75 Project Bike

[Shovel Jockey]

Hey Folks, been a while. Hope ya'll are still riding and having some fun. I found a project bike on facebook marketplace up in Maryland and had some questions on getting it roadworthy. Removing a failed Kreem liner without messing up the paint is number one on my list.

 

[Its been a long time]

That's an absolutely top drawer survivor. Hope you get it sorted and running soon. It's a lovely bike, even has original mufflers

 

[JJames]

Yeah. A real beauty.

That's an absolutely top drawer survivor. Hope you get it sorted and running soon. It's a lovely bike, even has original mufflers

I don't follow the bike market much and what you paid is your business, but...

 

[Shovel Jockey]

$1,500 one owner with 17,340 miles. Been sitting in a garage for 40 years. front signal ears bent, front brake needs rebuild and carbs as well. Other than the tank I think I'm ok. Pretty stoked to find this and she's staying stock down to the points. Thanks for the comments for sure. Joe

 

[JJames]

$1,500 one owner with 17,340 miles. Been sitting in a garage for 40 years. front signal ears bent, front brake needs rebuild and carbs as well. Other than the tank I think I'm ok. Pretty stoked to find this and she's staying stock down to the points. Thanks for the comments for sure. Joe

SCORE! I've said it before, but i think the XS is an underapreciated(sic) classic. Maybe not rare enough. What that means for us is they are still relatively plentiful, and relatively affordable. Did I say that's a super nice XS? That's a super nice XS!

 

[Its been a long time]

$1,500 one owner with 17,340 miles. Been sitting in a garage for 40 years. front signal ears bent, front brake needs rebuild and carbs as well. Other than the tank I think I'm ok. Pretty stoked to find this and she's staying stock down to the points. Thanks for the comments for sure. Joe

Absolute bargain. Well done. And I'm very pleased to hear you aren't chopping it up!

 

[FB71]

I looked at that one. If I didn't have five others in the shed, I'd have bought that one too!
Nice score!

 

[Wagner73]

Yes, from a distance it looks nearly brand new! Could be a carbon of the one I owned in the early '80's. Great find, to me the 650B's are kind of iconic, and happy you are keeping her stock!

 

[TX650A Van Islander]

What a deal!!! Nicely done. Stuff like that doesn't seem to exist here.

 

[Shovel Jockey]

The guy I bought it from installed high bars, a sissy bar and highway pegs first thing day one. Unfortunately the dealership cut off the lift handle on the left side of the frame to install the sissy bar. This was taken on the way back home from Maryland (thought the rainbow was a good sign) Now if I can get my pot of gold running

 

[Shovel Jockey]

Mikes XS and XS650 Central for Carburetor and brake parts still work? It's been years...

 

[Kevin Werner]

Absolute bargain. Well done. And I'm very pleased to hear you aren't chopping it up!

Damn, one more chopped means my stock XS is more rare and valuable...

 

[Shovel Jockey]

Thats a beauty! What year is it?

 

[Wagner73]

Unfortunately the dealership cut off the lift handle on the left side of the frame to install the sissy bar.

What a great solution! Typical dealer shortcut.

 

[650Skull]

No other option if putting on the sissy bar

 

[Wagner73]

No other option if putting on the sissy bar

Yes, you are correct, especially if the bar is a quasi-universal or "stone axe" version. But it would be completely possible to engineer and fab a bar that retained the handle, assuming there was a will to do so. But probably not for a "lowly" XS650...

 

[Bojangles56]

The first XS 1 was released in Australia in 1971, correct me if I’m wrong.
I was working in a Motorcycle shop in 1971 and I remember seeing this Magnificent Bike getting delivered to the shop in Zillmere Rd,at the New, Carel Berendes Motorcycle Shop. I was only 15 years old at the time. I stayed working there for another year and then I left to work as a Carpenter building house’s.
I am now retired from building construction.

It’s been in my blood since that day, but, my father gave me a stern warning, Don’t you ever bring home here to this house any sort of motorcycle or else. !
Over the years I have had quite a few of them,Suzuki’s , Yamaha’s etc. and now in my shed ,2026 I have a 1980 XJ 650 Yamaha. Shaft drive , 4 Cylinder . Donated to me by my Son .
The Thrill of my Life will be to Restore this Memory of mine and get it back onto the road.

 

[JJames]

Dad gave me a similar warning. "Bring a motorcycle home and I'll kick your ass, if I find out you're keeping one somewhere else, I'll kick your ass." I guess he knew I was a dumbshit and would have no doubt killed myself.
Best of luck with your dream project.

 

[Wagner73]

Dad gave me a similar warning. "Bring a motorcycle home and I'll kick your ass, if I find out you're keeping one somewhere else, I'll kick your ass."

Seems like this was a popular Dad-threat back in the day...I received a similar warning. He had also thwarted all my attempts to obtain a minibike or similar in earlier years as well. But in the summer after I graduated high school, a clapped-out T100C appeared in the garage, and this resulted in really no reaction whatsoever except exasperation.

 

[ReycleBill]

Nice bike, the model that first caught my attention. I too, would like to know how to remove tank liners without ruining the paint.