidecover decal.What supplier did you use. I like the gold clearity compared to the older versions I’d used.
I got them from XS650 direct. Not great decals but did the job.
 
Gorgeous build with a scheme that is not common.
The flipped scallops are subtle yet effective at making the bike stand out.
Especially when coupled with the chosen color scheme.
It just goes well together. The rest of the build stands tall in it's own regard.
You made some nice choices; the mufflers, the seat, the toolbag.
VERY clean build! Very well done. I like that you did your own paint along with everything else.
Quite a looker. Hope it brings you miles and miles of smiles.
Thanks for sharing.
 
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