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Let's See The XS's
- Thread starter XS650RR
- Start date
No negativity here... We can tell the youth and or sveltivity by how low the bars are. Cheers to Ian
There's some lapses, but nicely done.
2manyrides
XS650 Member
That's one fine looking restomod. 2027 Calendar material! More info on the history/build?
Cool Carryall in the background. Bet that's a story worth telling too!
Just had to pop the subject a bit....
2manyrides
XS650 Member
I never really thought of it as a resto/mod, but I guess you could call it that because it is not stock/original. But it's only a few choice alterations...
Has an 81 special rear fender because they're 1 1/2 inches shorter. Has a bates tail light and some short staulk red signal lenses out back. Has some upswept cocktail shakers. The headlight bucket, tack and speedo buckets, foot pegs are the chrome ones from an 81 special. The motor is from an 81 special. It has a Pamco ignition.
This is the fourth motor I have run in the 77. Not cause they have blown, cause they just got a little tired and back in those days, low mileage 650's could be had for $400. Lots of extra parts to keep-em-rolling. I have had the bike that long with that many miles! It's on its fourth motor. 5th speedo (and thanks to gggGary for it's current replacement) I had one where the dial warped in the sun and the needle would not pass, one where the 2 screws vibrated out and the backing plat spun, one where the drive components locked up where you attach the cable... can't remember the others.
In it's lifetime with me... since 1982, It has been ridden extensively. I have taken everything apart and cleaned it back up twice through the years. (all the way to painted frame)
There is a playlist for it on my channel... (the playlist does not account for the days before video cameras)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0879ADCED96C6735
It boasts as having made a round on the track at laguna seca back in 1983 and we have a photo of riding it to the races below...
As well as top of the hill before the corkscrew. Strange mix of riders on the track... Everthing from mopeds to goldwings.
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That’s awesome! Those videos are a treat. Super jealous about your lap around Laguna Seca, love that old badge. About 10 years ago I got to volunteer as a course marshal to sweep the track, there were a couple low sides on my turn, that was a fun time. The best was riding around the track in the wagon to get to my station and being able to see just how intense that corkscrew is in person.
I was at Laguna Seca '83 or '84 when Kenny Roberts came over the pond to race the American series at that race. I watched carefully at how the cork screw really challenges the suspensions. Riders are trying to go from hard left to harder right on a completely onloaded suspension only to go to full compression. A lot of wiggling and waggling at the exit....
Very cool, I wish I got that turn when I was there. Dug up some old photos..
2manyrides
XS650 Member
We were told to not exceed 25 mph. I went 65. The corkscrew was amazing on a bike! It is a bit foggy remembering all that took place. I don't think kenny roberts was there in 83. I was rooting for eddie lawson.
Year I saw KR he was in the middle of a GP season. Yamaha punched his 500 to 580 to race in the US 750 class. May have been 84.
I was on the pit-crew for Fast Freddie back in the late 70’s/80’s at that track.
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