vtuck2
XS650 Member
Hey guys,
I haven't been on a motorcycle in about 25 years.
Recently, I read an online article about inexpensive vintage motorcycles. The XS 650 was on the list.
I was instantly struck by how much it reminded me of the favorite motorcycle I ever owned - a 1966 Triumph Bonneville. I would describe my relationship with that Bonneville as 75% love and 25% hate. But that was then and I was 17. Now I'm 65. Today, it would probably be 75% hate and 25% love.
Nevertheless, nothing I owned subsequent to that first Bonnevile thrilled me like it did. Perhaps it was just the dulling of my senses as I grew older.
But still... I have a feeling that an XS 650 might offer all the positives and none of the negatives. While researching this I ran across this forum so decided to join.
In the dead of winter 1966, no doubt before many of you were born, I rode the Triumph from Houston to Mexico City and back. In the dead of winter 1969, I rode it from California home to Texas after having it shipped out there.
In the western deserts in the summer, and especially in the winter, the temperature plummets as soon as the sun goes down. On the trip home from California, as soon as the sun got low, I would ride a mile or so off into the desert and camp out for the night. The Triumph was agile enough and light enough to do that.
Those experiences are seared into my brain, heart, and soul. So, I recently decided, "why not do it again?"
That's the good part. The bad part is:
The Triumph vibrated and leaked something horrible. The vibration destroyed the stainless steel fenders. It destroyed the license plate. The thing would literally fall apart out from under me. At the end of a 500 mile day I always felt like I'd spent 8 hours on a vibrating torture rack.
I understand that the reason for the terrible vibration was the result of the Triumph 650 engine's crankshaft being supported by mains journals only at the ends and not at the center.
Conversely, it is my UNDERSTANDING, and I hope somebody here will confirm or deny this, that the Japanese motorcycles had a third mains journal in the center.
Is that so?
Finally, and generally, I'm hoping to get some good advice about the XS 650s - such as (but not limited to) what the best years might be; what I might have to pay for one; what "high" and "low" mileage would be considered to be. On a Triumph motorcycle miles were like "dog years". By the time my Triumph got 20K miles on it, it was slap dab worn out. And I seem to recall that was after the first rebuild.
I guess that's a good enough introduction for now. My wife and I both are serious metal heads. We have a small home machine and welding shop that rivals some commercial shops. My wife is a trained locksmith, trained machinist, and trained welder and welding instructor. We have the equipment - if not necessarily the experience - to make virtually any possible repair.
Sorry for the running diatribe. But I will be very happy to get your running diatribes back. Tell me everything you think I need to know!!!
Sincerely,
Vernon
I haven't been on a motorcycle in about 25 years.
Recently, I read an online article about inexpensive vintage motorcycles. The XS 650 was on the list.
I was instantly struck by how much it reminded me of the favorite motorcycle I ever owned - a 1966 Triumph Bonneville. I would describe my relationship with that Bonneville as 75% love and 25% hate. But that was then and I was 17. Now I'm 65. Today, it would probably be 75% hate and 25% love.
Nevertheless, nothing I owned subsequent to that first Bonnevile thrilled me like it did. Perhaps it was just the dulling of my senses as I grew older.
But still... I have a feeling that an XS 650 might offer all the positives and none of the negatives. While researching this I ran across this forum so decided to join.
In the dead of winter 1966, no doubt before many of you were born, I rode the Triumph from Houston to Mexico City and back. In the dead of winter 1969, I rode it from California home to Texas after having it shipped out there.
In the western deserts in the summer, and especially in the winter, the temperature plummets as soon as the sun goes down. On the trip home from California, as soon as the sun got low, I would ride a mile or so off into the desert and camp out for the night. The Triumph was agile enough and light enough to do that.
Those experiences are seared into my brain, heart, and soul. So, I recently decided, "why not do it again?"
That's the good part. The bad part is:
The Triumph vibrated and leaked something horrible. The vibration destroyed the stainless steel fenders. It destroyed the license plate. The thing would literally fall apart out from under me. At the end of a 500 mile day I always felt like I'd spent 8 hours on a vibrating torture rack.
I understand that the reason for the terrible vibration was the result of the Triumph 650 engine's crankshaft being supported by mains journals only at the ends and not at the center.
Conversely, it is my UNDERSTANDING, and I hope somebody here will confirm or deny this, that the Japanese motorcycles had a third mains journal in the center.
Is that so?
Finally, and generally, I'm hoping to get some good advice about the XS 650s - such as (but not limited to) what the best years might be; what I might have to pay for one; what "high" and "low" mileage would be considered to be. On a Triumph motorcycle miles were like "dog years". By the time my Triumph got 20K miles on it, it was slap dab worn out. And I seem to recall that was after the first rebuild.
I guess that's a good enough introduction for now. My wife and I both are serious metal heads. We have a small home machine and welding shop that rivals some commercial shops. My wife is a trained locksmith, trained machinist, and trained welder and welding instructor. We have the equipment - if not necessarily the experience - to make virtually any possible repair.
Sorry for the running diatribe. But I will be very happy to get your running diatribes back. Tell me everything you think I need to know!!!
Sincerely,
Vernon