First Post Regarding my 1970 XS 650

[rjfxs650]

I have a 1970 XS 650. Had it since I was 16. Mostly did dirt riding back then so it only has 4117 miles. Serial number ends in 568 manufactured in 10/69. I just got it tuned up and runs great. Jut thought I would put this out on your forum. Thanks.

 

[Jim]

Pics man! We need pics!!!

Oh... and welcome aboard!

 

[Adamc]

Pics man! We need pics!!!

Oh... and welcome aboard!

What he said

 

[Its been a long time]

what they said

 

[rjfxs650]

Here you go. Last time I had it registered was 1976. Life just passed by raising 4 kids. Finally said to myself, I got to get this on the road. Thanks for the welcome.

 

[Mikey]

Great looking bike !!
And welcome

 

[rjfxs650]

Thanks.

 

[Its been a long time]

Incredible. Nearest thing possible to time travel!

 

[MikeyDeepXS]

Even the 1970’s sticker looks pristine, wow!

 

[rjfxs650]

Thank you. It’s nice to know there is a fan club for XS 650. I did a little digging and it was the 468th one built. Evidently the first 500 were hand inspected before delivery.

 

[rjfxs650]

Where do you folks buy parts for your XS650? I got spark plug caps and spark plugs from XS650Direct. They delivered the parts on time. Wondering what other folks think of XS650direct or if you found a better web site for parts.

 

[Jim]

Where do you folks buy parts for your XS650? I got spark plug caps and spark plugs from XS650Direct. They delivered the parts on time. Wondering what other folks think of XS650direct or if you found a better web site for parts.

How's your bookmark finger?


https://www.cruzinimage.net/

https://www.partshark.com/oemparts/partsearch/suzuki?partsearch=13651-51010

https://www.mikesxs.net/

http://650central.com/

https://www.nospartsnow.com/yamaha/

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/yamaha/motorcycle

https://yamahaxs650.com/

https://www.diablocycle.com/

https://www.georgefixs.com/yamaha/

http://vintageconnections.com/

https://xs650direct.com/

Make sure you ask here before buying. We have combined many years of experience with these vendors and mostly know what's good and what's garbage.

MikesXS. Think of them as a last resort. Some of their stuff is OK, but way too much of it's Chinese junk. Ask before you order.

 

[Jim]

https://www.xs650.com/threads/parts-suppliers-for-the-xs650.68549/

https://www.xs650.com/threads/yamaha-part-numbers-learned-something-new.69611/

 

[rjfxs650]

Thank you. Great to know.

 

[cra-z1]

What a beautiful bike. And you held on to it all these years! That's almost unheard of. I remember picking up my 73 TX650 at 18, paid cash. I was working at UPS unloading trailers making at that time good money. But you said you were 16 WOW!

 

[rjfxs650]

Thank you. Nice to get your kind remarks. I sure am glad I held onto it. It takes me to another time… good times!

 

[Raymond]

That's a truly rare survivor - there must be precious few bikes reach that age without being mangled and bodged by a succession of POs.

For us lot, that is treasure!

If you're going to put the bike back on the road, where it rightly should be, there's a few steps you should go through first. Just ask.

 

[everett464]

Here you go. Last time I had it registered was 1976. Life just passed by raising 4 kids. Finally said to myself, I got to get this on the road. Thanks for the welcome.

Man! Gorgeous bike. I love that color.

 

[rjfxs650]

I am all ears regarding advice for future maintenance and ways to preserve it. I never worked on the bike very much.

The inside of the tank was rusted. I took it to Paradise Cycle in Reynoldsville PA. I think Marty did a great job in cleaning the tank and getting it running.

I brought it home but had to get the title transferred because it was in my parent’s name. I just road it close to home since I haven’t ridden a street bike since 1976. Muscle memory came back
pretty well.

After a few local trips around the block, I noticed some oil dripping from the bottom of the engine (very slow a drip about once an hour). I cleaned it up to track where it was coming from.

I went to start it. It started and ran for a few seconds and shut down. I did this a few times. The spark plugs were carbon covered so I got new plugs. I got NGK BS7E which burns a little hotter. It still did the same. I drained the tank. I took out a little screw off the side of the petcock expecting to find a little filter. Instead, the screw fell and vanished somewhere. I haven’t had time to get back to it. I got my exercise kicking it to get it started. My right leg hurt for three days.

I called Tom Lucas in Greensburg, PA (Lucas Cycle). Tom was very helpful and I am going to take it to him to fix the oil leak and get it running again if I can’t by then.

Any tips or comments are welcomed. Thanks.