Experienced insight needed

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SolidTea77

XS650 Enthusiast
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ireland
what would you recommend as project bike and any insight into which years are the unidentified ones and anything to look out for specifically with them?
1748268990298.png

1979 special 2900 euro
1748269070788.png

unsure what year but assume similar 4200euro

1748269124864.png

unsure year 2000 euro

1748269175235.png

1748269388433.png
unsure what year also 2000 euro

i like the disk brakes at the back but prefer the look of the spoked wheels i know the bikes are a bit rough and definitely will take a good bit of work but am buying them as a project bike anyway. want to redo the wiring with motogadget m unit and all info yous could shine on the exact years/models and pros and cons of each would be great.
 
Its been a long time said:
Perhaps not so much insight from me, I'd go for the first one, the black special. It looks the closest to a stock bike and I like that. Of course, not everyone thinks like that.
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thats frair the unfortunately its the furthest away from me, other two i think are stco as well but havent been fixed up so in a bit of a rough shape
 
SolidTea77 said:
she looks fantastic absolutley sparkles. any particular reason you went from the spoked to cast?
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The spoked wheels came off in 2010 because they needed to be serviced. Failed runout. Spokes stuck. I haven’t gotten around to fixing them. Also, I ride this thing. Out on the road I can plug a tubeless tire. The cast wheels are less maintenance.
 
jetmechmarty said:
The spoked wheels came off in 2010 because they needed to be serviced. Failed runout. Spokes stuck. I haven’t gotten around to fixing them. Also, I ride this thing. Out on the road I can plug a tubeless tire. The cast wheels are less maintenance.
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i didnt think of the tubless tire thats a good point any way of making the spoked wheels tubeless?
 
The mileage and price matters
I don't think it matters what year or model .Except the earlier ones can be more difficult find parts at reasonable price

the green Looks as Over and Done .But depending on price
the 75 without muffler is also a risk by the looks of it
The yellow nothing for me
So it is the top one .Asking what it is and price and so.

Having said that should the green one have sub 10000 km And engine sounding tight -For me it makes a difference
Not strictly then a project bike except exterior with time making it shine and leave the engine alone more or less

The bottom one has a dull paintjob is it an Accountant ? paint job worst of all. The green is at least interesting and evoking
 
okay have update on some of them one isnt register the rough looking black one trying to get the millage on the rest of them but i was thinking the green on as a porject bike and say i could try get it under 2000 and the on at the top is 2900 euro dont have the mileage on it yet waiting for a reply on it.
 
Jan_P said:
The mileage and price matters
I don't think it matters what year or model .Except the earlier ones can be more difficult find parts at reasonable price

the green Looks as Over and Done .But depending on price
the 75 without muffler is also a risk by the looks of it
The yellow nothing for me
So it is the top one .Asking what it is and price and so.

Having said that should the green one have sub 10000 km And engine sounding tight -For me it makes a difference
Not strictly then a project bike except exterior with time making it shine and leave the engine alone more or less

The bottom one has a dull paintjob is it an Accountant ? paint job worst of all. The green is at least interesting and evoking
Click to expand...
no i plan to strip in and clean it all up and if the tank isnt rusted from the inside i use it and probably redo the green on it. i have a full mechanical workshop at my disposable so dont mind a bit of fixing up

the green is 2000 euro
black big bore is 6000 euro
the black no muffler 2000
yellow already restored but not my style so would change from the flat tracker style is 4200 euro
and the first black special is 2900 euro but is the furthest away be a 6-8 hour round trip
 
The one below the yellow bike is a '75 - black tank with the whoosh stripe. I have an 80 special that I love, and a 76 that runs great, but the first new bike I bought was a 75 RD125, and the graphics were the same as the 75 shown here. To do a project bike where much will be changed and all the wiring changed, I'd go for the green one.
Make sure you tear the engine down and inspect/replace what needs it. Pay close attention to the gears, dogs, and forks in the gearbox.
 
