Is this worth 1500?

For stock eye esthetics, the '75 wins in my book.

1663903133531.png

I beg to differ...
 
Yes, a well sorted late model Standard can be a thing of beauty as well. I just love mine and it's been my faithful companion since 2005 .....

Mammys2014.jpg
 
There is a 1975 on my local FB that also needs a seat and does not run at all and it`s $2,500:yikes:
 
Generally speaking, the roadsters got better with each successive year, but I believe there are a couple of exceptions to this, and one is quite serious.
The single piston brake calipers which were introduced along with the 35mm forks for the XS650D, are in my opinion, a retrograde step. They may be lighter, but they seem to lack rigidity to me.
The other thing I don't like, although it is only cosmetic, is the cheapo looking idiot light cluster that came in the same year.
Not a performance issue, but the thing just looks cheap and nasty to me.
The Special got a much more classy looking set up when it was launched.
Otherwise everything else bad got sorted.
The twin cable carbs, the fragile fuel filler cap, the micky mouse brake lining sensor etc.
A pity they didn't fit a grab rail until the final year
 
Looks to me the dust cover is broken and some one has tried to sand the fork lower but not the caliper brackets.

The forks are the right way round for the US models. The caliper mounts got changed to the rear of the forks in 76

Can use this thread for a guide.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...workshop-manuals-and-other-information.30569/

View attachment 225885
Upon further inspections of other 75’s. All of them have a shorter dust sleeve on the US models
 

Attachments

  • E2502305-07E4-4153-8F4F-19E878CCBB87.png
    E2502305-07E4-4153-8F4F-19E878CCBB87.png
    1.2 MB · Views: 53
Back
Top