Wirenutt said:
The one below the yellow bike is a '75 - black tank with the whoosh stripe. I have an 80 special that I love, and a 76 that runs great, but the first new bike I bought was a 75 RD125, and the graphics were the same as the 75 shown here. To do a project bike where much will be changed and all the wiring changed, I'd go for the green one.
Make sure you tear the engine down and inspect/replace what needs it. Pay close attention to the gears, dogs, and forks in the gearbox.
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yeah thats what i was thinking the green one and tear is all down strip and repaint the frame, tank, and check the gearbox.

anything to look out for that would indicate its a dead engine or on its way out is first project bike. dont want to shoot myself in the foot before i begin.
 
SolidTea77 said:
yeah thats what i was thinking the green one and tear is all down strip and repaint the frame, tank, and check the gearbox.

anything to look out for that would indicate its a dead engine or on its way out is first project bike. dont want to shoot myself in the foot before i begin.
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At 2000 Euro it is a running bike .. I would ask to do a cold start ..kick starting ..getting a feel if it is soft
listening to rattle and look for smoke should not be any
I would bring a Voltmeter check charging Voltage Across battery

Lots of things to check I almost bought one from UK with dodgy paperwork possibly stolen,
 
Jan_P said:
At 2000 Euro it is a running bike .. I would ask to do a cold start ..kick starting ..getting a feel if it is soft
listening to rattle and look for smoke should not be any
I would bring a Voltmeter check charging Voltage Across battery

Lots of things to check I almost bought one from UK with dodgy paperwork possibly stolen,
Click to expand...
yeah id say i can get it under the 2000 mark it was running dont know how long its been sitting so dont know and its got original log book
shall keep the rest in mind
 
Last edited:
SolidTea77 said:
what would you recommend as project bike and any insight into which years are the unidentified ones and anything to look out for specifically with them?
View attachment 350901
1979 special 2900 euro
View attachment 350902
unsure what year but assume similar 4200euro

View attachment 350903
unsure year 2000 euro

View attachment 350904
View attachment 350905unsure what year also 2000 euro

i like the disk brakes at the back but prefer the look of the spoked wheels i know the bikes are a bit rough and definitely will take a good bit of work but am buying them as a project bike anyway. want to redo the wiring with motogadget m unit and all info yous could shine on the exact years/models and pros and cons of each would be great.
Click to expand...

The only way to really confirm is to get the vin no's of the frame and engine.

Factory bikes came with matching #'s
https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...-other-information-including-xs750-850.30569/


All the bikes look to b US imports. Again need to verify Vin,'s

Looks an original 78SE/79SF basically the same model. Bout the only change was the headlight on/off switch was discontinued on the 79SF
1748268990298.png

Bitsa. Standard frame, 74-79, ( going off the side-cover), but have my doubts as those side covers can b modified to ok a 78SE/79SF/80SII frame, BS34 carbs, ( 80-83/4), mag wheels, disk brakes front rear, (78-80 Special),
1748269070788.png

Bitsa.Standard frame, (74-79), 79SII wheels, front rear, 77-83 35mm front forks. Gauge type also indicate this. The wheel rims look to b alloy. If they are then they are off a US 79SII, rare one year only rims
Tank looks to b 76/77 going off the gas cap. Euro 76C has the same graphics as the US 75B
Cabs look to b 76-79, (need to identify for jetting as they changed every 2 years) going off the single throttle cable
1748269124864.png

Another 78/79 Special
1748269388433.png
 
Last edited:
Nice looking bike.
Looks to b an original 76C. Wheels and front end and tank confirm.
Can't see the front rotor or caliper mounts. Euro models were different to US models, all that info is in the link, previous post.
The work done on this bike looks good.
Comparing to what it will cost to get some of the other bikes up to the same condition could cost as much in the long run.

1748271491128.png
 

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